Quick Tip Tuesday: How to Easily String Beads on 1mm Satin Rattail Cord

Satin Rattail Cord - Lilac Purple Mix

Most of my quick tips come out of solutions I have found to problems that i am having with my jewelry designs. This tip is no exception.

I have been braiding a lot of Kumihimo lately and recently started making beaded Kumihimo braids. It is very easy to add beads to Super-Lon Cord if you want to make a beaded Kumihimo piece which uses Super-Lon, but what if you want your entire piece to be made of Satin Rattail Cord? It seems impossible to get appropriately sized beads strung onto this thick cord.

Challenges: The satin rattail is too flexible and thick to easily string a bead directly onto it. When you try to push the bead onto the cord, the ends fray and it becomes even more challenging. If you thread a big eye needle with the cord, you are then forced to double the cord and it becomes way too thick. Ugh! 

Solution: Take a small amount of white glue and place it on your finger tip. Pick up the tail end of your 1mm satin rattail cord and spread the glue over the end, covering at least 1/2". Smoosh the glue into the fibers and then draw out to form a sleek, even end. If you can, make it so the end comes to a point (much like what you do when you clean off your paint brush). Let dry. You just made a glue needle. It will now be stiff, compacted, and will not fray - allowing you to easily slip size 6/0 seed beads onto the 1mm satin rattail.  

If you have larger beads, you can use this same technique with the 2mm and 3mm satin rattail cords.  

Happy Beading!
Julie