The Button Drawer

When I lived in Austin, I got my buttons at Hancock Fabrics. The had such a great selection.

Alas, I now live 50 miles away and it is not so convenient to go there for buttons. So, the past few years, I have been getting most of my buttons at Walmart. Walmart has been cutting back on their sewing department and their selection of buttons is sadly lacking.

So. I went surfing for an online source. I chose to try The Button Drawer and have just received my first order from them. They have a wonderful selection. I bought a sampling of various buttons so I could get an idea of their quality. I am happy with their quality and I am very happy with their fast delivery. Their prices are reasonable and I will probably order from them again. The only drawback to their site is that the photos of their black buttons are not very clear. But, I do know the difficulty of photographing black items! - So, I will not hold it against them.

Now, I need to get some kits put together...bye for now.

Beads! Beads! Beads!

New Beads! I love getting a new set of beads...so many colors. (drool, errrr, excuse me).

The last time I tried Czechoslavakian seed beads, their holes seemed a bit small. But oh the colors...so I bravely tried again (and how!). Since that time, I have discovered that C-lon cord can occasionally be flattened out in places. This makes the tip too wide to easily fit through those tiny holes. But, if I trim off the flattened part (and re-treat with fingernail polish of course), the resultant rounder tip will more easily fit. So, I ordered some Czech size 11 seed beads in all kinds of colors...They worked great! The hole sizes were just fine.

Find Seed and Bugle Beads here at Fire Mountain Gems.


Then, I was craving some new focals. Yes, I still love those faceted Czech fire-polished beads (they sparkle so nicely and their holes are reliably the right size), but I like to experiment. I really like the round Druk beads. They have a lot of finishes to choose from...but, again, hole size is a problem. Some of my micro macrame designs require 4 strands of cord to pass through the bead hole. I have found that the holes in the 6mm and 8mm sizes, the holes will only allow 2 strands of cord. Only the 10mm will allow 4 strands. So....I went ahead and bought a bunch. I will use the 10mm's in "Spirals" anklets (which require 4 strands to pass through the bead holes) without a lot of problems. And, most of my other designs require only 1-2 strands to pass through bead holes....As you can see in photo below of "Lacy Ripples Bracelet in Lustrous Blue" that the Druk beads worked fine.

Find Czech Glass Beads (both fire-polished, druk, and much more) at Fire Mountain Gems.

"Lacy Ripples Bracelet in Lustrous Blue"
Beaded with Druk blue lustre beads (6mm, 8mm, 10mm) and subtly highlighted with size 11 Czech seed beads in iridescent blueish gray along the edges.

Macrame - Instructions, Patterns and Tutorials

Making macrame jewelry is a lot of fun. There are projects that are quite simple and those that are as complex as you can imagine. Once you have mastered the knots and how to put them together in various projects, a world of creative possibilities opens up. There are literally so many ways you can take this art that the possibilities seem endless.

To Get Started:
If you are totally unfamiliar with macrame, find "Basic Macrame Knots". You can use any kind of cord to practice the knots - even some that is thicker than you will eventually use for beading. This is just to get you familiar with the knots.

Are you ready for a project?

There are quite a few free instructions for various projects available on the internet. Although, not all of them are for micro macrame jewelry. A quick Google Search gave me several. One I liked at a glance was Hand Crafted by Elaine.

Of course, you could browse my "Patterns" and you may find a project you want to try.

Or browse "KnotGypsy's BookStore for Beaders" for a variety of beading books including some on beaded macrame. Most any book on macrame knots should suffice. Just find one you like. Do the illustrations show the steps clearly? Are the instructions understandable to you?

As always, if you have any comments or questions, I encourage you to leave them here or contact me (see my profile).

Glues and Closures

Glues, Etc

To stiffen the ends of the cord and to prevent fraying, I use clear fingernail polish. I paint some on, and gently twist the cord in the direction of the spiraled plies. After it dries, I snip the ends on a diagonal and paint a little more polish on. When making a large piece with a lot of small holed beads, I find I need to renew the ends from time to time. I find this most necessary with the Omega brand cord. As the C-lon is stiffer, the need is not so great. I've even made entire pieces with C-lon without the polish.

