“Pearls - Advice Needed”

Read the comments (or add your own)

1. 

   On May 04, 2012 at 12:09 pm #

   Sassy Girl Beads - MJ says:

   I’m not sure on the knotting, but I would also be interested to hear the responses on this. Also, the coin pearls in this pick are gorgeous in person, they have a nice peachy gold nacre that isn’t captured in the picture.

2. 

   On May 04, 2012 at 1:37 pm #

   Luna Chick aka Coral says:

   Since I am a beading novice I cannot help you with this. However, I can tell you they will be stunning necklaces if you are using these beads .

3. 

   On May 04, 2012 at 1:44 pm #

   Mary S - Sweet Chick says:

   Can’t wait to hear the correct response for this myself! I have used only pearls, knowing that the recommendation is to knot between them, but I didn’t….we’ll see what happens.

4. 

   On May 04, 2012 at 2:21 pm #

   Stone Treasures says:

   Just strung a sweet pearl and bead necklace for a sweet girls communion. Since I don’t know how to knot as like Coral I’m a bit of a novice, I stung them on flexible wire, and time will tell!

   

5. 

   On May 04, 2012 at 2:28 pm #

   OK Jacki says:

   Thanks, Stone Treasures. That is an absolutely lovely necklace you strung. Thanks for sharing it!

6. 

   On May 04, 2012 at 2:40 pm #

   Beadlady3 aka Cindy says:

   To Knot, or Not to Knot, that is the question!

   If you know how to, then knotting is a great way to ensure the necklace doesn’t lose all the pearls if it gets broken. If you don’t know how, then why not put a small seed bead between the pearls? For pricey pearls with a very nice luster & color (nacre?) knotting will keep them from rubbing together & lose their shine.

   ps – I love pearl-y picks!

7. 

   On May 04, 2012 at 2:57 pm #

   OK Jacki says:

   Thanks, Cindy. Great ideas!

8. 

   On May 04, 2012 at 2:59 pm #

   Mary S - Sweet Chick says:

   Great idea, Cindy!

9. 

   On May 04, 2012 at 4:31 pm #

   Elis Mom says:

   I don’t know how to knot either, and I do just what Cindy says. I have a few pearl necklaces that I’ve done that way, and I’ll hopefully post them this weekend.

10. 

    On May 04, 2012 at 5:48 pm #

    puppychick labratbecky says:

    I am new but know that knotting is better to preserve the finish where the pearls rub each other or rub any kind of spacer. When you knot them, you just do a regular knot but slide it as close to the pearl as you can get it. Pull it tight because it will stretch a bit. There are knotting tools but what they basically are is a long thick stick pin that you put in the center of the knot as you pull it tight. As long as the pin is in there, you can use it to drag the knot right up to the pearl as you pull it tight. Then remove the pin and start again. I have used silk thread because it holds its knots very well and is easy to work with. There are a lot of different widths of silk thread so you need to choose one that fits through the pearl and then the decider is how fat you want the knot to be. Also, the best way to do this is to get silk that has a built in needle because using a regular needle with thread through its eye it’s easy to get stuck in the middle of the pearl where the bore hole is the narrowest. With practice you can get really good at this. Me, I’m still practicing!

11. 

    On May 04, 2012 at 5:50 pm #

    puppychick labratbecky says:

    I have just strung a bunch of them, too, but with cheap pearls. If I did those pearls you have chosen, I would definitely knot them.

12. 

    On May 04, 2012 at 6:20 pm #

    OK Jacki says:

    Mucho gracias, all my LB friends. I knew you’d steer me in the right direction. It was what I knew, but wanted to get your take on it. Thank the good Lord above that I only have 1 FW pearl to do Have a great weekend, everyone.

13. 

    On May 05, 2012 at 7:43 am #

    Chicky Zee aka Alice says:

    I Sometimes knot my pearl necklaces!

14. 

    On May 11, 2012 at 12:41 am #

    OK Jacki says:

    I don’t make it a habit to post my finished pieces, because all of you are such accomplished beaders, I’m a bit embarrased. But, you were so kind to lend me advice, so here is the necklace I did for the Mother’s Day order. The customer loved them both. I post the other on Designs. And, yes, I knotted the string. Whew, not another one of those for a while).

    

15. 

    On May 11, 2012 at 1:38 am #

    Tres Chick says:

    Not all of us are so accomplished – I’m in awe of everyone here. Your customer got a beautiful necklace – I like your subtle variations in pearl tones and the extra sparkle of the seed beads.

    BTW, there is a kind of spacer bead, silicone or rubber, that I’ve sometimes thought of using to protect beads. It’s like a tiny rubber washer. It comes in clear or other colors, in various sizes. I haven’t tried it, so don’t know if it would be industrial-looking, but it looks like it would cushion delicate beads. (One brand is Oh! Ring.)

16. 

    On May 11, 2012 at 1:42 am #

    OK Jacki says:

    Thanks so much, Tres Chick. Appreciate your kind words.

17. 

    On May 11, 2012 at 3:32 am #

    Chicky Red-haired Grammy says:

    Jacki, What a lovely, special gift you have created. Any mother would be touched and proud to wear it with pleasure. I, too, have stayed away from knotting, being such a novice as to embarrass myself.