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How to Make a Knotted Bracelet with GRIFFIN NylonPower: Step-by-Step

GRIFFIN NylonPower Cord is a professional-grade synthetic bead cord: approximately twice the tensile strength of ordinary nylon, triple twisted with Z-Twist, available in 21 colours and 13 sizes, with an integrated needle on every 2-metre card. For bracelet making it has some clear advantages over silk: slightly more elastic (3 to 4% stretch under tension), more resistant to moisture and daily handling, and fully vegan. This tutorial covers a complete knotted bracelet from first knot to finished clasp.

Materials Needed for Knotted Bracelet (GRIFFIN NylonPower + Clasp + Beads)

  • One card GRIFFIN NylonPower Bead Cord in your chosen colour and size (2m with integrated needle)
  • Beads: 15 to 20 beads in 6mm to 8mm round, depending on wrist size. Freshwater pearl, gemstone or glass all work well. For NylonPower specifically, gemstone and heavier beads are a good match given its extra strength.
  • One GRIFFIN Lobster Clasp (11mm or 13mm) with an open jump ring, or GRIFFIN Magnetic Ball Clasp (8mm or 10mm)
  • One GRIFFIN Open Jump Ring in 4.0mm or 4.5mm for the clasp attachment
  • GRIFFIN Bead Cord Glue for securing finishing knots
  • GRIFFIN Knotting Tweezers or a T-pin for knot placement
  • Flat-nose pliers for closing jump rings
  • Small scissors for trimming cord

Choosing the Right GRIFFIN NylonPower Cord Size for Bracelets

The correct NylonPower size follows the same principle as for all GRIFFIN cord: select the largest diameter that passes through the bead hole twice with slight resistance.

  • No. 4 (0.60mm): For beads with fine drill holes, small freshwater pearls, 4mm to 6mm beads
  • No. 6 (0.70mm): For standard 6mm to 8mm beads - the most commonly used bracelet size
  • No. 8 (0.80mm): For larger 8mm to 10mm beads or beads with slightly wider holes

If you are making a bracelet specifically because you want the extra strength of NylonPower - for a heavy hematite or lapis lazuli bracelet, for example - consider moving up one size from what you would use for silk. The additional strength per unit diameter that NylonPower provides means a slightly larger cord does not compromise the construction and gives more security at knot points.

Step 1: Measuring Your Wrist and Cutting Cord Length

A finished knotted bracelet needs to allow for clasp length when worn. The rule of thumb: measure the wrist circumference, add 1.5cm for wearing ease, then add the length of your clasp. This gives the total required length of beads and knots.

  1. Measure your wrist at the point where you wear the bracelet, using a soft tape measure or a strip of paper.
  2. Add 1.5cm for comfortable fit.
  3. Add the length of your chosen GRIFFIN clasp assembly.
  4. Count your beads: for 6mm round beads with standard knots, approximately 1cm of beaded and knotted length per bead.
  5. Do not cut the cord from the card. Work with the full 2m card. You will trim after finishing.

Tip: For a 17cm finished bracelet (medium wrist, standard fit): approximately 14 to 15 beads at 6mm round, with knots between each bead, plus clasp length. Lay the beads out in sequence on a flat surface before beginning so you can count and adjust.

Step 2: Stringing Beads with the GRIFFIN Needle

  1. Take the needle end of the NylonPower card. This is your working end.
  2. Attach the clasp to the cord end by threading through the clasp loop twice, then tying an overhand knot as close to the clasp as possible. Apply GRIFFIN Bead Cord Glue to the knot, allow it to penetrate for 10 to 15 seconds, then pull fully tight.
  3. Thread the first bead onto the needle and slide it down to sit against the clasp knot.
  4. The integrated GRIFFIN needle threads easily even through beads with relatively small drill holes. For tighter holes, the needle’s flexible steel construction allows it to bend slightly to navigate the hole without breaking.
  5. Do not thread all beads at once. Work one bead at a time, forming a knot after each one.

Step 3: Knotting Technique for Firm Knots

The overhand knot between each bead is the same technique used for pearl knotting. NylonPower’s slight 3 to 4% elasticity means the final tightened knot may feel fractionally more springy than a silk knot; this is normal and does not affect the security of the finished piece.

