I really love wearing leather cord necklaces because they are so comfortable. They are also great because the sliding knot arrangement in place of a metal clasp is an inexpensive way of making an elegant and functional necklace.
I have written an extensive Sliding Knot Tutorial with detailed pictures: Sliding Knots – A Tutorial. Some people have trouble tying these knots though (or just don’t like tying knots), so there is a simple way to make an adjustable length necklace that replaces knotting with a large hole bead.
This adjustable length fastening method can also be modified for bracelets if desired, but in the pictures that follow, I’ll be assembling a necklace. I would also point out that this method works particularly well when working with suede leather lacing cord, which is made from thinly cut pieces of flat leather. If you look at the end of the cord, it looks rectangular.
Suede leather lacing cord comes in a wide variety of sizes. The size marked on the package can be fairly nominal. This card says “3mm” and the cord measures 2.6mm wide and 1.7mm thick. For the project below, I selected another “3mm” cord that fit through my focal beads better because it measures 2.7mm wide, but only 1.4mm thick.
Testing for the Perfect Size
Depending on the hole size of your sliding bead, you may find that you’ll need to change your cord size. If you have the perfect cord size to match your focal beads (whatever is going to be in the front of the necklace), you may need to find a different sliding bead with a hole sized to accommodate two thicknesses of cord. So how do you possibly figure that out?
To quickly find out if two thicknesses of your cord will fit in your slider bead, do this: find some thin cord like the waxed cotton cord (black) on the right of the picture and thread it through your bead. Use it to pull your leather cord through the slider bead.
Once you’ve pulled the leather through, you’ll be able to tell if it can fit and how easy or hard it is to slide the leather cord against itself.
My slider beads for this project have a 2.4mm hole – just ‘a smidge’ smaller than the width of the leather cord.
Parts Needed for an Adjustable Length Necklace
This is all you need for this project:
- Focal beads for the front of the necklace. You can also use a pendant on a bail or single larger bead – be creative! The only requirement is that the hole in the bead or bail must be able to fit on the leather cord.
- Suede leather cord in a color that goes with your beads/pendant.
- 3 beads for the back of the necklace. I used 3 identical beads with a hole big enough for the leather, but actually only the center bead needs to have the right hole size. The other two beads only need to have a hole that fits one thickness of the cord.
My focal beads are shown in the center, and my slider beads are in the lower right of this picture.
Instructions for the Adjustable Length Necklace
Cut the Leather Cord
Similar to Sliding Knot necklaces, a sliding bead necklace needs to fit over your head, then you adjust the size once it is around your neck. You need to allow about 6 extra inches to allow for overlapping the ends of the leather, finishing, and not catching your ears as you pull it over your head. These necklaces get some of their style from the leather ends that hand down your back when they are adjusted to size. Once you are done, if you think the ends are too long, you can shorten them a bit, leaving just enough room to get your head through the fully extended necklace.
| Typical Head Circumference | How Long to Cut Leather Cord | |
| Women | 22 inches or 56 cm | 28 inches or 71 cm |
| Men | 23 inches or 58.5 cm | 29 inches or 73.5 cm |
I like this product because it is made from real leather and because it is available in a wide range of colors (even blues and minty green). You get 5 yards of flat cord lace like I use in my project, which is enough for about 6 necklaces.
String the Focal Beads
String on all the beads that will be in the front of the necklace. If you are using a pendant with a fixed or sliding bail, that should be strung now. If you are using a pinch bail or an open ring to attach a pendant, that can be added later if you like.
If you have trouble getting the cord to go through the holes in your focal beads, you can cut an angle in the leather as I show here. This is often enough to reach through the hole so that you can pull it through.
If you still can’t get the leather through the hole, you can temporarily sew a piece of sewing thread to the end of the leather cord. Use the needle to go through the bead and the thread to pull the leather through. Leave the thread attached to the end – we’ll need it for the next step.
String the Leather Cord Through the Sliding Bead
Place your sliding bead on one end of the leather. Fasten some sewing thread to the other end of the cord, and then use the needle to pull the leather through the sliding bead in the opposite direction.
Your necklace should look like this once you’ve pulled the second leather end through the sliding bead. Now you can trim the sewing thread off of the end.
Slip another sliding bead on each loose end of the leather cord.
Tie a half hitch knot to keep each end bead in place. The picture shows the setup for the half hitch, but if you are unsure and would like to see another picture, see our knotting article Best Knots for Beading: Half Hitch.
Adjust the Fit of your Adjustable Length Necklace
That’s it. All done! All you need to do is try it on, perhaps help the focal beads slide to the front if they are a little tight on the leather cord. Pull on the leather ends to adjust the necklace length. If the necklace seems a little too long and the dangling ends seem like a bit much, just open up the necklace to the spot where you can pull it over your head and then you’ll be able to tell how much can be trimmed off the ends.
Personally, I like the look of the very long dangles in back because they can be seen beneath my longer hair.
Sourcing Large Hole Beads
Sourcing beads with large holes can be frustrating. Having previously been in the bead supply business, I know that sizes are somewhat approximate and hole sizes are often not quoted. In addition, when choosing a slider bead, your best choice is a metal bead because it will be stronger, less likely to break or split, and the inside of the hole is likely to be smoother than a glass or wooden bead. Gemstone beads very rarely have holes bigger than 1mm.
One of my favorite sources of quality pewter beads with durable plated finishes is a company called TierraCast. The two front focal beads in my pictures that have the antique gold plating are from TierraCast and have 4mm holes. It appears that the TierraCast designs are now being made by a company in Athens, Greece.
While there are “a bazillion” beads out there – and the hole size you need will vary based on cord size you select, here is an example link to some TierraCast beads to start your search for the perfect beads for your adjustable length necklace project:
These are well made Pewter beads with a 2mm hole - manufactured by one of my favorite bead companies: TierraCast. 10 beads with a antique silver finish in this package.
When trying to use a pendant on a leather necklace, your best bet for easily attaching it is using a bail. Once again, TierraCast has an array of ‘bead bails’ with large holes that facilitate adding pendants. Here is a sample of one type of bead bail that they make:
Bead bails are a terrific way to connect a pendant to a leather necklace - the 6mm holes in these bails can handle rather thick leather cord. The bails are made from Pewter and then get a durable antique brass finish - made by one of my favorite bead and finding suppliers: TierraCast. The loops on these bails are closed rings.
Final Thoughts
I’ve tried to find the ‘official name’ for this adjustable necklace clasp style, but I haven’t found any agreement on terminology. So whether you call this a 3 Bead adjustable clasp, or a sliding bead adjustable necklace, or a sliding knot necklace with no knotting required, it really is a simple way to make a great adjustable necklace! The key is finding the right large hole beads, match the hole size to your leather cord, and then have a great deal of fun finding focal beads to make many versions of this comfortable necklace.
When working with round leather cord with a shiny finish, like Greek Leather, sliding knots work better. Here is that link again if you decide to tie sliding knots to make an adjustable length necklace.
For more tips and suggestions for selecting and using cord for making jewelry, be sure to refer to Best Knots for Beading: Square Knot & Surgeon’s Knot.
