Multi-Strand Necklaces

I am delighted at your website.

I have been looking in the web and it is the first one that I truly enjoyed reading.

I make costume jewelry, normally use tiger tail wire for most of my necklaces (I started by using fishing line or clear cords.)

I have two questions:

1. I want to make a three strand necklace with fishing line or any of the clear cords that I have. I just do not know how to attach the three cords to the clasp.

In the past, I used to make a knot and used a barrel clasp with a one strand design.

The three cords would be too thick to fit in the barrel though. I thought that if I used crimp beads, the metal would cut the cord. How could I best accomplish it?

2. What is the best cord to use for wooden beads?

Thanks!

Glenda

Thank you for your kind comments. I’m so glad you’re enjoying The Artful Crafter.

You are correct that crimp beads and tubes can cut through fishing line and clear plastic cord; so these stringing materials are not a good choice for your multi-strand necklace.

You have several choices for attaching the strands to a clasp. Use any clasp with rings large enough to accommodate attachment of three stands if you don’t need the strands to be separated.

Two examples I can think of are a necklace where the three strands will be intertwined around each other or a three-strand necklace with fairly small beads at both ends so that the strands can easily hang side by side in a small space.

If you need more separation between the beads, you can use a three to one connector like this or a multi-strand endpiece like this.

Another way to provide more separation is to thread the ends through a metal cone. You have a wide variety of decorative cones to choose from. Here is just one example: a Bali Silver Large Open Cone.

The tiger tail wire you already have may work just fine. Use medium weight for wood, plastic or glass beads. Lightweight is best for small gem beads and freshwater pearls. Heavyweight is best for gemstone, metal and larger glass beads.

If the tiger tail is too stiff for what you have in mind, try Soft Flex .019 Medium. This is one of the most flexible stainless steel jewelry wires available.

Softflexgirl Sara

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