Bead Fact Sheet

Griffin Silk Cord Thread for bead stringing, knotting, tassels, mala supplies
Griffin Silk Bead Stringing Tassel Making Cord
Answers to the most commonly asked questions about Griffin silk cord for bead stringing, making tassels and knotting beads and pearls. Refer to size chart pictured (below) to see the size (diameter aka thickness) of the silk cord you need. Approx. 79" (2 meters) of thread per card.
This link Griffin Silk Cord will take you to all sizes and colors available.


100% Pure Silk Bead Cord with attached Needle by Griffin There is no simpler, quicker, or better way to thread beads.


Excellent for creating quality tassels, knotting between beads, mala necklaces, macrame knots and beaded tassels. The twisted stainless steel needle at the end of the cord which allows you can knot the cord easily because the thread has the correct twist.


QUESTIONS: What size / thickness / diameter silk cord do I use to make / string my necklace using this size bead? Best size for making tassels?


Broad questions answered with a pretty simple observation on your part, and knowledge of what type of bead art jewelry design necklace & tassels you're looking to make.


For necklaces, whatever you want to call them mala, or whatever, the decision starts with the /size / type of beads you are using to create your necklace.


The thinnest in diameter, or mm in Griffin 100% silk is size 0 (zero - all of their cords are numbered 0 - 16 thickest at 1.05mm) which is basically a thread and can be used for stringing, but even on the smallest beads, due to the light-weight nature of the silk cord would probably be a bit flimsy and your necklace won't hang nicely.


For tassels, the thinnest could make a lovely tassel with a beautiful flow, and although ideal for smaller tassels on earrings and bracelets, you may have use an awful lot to get the look and feel you're going for with much larger bead art jewelry designs.


#1  (Remember this information is for stringing, not bead or loom weaving).  Select the silk cord size which will fit your bead hole size.
Example: 4mm size beads or gemstones would typically have a .9 -1mm hole size, so you'll want to use a bit smaller diameter silk cord (Griffin #5,6)  to get a nice fluid feel and look, also you don't want - or perhaps you do - the knots in between the beads to be visible.   Larger bead sizes 8mm - 12mm have larger holes and, especially size 12mm, could use size #14-16, but sizes 10 & 12 Griffin silk cords would work nicely too.


#2  Needles are already attached to Griffin silk cord so no need to worry about which needle size you need to get the silk cord through the beads.


#3  If knotting between beads, recommended, especially for heavier gemstones and larger pearls, be sure to create consistent knot sizes before proceeding to complete your necklace: otherwise, the finished look will be a bit uneven, but hey, that could be the organic look you're going for. Practice, practice practice.


#4  Use a beadboard, they really to help with the visualizing the end result when creating your bead art jewelry designs.


#5  Tassels, typically the same size cord used to string your necklace will create a tassel size that will compliment the overall bead size. But of course going up or down a few sizes could also give you the look you want in your beaded tasseled necklace.  Just remember the thinner the cord, the more you'll have to use and it might not flow the way you would like. Please comment if you have any other terrific tips and tricks for using silk cord. Thank you...!




Griffin Silk Cord Thread Size Chart
Silk Cord size Chart










































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Nymo Thread for Bead Stringing & Bead Weaving & Bead Art Jewelry
So earlier this week during a lovely phone conversation with an obviously seasoned bead artists, she mentioned that in all her years she has never used or even heard of Nymo thread for bead stringing and bead weaving.

Although her initial reason for calling was to locate an item she had purchased from me years ago, the conversation led me to kinda picking her brain about her beading preferences during her many years as a bead artist.

Both she and her sister are recently taking up bead looming, but it sounds like they specialize in wedding jewelry and sparing no expense use only Swarovski crystals and pearls and are fastidious with regard to the jewelry findings, spacer beads and bead stringing materials they use in their wedding jewelry.

The main concern they have, as most beaders do when using crystals or any sharp objects with thread, is the shredding and cutting of the thread by sharp edges on crystal beads.  Swarovski and most crystals, along with multi-pass throughs with needles when bead weaving, can cause even the toughest thread or cord to shred and even though it may not be visible it weakens the overall construction of the beaded piece thus making it come apart quite easily.

Nymo thread is not recommended for use with crystals.

But based on my customers level of experience and then commenting that she never heard of, or used Nymo thread I felt that I should pay homage to Nymo bead stringing, bead weaving thread; especially since the Nymo brand has staying power despite the advent of many other amazing bead stringing threads and cords.

So I started thinking, what could possibly be the reason why she had never heard of Nymo.  And I believe it may be tied to what bead instructions/patterns and beading instructors prefer thus passing on their preferences to the student; which understandably they do not have the exposure to the plethora of not only bead stringing materials, but beads and beading tools.

And of course, there's nothing wrong with that as kits are easier than searching for all the tools and supplies for a pattern. I personally prefer to follow a pattern with the exact supplies listed and then once I get a feel for the beading technique I will voyeur out into other options.

Too, with so many local bead stores (LBS) closing, it's getting to be quite the challenge to find someone to explain the differences and purpose for all the many offerings.

Here's some information about Nymo Thread:
  • Available in over 23 rich colors and 5 sizes - OO (thinnest), O, B, D, and F
  • The smaller bobbins offer the most variety of colors; while the larger bobbins and cones are available only in black & white - the most popular colors.
  • Know your needles (I think I'll have to do another post on that very important subject).  The needles used for threading size OO, O and maybe size B, will probably not accommodate the thickness of sizes D & F. The wrong size needle will cause your thread to shred and make it very difficult to pass-through your beaded project. 
  • TIP: When threading your needle cut your beading thread on an angle and then use a bit of beeswax or thread heaven to coat the end - just a touch you don't want to much to clog the needle hole.  And again, make sure you're using the correct needle size.
  • Stretch your Nymo before using in your project, especially if it's an item that because of use may loosen up over time.  Probably not needed so much for earrings or smaller objects,  but you'll want to stretch before using for bracelets and necklaces.
Some specifics:

Nymo Thread Slightly waxed and lightly twisted, this nylon thread is the thread of choice for bead working & bead weaving. Bobbins come in up to 5 thread sizes. Yardage varies by size: REGULAR Bobbins
  • Size OO = 140 Yards
  • Size O = 115 Yards
  • Size B = 72 Yards
  • Size D = 64 Yards
  • Size F = 43 Yards
Nymo Thread also available in Large Bobbins & Cones Yardage varies by size:
  • Large Bobbins available in only BLACK & WHITE; Sizes O, B & D
  • Large Bobbin Size B = 2502 Yards
  • Large Bobbin Size D = 1584 Yards
  • Large Bobbin Size O = 2894 Yards and only in WHITE
  • Large Bobbins available in only BLACK & WHITE; Sizes O, B & D
  • CONES Size OO = 4852 Yards WHITE ONLY
  • CONES Size O = 2894 Yards
  • CONES Size B = 2505 Yards
  • CONES Size D = 1584 Yards
  • CONES Size F = 1049 Yards
Well, I think that's it for now; if I think of anything else I will update the post. If you have any question feel free to contact me.


I hope you found this information useful...KD_Bead

http://a1beadsbeadartjewelrysupplies.com/nymo.html



http://a1beadsbeadartjewelrysupplies.com/nymo.html