Adjustable Knotted Cord Choker - Beginner Project

Show off your focal art beads with this simply-styled, unisex choker. The knots slide apart, lengthening the necklace and allowing you to slip it over your head.

The focal bead I have used for this project is an antique Trade bead, the cord is PVC cord - both available from the EJR Beads online store. But you can use any type of bead for this project and leather and rubber cords work equally well in place of the PVC.

The knots can be easy or difficult to master depending on how your brain is wired. My brain is wired badly for these things. So in case you are like me, I offer here an abundance of photos and a funky diagram to better explain it all. If you are clever enough not to need such hand-holding, please forgive me and politely skip the photos you do not require, leaving them on the side of your plate.

adjustable choker necklace tutorial by Emma Ralph

You will need:

PVC Jewellery Cording. Use 1.9 mm diameter, 1 metre length for an average sized choker
Antique Trade Bead
Wire Cutters or scissors

Step 1

You will need approximately 1 metre of jewellery cord to make an average size choker. To make a smaller or larger necklace, increase or decrease the cord by 10 cm either way.

Step 2

Thread the trade bead onto the cord and slide it to the middle.

Step 3

Starting at one end of the cord, bend the end back to form a loop, leaving at least 10 cm of 'tail' to form the first knot with.

Step 4

Hold this loop secure and place the other end of the PVC cord against it, running from the opposite direction. Hold the loop and second cord end together securely for the following steps.

Step 5

Take the tail of that first loop and wrap it over and completely around the bundle of assembled cords.

Step 6

Continue wrapping the tail around the bundle to make another 2 complete circuits. Finish with the tail pointing towards you.

Step 7

Slide the wraps up together. Push the tail end of the cord under and up through the loop.

Step 8

Pull the tail end and other cords to consolidate the knot. You do not need the wraps around the knot completely taut - that will interfere with its slippy-slidey-ness. With practice you will get a feel for when the knot is secure enough without being overly tight.

Step 9

Happy dance - the first knot is done! Now hold the second cord end tightly and slide the knot back along the cord towards the bead. This will give plenty of loose cord to form the second knot with.

Step 10

Form a loop from the second cord end as before, leaving a healthy tail of at least 10 cm or so, and hold it against the cord of the necklace.

Step 11

Repeat the steps to form the second knot, wrapping the tail three times around the bundle and then under and up through the loop. Pull the knot taut to secure.

Step 12

Trim off the remaining ends. Leave a millimetre or two just so the knot doesn't come undone. Although this seldom happens as it is generally a very well behaved knot.

Ta Da!

Slide the knots towards the bead to 'close' the necklace and then stand back and admire!

Funky Diagram of the Knot

Don't forget - if you make one of these chokers, or anything else using EJR Beads products, I would love to feature a photo of it in the Customers' Gallery!

Text & Images © Emma Ralph 2005. May not be printed, distributed or reproduced electronically without the author's written permission.