How to Tie Necklace Slipknots

Slip knots are a great addition to handmade jewelry, as they allow you to easily adjust the size of a piece by sliding the knot up or down. These knots also look pretty and add an interesting detail to a necklace or bracelet. To tie slipknots on a necklace, start by doubling the length of the necklace and adding pendants or beads to the cord. Form the slip knot by looping and wrapping the cord. Once you’re done, try out the slip knots on the necklace to make it bigger or smaller based on your needs.

EditSteps

EditMeasuring and Decorating the Cord

1. Use leather or waxed cotton cord. Look for cord that is in width so it is just thick enough to knot.^[1]
   
   • Pick the color of the cord based on the pendant or beads you are using for the necklace. Often, a darker colored cord will help to make a pendant or beads stand out more.
2. Make sure the necklace cord is at least long. A necklace with slip knots has to be able to go over your head and fit nicely around your neck. You will need to have at least of cord to fit the necklace over your head. Add more cord if you’d prefer the necklace to sit lower around your neck. Then, double the amount of cord so there is enough cord for the knots.
   
   • You can triple the normal amount of cord you would use if you want the knots to sit very close together on the necklace.
   • For example, if you start with of cord, you can then double that amount to so you have enough cord. Or you can triple it so it is long to make a longer necklace.
3. Place any pendants or beads on the necklace before you make the knots. Secure a pendant on the cord with a cow hitch knot or a square knot. String beads on the cord and secure them with knots or crimp beads.^[2]
   
   
   • Once you put the knots on the necklace, you will need to undo them to add any items to the necklace, so make sure you put them on beforehand.
   • If you’d rather leave the necklace plain, skip this step.
4. Confirm the necklace sits where you want it to. Before you start tying the knot, hold the ends of the cord together and slide it over your head to confirm you can put it on easily. Then, make sure it sits at a spot you like around your neck. Keep in mind it will be nearly half its length once you tie the slip knots.
   

EditMaking the Slip Knot

1. Place the necklace on a table or countertop. The ends of the necklace should sit on top of the cord, doubling the cord to form 2 layers of cord. Make sure the pendant or beads are sitting in the center of the cord. The ends should run straight up from the pendant or beads.^[3]
   
   
2. Fold the cord in half from 1 end. Use your finger to fold the cord, forming a V-shaped mark.^[4]
   
   
   • The cord you have marked with the V-shape will be the cord that you use to tie the slip knot.
3. Lie the V-shaped fold on top of the straight cord. Hold both pieces of cord with your thumb and forefinger. Keep your thumb on top of the V-shaped mark. You should now have 1 straight cord and 2 other short cords formed by the V-fold cord.
   
   
4. Take the short end of the V-fold cord and loop it around the 2 other cords. Hold the short end of the cord and place it behind the other 2 cords. Make sure you are looping the end around the other 2 cords away from the V-fold, not toward it.^[5]
   
   
   • Check that you are looping the end over 2 cords, not just 1, as this will result in an incorrect knot.
5. Wrap the V-fold cord 2-3 times around the other cords. Keep your thumb in place over the V-shaped mark as you wrap the cord around the other 2 cords. Hold the straight cord taut as you wrap the end, moving down the straight cord. You should have 2-3 nice tight wraps.^[6]
   
   
6. Remove your thumb and thread the end of the V-fold through the knot. Take your thumb off of the V-fold. Hold the end of the V-fold cord and pass it through the wrapped cord, threading it above the straight cord. Let it hang out of the first wrap you made. Pull the end tight with your fingers to secure the knot.^[7]
   
   
7. Cut the end with scissors. Once you have tightened the knot, cut off any leftover cord on the end with scissors. Make the cut right underneath the knot so the end is flush to the knot. This will ensure the knot stays in place and the end does not get caught on anything.^[8]
   
   
8. Repeat the knot on the other side of the necklace. Follow the same steps to make a slip knot with the other end. Snip off any remaining cord on the end once you have finished wrapping and securing the knot.
   
   
   • Make sure the knots sit at the same spot on the cord so they appear aligned on the necklace.
9. Try on the necklace and adjust it as needed. Once you have tied both slip knots, put the necklace over your head and let it sit on your neck. Place 1 finger over the slip knot and use your other hand to slide the knot up or down to make the necklace longer or shorter. Check that both knots sit evenly on the cord so the necklace is straight around your neck.^[9]
   
   
   • Try wearing the necklace at different lengths by pulling the slip knots up or down. Have fun wearing it low or high based on your outfit or mood for the day.

EditThings You’ll Need

• of leather or waxed cotton cord
• Pendants or beads
• Scissors

EditSources and Citations

Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found