How to make a knotted leather necklace with sliding clasp?

Mastering the Adjustable Knotted Necklace: A Guide to Using the Silicon Sliding Clasp

The Sliding Clasp often featuring an internal silicone component is a brilliant piece of jewellery engineering that offers both versatility and exceptional security. It’s a type of finding used to secure or hold the jewellery's round leather cords or other flexible materials that are inserted through it. It is generally found in a round or tubular shape and features a central hole. The secret to its success lies in the internal element: a silicone or rubber metal insert. This silicone mechanism allows the leather cord or any other cord to pass through easily when tension is applied by the user, but once the cord is static, the silicone grips it firmly. This functionality not only provides a safe and secure closure but also allows the wearer to effortlessly adjust the length of the necklace, transforming it from a choker to a long pendant in seconds.

This guide will walk you through creating a stylish, adjustable knotted necklace using a simple pendant, beads, the sophisticated Barrel Knot, and the indispensable Silicon Sliding Clasp—all made possible with high-quality supplies from Sun Enterprises.

Gathering Your Supplies from Sun Enterprises

For this project, we prioritize materials that are easy to work with and ensure a durable, beautiful final piece. All components, from the high-quality leather cord to the specialized slider, can be sourced directly from Sun Enterprises.

1. 1.5mm Round Leather Cord: Choose a vibrant or natural colour from our extensive collection.

2. 1 Metal Pendant with Large Loop: Select a piece that suits your style.

3. 4 Small  Beads With Big Holes: Make sure these beads match the metal tone of your pendant and have a hole size large enough to pass the leather cord through easily.

4. 1 Silicon Slider (Sliding Clasp): The component that provides the adjustable closure.

5. 1 Barrel Nut Tube: A small, cylindrical object (a piece of a metal tube or a large, hollow bead) used as a temporary guide for knotting.

6. Cutters or Scissors: For cleanly trimming the leather cord.

Necklace with sliding clasps

Step 1: Determining Length and Cutting the Cord

First, determine the maximum desired length of the necklace. Since this is an adjustable design, decide how long you want it to be at its maximum extension. Cut the cord according to that measurement. Crucially, keep in mind that we will be making lots of knots in this necklace, specifically Barrel Knots, which consume a significant amount of cord. Therefore, make sure to leave a very generous amount of extra cord. It’s always better to keep enough excess cord than to run short; you can always trim the excess neatly at the end if needed.

Step 2: Centering the Pendant

Now, pick up your pendant and thread the leather cord through its loop in a way that the pendant remains exactly in the centre of the entire cord length, leaving an even size of cord hanging on both sides of the pendant. This is the structural midpoint of your design.

Step 3: Mastering the Barrel Knot (First Application)

Next, we are going to use the Barrel Knot technique to secure the pendant and add a decorative element. You will apply this knot near the pendant on both sides.

1. Hold the placement: Using your fingers, firmly hold the cord at the place where you want the knot to be.

2. Use the Barrel Guide: Take the barrel nut tube, keep it directly on top of the cord at the desired knot location, and wrap the working end of the cord three times around the barrel tube, moving toward the pendant.

3. Thread and Tighten: Bring the end of the cord back through the inside of the barrel tube. Then, while holding the knot with your fingers to prevent it from slipping, gently pull the barrel tube out. The wraps will gather and tighten to form a neat, cylindrical Barrel Knot.

4. Position: Try to keep this knot at a very close distance from the pendant loop to secure it firmly in place. Repeat the exact same process and make a similar Barrel Knot on the opposite side of the pendant.

Step 4: Beading and Knotting the Decorative Elements

Now, we introduce the beads. Start beading the cords with the four beads you have chosen, placing two on each side of the central pendant. The placement should be symmetrical.

Begin stringing the beads on one side of the pendant. After adding a bead, secure it with a Barrel Knot, applying the same method mentioned in Step 3. Place a bead, secure it with a knot, and repeat the process. This style—knotting between beads—not only secures the beads individually but also gives the necklace a beautiful, artisanal look, preventing the beads from shifting or gathering. Repeat this process on the opposite side of the pendant for perfect symmetry.

Step 5: Finalizing the Necklace Length

Once done with all the decorative beading and knotting, lay the necklace out and measure the length of the cord. Check the balance and overall look. If the cords extending past your beaded sections are too long for comfortable adjustment, trim them carefully now.

Step 6: Creating the Adjustable Slider Closure

This is the key step for creating the adjustable closure.

1. Take one loose end of the cord and put the silicon slider clasp through the cord.

2. Grab the other loose end of the cord. Trim it slightly to give it a pointed shape, which makes threading easier.

3. Push this second end through the same slider loop. Both the ends will pass through the same slider, but they move in opposite directions.

4. Pull the cords until the slider is placed centrally behind the neck, or at a point that creates equivalent sizes of extra cord hanging in both the sides of the necklace. By holding the cords and sliding the component, you have now made the secure, adjustable closure of this knotted necklace.

Step 7: Finishing Touches (End Knots)

Lastly, you are going to make the same decorative Barrel Knots by applying the methods described in Step 3 to the very ends of the hanging cords. This prevents the cord ends from fraying and adds a professional, decorative stop. Trim any remaining extra cords neatly, close to the end knots, to give it a clean, finishing look.

Sun Enterprises is recognized as the biggest and best manufacturer of leather, steel clasps, and jewelry components. We can offer you, many types of sliders and magnetic clasps in all sizes, colors, and styles. Whether the component has to be in premium stainless steel, gold, or rosé gold, we can customize everything based on your personal needs and wishes. The same applies to our extensive collection of high-quality leather cords. From flat leather cords to round braided cords, we offer a large collection in many different colors and sizes.

For larger production, we can also finish bracelets and necklaces completely for you as well. We also help you brand the products as needed.