Incoming semi-baroque Tahitians for beading

[BWeaves]

I love turquoise with pearls. I especially like it with yellow gold instead of silver.

 

[ennui]

a beige with a greenish tint.

I like jeg's khaki thread bracelet. I think it allows the pearls to pop instead of the knots. Jeg posted a photo of a bracelet on sand, but I think that's the bracelet with the teal thread.
So many choices! Lay everything out on a bead board and see how you feel.

 

[MMtwo]

They arrived. I do like them, but they look different than all the other pictures. They have pro dust between them, which is OK. I just need to do a little cleanup before stringing.

 

[MintyFresh]

Those are lovely!

 

[jeg]

I think they’ll look great once you get them knotted and the neutral colors will be versatile for you!

 

[MMtwo]

I ordered Pattye's teal and storm. I had storm at home, but it was too fine a thread for the holes. I found some number 6 silk and...well....tried to do that as practice and that was a hot mess and somehow managed to create a knot I never wanted. I cut the pearls free. They were definitely in victim status. They did look nice on the brown silk, but I could not for the life of me get the knots sufficiently tight against the pearls. I tried by hand, by tweezers, bead knotter. When the Serafil arrives, I hope it works better for me. Or, I am all thumbs.

 

[MintyFresh]

I ordered Pattye's teal and storm. I had storm at home, but it was too fine a thread for the holes. I found some number 6 silk and...well....tried to do that as practice and that was a hot mess and somehow managed to create a knot I never wanted. I cut the pearls free. They were definitely in victim status. They did look nice on the brown silk, but I could not for the life of me get the knots sufficiently tight against the pearls. I tried by hand, by tweezers, bead knotter. When the Serafil arrives, I hope it works better for me. Or, I am all thumbs.

Keep at it, MMtwo! I’m not an expert, but I view pearl knotting as meditation. Problems arise but they are part of the process. I have had to reknot strands 3 times + on occasion because something goes awry partway through. Or because the final result is unsatisfactory. If the mercury rises too high, I put the project aside to return to later. Pearls take time. Time to grow gorgeous and time to craft into something beautiful.

 

[linda.wald]

I ordered Pattye's teal and storm. I had storm at home, but it was too fine a thread for the holes. I found some number 6 silk and...well....tried to do that as practice and that was a hot mess and somehow managed to create a knot I never wanted. I cut the pearls free. They were definitely in victim status. They did look nice on the brown silk, but I could not for the life of me get the knots sufficiently tight against the pearls. I tried by hand, by tweezers, bead knotter. When the Serafil arrives, I hope it works better for me. Or, I am all thumbs.

I had an awful time using silk thread, too. I find that with serafil it is very much easier to get the knot where you want it. I use an awl to help guide it. If you have the knot pretty close, when you separate the threads it glides right into place.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Yup! Silk is harder to work with in my experience. Serafil is a breeze by comparison. I also use an awl also to guide the knot to the place I want it, then pull the two threads apart to tighten them. I actually do 5 or 6 small tugs in a row to tighten the knot rather than one hard tug.

 

[Pella]

I also use an awl to snug the knot up to the pearl. MMtwo you will find a rhythm to it once you get more confidant and you'll be surprised how quickly they will knot up.

 

[MintyFresh]

I use a knotting method that doubles the thread. I don't know what it is called and it may be "cheating." However, it is great for snugging up the knots, without tools. It has drawbacks (requires a built-in needle). But here it is in case you are curious (from Lisa Yang Jewelry).

 

[MMtwo]

Ok so as long as nobody looks too closely, I’m good. I may pay to have them professionally knotted in the future.

I appreciate so many supportive messages! The Serafill was so much easier! I still had some struggles, but I did use an awl and that got me pretty close most of the time. I’ll take it. I can always redo it later.

 

[Pella]

Ok so as long as nobody looks too closely, I’m good. I may pay to have them professionally knotted in the future.

I appreciate so many supportive messages! The Serafill was so much easier! I still had some struggles, but I did use an awl and that got me pretty close most of the time. I’ll take it. I can always redo it later.

For a first attempt that's pretty good. They are beautiful.

 

[CTD]

I think you did an amazing job! You've encouraged me to attempt my first stringing.

 

[pattye]

MMtwo, a beautiful strand and well done on the knotting and the French wire! Glad the Serafil thread helped; it sure makes a difference for me.

 

[jeg]

I love it! It was fun following your new pearls from start to finish. Enjoy wearing them, they look perfect on you!

 

[A Breaker]

Ok so as long as nobody looks too closely, I’m good. I may pay to have them professionally knotted in the future.

I appreciate so many supportive messages! The Serafill was so much easier! I still had some struggles, but I did use an awl and that got me pretty close most of the time. I’ll take it. I can always redo it later.

Restring isn't cheap...I just got old cheap pearl necklaces and kept practicing. It took me 4-5 necklaces to get good enough. Maybe find pearl necklaces for grandbabies or other relatives...restring those and them restring your Tahitians...then if you get then gooky...you can restring when you want?