All About Jewelry Cord
Cord
Jewelry-making cord is a timeless trend in fashion. Cord tends to be thicker than thread and is used in braiding, lacing, macramé and other applications. The numerous material choices of cording—combined with a myriad of color options—create endless design opportunities. And unlike other stringing materials that are normally hidden, cord is often used as a visible element in jewelry designs.
Read on to explore our cord choices and get your creative wheels turning.
Beadalon® Elonga™
Elonga stretch cord from Beadalon is made of several fine, elastic threads that have been bonded together. Easily threaded on beading needles for easier stringing.
- Opaque stretch cord
- Gentle drape
- Suggested needles: #10, #12, #15, Wide-Eye
- Ideal for lightweight beads
- Available in 3 diameters and 1 color
Braided Leatherette ("Bolo Cord")
Tightly braided leatherette cords can be finished with bolo tips, wire wrapping or glue-in cord ends.
- Leatherette cord
- Tight weave
- Soft, smooth texture
- Pair with bolo tips, bolo slides and large-hole beads
- Suggested needles: n/a
- Ideal for bolo ties, bracelets and Western-style jewelry
- Available in 2 diameters and 7 colors
Hemptique™ Bamboo Cord
Polished bamboo cord is stronger than cotton, and softer and smoother than hemp.
- Biodegradable polished bamboo cord
- Renewable material from bamboo groves
- Flexible, holds knots well
- Tensile strength (PSI) up to 20lbs for 1.8mm bamboo cord
- Suggested needles: #10, #12, Wide-Eye
- Ideal for kumihimo, bead stringing, wedding décor, gift packaging, macramé, fingerloop and other braiding
- Available in 3 diameters and 3 colors
Hemptique™ Hemp Cord
Natural hemp cord is an eco-friendly, durable stringing choice that can withstand large amounts of embellishments.
- Biodegradable hemp cord
- Oil-free
- AZO-free dyes
- Waxed and polished to reduce fraying and enhance color
- Cord size can vary up to 0.2mm on a strand
- Tensile strength (PSI) up to 45lbs for 1.5mm hemp cord
- Suggested needles: #10, #12, Wide-Eye
- Ideal for kumihimo, bead stringing, macramé, wedding décor, gift packaging, scrapbooking, fingerloop and other braiding
- Available in 4 diameters and 36 individual colors, 20 multicolored/variegated styles and 7 mixed color packages
Imitation Silk
Imitation silk cord is easily knotted, flexible and drapes well.
- Rayon cord
- Cost-effective 100-foot spools
- Cord diameters may vary slightly
- Tensile strength (PSI) over 50lbs for 1mm , imitation silk cord
- Suggested needles: #10, #12, Wide-Eye
- Ideal for bead stringing, kumihimo, micro macramé, fringe, tassels, fingerloop and other braiding
- Available in 1 diameter and 15 colors
Imitation Sinew
Made from polypropylene or polyester, imitation sinew is coated in microcrystalline wax.
- Wax-coated polypropylene or polyester fiber cord
- 100% continuous filament
- Uniform and consistent throughout
- Can be cut to length and split lengthwise for narrower stringing material
- Tensile strength (PSI) up to 70lbs for 3mm imitation sinew cord
- Suggested needles: Wide-Eye for stringing, glover's needles for stitching leather
- Ideal for Native American and First Peoples art forms, including beading, leatherwork, dreamcatchers, etc.
- Available in 2 diameters and 5 colors
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Invizi™-Cord
Clear Invizi-Cord is a thicker nylon cord ideal for décor items.
- Nylon monofilament cord
- Knots easily
- Reliable strength
- Flexible drape
- Tensile strength (PSI) up to 8lbs for 0.25mm Invizi™-Cord
- Suggested needles: #10, #12
- Ideal for illusion jewelry, floating beaded designs, wind chimes and suncatchers
- Available in 1 diameter and 1 color
Leather
Leather cord is a rugged material that has long been at the forefront of fashion due to its incredible style versatility.
- Leather solid and braided (bolo) cord
- Natural, coated and dyed color options
- Cord profile (shape) includes round, stitched-sided round and flat
- Tensile strength (PSI) up to 15lbs for 2.5-3mm deerskin leather cord
- Suggested needles: Wide-Eye
- Ideal for bead stringing, minimalist jewelry, men's and unisex styles, Western trends, lacing, leatherwork and more
- Available in 10 diameters and 21 individual colors, plus 2 multicolored options
Parachute Cord
Parachute cord is most commonly used for survival-style jewelry. In a crisis situation, the jewelry can be disassembled and the parachute cord used for a variety of practical goals.
