C-Lon Micro Cord Tex 70 - Full 48 Color Collection in 100 yd Spools

C-Lon Micro Cord Tex 70 - the full collection of 48 colors is now available in the new 100 yd spools. This makes the full collection much more affordable, and with the 100 yd spool of Micro you can still get a lot of things done. For example, with one 100 yd spool, you can crochet a 90 inch long 5 bead around tubular crochet rope with size 11 beads. 

All the colors are shown next to one another in natural day light making it easier to chose the right color. Keep in mind that natural daylight has a bit a yellow from the sunlight. Click on the pictures for larger closeups. 

Here are the colors in groups of 8's:

Row 1

Black, White, Oyster, Shanghai Red, Argentum, Grey, Gunmetal, Charcoal

Row 2

Purple, Amethyst, Orchid, Grape, Light Orchid, Rose, Wine, Eggplant

Row 3

Vanilla, Golden Yellow, Gold, Light Copper, Sea Shell, Copper Rose, Sienna, Red

Row 4

Chocolate, Sepia, Cocoa, Antique Brown, Latte, Sable, Medium Brown, Brown

Row 5

Forest Green, Olive, Khaki, Flax, Green, Chartreuse, Peridot, Sage

Row 6

Teal, Turquoise, Peacock, Caribbean Blue, Capri, Silver, Light Blue, Navy

Placing all these colors in rows of 8 spools is a bit like playing with musical chairs. A few colors end up getting squeezed in odd slots due to these constraints. After trying several combinations, I ended liking this one, as each row shows colors well to compare them. 

Questions - Do all the spools have the same yardage even though spool sizes is not always the same? Why do some spools look thicker or thinner? And why does the thread appear different? 

Answers - The yardage is counted by a machine and is fairly accurate within a small margin of error. Spool size is not a factor as to yardage. However, the spooling machines that wind the cord around the spool do not always do it exactly the same way. For example, the Rose spool on the center left is wound with each pass tightly agains each other. It gives the spool a smooth appearance with no shadow in between the cord passes. At other times, there is space between the passes of the thread as in the Wine spool in the center right and it creates darker shadows in between the cord. All that extra space in between the thread makes a larger spool. 

–> C-Lon Micro Cord

Cleaning and Restoring C-Lon Bead Cord Jewelry

This is one of the bracelet I kept for my personal collection. It is a Multi Strand Bracelet with a square knot slide closure made with C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord and 4mm Titanium Coated Rainbow Hematite Beads. I wear it a lot, it's colorful and fun to wear. A few weeks ago while vacuuming my room, I heard a bunch of clinks... that sounded like beads being vacuumed up...

Sure enough, when I emptied the vacuum in a garbage bag,

the bracelet was there... but is was filthy. 

Cleaning Steps 

Wash the piece with soap and warm water,

and rinse it under running water. 

Let the piece dry on a clean towel.

Now it's ready to wear. 

If after you wash it, you still notice that the cord is a bit greyed out, or clouded over, or you see some whitening of the cord especially noticeable on darker cord, then cleaning is not enough, add the restoration step. 

Restoration for Bonded Nylon Cord

For all C-Lon Bead Cord (all 4 sizes), Tuff Bead Cord, D&E Bonded Nylon, or any of the older brands of bonded nylon #18 such as Conso or Mastex. 

Take some isopropyl alcohol, soak it in a lint free cloth such as an eyeglasses cleaning cloth, rub the cord, and let it dry. Make sure to lay the piece in its proper position as this also blocks the piece. 

This final step with the alcohol restore the bond transparency and the restore cord memory. The bond is softened by the alcohol and dries again fully transparent once the alcohol evaporates. The cord will naturally return to the position it had when the alcohol dried.  

Bond - What is it? The bond is a polymer clear coat added to the cord after the nylon fibers have been dyed and twisted into a 3-ply cord. The coated cord is baked in ovens. Quality control is important along this process. A properly applied bond adds a clear coat that holds the fiber together and make the cord abrasion resistant.  

I usually do not vacuum my jewelry, this was a first time event, and the perfect incentive to share and illustrate the cleaning process.  These are the steps I take when cleaning my personal jewelry, or when someone send me a piece for repair that needs it too. 

Interested in making this bracelet? > Multi Strand Bracelets

Pantone Color of the Year 2020 compared to C-Lon Bead Cord and More

CLASSIC BLUE - The 2020 Pantone Color of the Year

Calm and confident, this enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.

PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue is a poised and self-assured blue hue, elegant in its simplicity.  Genderless in outlook and seasonless in endurance, this foundational anchor shade enables color mixes throughout the spectrum, yet at the same time, makes a strong statement on its own.

As to matches...

