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

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

Knotted Bead Charms with Hematite or Halo Ring Beads | DIY Video Tutorial

Hematite and Halo Ring Beads are very inspiring... I just designed the Square Knot Bracelet Trio using these beads... and I wanted a small necklace to go with them, a small addition that could be made with either leftover beads or just a few additional purchased beads... the idea became the knotted bead charms.

–> Square Knot Bracelet Trio Kits and Tutorials

For making the charms use the following materials:

Hematite or Rainbow Titanium Coated Hematite Ring Beads available HERE

or

Halo Zamak Beads made in Greece available in Antique Brass, Copper or Silver, Gunmetal, Gold or Rose Gold finishes available HERE - All nickel and lead free and meeting European jewelry standards. 

+ 

6mm Hematite, Rainbow or Pearlescent Hematite Beads for the center, available HERE

or 

6mm Swarovski Crystal Pearls available HERE

+

4mm Hematite, Rainbow or Pearlescent Hematite Beads for the center, available HERE

or 

4mm Swarovski Crystal Pearls available HERE

As for tools, you will need a macrame board, a bead mat, 1 1 3/4" T-pin, beeswax, a large fine point reamer, a thread burner, beading tweezers, scissors. All these are available HERE. 

As to cords, use C-Lon Bead Cord with the Hematite Rings, and C-Lon Fine Weight Bead Cord Tex 135 with the Halos. You will need about 24 inches or 60 cm per bead charm. 

For the necklace cord for the charm, use Chinese Knotting Cord, it is a braided nylon and it look great as a neck cord and use a small sterling or gold filled clasp. Go to the next post for the video tutorial on how to make the necklace cord for the charms...

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

New C-Lon Bead Cord Colors - July 2015

C-Lon July 2015 Colors: Aurum, Medium Brown, Green Olive, and Venetian Red.

Compare C-Lon Bead Cord Aurum to other Gold Tones

Aurum, the Latin name for gold, is the new gold tone. It is a great addition to the gold tones and yellow range. Here it is, surrounded by Lemon and Golden Yellow (at bottom), Light Maize & Marigold (on left), Gold (on right), Tan & Antique Gold (on top).  

Medium Brown, in the midst of the other brown tones, with at top: Latte, Sable and Brown, then continuing in a clockwise fashion, Chocolate, Sepia, Antique Brown, then Cocoa, more of a grayish taupe… and finally Mahogany, a reddish brown. 

Here is Medium Brown, next to Sable. It shows the tone and value difference between the two. 

Green Olive, the newest olive green addition, is greener than Olive and darker than Olivine… Compare it to Myrtle Green (at top), Chartreuse (left), Peridot, Fern, and Green (above) and Forest Green (on right), and Olivine and Olive (below).

Venetian Red, a perfect lower saturated red that reminds us of natural earth clay tinted by iron oxide, the interior of palaces in Venice, or the murals of Pompeii… is surrounded clockwise starting on left with Black Current, Sienna, Copper Rose, Chinese Coral, Shanghai Red, Red-Hot and Red.

I am truly amazed to have so many colors to work with!

> Shop for C-Lon Bead Cord

> See the New C-Lon Bead Cord June Colors

New C-Lon Bead Cord Colors - June 2015

C-Lon just released 4 new colors. How do they compare with existing colors? What's their values, their hues, and their saturation levels? 

I will try to answers these questions by comparing them with existing colors in a picture form. 

Copper Rose is an amazing color and the perfect answer if you are looking for a soft copper tone with a Southwest feel. On my computer this jpeg rendition looks pretty good when compared with the real spool, but keep in mind that browsers and screens all have their own rendition of colors...

As to the real cord color, it is a fine addition and I can't wait to work with it!

Copper Rose is right in between Sea Shell, Ginger, Sienna & Black Currant

Here is Copper Rose (CPR, yes it is ready to come and help, haha) in the center surrounded by the colors listed in the picture above, plus on top: Peach Glow, Pink Lemonade, Chinese Coral.
Below: Wine, the a bit lower, Rose, Cerise, and Eggplant.

Myrtle Green compared to Fern and Sage… 

The greens, Myrtle Green just arrived, Cypress Green will arrive next month, but I already have a sample spool… so mere is a outline of the major payers in the green field… Did that sound like a joke?

Myrtle Green is in, right at the top, a bluish green. It is a great addition. Cypress Green is in the lower area, greener than Olive, darker than Olivine, lighter and more olive than Forest Green.

Now let's move on to the Oranges...

Popsicle Orange is a bright orange, that will work well with the colors above, Peach Gold, Tangerine, Orange, and Shanghai Red, plus Light Copper. In addition it will bridge Golden Yellow and Orange.

