Project 211-2
Beading Lesson
Using Leather Cord & Suede Lace

By Katie Hacker

Sponsor:
Beadalon®

For tools and supplies
visit Beadalon.com


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This beading lesson will show you some exciting ways to use leather cord and suede lace to create jewelry with a designer look.

Leather cord and suede lace are available in a variety of colors and sizes. Leather cord is typically round, while suede lace is usually flat. Both are available in natural and imitation versions. Imitation leather cord is stronger and more inexpensive than natural leather. Faux suede lace tends to be even softer and suppler than natural suede.

It's easy to create knotted designs with leather or suede. Just string a bead onto the cord or lace, then wrap it around your fingers to make a loop. Place the end through the loop to make an overhand knot.

You can also get a similar look by using coiled spring spacers to hold beads in place on a cord. To attach a spring spacer to the cord, use chain nose pliers to tighten the first loop on the coil.

Use cord ends to give your designs a professional look. Use round cord ends for round leather cord and flat cord ends for flat suede lace. Here are a few examples of different cord ends: spring cord ends, tube cord ends, fold-over cord ends and c-crimp cord ends. You can also create your own cord ends by folding the leather or suede and securing it with a larger spring coil spacer.

You might think that using leather cord and suede lace would limit your bead choices because the cord and lace will only pass through large-hole beads. But, there are actually a variety of ways to use smaller-hole beads with leather cord and suede lace.

String small-hole beads onto flexible beading wire to create a beaded section. Then, use crimp tubes to attach the ends of the beaded section to the center of a suede cord necklace.

 



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