- A good work station with bright light is essential. Find something to anchor your strand while you work. A sheet of cardboard or foam core works best. Locate a needle and thread and a small pair of needle-nosed pliers. The needle should be sturdy but slender enough to move through the pearl. Choose thread strong enough to hold your strand together. Nylon or silk threads in nude colors are common choices. An extra pin will help make your knots. Finally, locate a sharp pair of scissors.
- Figure out how long you want your necklace to be. You can do this by counting how many pearls you have or lining them up to get an idea of length. Then measure out your thread. Leave yourself plenty of extra length. Knots take up more thread than you might expect. Be sure to measure out at least 7 to 8 extra inches when you cut your thread.
- Once you get into a rhythm knotting pearls isn't hard, but it's easy to get overconfident and lose focus. When this happens, knots get sloppy and steps are missed. If you feel your attention wandering, take a break. Stretch, rest your eyes, or go for a short walk. A well-strung pearl necklace is a keepsake. Take your time and make your knots strong.
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