To secure end knots, I dab on some "Jewel Glue" by Delta. It is a fabric glue for attaching jewels, beads, & rhinestones to fabric. It is washable, so unlikely to dissolve if one of my pieces get wet. I don't recommend routinely getting the jewelry wet, but I may be overly cautious. I gave an ankle bracelet to a friend of mine about 3 years ago. She wears it all the time, and claims to even take a shower in it. It still looks much as it did when I made it. (Cord used was the Omega Brand.) I buy the glue at Walmart.

Closures:

I use a variety of closures, but the most often: buttons, lobster claws, and toggles. I try to get silver or gold plated clasps. Hopefully, soon I'll be able to upgrade to sterling and gold filled. Still Fire Mountain Gems is the store of my choice.

With the buttons, some metal, most plastic; depends on the button. There is a lot of variety in buttons. I say, let yourself go wild! I get them at sewing shops, Walmart, etc. My favorite local supplier is Hancock Fabrics. They have a large selection, larger than they have in their online store.

Well, that pretty much sums up my materials. Thank you for reading this, hope you found it informative (and maybe a little interesting?). Feel free to leave comments, tips, etc.

Work Surface

Let's talk about the surface used to pin your work to.

I got lucky, and bought a Puzzle Brand mousepad at garage sale many years ago (before I even started micro macrame!). I didn't even know why I was buying it, but it works wonderfully well. It is one of those old fashioned thick ones (5/8 inches thick, cloth covered). You, remember, those old, thick pads shaped kind of like a puzzle piece. I have just spent the last 30 minutes on google search looking for even an old used one. I failed. I could not find even one. Alas, all the modern mousepads are ultra thin. I have tried one of the new ones in a desperate attempt to have a back up in the event my beloved mousepad dies. Not so good.I don't know how I will survive when this one finally wears out.

A Call to the Universe: Help me find more of these thick mousepads!

Reading in various books on macrame, I see macrame boards, and cork boards mentioned (available at most hobby stores and some Walmarts). I have never tried the macrame boards, but I did try a cork (bulletin type) board, once. The cork board worked, but not nearly so well as my trusty mousepad. My mousepad is not only thick, but the foam rubber part is nice and dense. It grabs and holds my pins securely as I pull on it while knotting.

For now, my mousepad still lives. I worry about the day it dies. I will continue to search for one of these old type mousepads. Failing that, I will be looking for a pad of similar materials.

Anyone reading this blog, who knows of the whereabouts of such a pad, please leave a comment. Perhaps if enough of us crafters want some, some manufacturer will make them for us. I would even like one a little larger for larger projects. I mean, while I'm dreaming...

Jewels in Fiber

I have been buying my C-lon nylon beading cord from Jewels in Fiber for several months now. I have been extremely happy with her prices and her excellent customer service. She carries a variety of other cords as well.

Recently, I opened my mail to find C-lon micro cord samples! She sent me some samples without my asking for them! It was such a wonderful surprise.

Marion Hunziker-Larsen is also an amazing artist. I am in awe of her talent and skill at knotting. Her style is unique. I encourage you to take a look at her Collection.

So, official thanks to Marion for her excellent service and thoughtfulness. Applause for her gorgeous work.

Let's Talk About Beads

Although, I like to play with a wide variety of beads, and there are some very beautiful beads out there; not all of them will work with my designs. The biggest problem I run into is hole size. Some of my designs require as many as 4 strands of cord to pass through.

Through trial and error, I have found beads that work. My "Basics" as shown in photo above are seed beads (top row, in boxes) and faceted Czechoslavakian fire polished crystal rounds (bottom row). My favorite source is Fire Mountain Gems.

Note: In the descriptions below, I refer to C-lon beading cord and Omega nylon crochet thread. See post "Cord" for more information on these cords (and others) .

