Pearl sizes and PowerPro

[Pearlcat]

Hi everyone:

I got some 10lb PowerPro and, of course, when I used it as a single thread, the knots are too small and the pearls go through.

I read back through the PowerPro threads and realized some of you double up the thread (or more) when knotting. I guess my question is there a particular size of PowerPro that does not need to be doubled-up before knotting? Thanks!

 

[Raisondetre]

I've always strung with doubled threads. I tried 10lb only with 6.5mm pearls and found that to be slightly loose so I double-knotted. I use mostly 20lb test for pearls 7-10mm.

 

[Cathybear]

I have 8lb, 10lb, 20lb and 30lb. I use 30lb most of the time. I suppose I use it on bigger pearls, but it really depends on how big the drill holes are.

 

[Nerida]

I always use it doubled. 10lb I use the least, and only on small (<6.5mm or so) pearls. 20lb I use the most, unless I am doing klonks (12mm FW or above) then I go up to 30lb. Seems to work for me!

 

[Island Bound]

Thank you for asking this question Pearlcat. I'm very new to this and am learning so much from this site (as well as trial and error)!

Thank you to all who respond as it helps me know what to order when buying PowerPro. The sports stores in my area rarely have the white (they always carry the green) so I end up ordering online and am too impatient to like the waiting. I just received 10 and 30lb so will add some 20lb as well.

Thanks again!

 

[Caitlin]

There is a difference between using a double thread and double knotting. The best way to use Power pro is with a needle on a doubled strand. I don't see how it can be done with a single thread unless the needle is already attached and that is a much more perilous way of knotting.

Double knotting is when you pass the pearls through the loop twice instead of just once. It makes a bigger knot if you are using a thread a little too small for a single knot as Raison said.

 

[Island Bound]

Caitlin, I understand what you are talking about with a double thread vs double knotting. Based on all that I have learned from this site, I have taken to always using PowerPro as a double strand. I have been using a single or a double knot as it fit whatever I was working on. Aside from the size of the drill hole, are there other reasons for using double knotting vs single knotting? Obviously, the size of the knot is larger. Is it a strength issue as well?

I'm getting ready to advance my practice on something other than the cheapy beads I've been buying to play with and am wondering if I should start using a double knot exclusively?

Thanks in advance for the help!

Julie

 

[Caitlin]

Double knotting just makes the knot bigger, it does not add to the strength of the string. Whether you use it is up to you.

I sometimes clarify the obvious for future readers more than for the present poster. I was trying to answer pearlcat's question too.

I like repeating info in different threads because it increases the likelihood that novices will see it.

 

[Island Bound]

And this true novice appreciates it! I have learned so much from starting in older threads and reading through everything I can find...

For me, I guess it will come down to asthetics and how I think the knot size looks in comparison to the pearl size.

 

[jerin]

Use Power Pro with doubled threads, do only one knot and you will not even see the knot if you are lucky. 15 and 20 lbs will fit most pearls, the really heavy ones you could string with 30 lbs.

A necklace looks very nice if the knots are neat.

 

[Island Bound]

Inge, that brings up another question I have had... Do you really want to "see" the knots? Or, as you mention, if you are lucky, you don't even see the knot. I have some things I have done that are both ways. One I can see the knots and I like the look as it adds another dimension to some small, irregularly shaped fw pearls. One I can't see the knots and I also like it as it added some fluidity to the strand but the knots fade away.

Is this a matter of personal taste and opinion? I have both (especially opinions if you ask my hubby - haha) but I find myself doubting them...

Neat - I continue to work on that aspect!

Julie

 

[Pearlcat]

Thanks everybody -- you guys rock with your information and helpfulness. Frankly, you guys are the ones that inspired me to learn how to knot!

I think I will be ordering 20 and 30 pounds and see how this goes. Thanks again, Kate

 

[Cathybear]

I think the main thing with the knots is that they are big enough for the drill hole, otherwise the pearls either side can slide over it.

