Making Malas - How to Choose Cord Colors

A while ago I wrote a post with step by step instructions on how to make Malas. This was after getting a lot of requests on the best cords to use to make Malas and how to make the tassels. Go to the post HERE. Friday, I got a phone call asking me about color choices for a Mala with Rose Quartz, and it requires some follow up and a few tests... so I may as well share this with everyone.

These tests are a great way to choose colors. In addition, they will confirm that the cord size chosen for stringing the beads and knotting between the beads is the correct size. 

The size of the knots in between the beads need to be just right. The knots need to be large enough to keep the beads separated, but if they are too small, they may partially disappear into the bead holes. If they are too large, they take over visually.  

As a rule of thumb, use the standard C-Lon Bead Cord doubled over for 8mm and 10mm gemstone beads, and use C-Lon Fine Weight Bead Cord (that's the Tex 135 with a 0.4mm diameter) doubled over for 6mm gemstone beads. If you use wood or metal beads it gets more complicated as there is not really a standard hole size for these beads, so testing becomes even more crucial. 

Here are my tests:

The cord for stringing the beads and knotting in between is the standard size of C-Lon Bead Cord (the Tex 210 with a 0.5mm diameter). The colors are from top to bottom: FL French Lilac, PTL Petal, and AP Apricot. 

The rose quartz 10mm gemstone beads I happen to have are a bit milky so they do not show the bead holes. Other rose quartz beads I have had in the past have been more transparent. French Lilac may have shown as a dark line at the center of the bead, and Apricot may have added a yellow glow to the rose quartz I may not have wanted. 

As for the choices for the tassel color, I chose to go with Chinese Knotting Cord Size E, or New E, as the tassel will be large and require about 50 yd of cord. For these tests, from top to bottom, I chose Chinese Knotting Cord Size E: E-415 French Lilac, NewE-312 Pink Blossom, E-320 Bubblegum, and E-941 Pale Coral. 

Other good choices for tassels include the next size up of Chinese Knotting Cord (Size F), silks such as Kanagawa or Fujix Tire, or Griffin Jewelry Silk on spools. 

Links & References: 

–> DIY Instruction on Making Malas with a Tassel

–> C-Lon Bead Cord

–> Chinese Knotting Cord Size E or New E

–> Matching C-Lon with Chinese Knotting Cord and Silks

Matching C-Lon Bead Cord Colors with Kanagawa & Fujix Tire Silks, and Chinese Knotting Cord Size E

Matching colors across different brands is a difficult task in person. Doing it online is a daunting task. It requires opening several windows at the same time and a large screen.

Anyone making Malas or looking to match colors across these brands will find this post useful. Photos showing matches and relations between colors will be added to this post as time permits.

Please keep in mind that colors do shift with dye lots, and colors on your monitor or printer may not perfectly match the actual color of the thread and cord. 

The cord and thread is shown in shade groups. Rows are marked based on the C-Lon Bead Cord Color Chart. A PDF table is available in Resources at the end of this article. The table is organized alphabetically by C-Lon Bead Cord color codes. The C-Lon Bead Cord and C-Lon Tex 400 are both shown in the picture below with the Tex 400 at the top. Occasionally there is a slight shift between the two due to dye lot variations, otherwise the colors are the same. 

C-Lon Colors - Row 1 Aurum & Myrtle Green

AU Aurum - KNK-158
MYR Myrtle Green - KNK-138

The other New Colors are spread around below. 

C-Lon Colors - Row 2

BK-Black - KNK-BK or FJX-402, KNK-77 a bit richer, warmer + CHKC-E-101 Black
GR Grey - KNK-65 tad lighter, FJX-63, KNK-127, KNK-66 to catch more blue + CHKC-E-219 Dark Grey
ARG Argentum - KNK-73, KNK-65, FJX-111 lighter + CHKC-E-205 Silver
WH White - KNK-WH, FJX-401, KNK-00 currently the better match, or FJX-403 bit warmer + CHKC-E-102 White

Currently the Tex 400 ARG dye lot is a bit lighter than the standard C-Lon and FJX-111 is a better match catching the highlights in the nylon perfectly.

