Pearl knotting with no tools

Caitlin

Caitlin

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Dec 11, 2004
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Here is a practice video for knotting without tools. I recommend you use Pearl Dream's instructions for making a pearl necklace. (also a sticky on Lowly beader's club)

But if you want to know how to knot without tools, then switch to this video after the clasp and beads are all strung on. I just knot over and over, so there are plenty of chances to practice along.

It is the first DIY video I have ever made, so I want your negative feedback. Can you learn from it? I think my voice is kind of annoying, but not sure what to do a about that, LOL!

I will do it over if there is something you don't understand. Otherwise, add this version of pearl-knotting to your repertoire!
 
I could follow it easily Caitlin...however, I think you could consider adding some footage at the beginning to explain how you get the pearls lined up onto the string in the first place. For an absolute novice the video starts in the middle. For many would-be knotters it is the start and finish which are the tricky bits and your knotting starts with some pearls already knotted and doesn't tell how to end either.
You might also edit out the unfocussed swoops
Sorry to nitpick but you did ask - and feel free to be very critical of the Pearlescence video too!
 
I think your voice sounds great. I like that you do it over and over. Most videos are too short. :)
 
Great video! I like the repetitiveness of it and your voice isn't annoying....and I love the tray that you are stringing on :D
 
Very clear and helpful video, Caitlin. I like the repetition. Your voice is just fine and your hands are beautiful!
 
You are all too kind. Thanks Wendy- we have an honest relationship- you know I always tell you when I think you could o technical stuff better, so I appreciate your feedback. As for your pearl knotting video, it is the only one I have ever recommended- so far! That imovie program still has me baffled- whoever said macs were "intuitive"! Hah!

I really did this as a supplement to Pearl Dreams' excellent tutorial, but now I have the bug and I might do a few more! I even forgot to mention those chartreuse pearls! I was going to come back and show how to do the endless strand, but our kitchen got taken apart to repair a wet floor under the frig, and so I just finished it so I could wear it to and from the wedding with my apple green "Wicked" witch of the west, Efalba, tee shirt. ( I didn't have the nerve to wear the apple green nail polish! (wink). When it is out of the laundry, I'll do a neck shot.....

Marianne, I originally titled the video "how to knot without tools for people with clutzy hands", figuring my big ol workworn ranch hands could do it, anyone's could.

Hi camhatch! That tray was my mother-in-law's. We got a lot of stuff like that from her- so fancy, like everything she had- she is the one who also wore ropes and ropes of akoyas, none of which my sister in law would pass on to my girls :mad:, so instead they gave me 1k (!!!!) to go pearl shopping, and that is how I found the Pearl-Guide- by shopping at Pearl Paradise! ;) but it is a great desk for knotting!

She did give me one choker of baroque akoyas that were all peeling and ick. So, my poetic justice was to put that choker into the shadow box with the umi diver I made for Pearl Paradise.LOL The little diver is standing in a pile of pearls made from the strand.....
 
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I've been trying this technique but I still can't seem to arrange my left hand fingers such that the knot forms next to the pearl, and when I try to separate the strands it doesn't slide all the way to the pearl! Aaargh! Will keep trying though. :)
 
I need to make a tiny collar for my puppy, Dolly. I think I will make it into a video, and I will try to show how to flip the pearls right up against the thred, so the knot is already in place. However, with Powerpro, it doesn't matter, you can slide the knt into place. I think, if you just keep going, your hands will naturally learn the best way to to the flip. That is how I learned. I just kept making knots that were out of place and pulling them into place, then one day, my hands figured it out for themselves. (That is not a joke, hands have muscle memory, just as bodies do. Dancers always use muscle memory to recreate old dances, for instance.) The mind doesn't keep it conscious, it is like learning to ride a bike- you get it when the muscles do it without your thinking about it.

So don't give up -and do report back. I will work on this until you can do it, OK?
 
We speak plainly to eachother, which I much prefer.
In turn I reckon my hands are huge, and inelegant and my voice is nasal
 
Yes, this is an excellent video! BTW where did you get that big ole' roll of PP 20? I have only found the smaller rolls. Thanks so much ~d
 
CharmedOne, you can get large spools of Power Pro on eBay-- 150 yards, 300 yards and more.
 
Thank you PD, I purchased one on ebay but it looked completely different. Maybe because it was in the fishing line box, but I haven't seen a big one with that beading sticker on it on ebay. I will have to check again. I was afraid I got a PP fake, since it didn't look like my other thread. ~d
 
I will buy one from this seller. I forgot to add that the spool was in a box but it was very dirty and had a bunch of black dots on it. I grabbed my loupe to see what they were and tossed it out. But I will try this seller. Thanks ~d
 
Thank you Caitlin. So many ways to do it, and in the end it's the same result. It's a personal preference when it comes to knotting. I started out with Virchik's book and used needle to slide the knot close to the pearl. Then in 2011 we learned Hisano's technique. It was so much better for me because I didn't have to pick up and put down the needle. I missed seeing Sarah's technique. I'll try your technique the next time because it looks even simpler, especially watching you doing it over and over. That's good practice because most videos are short so I kept replaying or pausing when I first learned.

My observation is that Power Pro slides better than silk. Even when you mess up with the knot too far from the pearl, pulling the thread apart to slide the knot next to the pearl is a breeze with PP. I have broken my silk thread when I pulled too hard :) and had to start over. Like you, I also separate the thread, pull the pearl down then separate again for each pearl because I find that I have kinks inside the pearls lots of time.
 
Great video Catilin. I enjoyed watching you knotting. Is there anyway you can post another additional video with a close up as you create the knot? It doesn't look like you are putting pressure on the top of the pearl to keep the knot close to the hole, or are you?
 
Pearl Dreams said:
I've been trying this technique but I still can't seem to arrange my left hand fingers such that the knot forms next to the pearl, and when I try to separate the strands it doesn't slide all the way to the pearl! Aaargh! Will keep trying though. :)
Click to expand...

I just tried this with 7 pearls using silk. I couldn't get the knot to form tight next to the pearl either. But I was successful when separating the strands. I was afraid to pull hard (fear of breaking silk like I've done many times) so the knots seem ok. I am sure with Power Pro it'll be much easier to knot.
 
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