Seed Beads:

Size 11 - With C-lon cord, I can use most any brand. Delicas are very uniform and have a very nice hole size. Dynamites are a bit varied in size, giving a more organic look. Ornela Czech seed beads are quite beautiful, but their hole size is a bit smaller than the other brands. They still work with the C-lon beading cord, but not at all with the Omega nylon crochet thread.

Size 8 - Will accommodate 2 strands of cord (C-lon or Omega). Very useful as accent beads.

Size 6 - Will accommodate 4 strands of cord (C-lon or Omega). Very useful.

Czech Glass Beads:

Fire-Polished - I most commonly use 6mm and 8mm beads. Occasionally, I also use 4mm and 10mm beads.

• 4mm - will accommodate 1 strand of C-lon, but not Omega.


• 6mm - will accommodate 2 strands of C-lon (or Omega but it is a tight fit).


• 8mm - will accommodate 4 strands of C-lon or (or Omega but it is a tight fit).


• 10mm - will easily accommodate 4 strands of either cord and come in handy as focals.

Pressed Glass in various shapes - I really love to experiment with the different shapes, but the holes are typically small. Some of the smaller sized beads will accommodate only one strand of cord and the larger beads will only accommodate 2 strands (of either C-lon or Omega cords). The smaller teardrops and flower cones work especially well in tassels; and I do love tassels!

Gemstone Chips:

I have recently been experimenting with gemstone chips. I love the colors and the organic look. Chips offer a bit of chaos that I believe adds interest. The hole sizes are typically small, but will accommodate 1 strand of C-lon cord. So, I have had to develop designs (like "Criss Cross" and a variation of "Nouveau") just so I can use these beads.

There you have it, my most commonly used beads.

Cord

I use a variety of cord in my work. Here is a run down on each type and where I get it. Photo above shows C-lon nylon beading cord in the front row and Omega Brand Crochet Thread #2 in the back row. See below for more information.

C-lon nylon beading cord:

I discovered this cord this past January. I love it. Its gauge is narrow enough to fit through most size 11 seed beads (without too much difficulty). It comes in 64 colors and being nylon, it is durable. Although it is nylon, it has an organic look when knotted into jewelry. It runs a bit stiff, giving body to whatever piece I use in in. I get my C-lon beading cord at Jewels in Fiber.

They have now come out with C-lon Micro cord, so far in only 8 colors. I have not yet tried it...but I want to. It is apparently even narrower gauge than regular C-lon bead cord.

Bonded Twine a.k.a. Macrame Beading Cord:

This cord is a heavier gauge than all the other I am listing. It is too heavy a gauge to use with size 11 seed beads, but will often work with size 10 seed beads. I use this cord in designs that don't need the tiny seed beads and for items that need a bit of heft. I think this is a great cord for beginners. So far, the only place I know to get Bonded Twine is at Fire Mountain Gems. It comes in 14 colors.

Mastex Nylon #18:

So far I have only tried Mastex Nylon #18 once. (Also at Jewels in Fiber.) It has a narrower gauge than regular C-lon and is not as stiff. The suppleness will be good for designs that need less body but more draping qualities. I plan to try it some more, I just have not gotten around to it yet. It comes in 24 colors.

Omega Brand Nylon Crochet Thread #2:

I used this for years before I discovered C-lon bead cord. It has a slightly heavier gauge, which sometimes makes it difficult to thread through the holes in some brands of size 11 seed beads. Dynamite brand seed beads are the most reliable (in hole size), that I have found, for this cord. (I will discuss seed beads in future article.) It is supple and works great for items that need to drape (i.e. my "Spirals Lariat Necklace"). I also use it in my beaded crochet pieces. It comes in 80 colors, many quite vibrant. I first found it at my local Hobby Lobby store, but they did not always have it in stock or they did not always have the colors I wanted. I have since found this online source for Omega Brand Nylon Crochet Thread #2, but I have not yet ordered from this site.