SLV Silver - FJX-12 + CHKC-E-218 Concrete
NK Nickel - KNK-65, FJX-44 catches highlights, KNK-72
GM Gunmetal - FJX-21, FJX-114, KNK-128
CHA Charcoal - FJX-125 lighter but good tone, FJX-66 perfect catches deep tones, FX-77 catches deeper tones

C-Lon Colors - Row 3

O Orchid - FJX-134 a bit lighter + CHKC-E-423 Lavender darker

PH Pale Heather - KNK-108 + CHKC-E-421 Light Orchid more saturated (not shown)

LV Lavender - FJX-05 cleaner hue, more saturated

FL French Lilac- KNK-107 + CHKC-E-415 French Lilac

MP Medium Purple - FJX-57 (not shown above)

PU Purple - KNK-24, FJX-57, FJX-130 tad redder

AM Amethyst - KNK-144 + CHKC-E-427 Amethyst

VIO Violet - KNK-117

C-Lon Colors - Row 4

CRS Cerise - FJX-78, KNK-821 lighter

P Pink - KNK-172 best (not shown), KNK-170 bit duller, KNK-171 a bit darker, FJX-141 a bit brighter and more saturated

LO Light Orchid - FJX-30 lighter and brighter, KNK-11 more saturated and darker

LTM Light Magenta- KNK-11 lighter and brighter + CHKC-E-325 Dynasty Magenta

RA Raspberry - KNK-6 + CHKC-E-408 Fuchsia

GP Grape - KNK-22 + CHKC-E-409 Grape

AZ Azalea - no close match found

PTL Petal - no close match found 

C-Lon Colors - Row 5

EGG Eggplant - KNK-801 (better with BC Black Current), KNK-801 more purple, FJX-157 (not shown) perfect shade, but washed down, lighter, not as deep + CHKC-E-359 Dark Smoke
WN Wine - FJX-78 
RS Rose - FJX-37, KNK-170 more pink (close match to CHNK-E-316) + CHKC-E-316 Geisha Gown more pink
BG Bubblegum - KNK-12 + CHKC-E-314 Pink Lotus more pink

PL Pink Lemonade - KNK-93 + CHKC-E-322.5 Pink Coral

CC Chinese Coral - KNK-91 + CHKC-E-324 Guava

C-Lon Colors - Fluo Hot Pink - Neon Pink - Poinsettia

FHP Fluo Hot Pink - KNK-795 + CHKC-E-315 China Pink lighter

PO Poinsettia - FJX-155 a bit darker, KNK-10a bit duller and redder 

NEP Neon Pink  + CHKC-E-363 Neon Pink

C-Lon Colors - Reds + Orange

VR Venetian Red - FJX-11 best, or FJX-79

R Red - KNK-1, KNK-2, or FJX-64 deeper tone + CHKC-E-319 Plum a tad deeper

RH Red-Hot - FJX-10

SR Shanghai Red - KNK-4 + CHKC-E-384 Poppy Red brighter, lighter

OG Orange - KNK-179 darker,browner, FJX-62 closest, KNK-5 more saturated

C-Lon Colors - Oranges

NEO Neon Orange - No exact match, KNK-5 redder and not a neon color
CHKC-E-929 Tangelo - Orange, brighter than all C-Lon
OG Orange - KNK-179 darker,browner, FJX-62 closest, KNK-5 more saturated
TN Tangerine - KNK-177
AP Apricot - FJX-61 a bit darker and more saturated
PSO Popsicle Orange - FJX-32 + CHKC-E-925 Mandarin lighter and brighter (shown below)
LC Light Copper - FJX-72 best (oops, not shown), KNK-99 a bit darker and more saturated

