Cascade Meets Float

Projects by Emily Miller

Sample by Danielle Wickes

This necklace from Danielle was created following two Beadshop projects combined into one necklace: Silk Float Away, worked with regular c-lon, and the original Cascade Necklace. In the below step-by-step Danielle has combined and adapted the instructions from these two inspiring projects.  
Please Note: Many items used in this sample are no longer available, and we've made replacements with our best-available alternatives!

Before getting started, have handy GS Hypo Cement and Knotting Tweezers or Beading Awl, depending on how you like to do your knots. Also, have handy also something to cut c-lon with, something to use for measuring, chain nose and round nose pliers (for the clamshells and connection to jump rings). 

Step 1: Create two padres strands (I created my longest strand first)
Start with a strand of c-lon approx. 25” long. Thread a collapsible eye needle and then tie an overhand knot one the end of the C-Lon. Thread that through one of the clamshells, open side, and drop a small spot of hypo cement on the knot. Next, begin to string your padres. Approximately every needle length (the number of padres I could fit on my needle) I added a daisy spacer or a little shadow, alternating. I made the first strand about 20 inches long. Go through the second clamshell, this time entering from the closed side. Tie a knot inside the shell using your beading awl or tweezers and drop a spot of glue. Set aside. 
Repeat Step 1 for the second strand, making the second strand approx. 1.5” shorter than the first. On the shorter strand, add your metal interest bead somewhere around the top of one side. 

Step 2: Create the float.
Cut two lengths of C-Lon, approx. 30” long. Since we are knotting, you’ll want this extra length. This strand will be shorter than the second padres strand. 
Tie an overhand knot with both strands and thread them through the open side of a clamshell. Drop a small amount of glue on the knot. Thread both strands through a 6mm bead and knot them together, right up next to the bead. Pull the two strands apart to tighten the knot as needed. 
Thread your collapsible eye needle onto one of the strands. String a little shadow, a padre bead, an 8mm gemstone bead, a padre bead, and a little shadow. Next, overhand knot the two strands together. I used beading tweezers to locate the knot loosely below, leaving space between my new beads and the 6mm bead above. Pull both strands downward to tighten. Note – refer to Emily’s Float (https://www.beadshop.com/collections/emily-s-float) for deeper detail into how this double stranded knot can be done. 
Continue to build the float. I continued in the following pattern (each is a section), (all shadows are little shadows):
Shadow, padre, paver, padre, shadow

Shadow, padre, 8mm bead, padre, shadow

Shadow, padre, 6mm bead, padre, shadow

Shadow, padre, 8mm bead, padre, shadow

Shadow, padre, 6mm bead, padre, shadow

Shadow, padre, 8mm bead, padre, shadow

Shadow, padre, paver, padre, shadow    <—This was my center

Shadow, padre, 8mm bead, padre, shadow

Shadow, padre, 6mm bead, padre, shadow

Shadow, padre, 8mm bead, padre, shadow

Shadow, padre, 6mm bead, padre, shadow

Shadow, padre, 8mm bead, padre, shadow

Shadow, padre, paver, padre, shadow

Shadow, padre, 8mm bead, padre, shadow

End with a single, 6mm bead.  

Thread both strands through the closed side of a clamshell. Use your awl or tweezers to knot both strands together inside the shell. Apply a small drop of glue to the knot. Set aside to dry. 

Step 3

Close each of the clamshells on your strands with chain nose pliers.  

Close each of the clamshells’ loops using your round nose pliers.

Open a 7mm Jump ring. Attach each of the clamshell loops, in the order of shortest strand to longest. 

Attach the jump ring to connector (Jardin) hoop. 

Repeat this step with the other ends of your strands, matching the order.  

Step 4: Cut a length of compassion suede approx. 22 inches long. Place one end through the connector hoop, pull through about 4 or 5 inches, then tie a barrel knot. Repeat with the other end of your strand on the other connector.  

Barrel Knot: I threaded 5” through the hoop, folded it over, then I began wrapping it around the strand, twice, looping toward the connector, then pulled the tail end through (up) the wrapped loops. When I pull the short end the knot tightens, and when I pull the long end the connection part with the jardin hoop becomes smaller/ tighter.

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