The next color is the oddest color I have ever seen, as it reacts to light in unusual way. It is a hot pink in most light condition, but with light hitting it at the right angle it becomes redder… 

Fluo Hot pink get a reddish cast depending on the angle of the light… It is quite complex even when compared with Poinsettia, a slightly fluorescent color and Neon Pink

Here you can see 2 spools of FHP reacting differently to the same ambient light, The spool on the left stays hot pink, where as the one on the lower right becomes redder on the edges. The spool on the top right, Poinsettia, is a semi fluorescent color. Poinsettia is quite as reactive to light as Fluo Hot Pink.

Next month, in July, 4 other colors are coming in, Aurum, Medium Brown, Green Olive & Venetian Red. Then in August & September, these same colors will also become available in the Tex 400 Bead Cord Size. At least that's the plan. 

I am truly amazed to have so many colors to work with!

> Shop for C-Lon Bead Cord

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Micro Macrame - The Latin American Version

ARUMI design by Martin and Ugne from Spain www.facebook.com/ARUMIdesign or www.arumidesign.etsy.com

While Macrame got its latest renewal as Micro Macrame in the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia, another macrame revival has been taking place in Latin America.

The re-emergence of Macrame has been centered around jewelry, renamed Micro Macrame for short and mostly features knotted cords with beads or gemstones. DIY books have been published by artists and authors such as Joan Babcock, Kris Buchanan, Sherry Haab, Anika DeGroot and Marie Le Sueur. Websites such as Macrame Collective have been showing Macrame as an art form. The availability of materials to work with has been a major factor. You need cord. In 2005, I had difficulties finding bonded nylon in a wide range of colors for myself and my students, so when I discovered C-Lon, I decided to promote them.

At the time C-Lon made 24 colors of C-Lon Bead Cord and the C-Lon Bead Thread Size D and AA collections. Marion Jewels in Fiber, my supply website, was born in January 2006. Over the years I have helped C-Lon expand their collection and now they have 4 sizes of cords, with 72 colors of C-Lon Bead Cord Tex 400, 104 colors of the standard C-Lon Bead Cord, 24 colors of C-Lon Fine Weight Tex 135 Cord, and 32 colors of C-Lon Micro Cord. C-Lon is planning to add 16 additional colors of the Fine Weight Tex 135 cord in 2013. They added 24 colors of Tex 400 last year, so they keep expanding!

In the meantime, another macrame revolution has been taking place in Latin America centered around Settanyl and Linhasita, two brands of Brazilian waxed polyester cord. These cords have been difficult to find until recently when KnotMore.com started importing Settanyl. After sourcing Linhasita a number of years ago, I had considered importing it from Brazil, but I was already busy enough and running out of room to store cords, plus I found that I am allergic to the wax coating, so that idea was nixed. So it is great that someone else has taken the baton.

The work featured on this page is made with waxed polyester cord, artist names are listed.

Nicole Medema

Percy Palomino Tomayquispe

Teleisthai Macrame

Merlina Textile

Here is fun sculptural piece made with this waxed polyester cord by Merlina Textile. 

KnotMore.com was founded by Dawn Standera of Macrame Collective and Karen Forbes. Both Macrame artists were frustrated by the lack of availability of this type of cord, so they decided to venture into providing this cord for knotters, Macrame artists or anyone wanting to experiment with this cord. KnotMore carries 75 colors of Settanyl, a 1mm 2-ply waxed polyester from Brazil. The spools have 175 yards, so plenty of yardage for projects such jewelry, knotted sculptures, and basketry.

More : Read about comparisons between the Settanyl Brazilian Polyester cord and C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord at http://jewelsinfiber.blogspot.com/2013/01/comparison-between-settanyl-brazilian.html.

Turkish Flat Bead Crochet with C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord

A while ago, I was asked if C-Lon cord would work for Turkish Flat Bead Crochet. I had never heard of Turkish crochet, so I kept it in mind for future research. At the last Pacific International Quilt Festival - PIQF in Santa Clara a few weeks ago, I run into Eilene Cross, a teacher of this craft. She was wearing a neckpiece done with this technique with yarn and decided to try the same design with C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord, the heaviest C-Lon Bead Cord. She got a spool and returned to the show to show me her work in progress.

In this close up picture you can see the pattern created by the Turkish Flat Bead Crochet made with Green C-Lon Bead Cord. The background is made of spools of the standard C-Lon Bead Cord...

Eilene came back the next day with her neckpiece completed. She is a lovely person and I decided to take her class. She has a class this Saturday, October 27 at the Lacis Museum of Lace and Textile from 10:30 to 5:30.

