Continuous Circle of Knotted Pearls

Method One:

You can do this with a single thread:

1. Tie a stopper knot in the end. Thread on a bead, and tie a regular pearl knot 3 to 4in. above it.
2. Knot between all the beads, skipping the knot after the last one. Then cross the thread in the first bead,closing the circle.
3. Tie double overhand knots around the existing cord on either side of the first bead, glue them and let dry – then cut them.

Method Two:

I prefer the security, look and weight of a doubled cord.

In knotting, the thread needs to fill the hole as much as possible, so try to balance both requirements when you choose the thread size.

I like German carded silk for my knotting – the kind with a needle on it already. But this works for any knotting material.

1. Cut your thread 3 times longer than the finished length of the bracelet, tie a stopper knot in the end, thread on all of your beads.
2. Making sure the beads stay on the knotted end, loop the cord around an awl tip and tie a granny knot right next to it, (not an overhand or square knot) Remove the awl, leaving a small loop @ 1/8in.
3. Go back through the bead closest to the loop knot with the needle and pull the knot close.
4. Tie a granny knot with both strands tight to the other end of the bead.
5. Go through the next bead in line with the needle, cinching it close to the knot you just tied.
6. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 until there are only two beads left to knot between.
7.Tie the last knot VERY tightly in a square knot. Cinch the next to last bead, but DO NOT tie the next knot. Go through the last bead with the needle. DO NOT cinch it close.
8. Untie or cut the stopper knot and pull this cord out of the last bead only. Now cinch the last bead close, leaving the width of a tied knot. *There should be NO KNOT between the last two beads.
9. Thread the needle cord through the small loop from the beginning, then *back through the last bead*. Make sure that the space between the last two beads stays there, but pull the loop *INTO* the last bead so that it cinches next to the loop knot, joining the beads in a circle that looks continuous.
10. Now tie the needle cord around the cord between the last two beads VERY TIGHTLY in a double overhand knot. (Pass the thread though the loop twice – DON’T TIE TWO KNOTS!) If there is room in the bead, pass the needle back through the next to last bead, so that the two cords cross inside it. (this is preferable, but optional) Put a dab of spirit gum or glue on the knots on either side of the next to last bead, let them dry, then cut the cords really close.

You can ream or drill out the hole a bit larger in the beads that hold the crossed ends to facilitate either process, but if you choose the cord well, it isn’t necessary.

Hope this helps,
Perri Jackson
Shaktipaj Designs