Tri-Cord Knotter
June 27, 2007 by Tammy Powley
Filed under Basics - Getting Started, Beading, Suppliers & Product Reviews
Some jewelry makers love this little gadget, and others hate it. For me, I like it because while I do knot, I don’t do it that often. From what I’ve heard, if you are a regular bead knotter and have your system down, then the tri-cord knotter is not for you. However, if you are new to knotting or like myself just do it now and then, you might like this handy tool.
You can find instrucitons (illustrated even) for using the tri-cord knotter at the Jewelry Artist web site.

















This shure looks hard! I guess I will put it off a while longer!!!
This is JUST what I needed to know. Thanks.
I think the double string method looks more like something I could do. But maybe one of these days I would want to try it. I havn’t got into pearls yet although I do have some glass pearls I have been wanting to string. They are sooooo pretty.
Does anyone know where I can get a tri-cord knotter DVD??
Judy – If it exists, http://www.riogrande.com would have it
Tri-Cord Online sales at tricord tool company usa
I have recently tried it and find that almost every tutorial I can find leaves out the part about what you do with that tail that sticks out after your 2nd or third bead. I find it confusing to go from knotting with both ends to just knotting with one, and I also find that my thread almost isn’t thick enough to make a substantial knot once you stop using the thickness of both ends. I had to actually tie two or three knots to make up for the earlier three pearls that had the extra thickness. Fire Mountain Gems has a video (which would be helpful) but it stops after you get to the point where you stop using the tail.
Hi Pippit, this is Cyndi, the new editor of Jewelry and Beading. Tammy likes the tri-corder, but I don’t. I’m a hand knotter, and like you, I find that the single strand is just not going to make a big enough knot for me.
To each her own when it comes to this tool!
Are there differnt wanys to tie knots? My way just doesn’t seem to be working when I’m making my single elastic wire necklaces.
I like the elastic wire because it has a great flexibility and give to it but when it comes to tying the knots, they don’t seem to want to stay tight enough.
What do I need to know?
Yeah, elastic just doesn’t hold a knot real well, and isn’t really designed for knotted work. The knotting that I do is with either silk or nylon beading thread…usually silk.