Clam shell bead tips and cord are a nice alternative to using beading wire for strung bead necklaces, bracelets, and anklets. You don't need to worry about crimps, kinks, or drape.
The tradeoff is that because beading cord is soft, it can be more difficult to string beads onto it without using a big eye needle (also called "large eye needles"). The trouble with needles is that they effectively double the cord's thickness when you pass through beads, which limits the bead sizes you can use.
The way I've found around this involves instant bond glue, otherwise known as crazy glue. I apply a thin coat of the glue to the last few inches of my beading cord and allow it to dry (which usually takes several seconds). I then use sharp scissors to trim off the very end of the cord. Trimming removes any frayed fibers at the tip, and eliminates the part of the cord that usually accumulates the most glue. The glue then serves as a faux needle for stringing through beads.
Do you have any tips for using beading cord? Be sure to share them in a comment!
Related tutorial: How to Use Clam Shell Bead Tips
Related project: Two-Hole Dagger Fan Necklace
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