Cotton crochet thread:

I used cotton crochet thread when I first began micro macrame. As an avid crocheter, it was what I had on hand. Its narrow gauge makes it easy to put through the holes in pretty much any size 11 seed bead (and some smaller sizes). It comes in a wide variety of colors. It holds its shape well when knotted into various designs. The main drawback is that if using beads with sharp edges around the holes (i.e. certain gemstone beads and many crystal beads), the cotton crochet thread will fray, eventually causing your work to fall apart. Cotton is organic and will eventually degrade. But if you use beads with smooth holes and take good care of jewelry pieces made with it, they should last for some time. I still consider cotton crochet thread to be a viable alternative in some pieces. I get mine at hobby stores, Walmart, etc.

Hopefully Helpful Hints and Resources

Here are a few quick notes on resources and a few helpful hints.

Resources:

I most often use C-lon nylon beading cord because of its ease of use, and durability. I get my C-lon nylon beading cord from Jewels in Fiber. Her prices are reasonable, and she provides excellent customer service.

Particular beads (and brands) listed (in my patterns) are because they have holes large enough to accommodate project requirements. I get most of my beads from "Fire Mountain Gems". Occasionally, I find some at Walmart or my local Hobby Lobby.

I use Jewelry Glue by Delta, a waterproof glue made for gluing jewels, sequins, etc to fabric. It dries clear and has flexibility. An alternative is super glue, or any glue used to glue gems & jewels to fabric. Glue, buttons, pins, and scissors can be found at Walmart or any sewing supplies outlet.

Work surface: I like my old Puzzle Pad mouse pad, it is 1/2 inch thick and works very well. Alternatives include a cork (bulletin type) board, macrame board, anything that you can secure the top of the piece and the bottom of the holding cords to. Work surface will most likely be found at a hobby store.

Helpful Hints:

To stiffen the ends of the cord, making it easier to string the beads: Snip the ends of the cord on a diagonal (making a point). Brush the ends of the strands of cord with clear finger nail polish. Twist the ends with thumb and forefinger (following the natural twist of the cord). You will get a little polish on your fingers which you can get off with polish remover. (Using fingers helps prevent polish from drying unevenly.) Let dry. Recent tip received from another beader is to apply super glue near the end of the cord, leaving a tail to hold. Twist and hold til dry, then snip the end diagonally. This keeps the glue off your fingers. I have not yet tried it this way, but it sounds good.

Terminology: Knotting cords are the ones used to make the knots, and the holding cords are the ones (usually pinned to work surface) that hold the knots.

Important: For consistency sake, decide your dominant side and always work from that side. I am right side dominant, so I always work from the right and I write instructions accordingly. Exceptions: when the design calls for specific effect requiring reversal. For example, I make all my Half Knots from the right except when making Square Knots. When making Square Knots, I first make Half Knot from the right, then one from the left. When making earrings, work the first one according to your dominant side. When making the 2nd one, work from the non-dominant side.

Jewels in Fiber

I have been buying my C-lon nylon beading cord from Jewels in Fiber for several months now. I have been extremely happy with her prices and her excellent customer service. She carries a variety of other cords as well.

Recently, I opened my mail to find C-lon micro cord samples! She sent me some samples without my asking for them! It was such a wonderful surprise.

Marion Hunziker-Larsen is also an amazing artist. I am in awe of her talent and skill at knotting. Her style is unique. I encourage you to take a look at her Collection.

So, official thanks to Marion for her excellent service and thoughtfulness. Applause for her gorgeous work.

Feedback from Customers

For a quick look at what my customers have to say so far...

I am very pleased that people find my tutorials (or patterns if you will) to be clear and easy to follow. Although I encourage people to contact me with any questions or difficulties, so far, there have been none.

Recently, one of those customers asked me where she could find the C-lon nylon beading cord in 10 - 15 yard segments instead of the 86 yard spools offered at Jewels in Fiber. She said she wanted several colors, but was not ready to buy complete spools in all those colors.

I don't know of any places to get just segments of this cord. So I offered to sell her some 15 yard segments from my stash. I wonder, does anyone else want a "sampler pack"? I am going to list one at My Etsy Shop to find out. If there seems to be a need, I would be happy to make up sampler packs of the cord.