- Nylon cord
- Durable, smooth braided outer shell
- Seven inner strands for strength
- Military-specification parachute cord
- Tensile strength (PSI) up to 550lbs for 4mm parachute cord
- Suggested needles: n/a
- Ideal for survival-style jewelry, lanyards, belts, dog leashes and key chains
- Available in 1 diameter and 6 colors
Powercord®
Powercord knots easily for terminating strands in a range of techniques.
- Latex-free stretch cord
- Returns to original dimensions after stretching
- No fraying
- Surgeon's knot is the recommended finishing technique
- Tensile strength (PSI) up to 21.5lbs for 2mm elastic floss
- Suggested needles: #10, #12, Wide-Eye
- Ideal for energy bracelets, power bracelets, chokers, anklets and other stretch jewelry
- Available in 7 diameters and 13 colors
Satinique™
This satin fiber cord offers boundless possibilities for and more. Satinique is available in a variety of widths and colors, including multicolored, striped and metallic thread options.
- Nylon and polyester satin cord
- Shiny woven surface
- Single color and multicolor options
- Tensile strength (PSI) over 50lbs for all sizes Satinique cord
- Suggested needles: Wide-Eye
- Ideal for stringing, kumihimo, macramé, Asian knot techniques, fingerloop and other braiding
- Available in 4 diameters and 40 single colors, plus 26 multicolored varieties
Silicone Cord
Silicone cord is comfortable, colorful and versatile. Ready-to-wear silicone cord necklaces and bracelets are also available.
- Latex-free hollow silicone cord
- Suggested needles: n/a
- Ideal for slipping over memory wire, using as is for cording or cut into tube beads
- Available in 4 diameters and 7 colors, plus an assortment which includes 12 colors
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Stretch Elastic Floss
Elastic floss is a 25% polyester, 75% rubber blend.
- Latex-free stretch cord
- Knots superbly
- Long memory for original shape
- Surgeon's knot is the recommended finishing technique
- Tensile strength (PSI) up to 3lbs for 0.5mm elastic floss
- Suggested needles: #10, #12, #15, Wide-Eye
- Ideal for lightweight jewelry and craft applications
- Available in 1 diameter and 9 colors
Suede Lace
Available in genuine and faux varieties, flat suede lace cord can be finished with knotting or the use of a variety of terminator findings, including ribbon crimp ends, cord ends and clasps.
- Two types: microfiber faux suede and genuine leather suede cord
- Provides incredible comfort and drape to strung designs
- Microfiber faux suede measures approximately 1mm thick
- Genuine leather suede measures approximately 1mm to 1.75mm thick
- Microfiber faux suede tensile strength (PSI) up to 20lbs for 3mm
- Genuine leather suede tensile strength is variable; product is recommended for lightweight designs
- Suggested needles: Wide-Eye
- Ideal for lacing, bead stringing, fringe, tassels and Western trends
- Microfiber faux suede: available in 2 diameters and 13 colors
- Genuine leather suede: available in 2 diameters and 9 colors
Synthetic Rubber Cord
Synthetic rubber cord is comfortable and flexible.
- Solid synthetic rubber and elastic rubber cord
- Elastic rubber cord is covered with black nylon
- Latex-free, waterproof and sturdy
- Smooth under tension
- Suggested needles: Wide-Eye
- Ideal for stretch bracelets, corded jewelry
- Available in 4 diameters and 15 colors
Velveteen Cord (with rubber)
This cord is touchable and easy to use.
- Velveteen-coated hollow rubber cord
- Holds shape, resists creasing
- Cuts easily, does not fray
- Suggested needles: n/a
- Ideal for slipping over memory wire, using as is for cording or cut into tube beads
- Available in 3 diameters and 5 colors
Waxed Cotton Cord
This tightly woven round cord has a light wax treatment for a soft, wearable drape.
- Biodegradable cotton cord
- Renewable material from the cotton plant
- Vegan-friendly alternative to leather cord
- Coating prevents fraying, stiffens cord and makes secure knots easier
- Tensile strength (PSI) over 50lbs for 2mm and larger cotton cord
- Suggested needles: Wide-Eye
- Ideal for kumihimo, braiding and micro macramé; humid zones, moist environments and tropical areas; stitching leather; lasts longer when exposed to perspiration than uncoated cord
- Available in 4 diameters and 11 colors
Waxed Linen Cord
This 4-ply waxed linen cord is a favorite for bead stringing, knotting, heavy-duty stitching, braiding, micro macramé and for use with chainmaille.
- Biodegradable linen cord
- Renewable material from the flax plant
- Vegan-friendly alternative to leather cord
- Coating prevents fraying, stiffens cord and makes secure knots easier
- Tensile strength (PSI) up to 40lbs for 0.5-0.8mm cord
- Suggested needles: Wide-Eye
- Ideal for humid zones, moist environments and tropical areas; lasts longer when exposed to perspiration than uncoated cord
- Available in 1 diameters and 3 colors
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