Ask the Experts Stringing Q&A

I want to string heavy gemstones and chips with flowing knotted cording the way that pearls are knotted. I'm afraid the weight and sharp edges of the stones will wear out and tear ordinary silk. Will it? What else can I knot that is strong and won't fray? Will nylon cord work?

Either nylon or silk cord can be used in knotting and both are quite strong. With knotting, it is always possible to have fraying over time when stringing gemstones or crystals due to the sharp nature of the edges. It’s the chance you take in knotting with them. You may never have a problem, but there is no guarantee. Something we do, when we want that look without knotting is to string on a small bead in place of a knot that mimics the style, so your piece is strung instead of knotted.

If you do decide to use knotting. we suggest trying 1mm nylon cord, providing it will fit through your gemstone holes. Nylon is a great material for knotting and using the knotting tool will make it even easier. You can also try imitation silk, which also has a 1mm diameter. The long description on the product page for your gemstone beads will tell you the size of the hole in the beads, so you can shop for products that are compatible in stringing size.

You can also reduce the sharp edges of the bead holes using bead reamers. These tools are used to smooth stringing holes, remove burrs from inside and soften the edges to prevent fraying.