Silk cord

Silk cord is a soft, slightly stretchy cord traditionally used for stringing pearls and other gemstone beads. It drapes more softly than beading wire and takes a knot cleanly, which is why it remains the traditional choice for classic pearl necklaces even though other cord materials exist now.

The defining technique that goes with silk cord is knotting between each bead: a small overhand knot sits snug against each bead on both sides, which stops beads from rubbing against each other and, if the cord ever breaks, keeps the beads from scattering everywhere at once. Cord usually comes pre-strung on a card with a stiff, twisted wire needle already attached, ready to thread straight through pearl holes.

When buying, match the cord's thickness to the bead holes so knots sit snugly rather than sliding through. A common mistake is tying knots too loosely, which lets beads clack together and wears the cord faster, or skipping knots entirely on heavier beads that then grind against one another with every wear.