Stringing Tutorial with photos: Stringing on Serafil, Beaders Secret & Power Pro

[pattye]

Oh, wow! Look at you in those pearls~gorgeous! And your knots are tidy, too! Good for you, tackling a graduated strand, not the easiest thing either!! What an accomplishment, JerseyPearl!

 

[JerseyPearl]

Thank Pattye! I figured I would try and learn by making a few mistakes...I can really see that once strung, the pearls have a completely different character (a good thing!) I also found the Beader's Secret thread so EASY to use. I was able to make really tight knots without using any tools (other than the threading needle). My only rough spot on the knotting is cutting the last threads off the finished strand. I got close, but not perfect. And I now see the suggestion about passing through one last pearl and not knotting, just cut against the pearl. I bet that looks much better!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

JerseyPearl, Great job!

I'll just rotate them if that's okay...

 

[JerseyPearl]

Thank you!

 

[Katbran]

Well done ! You did a fabulous job !! And as for cutting the thread..I use a thread burner (be very very careful lol ) and you can cut it as close as you like .... being very very careful I do pull the thread through a last pearl with a touch of glue so it doesn't wander back out again and then burn it.

You are well on your way to creating all your own necklaces !! Next step...earrings...

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Just an update that may be helpful to some.

I wanted to see how I managed with Power Pro using only an awl (no tweezers) to guide the loose knot into position before tightening it by pulling the threads apart. It worked fine! If you don't have an awl, anything similarly long and thin could be used to guide the loose knot-- darning needle etc.

I can't manage it without the awl, though. Power Pro is not quite as slippery as Pattye's Serafil thread or Beaders Secret thread. (Caitlin, I know you do this with only your fingers but apparently I'm still too klutzy for that. )

 

[Katbran]

I use an Awl...never saw a reason to change . When you find a method that works....

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I did find that I had to tug harder to get the knot where I wanted it when not using tweezers, and the Power Pro cut the side of my little finger due to how I was holding the thread when tugging.

I will probably keep using tweezers when using 20# Power Pro since I find it easy to do, but 10# Power Pro is softer and Pattye's Serafil thread and Beader's Secret thread are also easy on the hands.

Yes, whatever works.

 

[Marianne]

Bandaids for the fingers before marathon knotting

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Marianne, I put on bandaids after I got that cut and my fingers felt clumsier than ever!
I don't even like using thimbles when sewing.

 

[pattye]

This safety tape is designed specifically for bench jewelers and such; I find it works well for protecting the finger(s) when knotting. Just overlap it and wrap a couple of times. It just sticks to itself and is flexible, comes in different colors and widths. Am I the only one that uses this?

 

[JerseyPearl]

This safety tape is designed specifically for bench jewelers and such; I find it works well for protecting the finger(s) when knotting. Just overlap it and wrap a couple of times. It just sticks to itself and is flexible, comes in different colors and widths. Am I the only one that uses this?

View attachment 36674

That looks like sports tape!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

It does-- exactly. I have some of that in a wider roll which I bought when my daughter injured her knee.

 

[GemGeek]

Great idea!

 

[pattye]

Gosh, sports tape sounds like it might work better than bandaids! I like this green tape because it only sticks to itself, not my finger.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Here is my roll of athletic tape-- looks much the same. It adheres only to itself. It can easily be cut into narrower strips. It's stretchy, for a close fitting wrap.
Reusable, too, since it doesn't actually have adhesive (same goes for your green tape, Pattye.)

 

[pattye]

PD. I hope this works for you. You, too, JP. Seems like the exact tape. Looks like enough there to last a few years, lol! My roll started with 90 feet!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I will give it a try the very next time I use Power Pro 20#!

 

[Marianne]

I actually use a latex free version of the self stick tape now, but cloth bandaids if the tape has gone hiding

 

[Katbran]

That jewellers tape is the same as the tape a manicurist uses to avoid cuts from emery boards.. I find it works well. Also saves my manicure lol