C-Lon Bead Cord: Try IND Indigo or the darker N Navy
> C-Lon Bead Cord (Standard - 0.5mm Ø)
> C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord (Heavyweight - 0.9mm Ø)
> C-Lon Fine Weight Bead Cord Tex 135 (0.4mm Ø)


Chinese Knotting Cord: Try 516-Lapis, 517-Washed Navy, 518-Midnight, or 519 Deep Navy. > Chinese Knotting Cord

Silks for Tassels: Try the Kanagawa 1000 Denier Silk Color KNK-153 and KNK-150
> Kanagawa and Fujix Tire Silks

Multi Strand Bracelets Variations - Rules are Made to be Broken

I have been enjoying making these bracelets. There are so many possibilities... as to beads and cord colors... And the pattern can be changed, rules are made to be broken. Here are some variations showing what's possible and how to deal with unanticipated occurrences.

When I first encountered etched beads, I was not sure if I would like them... I have since fallen in love with them. However I encountered a challenge: the bead holes of the etched beads are larger than most other Czech Fire Polished Beads, and the beads were sliding around the C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord... But hey I still wanted to work them into the design... The solution was to frame the larger holes etched beads with other beads with smaller holes.

This bracelet is made with 4mm Czech Fire Polished beads, Etched Gold Ore and Indigo Gold Ore. The etched gold ore beads were a bit loose on the C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord, so to keep them from sliding around I boxed them in with the Indigo Gold Ore beads. Some of the cords have 3 beads, 1 Etched Gold Ore in the middle with one Indigo Gold Ore on each side, keeping the beads in place. Other cords have 5 beads, 3 Etched Gold Ore in the middle with one Indigo Gold Ore on each side.

The C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord colors are AGO Antique Gold, IND Indigo, and GR Grey.

This next bracelet is a variation of the bracelet shown above with NK Nickel instead for GR Grey and added beads, Etched Argento, also with larger holes, surrounded and blocked by Crystal Argento. The Etched Argento and Crystal Argento beads are loaded onto the Nickel cord. The Etched Gold Ore and Indigo Gold Ore ones are loaded onto the Antique Gold and Indigo C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cords.

Other options I like: 6 cords with 3 beads, 3 cords with 3 sets of 3 beads, so 9 beads altogether. 

For more info on these bracelets, go to the previous post. 

Find the beads listed here –> 4mm Czech Fire Polished Beads

Multi Strand Bracelets with Floating Beads and C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord

To make these bracelets, get the tutorial, C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord, 4mm beads, and a few tools and supplies. 

–> More Info, Kits, Tutorial, Tools

Necklace Cord for the Knotted Beaded Charms

To make the necklace cord for the knotted bead charm, you will need the following:

–> 1mm Chinese Knotting Cord

–> 1.5 mm Sterling Silver or Gold Filled Clasp

–>  Poly Zap Super Glue

–> Thread Burner

–> Chain Nose Pliers

For longer cords and smaller charms, I like to use a thinner Chinese Knotting Cord, so look at the New Fine and Fine size, and even the Extra Fine size as possible options. Or choose a thicker Chinese Knotting Cord such as the HDQ weight cords for a heavier charm. 

Or forgo the clasp and use a square knot slide closure. That's the same closure used for the Square Knot Bracelet Trio. 

–> Square Knot Bracelet Trio Kits and Tutorials

Go to the previous post for the tutorial on how to make the Knotted Bead Charm. 

Here are some bracelet - beaded charm combo, I like...

Gold Halo Beads, with Hematite Bead Centers

Bracelet Knotted with C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord

Charm knotted with C-Lon Fine Weight Bead Cord Tex 135

Necklace cord made with 1mm Black Chinese Knotting Cord

All Hematite, with Pearlescent White Hematite Beads
Bracelet Knotted with C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord
Charm knotted with the standard size of C-Lon Bead Cord
Necklace cord made with New Fine 201 Pearl Grey Chinese Knotting Cord

Bracelets made with Gunmetal Halo Beads, and Pearlescent Pink Coral Hematite Beads, knotted with Chinese Coral, Pink Lemonade and Charcoal C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord.

Charm knotted with the standard size of C-Lon Bead Cord, with Hematite Ring Beads and Pearlescent Pink Coral Hematite Beads.
Necklace cord made with 1mm Black Chinese Knotting Cord

Compare C-Lon Bead Cord Colors - The Blue Green Range

I often get emails with someone is asking me to describe the difference between two colors. And yes, colors can be described but a picture is worth a thousand words...

Here is the blue green range compared with bluer colors on the left, greener ones on the right:

CY Cyan is the bluest.

AQ Aqua is a bit lighter and a bit less blue.

IB Ice Blue is lighter and greener.

TL Teal is the darkest tone in this range.

TQ Turquoise is the lightest color in this group.

SG Sage is a bit darker, greener, and more muted.

CEL Celadon is a touch lighter, greener, and even more muted.

