Practice Videos
Here is where you'll start learning how to make your necklaces! We recommend practicing the knots until you feel comfortable before moving on to adding your clasp and french wire. If you want to download these instructions, click HERE, it is very useful to have them printed out while watching the videos. If you are struggling with the knotting hand motion, scroll to the bottom of this page for an in depth look at the hand and finger movements.
GEMS
Tools Needed: Size E (Aventurine), F (Rainbow ) or FF (Smoky Quartz or Amethyst) Thread, Large Gem Strand, Needle, French Wire, Scissors, Clippers, Glue.
Please Note: This is the same hand motion as the Practice Pearls section, the only difference is the way you set up the thread. Since the Pearl holes are much smaller, you will use 2 strands of thread instead of the 4 used here.
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1. Measure out your thread. We recommend using 80-100 inches to start practicing. Use the thread color you won't be using for your large strand to practice in the size listed above.
2. Stretch your thread. Wrap the length of thread around both of your hands and gently pull them away from each other through the whole length of the thread, making sure each and every inch gets covered.
3. Slide one end of the thread through the collapsible eye of the needle. Pull that needle through to the midpoint of the thread. You can find the middle of your length of practice thread with your measuring tape or by folding it in half.
4. Make a knot at the new halfway point between the ends of the thread and the needle like the below diagram. Make sure the knot is big enough to stop the Pearls from going off of the end of the thread. This will serve as the "clasp" and end stopper for your beads while you practice.
5. Slide the loose ends of the thread through the eye of the same needle, leaving approximately 6 inches of thread as a tail. Your string should look like this:
6. Add your first few beads, and once you've put a few on, slide them down to the knot, then add the rest of the bead practice session.
***Please note - we have found some inconsistencies with the drilling of the Rainbow strands. If you find at this point that it is difficult to string some of your beads onto all four strands of thread, please go to the Inconsistent Hole Size Tutorial to see the super simple fix - you just need to remove one of the four threads and secure it with a little GS Hypo Cement.***
7. Start knotting! Use our video tutorial to master our Loop, Tuck, Slide, Hold and Pull hand motion. We show you in the video how to do this as a right handed person - we have a video in our FAQ section that reverses the hand motion if you are left handed and find this way difficult to learn. Practice until you feel you've gotten the hang of it! It will feel weird at first to connect your fingers and your brain.
Here is a very detailed breakdown of the exact hand motion you will use:
7-1. First - separate the first bead from the second bead and the rest of the strand. We recommend using a distance of 4-5 inches between beads to start.
7-2. Hold the first bead in your non-dominant hand, and the rest of the strand with your dominant hand.
7-3. With your dominant hand, make a loop between your non-dominant index finger and thumb - go between your index and middle finger first, then loop back over your thumb. The thumb serves to open up the loop. The thread you are holding in your dominant hand should be on top, and the beginning thread and bead you are holding in your non-dominant hand should be in the back.
7-4. Take your first bead with your dominant hand and tuck it into that loop. You have created your knot! Keep it steady against your first bead by using tension between both hands. This might take practice. Remove your thumb from the loop.
7-5. You can use your non-dominant thumb and middle finger to hold the knot against the first bead. Eventually you might not need to do this.
7-6. Slide down the next bead with your dominant hand until it is snug up against your knot.
7-7. Grab the first two beads with your non-dominant thumb and middle finger.
Remove your non-dominant index finger from the loop.
7-8. Pull the length of thread through the second bead with your dominant hand.
You’ve made a secure and tight knot!
8. Continue practicing and knotting until you’ve gotten the hang of it!
9. Clip off your practice knots so you can practice more or begin your Pearl strand.
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Practice - Large Gems from Jessica Winzelberg on Vimeo.
PEARLS
Tools Needed: Size D Thread, Pearls, Needle, French Wire, Scissors, Clippers, Glue
Please Note: This is the same hand motion as the Practice Gems section, the only difference is the way you set up the thread. Since the Pearl holes are much smaller, you will use 2 strands of thread instead of 4.
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1. Measure out your thread. We recommend 40-50 inches to start practicing. Use the size D thread color you won't be using for your small or large strand to practice.
2. Stretch your thread. Wrap the length of thread around both of your hands and gently pull them away from each other through the whole length of the thread, making sure each and every inch gets covered.
3. Make a knot in the middle of the thread, in whichever way you like. You can find the middle of your length of practice thread with your measuring tape or by folding it in half. Make sure it is big enough to stop the Pearls from going off of the end of the thread. This will serve as the "clasp" and end stopper for your beads while you practice.
4. Take the two ends of thread and place them through the collapsible eye of one of your needles. Leave a tail of 6 inches so that the needle doesn't fall off every time you add a Pearl.
5. Add your first few Pearls by sliding them over the needle and onto the thread, and once you've put a few on, slide them down to the knot. Next, add the rest of the Pearls for your practice session.
6. Start knotting! Use our video tutorial to master our Loop, Tuck, Slide, Hold and Pull hand motion. We show you in the video how to do this as a right handed person - we have a video in our FAQ section that reverses the hand motion if you are left handed and find this way difficult to learn. Practice until you feel you've gotten the hang of it! It will feel weird at first to connect your fingers and your brain.
Here is a detailed breakdown.
6-1. First - separate the first bead from the second bead and the rest of the strand. We recommend using a distance of 4-5 inches between beads to start.
6-2. Hold the first bead in your non-dominant hand, and the rest of the strand with your dominant hand.
6-3. With your dominant hand, make a loop between your non-dominant index finger and thumb - go between your index and middle finger first, then loop back over your thumb. The thumb serves to open up the loop. The thread you are holding in your dominant hand should be on top, and the beginning thread and bead you are holding in your non-dominant hand should be in the back.
6-4. Take your first bead with your dominant hand and tuck it into that loop. You have created your knot! Keep it steady against your first bead by using tension between both hands. This might take practice. Remove your thumb from the loop.
6-5. You can use your non-dominant thumb and middle finger to hold the knot against the first bead. Eventually you might not need to do this.
6-6. Slide down the next bead with your dominant hand until it is snug up against your knot.
6-7. Grab the first two beads with your non-dominant thumb and middle finger
Remove your non-dominant index finger from the loop.
6-8. Pull the length of thread through the second bead with your dominant hand.
You’ve made a secure and tight knot!
7. Clip off your practice knots so you can practice more or begin your Pearl strand.
8. If any of your Pearl holes are too tiny to fit the thread watch the end of the video to see how you can enlarge them with our Pearl Reaming tool.
IN DEPTH HAND MOTION
Here is a video with even more detail on the hand motion you'll use to make your knots. If you're struggling with this, just keep practicing, it can take time for it to feel comfortable!
