Tying a necklace together with no clasp

If you are making a necklace that you plan on tying the ends together, and don't plan on using a clasp, you need to start out by tying a temporary knot in one end of the thread. This is to keep the beads from sliding off the one end while you're stringing them onto the other. Once the necklace is strung, you can either untie the knot or simply cut it off the thread. Then, tie the two ends together.

Using a Barrel clasp with a hidden knot

If you are using a barrel clasp and the ring on the end of the clasp is made using a pin, you can hide the knots inside the clasp. To do this, first use your round-nosed pliers to straighten out the ring in the pin so that the pin will slide out through the opening in the other end of the barrel.

To start a necklace:

1. Tie a double-knot in one end of the string and trim off any excess.
2. Put a drop of glue on the knot and let dry.
3. Thread the string through the barrel and out hole where the pin was removed.
4. Pull the barrel over the knot so that the knot is hidden inside the barrel.

To end a necklace:

1. Thread the string through the hole where the pin was removed and out barrel.
2. Tie a knot in the string using a needle to guide the knot down the string to the opening in the barrel.
3. Put a drop of glue on the knot and let dry, then trim off any excess string.
4. Pull the barrel over the knot so that the knot is hidden inside the barrel.

Using a clam shell bead

If you want to use a clamshell bead to connect the string to a clasp and hide the knot:

To start a necklace:

1. Tie a double-knot in one end of the string and trim off any excess.
2. Put a drop of glue on the knot and let dry.
3. Thread the string through the hole in the clamshell.
4. Pull the knot so that it rests inside the clamshell.
5. Using your flat-nosed pliers, carefully squeeze the two halves of the clamshell together.

To end a necklace:

1. Thread the string through the hole in the clamshell.
2. Tie a loose knot in the string as clsoe to the clamshell as possible.
3. Insert a needle or pin through the loose knot.
4. Now, holding onto the end of the string with one hand and the needle with the other hand, tighten the knot by using the needle to push the knot towards the inside of the clam shell.
5. Tie a second knot in the same manner on top of the first knot.
6. Put a drop of glue on the knot and let dry, then trim off any excess string.
7. Using your flat-nosed pliers, carefully squeeze the two halves of the clamshell together.

Connecting clasp:

1. Take your flat-nosed pliers in your left (or non-dominate) hand and grab one side of the ring on the clamshell.
2. Take one end of the clasp in your fingers and slip the clasp's ring through the opening in the ring on the clamshell bead.
3. Take your other pair of pliers in the free hand (right or dominate) and grab the other side of the ring on the clamshell.
4. Twist the two sides of the ring together using a sideways motion. Do not squeeze the ends together or pull the ends apart unless absolutely necessary, as this tends to deform the shape of the ring.
5. Place a small drop of super glue between the two ends of the ring and let dry. This helps to hold them together.

Using a French wire

Instead of using a clamshell to connect your string to the clasp, you can use a French wire to loop the string through the clasp's ring. The French wire protects the silk and bead cord and strengthens your strand.

To start or end a necklace:

1. String the first three beads.
2. Carefully cut about 1/4" of French wire and gently thread it onto your string.
3. Place one end of the clasp onto the string.
4. Thread the string back through the first bead and push the bead back to form the French wire into a loop on which the clasp rests.
5. Tie a single knot with both cords against the first bead, pulling tightly to secure the knot.
6. Thread the string through the second bead and secure in the same way.
7. Thread the string through the third bead, but do not tie, instead trim off the excess string.
8. Put a drop of glue on the knots and let dry, then trim off any excess string.

Using a crimp bead

A crimp bead is similar to using a French wire to loop the string through the clasp's ring, but replaces the knot with a crimp bead. Crimping is also a common method when using wire.

To start or end a necklace:

1. String the crimp bead.
2. Place one end of the clasp onto the string.
3. Thread the string back through the crimp bead and pull the string into a small loop in which the clasp rests.
4. Squeeze the crimp bead tight using your crimping pliers.
5. Trim off the excess string.