C-Lon Colors - Row 6 + Copper Rose

CPR Copper Rose - FJX-37  a tad brighter, or KNK-7 (not shown) good hue, but much lighter
BC Black Currant - KNK-801 best, FJX-38/KNK-135 redder + CHKC-E-359 Dark Smoke darker, deeper
SI Sienna - KNK-92 closest hue, but much lighter

NT Nutmeg - KNK-824 + CHKC-E-824 Ginger
GIN Ginger - FJX-94, KNK-825 more apricot + CHKC-E-822 Blush similar to KNK-825

PG Peach Glow - FJX-41 a bit more saturated, darker, KNK-14 a tad more pink

C-Lon Colors - Row 7 + Medium Brown & Sepia

SE Sepia - FJX-25 or KNK-168 both lighter + CHKC-E-806 Sepia browner

MB Medium Brown - FJX-121, KNK-101 + CHKC-E-816 Good Earth darker, browner

BR Brown - FJX-40 a bit redder, FJX-123 + CHKC-E-816 Good Earth bit less red

S Sable - FJX-122

BLS Blush - FJX-94 (not shown)

SS Sea Shell - FJX-41

MAH Mahogany - KNK-100 or FJX-116 + CHKC-E-838 Henna 

C-Lon Colors - Row 8 + Chocolate

CHO Chocolate - FJX-117 + CHKC-E-359 Dark Smoke deeper, more burgundy or CHKC-E-806 Sepia lighter, greener

CO Cocoa - KNK-56 (not shown), KNK-90, KNK-64/FJX-12 both lighter + CHKC-E-352 Light Taupe lighter

BE Beige - current CLC is darker than the Tex 400 - KNK-69 deeper, KNK-71 lighter

OY Oyster - FJX-28

C-Lon Colors - Row 8 + Latte & Wheat

AB Antique Brown - KNK-64 grayer, KNK-83 more gold + CHKC-E-352 Light Taupe grayer

L Latte - FJX-49 + CHKC-E-725 Chai a bit redder

WT Wheat - FJX-156 + CHKC-E-852 Wheat

VA Vanilla - KNK-182 + CHKC-E-800 Ivory

CR Cream - KNK-97, FJX-42 + CHKC-E-752 Champagne 2

LM Lemon - KNK-196, FJX-17 or KNK-17 + CHKC-E-763 Vanilla

CHKC-E-912 Lemon darker and more saturated than LM, lighter than GY

GY Golden Yellow - KNK-19, FJX-145 + CHKC-E-921 Golden Yellow

C-Lon Colors - Row 9

LMZ Light Maize - KNK-158 more saturated, KNK-196 lighter, KNK-79 darker
MG Marigold - KNK-78 best, FJX-29 lighter

GO Gold - FJX-74 

CST Chestnut - FJX-20

DKT Dark Tan - KNK-184 best (not shown), FJX-91 lighter, KNK-814 a bit more gold

C-Lon Colors - Row 10

K Khaki - KNK-119 + CHKC-E-701 Antique Brass

FX Flax - FJX-203

T Tan - KNK-119 a touch greener

AGO Antique Gold - KNK-79 + CHKC-E-708 Golden Olive greener

BRZ Bronze + CHKC-E-708 Golden Olive brighter

GOLV Golden Olive - KNK-828 deeper

C-Lon Colors - Row 11 + Green Olive & Olive

LMG Lemongrass - KNK-160 lighter, softer

CT Chartreuse - KNK-160 softer, KNK-156 greener, darker + CHKC-E-642 Lime greener and brighter ( shown below)

MO Moss - KNK-113 + CHKC-E-647 Moss

OLVN Olivine - FJX-81 lighter

GRO Green Olive - FJX-31 + CHKC-E-659 Dark Fern

OL Olive - KNK-26 highlights, KNK-155 deeper tones

C-Lon Colors - Row 11 + Mint

M Mint - KNK-166 lighter, KNK-165 darker + CHKC-E-630 Mint lighter

FE Fern - KNK-132 (best/not shown), KNK-165 brighter + CHKC-E-626 Fern

PER Peridot - FJX-131 + CHKC-E-622 New Jade

G Green - KNK-112 a bit more olive, best match KNK-30 a bit ore saturated, with less depth, FK-35 a bit bluer + CHKC-E-640 Emerald Green (matches KNK-30, but with more depth)

