CHRISTIANA KAFA

[TECS1990]

I was just browsing Chinese social media and came across this Greek brand called CHRISTIANA KAFA - so I thought I’d share.

I actually really like the way that she’s come up with such an innovative way to string freshwater pearls for a more casual look, it almost looks like crochet knots, pretty cool.

What do you think?

 

[pattye]

Very interesting, thank you for sharing, TECS1990. A way to add color and interest to the pearls!

 

[BWeaves]

Fascinating! I'm a hand weaver, and that looks like a knotting technique to me. But from a distance, it definitely gives a crochet vibe. I find it interesting that there's a light thread running across the top of the pearls that holds everything in place, and then the pearls are threaded onto a second color that is then knotted over the light thread using square knots. Square knots will capsize if pulled sideways, so the light colored thread keeps everything in position.

 

[TECS1990]

Fascinating! I'm a hand weaver, and that looks like a knotting technique to me. But from a distance, it definitely gives a crochet vibe. I find it interesting that there's a light thread running across the top of the pearls that holds everything in place, and then the pearls are threaded onto a second color that is then knotted over the light thread using square knots. Square knots will capsize if pulled sideways, so the light colored thread keeps everything in position.

Interesting insight, thank you! I was trying to work out how they are knotted and couldn't work it out, that explains quite a lot. Would be quite fun to replicate, I actually have some coral beads that I could try to string this way someday. But I tried to string beads before and the spaces between always end up too big, I'm not very good at it!

 

[BWeaves]

Interesting insight, thank you! I was trying to work out how they are knotted and couldn't work it out, that explains quite a lot. Would be quite fun to replicate, I actually have some coral beads that I could try to string this way someday. But I tried to string beads before and the spaces between always end up too big, I'm not very good at it!

It always takes me 3 tries to restring my pearls, because my hands forget the right tension to do the knots.

 

[TECS1990]

It always takes me 3 tries to restring my pearls, because my hands forget the right tension to do the knots.

That's still impressive! I only had to get one bracelet re-strung so far and Mikimoto took 3 months to do it and charged like £10 per inch...

 

[Juan Vito]

As someone from Indonesia who is learning more about pearls, I enjoy seeing how different designers present pearls in fresh and modern ways. Thank you for sharing this brand.

 

[TECS1990]

As someone from Indonesia who is learning more about pearls, I enjoy seeing how different designers present pearls in fresh and modern ways. Thank you for sharing this brand.

That's great! Indonesia must be a fantastic sourcing ground for south sea pearls, would love to visit some of the farms one day, I remember reading this article on GIA before. I'd love to go hunting directly from the sources, especially for large baroque pearls.

https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/fall-2016-bead-cultured-pearls-lombok-indonesia

 

[J.lee]

Thank you for posting this! I’m def gonna try this out!!!

Seems fairly easy enough.

This video seems to show similarities

 

[MintyFresh]

It always takes me 3 tries to restring my pearls, because my hands forget the right tension to do the knots.

This is why I am afraid to even try learning to knot pearls. I don't think my hand/eye or finger/eye coordination is good at all. And then my poor haptics . . my husband has better fine motor skills but I don't think I can convince him to try pearl knotting!

 

[J.lee]

This is why I am afraid to even try learning to knot pearls. I don't think my hand/eye or finger/eye coordination is good at all. And then my poor haptics . . my husband has better fine motor skills but I don't think I can convince him to try pearl knotting!

It’s fairly easy. First time I tried it, I did my mother in law’s mikimoto strand. No practice beads. I did have to reorder silk threads as the first order I ended up with string that was too thick.

 

[MintyFresh]

It’s fairly easy. First time I tried it, I did my mother in law’s mikimoto strand. No practice beads. I did have to reorder silk threads as the first order I ended up with string that was too thick.

Learning on Mikimotos. You are brave J.lee . . . maybe I will try one day. Right now, I’m trying to get back into practice with wiring and wrapping. Years ago, I used to work in the basement of the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (aka the Oriental Institute aka where Indiana Jones worked) making necklaces out of truly ancient excavation beads. But the fingers are no longer as supple as those of a 19 yo, lol.

 

[ennui]

Interesting. I saw something similar just this morning, done with glass pearls. In this case, I think the pearls are strung normally and then wrapped with color.