bead-cord

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Bead-Cord
How To Finish A jewelry With A Rope And The Lark's Head Technique

A bead-cord usually refers to different types of threads and ropes you can use when making jewelry.

You can subscribe to our e-zine and get our free e-book "Our favorite threads, cords, wire findings for beading, bead stringing, Wire jewelry making" to get an idea for the different types of threads ( nylon, silk, fisherline, elastic, stainless steel wire) you can use.
These are only our favorites and the craft markets offers a big variety of threads and ropes in different materials.

Here, we will "speak" more about ropes, and especially how you can use them to make and finish a necklace, earrings or a bracelet.

First you will show you different types of ropes you can use and then we will show different types of findings you can use to finish a jewelry with cotton, satin tube rubbing…
To finish, we will show how to make a necklace using the lark's head technique.

Satin

You can use satin ( also called rattail) for necklaces or bracelets making.
This is a synthetic cord, a bit shiny, pliable and great to use for macrame, chinese knots for example .
It comes in many, many colors and different sizes. Some brands carry satin with a metallic finish. We don't recommend using it for jewelry making because it is a bit scratchy.

Satin rope can be fished with an end cap. Apply some glue (long drying time) inside the end cap et let it dry.
You can also use a cord tip to finish your jewelry; choose it according your rope's size.

This type of rope soft, lightweight is very nice to use as a necklace if you want to add just a drop or a pendant. We use it a lot to attach donuts using the lark's head technique. It adds colors and is real simple to make.

Cotton, leather, rubber tubing

Rubber tubbing must be glued with an end cap. Look at the picture below.

Leather or cotton are more firmer. They are great to use for some chinese knots, short necklaces or bracelets.
If you are using leather or cotton rope, you can finish your jewelry with an end cap, a cord tip, a knot (simple or double) with some glue.
The knot can be hidden with a bead cap or embellished as you can see in the picture below.

You can also use a very thin cord to finish earrings.

You can also string beads with cotton/ leather/satin ropes. It is great to use with big beads. A jewelry can be finished only with knots and embellished with beads and buttons. Look at the picture below with red/pink beads.

Finishing Technique With Cord Tip or a End Cap

A cord tip come in different size and finishes. It has 2 parts. Pick up a bead tip according the rope's size and place it inside the cord tip.

With a flat nose plier, fold the first part.
Then fold the second part.

You can use an end cap to finish a rope. Use a strong and long drying glue.

Lark's Head Technique

Fold the rope in 2 and slide the into a donut.

Slide the tail into the loop.

Pull the rope to attach the donut. Simple bead-cord technique!

Ideas

See how to make "girly" earrings with thin pink cotton rope.

See how to make a amber bracelet with the wire technique. It is finished with 2 cord tips: one makes a loop and the other has a big amber chip attach to it and is used as a "button clasp".

Two thin cords (here with gold finish) are placed inside a cord tip and finishes nicely this short necklace.

This bracelet ends with a simple flat velvet ribbon. We have added cord tips and shell beads on each end of the ribbon. It finishes nicely the bracelet and makes a "dangling" effect!