 

[jerin]

Inge, that brings up another question I have had... Do you really want to "see" the knots? Or, as you mention, if you are lucky, you don't even see the knot. I have some things I have done that are both ways. One I can see the knots and I like the look as it adds another dimension to some small, irregularly shaped fw pearls. One I can't see the knots and I also like it as it added some fluidity to the strand but the knots fade away.

Is this a matter of personal taste and opinion? I have both (especially opinions if you ask my hubby - haha) but I find myself doubting them...

Neat - I continue to work on that aspect!

Julie

Hi Julie,
of course there is no necklace with invisible knots, it was perhaps not quite what I wanted to express but in general with Power Pro the case is that the larger the pearls, the "smaller" the knots look. That goes for sizes that are not too thick, of course. As I said before, 15 - 30 lbs should cover most. If you have smaller pearls, perhaps 8 - 10 lbs would be suitable. Acutally, I do like to see the knots as long as they don?t appear to be overly large in comparison with the pearls as it also shows the quality of a necklace, bracelet or whatever. The colour of the stringing material, the size, the look - everything is a factor that makes the "whole" so interesting in my opinion.Just imagine a necklace of round pearls, where the knots are almost invisible, seen from a certain angle, the pearls seem to float together in a perfect wave pattern because of all material being matched to perfectness - that is my idea of a lovely pearl necklace. It is harder to get the same look with baroque pearls. Before I started to use Power Pro I bought a lot of different coloured silkthreads and I still might use them if the pearls are small so the stretching factor is not that important.

 

[Sueki]

Mostly I use 15lb., 20lb., and occasionally 30lb.
However, I have used 150lb. recently on a re-stringing job for a client.
The beads were huge - about 25mm. - and very heavy.
Not pearls - they were some kind of faux turquoise.
I still found the Powerpro very easy to knot, even at that size.
And I have some pearls waiting to be strung that have large drill holes and will need 50lb. or 65lb. I think.

 

[Hanaleimom]

Hi,
When you say double knot, do you mean the double overhand stopper knot? http://www.animatedknots.com/stopperrescue/index.php

When using 30lb Power Pro for some of my strands, the knots were too small and the pearls slid through them. Two overhand knots didn't do the trick either (same thickness, just more knots and longer strands ). I wonder if double overhand knots would have done the job? I ended up using 50 lb test.

Here is a photo of 50lb Power Pro versus silk. The knots are still much smaller compared to silk. I love Power Pro.

 

[Island Bound]

Oh Inge, what a beautiful vision of a necklace I just had when imagining the "floating" pearls! I would love to get to that point with my knotting. Practice will eventually make that perfection possible...

Cathy, I have used the double overhand method vs the double knots and like the double overhand look. The necklaces you showed are gorgeous! May I ask, do you live in Hana? Hubby and I would love to move there some day!

Julie

 

[Hanaleimom]

May I ask, do you live in Hana? Hubby and I would love to move there some day!

Julie

Hi Julie, I don't live in Hana nor Hanalei, although I wish I do. I am still dreaming.

 

[jerin]

Oh Inge, what a beautiful vision of a necklace I just had when imagining the "floating" pearls! I would love to get to that point with my knotting. Practice will eventually make that perfection possible...

Cathy, I have used the double overhand method vs the double knots and like the double overhand look. The necklaces you showed are gorgeous! May I ask, do you live in Hana? Hubby and I would love to move there some day!

Julie

Hi Julie,
you will get there very soon I believe. It is not the knots that will get that result but the MATCHING AND the knots. My advice: do train your eyes to get that "floating" image by matching the size and the thickness of the pearls and you will be there in no time....

 

[Nerida]

Sueki - I did a string of tiger eye beads for a customer on 150lb.... I can't tell you how much it hurt my hands though! The beads were about 14 or 15mm and very heavy.. not fun at all!
Inge - I love your imagery of the pearls floating... I think this is what our knots have to be big enough to achieve - not just big enough so that the pearl doesn't slide over it (and therefore related to drill hole size), but also so that the knot gives an effective "joint" between the pearls to allow for the desired drape to occur - or wave.
Some pearls (keishi, some coin pearls) require bigger knots for this reason, not for drill hole size.