For more pictures and other color, visit these posts:

> Compare C-Lon, Chinese Knotting Cord, and Kanagawa and Fujix Tire Silk 

> C-Lon New 2015 Colors

> C-Lon Bead Cord Colors - This is a series of posts on C-Lon Bead Cord Colors. It includes this post plus the two listed here above. 

The large photos on these posts will help you choose C-Lon colors for your next project!

Kumihimo Neckpiece with PIP Beads

Many kumihimo bracelet patterns can be lengthened to make a neckpiece, but not all of them successfully. A neckpiece or long necklace needs special considerations. Some beaded kumihimo braids will roll over and show their backside making them inappropriate for a neckpiece at the base of the neck or a long necklace. They might work for a tight choker, but who wants to wear a tight choker... 

So with this in mind, I took two of the patterns created for the PIP Beads Kumihimo Bracelets and made neckpieces with them. 

This Argento neckpiece is 17 inch long and made using the Half Round PIP Pattern. This pattern has PIPs only on the front and all 8s on the backside. This pattern would not work for a long necklace. For this piece, I doubled the C-Lon Fine Weight Bead Cord and the Satin Cord length, but increasing them by 1.5 is sufficient and multiplied the beads quantities by approximately 3. I used around 360 PIP beads, and about 12 g of Miyuki 8s for this neckpiece. I loaded the beads in 3 batches to keep the EZ Bobs from overflowing.

These two neckpieces shown here were made with the PIPSs All Around Pattern, so they are bit more dimensional than the pattern shown above.

References

For kits and tutorials go here: PIP Beads Kumihimo Kits and Tutorial

This post continues previous posts on Kumihimo with PIP Beads found here:

Kumihimo with PIP Beads

Compare Kumihimo with Bead Weaving and Crochet Techniques

Kumihimo Earrings with PIP Beads

C-Lon Micro Cord - New Spool Size - New Colors

C-Lon is adding new colors and introducing a new spool size in the C-Lon Micro Cord Tex 70 size. The original spool size of the Micro is 320 yd - 293 m. The new spool size is 100 yd - 91 m. By switching to smaller spool sizes, it will be easier on our wallet all around to buy and invest in more colors. 

C-Lon just released 8 new colors: 

Vanilla, Latte, Argentum, Charcoal

Gunmetal, Copper Rose, Turquoise, Antique Brown 

It is really great to have new colors in the Micro size of C-Lon. Vanilla, Latte, Argentum, and Charcoal were added in April. Gunmetal, Copper Rose, Turquoise, and Antique Brown just came in this week. Another 8 colors are planned for this year. 

In addition, all the existing colors of Micro are switching to the new 100 yd spool size as inventory of the original spools is sold. The color White, Gold, Grey, Oyster, Sea Shell have already switched to the new spool sizes. We still have some limited inventory of White, Gold, Oyster and Sea Shell in the larger spool, but Grey is now only available in the new spool size. 

Since I discovered C-Lon in 2005 when they had 24 colors of the standard C-Lon Bead Cord only, I have been an advocate for more colors and more sizes, always. Many of you have expressed the desire and need for more colors of Micro so I passed that along. We are very lucky that C-Lon is been open to adding more colors and more sizes to their cord offering. If not for financial constrains, I am sure, they would have all the colors in all the sizes... And having the same color available in all four sizes of C-Lon Bead Cord is very valuable when designing a jewelry line, so yes I am very excited about these new additions. I hope you are too!

–> C-Lon Micro Cord

Comparing C-Lon Micro Cord and Tuff Bead Cord Size 1

A customer just asked me a question wanting to compare some colors of C-Lon Micro Colors and Tuff Bead Cord Size 1. Here is the first picture in this series. I will keep adding more pictures as time allows. 

CLMC = C-Lon Micro Cord Tex 70
TUFF= Tuff Bead Cord - Size 1

As to diameter and texture, both cords feel the same. Tuff may have a bit more bond. 

The official diameter of the Tuff Bead Cord Size 1 is 0.274mm whereas C-Lon Micro Cord official diameter is 0.115mm, but visually they seem very similar. The difference between these two measurements might just be because two different companies did the measuring and measuring diameter is not accurate as the thread is soft and might be compressed when measured. 

Because of this problem of compression, thread company do not usually measure thread by its diameter, but by its weight. The Tex system which is adopted widely, but not universally measures the thread by weight, grams for 1 kilometer of thread. thus 1 km of Micro Cord weight 70 gr. But Tuff does not provide Tex numbers for its cord. According to my calculations, it should be around Tex 78... so just a tad thicker than C-Lon Micro Cord. 

C-Lon Micro Cord come in 32 colors. Tuff bead Cord in 16. So that a total of 48 colors. Here are the first 7. I hope this will help refine your choices! - Marion

Links

–> C-Lon Micro Cord

–> Tuff Bead Cord