Making Cord or Ribbon Jewelry

Making cord or ribbon jewelry is possibly the simplest form of jewelry making out there. It has the least amount of supplies and tools needed.

There are so many different kinds of cords available, made out of so many different types of materials, you can create just about any style from the super elegant to the new age or biker look.

There are equally as many different ribbons available. Once you factor in the different widths, colors, and materials, your ribbon selection has just reached mind boggling proportions!

(You can see the crystal drop necklace I made my daughter using a similar technique, only with chain instead of cord. Click here to check it out)

Making Cord or Ribbon Jewelry
Steps

Supplies Needed:

• Cord
• Pendant and/or Beads
• Cord/Ribbon Ends (optional)
• Clasp (optional)
• Jump Rings
• Drop (optional)
• Cutting Tool (scissors, wire cutters or leather scissors)
• Needle Nose Pliers
• Crimping Pliers

Cut your cord or ribbon to length.

The first step in making cord or ribbon jewelry is to determine how long to cut your cord. You will want to lengthen the cord about an extra 12” if you want a tie closure.

String your pendant or beads.

The next step in making cord or ribbon jewelry is to string on your pendant and/or beads. Sometimes a simple pendant is all that you need to make a finished piece. Let the cord become part of the design, but if you are using a combination of beads and a pendant, make sure you pendant is spaced at the half way point of the beads. It gives the necklace a nice, symmetrical look if you string the beads in a certain order, add the pendant, the copy the bead order in reverse for the other side.

Note: I add a cord end to one side of the cord before stringing my beads. This creates a stop to keep the beads from falling off as I string them.

If a tie closure, you're done.

If you are making cord or ribbon jewelry with a tie style closure, you are done. You can add a dab of glue to the inside of last bead to secure them in place, or let them hang and move freely. You may want to tie a knot in the very end of your cord if you choose to let the beads move freely, though. This will keep your beads from falling off, and also keep the cord from fraying. Some cords, like real leather, will be difficult to tie secure knots in. I would recommend using cord ends for these types of designs.

Add your end findings.

If you are adding a clasp style closure to your cord, you will need to attach some sort of end findings to be able to attach the clasp.

(This is the only step that is a little different when your are making cord or ribbon jewelry. There are special ribbon end findings for use with ribbon, that are a little different than cord ends.)

Cord Ends

To attach your cord ends, place the cord in between the “arms” or side bars of the end finding. Position your cord so it can be caught by the entire length of the “arms”. The loop opening should be clear. Pinch or crimp those bars tightly around your cord. Make sure the end finding is attached to the cord securely.

If you have crimping pliers, they have a round hole that you can put around the “arms”. When you press the crimping pliers closed, they will cause those “arms” to hug your cord tightly.

The benefit to crimping pliers instead of regular needle nose pliers is that they will force the bars into a circle, which is more compatible with the rounded cords. The only way to crimp this end tightly with needle nose pliers is to smash it flat. This can create sharp edges that may irritate your skin.

Note: Some cord ends have a little tooth at the bottom, opposite the loop, in addition to the two side “arms” or tabs. This tooth will puncture the cord as you are crimping the tabs. This makes for a more secure hold on the cord.

Ribbon ends.

There are specific ribbon end findings used only with flat ribbons.

Ribbon ends have flat sides in the shape of a “V” with teeth on the inside. Instead of crimping these with crimping pliers, you will want to use a pair of normal pliers to squeeze the two pieces together, sandwiching the ribbon in between them.

I like to fold my ribbon ends a couple of times with finer, thinner ribbons. This extra bulk helps ensure it is held within the ribbon end securely. (If you do this, you just have to be careful that your ribbon doesn’t come undone before you get it secured within the finding. This could make the ribbon end to stick out and look messy or crooked once the finding is in place.)

Attach clasp findings.

If you are using a clasp style closure when making cord or ribbon jewelry, all you have left is to attach your clasp. Open up your jump ring by pulling the two ends apart. Insert one end of the jump ring into the clasp, and then into one of the cord end’s loop.

Note: Make sure you are keeping track of which is which if your project has a front or back, and you whether want the clasp to be on the right or left side.

Close the jump ring around the clasp and the loop. Make sure it is closed seamlessly so that neither will fall off.

Repeat this process with another jump ring to attach the closed ring, or clasp end.

Attach drop (optional).

If you decide to add a dangle bob (drop) to the back of the necklace, or to the bracelet, you can attach that now.

You can attach it in a few different ways:

• Attach it with one (1) jump ring
• You can run your jump ring through the cord end, the solid ring, and the drop before closing it. This will give you a very short accent.


• Or you could add a length of chain or a length of jump rings
• Attach one end of the chain, or the chain of jump rings, to the solid ring with a jump ring. Attach the drop to the end of the piece of chain (or jump rings) with another jump ring. When making cord or ribbon jewelry, you can have this finishing touch hang down as long, or as short, as you would like it.

I like adding this touch to my necklaces because it gives them that finished, designer jewelry feel. I don’t usually attach it to my bracelets, because it can make them look like you have a broken piece hanging, or like the bracelet doesn't fit quite right. I do think it adds a touch of “just right” to necklaces, though.

Making cord and ribbon jewelry can be a lot of fun. It’s really interesting the different effects you get by just changing up the cords, ribbons, beads or pendants. One of the most elegant looking pieces of jewelry I have ever made was just a scavenged earring dangle I attached to a piece of satin ribbon with a jump ring.

I made it for my daughter, to match her prom dress. Wow!! What a surprising, and beautiful, effect!

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