Unfortunately I found out yesterday that I have a schedule conflict and will not be able to attend the class. So yesterday evening, slightly upset, I ended up researching Turkish crochet patterns on my own. Here are the first few bracelets I have done with this technique since.

C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord, Miyuki Seed Beads Size 5 and 6, a Kollage Square Crochet Hook Size B, some Vintage Italian buttons and voilà...

- > Bracelet Tutorial

- > Classes at Lacis Museum of Lace and Textile

- > C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord - C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord is available in 56 colors now. 16 new colors are arriving soon, bringing the color choices up to 72!

- > Kollage Square Crochet Hooks

To follow up - I would like to experiment with thinner sizes of C-Lon Bead Cord and gemstone beads... mix it up with other techniques, play around further... see what else I end up with. Also do more research on Oya - Turkish needle lace and crochet... In the meantime these bracelets are fun... and will make nice gifts.

As to the type of crochet being used on these bracelets, it is all standard stitches, slip, chain and single crochet stitches. It is known as Turkish Flat Bead Crochet because it is a traditional pattern used in Anatolia. This region in Turkey is renown for its Oya - needle lace and crochet with beads trims done around scarves. 

New Colorways for the Kumihimo Ribbon Kits

Violet & Olivine

New colors of ribbon just arrived. It is fun to create new bead mixes with Magatamas to match each colorway... and to see the cords braided. These ribbons are hand dyed rayon ribbon with gold metallic accents. the colors are laid out in a rainbow fashion allowing the color shift to happen gradually but noticeably.

African Violet has some great colors from grape to orchid with touches of grey.


Autumn Leaves reminds me of Liquid Amber trees in the fall.


Midnight is rich and deep.


Raspberry Swirl is delectable yet classical.


Violet & Olivine was a best seller at Stitches West  followed closely by Coffee & Demin. See previous blog entry.

> New Kumihimo Ribbon & Bead Kits

> See Earlier Entry about Braiding with Ribbon & Beads

African Violet

Autumn Leaves

Midnight

Raspberry Swirl

At Stitches West, a customer proudly showed me her previous evening progress on her kit. Bravo!

Leather Wrap Bracelets with Miyuki Tila Beads

I first heard of leather wrap bracelets or bead ladder bracelets a few years ago when customers asked my advice for the best cord to use for these bracelets. Ultimately I had to test the cords myself and play around with the concept. As a rule, I do not check how others approach a specific project, I prefer to work out my own technique. Adding beads with a wrap leather construction is a traditional Egyptian design, but its latest rendition has a few modern twists... So I started making some test bracelets with leather cord, beads I had around, such 6mm gemstones beads, fresh water pearls, Miyuki Size 6 Seed beads and a variety of cords from C-Lon Fine Weight Bead Tex 135, C-Lon Micro Cord and C-Lon Bead Thread Size D. I took them to my shows as I always like to test my customers responses and kept selling them without getting a chance to take any pictures. My friends and family all wanted them too, so I kept making more bracelets... It gave me a chance to refine my techniques.

Confetti & Light Purple

Along the way I decided to try some with Miyuki Tila beads. First I made my own mixes, with some iridescent, some flat and some metallic Tila beads, then matched the mixes with Greek leather and C-Lon Bead Thread Size D. The Miyuki Tila beads have nice smooth holes, but they are small. The C-Lon Bead thread Size D fits well through the bead holes especially with the use of English embroidery beading needles. I prefer these needles over the standard English beading needles as they are shorter and they have a blunt end, less likely to split the thread and damage it. A light application of beeswax over the thread is also helpful.

For the button closure, I adopted a bead rondelle instead of the more traditional metal button: Black Horn, Golden Horn, Frosted Quartz and Frosted Black Quartz mostly, with a size 6 Miyuki seed bead as final decoration.

Tila beads are flat, light and very smooth. They measure 5mm x 5mm x 1.9mm and they have 2 parallel holes about 0.8mm wide. They are a new shape of glass beads made by Miyuki. They remind me of little mosaic tiles found in Europe, especially in high end Italian bathrooms, but miniaturized. They have been described as chiclets shaped, I don't get that. I guess you would have to get a bubblegum color... just kidding.

The Tila beads make a very light bracelet, comfortable to wear especially when paired with a button made out of horn. Get a kit to get a jump start and make your own. These bracelets are fun, easy to wear and addictive, plus they can be stacked!

> Wrap Leather Bracelet Kits with Tila Beads
> Leather Supplies
> Set Up to Demo the Wrap Bracelet with good closeup pictures! 

Material included in the kit... in the Green Patina & Natural combo, enough to make 3 bracelets.