GRIFFIN Waxed Cotton Cord in 22 Colours: The Fashion Jewellery Guide

Waxed cotton cord has quietly become one of the most reliable stringing materials for contemporary fashion jewellery. It’s practical, it’s versatile, and when it’s made well as GRIFFIN’s version, it performs like a production material rather than a hobby supply. The round braid construction, proper wax coating, REACH certification and 22 colour palette make GRIFFIN Waxed Cotton Cord worth understanding properly. This guide covers every specification, every technique application and every format option.

What is GRIFFIN Waxed Cotton Cord?

GRIFFIN Waxed Cotton Cord starts as a round braided natural cotton cord, then gets a wax coating applied after braiding. The round braid is the key structural choice; unlike twisted or plied cords, it creates a consistently cylindrical profile that doesn’t flatten or distort under knotting or sustained tension. Pair that with the wax coating and you get a cord that handles cleanly, knots precisely and maintains its visual character through the life of whatever you make with it.

It’s REACH certified, too, meaning it meets EU chemical safety standards and a practical credential for makers who need to confirm material safety to their customers.

How the Wax Coating Improves Grip, Colour and Durability

The wax treatment does three useful things at once, each of which meaningfully improves the cord over untreated cotton:

Grip. Wax increases surface friction at knot contact points. Square knots, overhand knots and sliding knots all hold more firmly on waxed cotton than on bare cotton because the wax stops fibres from slipping under tension. For Shamballa style square knotting, where the consistency of each knot face is the main visual quality indicator and this matters more than it might seem.

Colour. The wax layer saturates and deepens the dyed colours beneath it. The result is a cord that reads as more intensely coloured than the same dye applied to unwaxed cotton and even the neutral tones look clean and deliberate rather than flat.

Durability. The wax creates a protective layer over the cotton fibres, reducing direct exposure to moisture, abrasion and the mechanical stress of daily wear. Waxed cotton holds its surface character and colour intensity through sustained use in a way that bare cotton simply can’t match.

GRIFFIN Waxed Cotton: 0.8mm to 2.5mm Diameter Guide

Five diameters cover the practical range for fashion jewellery:

Note: The 20m spool format is available for 0.8mm, 1.0mm and 1.5mm only. The 2.0mm and 2.5mm diameters are sold in 5m pieces only.

The 22 Colour GRIFFIN Palette for Waxed Cotton

GRIFFIN Waxed Cotton Cord comes in 22 confirmed colours, spanning the full practical spectrum for fashion jewellery design:

• Neutrals: White, Cream, Beige, Light Brown, Dark Brown, Light Grey, Dark Grey, Black

• Earth and warm tones: Cornelian, Olive, Orange, Yellow

• Reds and Pinks: Light Pink, Dark Pink, Coral, Red, Garnet

• Blues: Blue, Dark Blue

• Greens: Green, Jade Green

• Purple: Amethyst

That gives the full 22 colours. The wax coating’s colour enhancement effect means even the neutral tones look intentional rather than flat. See the full colour list at griffin1866store.com/collections/waxed-cotton-cords 

Waxed Cotton for Kumihimo and Braided Pieces

At 0.8mm and 1.0mm, waxed cotton cord is particularly well suited to kumihimo braiding and other multi-strand interlaced constructions. Two things make it work especially well here.

First, the round braid profile of the cord stays consistently round throughout the kumihimo process, which is essential for even, regular braid faces. Twisted or plied cords can produce irregular surfaces at interlace points; a round braided cord doesn’t.

Second, the wax coating’s grip advantage helps with tension management. The slight surface tackiness means individual strands grip each other at interlace points rather than slipping, which makes the finished braid tighter and more even.

The 22 colour palette also makes kumihimo colour planning genuinely satisfying. A four colour round braid creates a spiral colour pattern that’s entirely determined by the initial colour sequence in the braiding setup, making design straightforward even for makers who are new to the technique.

GRIFFIN Waxed Cotton for Shamballa and Macramé

At the mid range diameters, 1.0mm, 1.5mm and 2.0mm waxed cotton is a natural fit for Shamballa bracelet construction and macramé jewellery. GRIFFIN confirms on its product page that all diameters work effectively for creating Shamballa bracelets using the macramé technique.

