There are many types of knots that can be used to fashion jewelry. Knots can be used to add beads to a necklace or finish off a bracelet, and knowing which ones to use can make a difference between a well-made item and a lackluster one.
What are the most useful types of jewelry knots? The overhand knot, the square knot, and the sliding knots are a few of the knots that can be quite versatile in most jewelry items today. Depending on the type of jewelry you’re making, the size of the cord, and the type of thread used, you can choose a suitable knot to add to your design.
If you want to know about the most useful jewelry knots, this article will tell you all about them.
What To Know Before Choosing A Knot
In traditional jewelry making, knots are used to end and add new beads. They can also be used to fasten the cord’s ends and even as a decorative touch. There are so many ways to fashion a knot, and knowing which knot is suitable for which occasion will really make a difference in the design.
Before choosing a knot for a jewelry design, it’s best to pick out your material or cord first. Small cords, thick cords, or even leather cords can look very different depending on the material you’re using.
If you are adding beads and decorative gems to your design, you should make sure that the cord and the knot you choose can support the weight and size of the beads.
If you’ve chosen the material for your design, let’s go ahead and learn about some of the most useful jewelry knots that you should know about, which you can use in your design.
Knots For Leather Bracelets
All of the knots mentioned below will be quite useful to know when working with every type of cord, but they will be particularly useful for leather cords because they are quite secure and can also add a decorative touch to leather bracelets.
Overhand Knot
The overhand knot is a common and simple knot. If you have tied your shoes before, you’ll have likely made an overhand knot without even knowing it. Picture the simplest knot, and a picture of the overhand knot would come to mind.
The overhand knot is made by creating a loop and inserting one end of the cord through the loop to fasten it up.
This is a very simple way to add a stopper to a bead in your design. If you want to secure the bead in place, you can also add a dab of glue to the knot to secure it. You can also add an overhand knot on each end of the bead to keep it in place.
There are other applications to this knot as well. You can use this knot at the end of a cord to keep the cord from fraying beyond the knot, as well as secure all the beads inside the cord.
You can also use the knot to secure a clamshell bead at the end of a cord, which can act as a very nice and clean way to finish off a piece of jewelry while perfectly hiding the knot inside the clamshell.
Take a look at this video tutorial from Howcast:
Lark’s Head Knot
The Lark’s head knot is another simple knot that is super easy to create, but it also has a lot of applications.
It is created by folding a cord in half where a loop is created at one end, and you can pull this loop through a pendant or a clasp and then insert the two cords at the other end through the loop to fasten it off.
This knot cannot be made on its own without a pendant or a clasp. When you have a stunning pendant where you want that to be the highlight of the piece, the lark’s head knot is a simple, easy way to secure the pendant to the cord without much effort.
In macrame or other textile art, this knot is also a popular way to fasten off the end of a stitch or add a cord to an existing piece.
Take a look at this video tutorial from SimplyInspired:
Square Knot
Square knots are commonly used in braided jewelry to attach new pieces of cord. They can also be combined with beads for a more sophisticated look.
Although this is another simple knot, you can make it more sophisticated by using multiple strands of cord or using different colors of cords to highlight the knot.
The basic idea of the square knot is to wrap the two strands of cords around the core strand and tie a knot using a circular loop. There are a few ways to add a bit of sophistication to this design.
In macrame, multiple square knots are created in a row to create a long rope. If you want to create a spiral design with this technique, you can place one side over the other rather than alternating the knots.
One of the reasons why this knot is so popular is that it works well with almost every design and material. You can use it with macrame cords, leather, or other types of cords. You can also incorporate beads in between each knot to add design elements to it.
If you know the basics of this knot, you can really incorporate it into countless designs with endless possibilities.
Take a look at this video tutorial from Bob Hansler:
Sliding Knot
The sliding knot is a great way to make a necklace or bracelet adjustable. It doesn’t require a clasp, and it can be used for people with metal allergies who cannot wear jewelry with metal clasps.
The mechanism for the sliding knot is simple enough. With two parallel cords, you can tie an overhand knot using one cord’s end, with the other cord in between the knot. Then, repeat on the other end, using the ‘core’ cord to tie an overhand knot over the other cord.
When you pull the two remaining ends of the cords, the two overhand knots will meet in the middle to extend the length of the cords. When you pull the two knots at the end, the length is shortened to become the desired size.
While the mechanism is simple, there are various ways that you can make this knot a bit more sophisticated.
For example, you can add a bead to hold the two cords before tying the knot to add a decorative touch. You can also replace the overhand knot with various other decorative cords to add a bit more sophistication to the design.
Take a look at this video tutorial from AESTHETICArt:
Other Useful Jewelry Knots
Besides the basic knots above, which are often used for making practical and decorative knots in leather cords and other jewelry designs, below are some more useful cords that you can use to connect new cords and add a decorative touch when making macrame or other types of jewelry.
Surgeon’s Knot
The surgeon’s knot is a strong and versatile alternative to the square knot, as it can be used to secure elastic cords or other slippery materials.
The surgeon’s knot is highly secured and involves a few twists, so the result is often not very decorative. You will often have to hide the surgeon’s knot inside a clam bead to tuck it away.
To work a surgeon’s knot, you can hold two parallel cords together. Then, make a loop like you are making an overhand knot, loop one end of the two cords through the loop twice, and fasten it off. This will ensure that even the slipperiest material won’t be able to slip out of the knot.
Take a look at this video tutorial from Stephen Fairley:
Half-Hitch Knot
The half-hitch knot is a commonly used beading technique that can be used for both decorative and practical purposes. It’s useful when you want to finish off a cord or add a new cord to the design.
To work a half-hitch cord, wrap the short end of your cord around the new cord, loop the short end around and make a knot around the long end of the old cord, and fasten it off to secure a single half-hitch knot.
You can add another loop to it to create a double half-hitch knot to add a bit of extra security to the design.
Take a look at this video tutorial from KIMO365:
Pretzel Knot
The Josephine knot, also known as the pretzel knot, is a pretty and versatile type of knot that can be used in macramé. It got its name because the final appearance of the knot will resemble a pretzel.
There are various ways to ‘dress up’ a pretzel know. You can use two cords in two different colors to highlight the construction of the knot. You can also double up the cords to add a bit more structure to the design.
The pretzel knot is usually created as a decorative touch to a design rather than a functional knot. This knot will often be the focal point of any design, so if you are using it in your design, make sure to incorporate other simple elements so that the design won’t be too crowded.
Here’s a simple video from WhyKnot telling you how to tie a pretzel knot:
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