  1. After sliding the first bead to the clasp knot, form a loose overhand loop in the cord beyond the bead.
  2. Insert the knotting tool or tweezers through the loop. Slide the loop against the face of the bead.
  3. Hold the tool steady at the bead face. Pull the cord with your other hand to tighten the knot. Withdraw the tool as the knot closes. The knot should seat flush against the bead with no gap.
  4. Repeat for every bead in the sequence: thread bead, position knot against previous bead, form knot, tighten against next bead.

Tip: NylonPower’s slight elasticity means the cord needs a firm pull to close the knot fully. Apply slightly more tension than you would with silk to achieve the same tight, compact knot profile. The feel becomes intuitive after the first few beads.

Step 4: Attaching Your GRIFFIN Clasp

  1. After the final bead and its closing knot, thread the cord through the second clasp half (the fixed end - a jump ring if using a lobster clasp, or the second half of a magnetic clasp).
  2. Pull through approximately 5cm of cord beyond the clasp connection point.
  3. Tie a firm overhand knot directly against the clasp loop. Apply GRIFFIN Bead Cord Glue, allow it to penetrate, then pull fully tight.
  4. If using an open jump ring at the clasp connection: close the jump ring with flat-nose pliers after threading, before tying the final knot. The closed ring provides a secure attachment point.
  5. Thread the cord tail back through the last two or three beads to conceal it, then trim close to the bead exit point.

Step 5: Finishing and Sealing

  1. With both ends completed and cord tails hidden, check the bracelet at the clasp connections. Both knots should be tight against their respective clasp loops with no visible cord gap.
  2. Apply a second small drop of GRIFFIN Bead Cord Glue to each clasp knot from the outside. This reinforces the glue seal applied during formation.
  3. Allow the glue to cure fully - minimum 60 seconds for initial set, longer before wear.
  4. Check all mid-strand knots by gently tugging each one in the direction of wear. Properly formed knots should not move. Any loose knot can be tightened by applying a drop of GRIFFIN Bead Cord Glue and pulling the cord tails through the knot while the glue is wet.
  5. Trim any remaining cord tail cleanly with small scissors. For NylonPower cord, the trimmed end does not require heat sealing (it is a twisted construction, not braided), but a small drop of GRIFFIN Bead Cord Glue on the tail end prevents unravelling.

Variations: Multi-Strand and Macramé-Style GRIFFIN Bracelets

Two-strand knotted bracelet: Use two cards of NylonPower in contrasting or complementary colours. Work both cords simultaneously, threading both through each bead and forming knots with the doubled cord. The finished bracelet shows two colours of cord at each knot point, creating a subtle two-tone effect.

Alternating colour single-strand: Use one card of NylonPower but alternate two different bead colours along the strand. The cord colour remains constant while the bead colour alternates, creating a structured, patterned look.

Macramé-style accent: After completing the knotted bead strand on NylonPower, add a decorative knotted section at each end using a short length of GRIFFIN Braided Nylon Cord in a complementary colour. The Braided Nylon’s textured surface creates a visual contrast with the smoother NylonPower knot section, framing the bead strand with a structured cord element.

Multi-bead cluster: Rather than knotting after every single bead, group beads in clusters of two or three with knots between clusters. This reduces the number of knots, speeds up production and creates a different visual rhythm along the bracelet.

Explore the full GRIFFIN NylonPower range in 21 colours and 13 sizes at 

Frequently Asked Questions

How many beads do I need for a standard bracelet?

For a 17cm to 18cm bracelet using 6mm round beads with a knot between every bead, allow 14 to 16 beads. For 8mm beads, allow 12 to 14 beads. Always lay out your beads and measure before beginning.

Is GRIFFIN NylonPower vegan?

Yes. NylonPower is 100% synthetic nylon with no animal-derived content at any stage of production. It is GRIFFIN’s recommended vegan alternative to Natural Silk bead cord.

Can I use NylonPower for heavy gemstone bracelets?

Yes. NylonPower is approximately twice the strength of conventional nylon bead cord. For heavy gemstones such as hematite, lapis lazuli or pyrite, it provides a significantly better safety margin than standard nylon, making it appropriate for these applications.

Does NylonPower stretch after wearing?

NylonPower has a controlled 3 to 4% elasticity under tension. This is the slight spring that makes knots feel slightly forgiving during knotting. In a finished piece under normal wearing conditions, there is no progressive elongation. The bracelet will not grow longer with wear.

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