For Shamballa specifically, 1.0mm or 1.5mm is the standard knotting cord. The waxed surface provides the knot grip that square knotting needs for even, consistent faces. The round braid profile means square knots sit uniformly without the slight rotation that can happen with twisted cord Shamballa, a small difference that’s very visible in the finished piece.

For macramé jewellery, the larger diameters are particularly effective. At 2.0mm and 2.5mm, knot faces are large and clearly defined, substantial enough to read as a genuine design element. The wax coating also means the cord resists moisture better than bare cotton, which is a practical advantage for wrist worn pieces that encounter handwashing and daily activity regularly.

Combining GRIFFIN Waxed Cotton with GRIFFIN Leather Cord

GRIFFIN specifically highlights the combination of Waxed Cotton Cord with its Leather Cord range as a design direction worth exploring. The two materials share a natural, organic aesthetic while offering genuinely different surface qualities, the smooth, wax polished character of cotton against the more textured, matte surface of natural leather.

A few combinations that work well:

• Braided cord necklace: Two or three strands of 1.0mm waxed cotton in a neutral colour braided with one strand of GRIFFIN Goatskin Leather at 1.3mm in black or brown. The cotton provides colour accent; the leather provides material contrast.

• Multi material knotted bracelet: A central strand of GRIFFIN Cowhide at 2.0mm as the core, with 1.5mm waxed cotton in a complementary colour as the knotting cord for Shamballa style square knots. Both materials share a warm, natural quality that produces a coherent design language.

• Layered pendant: A pendant bead threaded onto leather cord with additional waxed cotton loops added at the sides to create a multi material statement piece.

Available as 5m Pieces and 20m Spools

Both length formats are straightforward:

5m pieces are available for all five diameters. This is the right choice for single bracelet projects or design testing. A standard knotted Shamballa bracelet uses approximately 2.0m to 2.5m of knotting cord depending on diameter and knot density, so a 5m piece comfortably covers two to three bracelets.

20m spools are available for 0.8mm, 1.0mm and 1.5mm only. This is the production volume choice for makers who work with waxed cotton regularly. For kumihimo projects that use multiple cord lengths simultaneously, the 20m spool provides continuous supply without the joins that multiple 5m pieces would require.

Both formats are available across the full 22 colour range in applicable diameters. GRIFFIN Waxed Cotton Cord carries REACH certification, meeting EU standards for chemical safety in manufactured products.

Explore GRIFFIN Waxed Cotton Cord at griffin1866store.com/collections/waxed-cotton-cords.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is waxed cotton cord used for in jewellery making?

Waxed cotton cord is used for bracelets, necklaces and knotted jewellery designs including Shamballa bracelets, macramé pieces, kumihimo braiding, vintage style multi wrap bracelets and cord pendant necklaces. The wax coating improves knot grip, colour intensity and durability compared to bare cotton cord.

What diameters does GRIFFIN Waxed Cotton Cord come in?

Five confirmed diameters: 0.8mm, 1.0mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm and 2.5mm. The 0.8mm, 1.0mm and 1.5mm are available in both 5m and 20m formats. The 2.0mm and 2.5mm are available in 5m pieces only.

Is GRIFFIN Waxed Cotton Cord REACH certified?

Yes. GRIFFIN Waxed Cotton Cord carries REACH certification alongside GRIFFIN Braided Nylon and GRIFFIN Jewelry Nylon, meeting EU chemical safety standards for manufactured products.

How many colours is GRIFFIN Waxed Cotton Cord available in?

22 confirmed colours, including white and yellow, spanning neutrals (white, cream, beige, black, greys, browns), earth tones, reds, pinks, blues, greens, purple (amethyst) and coral. All colours are available across the full diameter range.

Can GRIFFIN Waxed Cotton Cord be used with leather cord in the same design?

Yes. GRIFFIN specifically highlights the combination of Waxed Cotton Cord with GRIFFIN Leather Cord as a strong design direction. The two materials share a natural organic aesthetic while offering different surface characters, making them effective partners in braided, knotted and multi material jewellery designs.