FG Forest Green - KNK-148 greener, FJX-69 deep tone + CHKC-E-619 Deep Forest

C-Lon Colors - Row 12 + Peacock

MA Marina - FJX-58 a bit darker

CER Cerulean - KNK-86 a bit greener

CEL Celadon - FJX- 45 lighter, FJX-52 bluer, FJX-209 darker, KNK-34 lighter and bluer + CHKC-E-603 Verdigris

SG Sage - FJX-46, FJX-209 darker & duller + CHKC-E-605 Teal

TQ Turquoise - FJX-46, KNK-115 lighter + CHKC-E-605 Teal

TL Teal - KNK-136 lighter 

PK Peacock - KNK-745 + CHKC-E-548 Peacock

C-Lon Colors - Row 13 + Ice Blue

IB Ice Blue - KNK-115 lighter, KNK-136 a tad greener + CHKC-E-541 Aqua Mist (lighter than IB)

In between IB and AQ - CHKC-E-542 Aqua

AQ Aqua - FJX-105, KNK-85 + CHKC-E-542.2 Aqua darker

CY Cyan - KNK-116 + CHKC-E-546 Cyan

BL Blue Lagoon - KNK-118 + CHKC-E-538 Blue Lagoon

C-Lon Colors - Row 13

STL Steel - KNK-33

PRL Pearl - KNK-721 hue is a bit off, closest match + CHKC-E-501 Pearl bluer

SB Sky Blue - FJX-101 + CHKC-E-512 Blue Dawn

CB Caribbean Blue - KNK-118 darker + CHKC-E-513 Buddha Blue brighter

C Capri - KNK-20 brighter, KNK-40 best but darker

CHKC-E-508.1 brighter more saturated than Capri

C-Lon Colors - Row 14

N Navy - KNK-150

IND Indigo - KNK-153 good hue but more saturated, KNK-800 grayer less saturated

LB Light Blue - FJX-27 a bit lighter + CHKC-E-505 Denim

BLM Blue Morning - FJX-27 a bit darker + CHKC-E-502 Blue Morning

PKL Periwinkle  + CHKC-E-503 Pale Heather

HYA Hyacinth - KNK-117 a bit more purple

PI Persan Indigo - KNK-117 a bit lighter, FJX-6 best match (not shown) + CHKC-E-518 Midnight a bit bluer

C-Lon Colors - Popsicle Orange and Chartreuse

PSO Popsicle Orange  + CHKC-E-925 Mandarin lighter and brighter
CT Chartreuse  + CHKC-E-642 Lime greener and brighter

C-Lon Colors - Neons

NEO Neon Orange

NEY Neon Yellow  + CHKC-E-661 Neon Lime

NEG Neon Green

NEP Neon Pink  + CHKC-E-363 Neon Pink (not shown)

CHKC-E-999 Neon Mix goes with any of the neon colors

Writing this post has been a labor of love, with thread and spools all over my floor. The post and the PDF attached below are now complete. Of course, if you have successfully matched C-Lon colors to the Kanagawa and Fujix Tire Silks and Chinese Knotting Cord Size E or if you find better matches than the one listed, please let me know! - Marion

Resources & Links

PDF table listing CLC by alphabetical order, with corresponding Kanagawa and Fujix Tire Silk, and Chinese Knotting Cord Size E

C-Lon Bead Cord

C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord

Kanagawa and Fujix Tire Silk by Colors

Kanagawa Silk by Numbers

Fujix Tire Silk by Numbers

Chinese Knotting Cord Size E

Malas DIY Tutorial

Silk Tassel Tutorial

Tassels Continued - with Chinese Knotting Cord Size E