How to Attach Bead Caps to Beaded Ropes

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Here is by far the strongest and most professional-looking finish I’ve found for attaching bead caps to beaded ropes. This technique requires a little wireworking, but I promise it’s easy to master.

Materials:

A beaded rope with ends large enough to fit a small wrapped loop.
A bead cap that fits the end of your rope
Wire cutters
2 pairs of chain- or flat-nose pliers and 1 pair of round-nose pliers
Wire, color of your choice, 22-gauge or thicker (Half-hard is recommended. Craft wire is softer, but it can work.)

Steps for creating bead caps:

Use chain- or flat-nose pliers to form a 90° bend 1/2″ to 1″ from the end of your wire. I like to start with at least 3 1/2″ of wire when attaching caps to beaded ropes.

Imagine the size of the loop you would like to make, then place the nose of the round-nose pliers on the short wire at a distance from the bend that equals about half of the circumference of the loop you imagined. Remember to make the loop small enough to fit inside the end of your beaded rope. Roll the pliers toward the bend, then use your finger to wrap the short wire the rest of the way round the pliers, adjusting the pliers as needed, until the short wire crosses the bend at the base of the loop. While still holding the loop in the pliers, adjust the wire below the bend as needed to restore the 90° angle.

If making a simple loop, trim the wire next to the bend. However, I strongly advise against using a simple loop in this application. This is because your thin beading thread can slip through the small opening at the base of the loop and your bead caps won’t be secure.

Making a Wrapped Loop

For a more secure loop that can’t open like a simple loop, make a wrapped loop. Here’s how: Before trimming the wire, grasp the loop with chain- or flat-nose pliers. Using your fingers, or holding the end of the wire with chain- or flat-nose pliers, wrap the tail down the neck of the main wire at the base of the loop for about 2 or 3 wraps. Trim the wire at the end of the last wrap. For tight wraps, think of pulling the wire away from the loop as you wrap.

Insert the loop end of the wire into the end of your beaded rope and securely stitch it in place. If you haven’t already, close the end of your beaded rope with more stitches.

Use the end of the wire to string each of the bead caps down over the end of the beaded rope and form a second wrapped loop. If needed, string your clasp on the wire before forming the wraps. If making a hook-and-loop clasp, make sure the loop that will sit opposite the hook is large enough to accommodate the hook.

Explore Ways to Use Bead Caps

Be sure to turn to Beadwork magazine for great beaded designs to try out this technique for making bead caps. For more tips on finishing beadwork, check out my How to Stitch Custom Clasps video.

Do you have other favorite techniques for finishing the ends of ropes? Let us know in the comments?

Have fun!
Melinda
Former Editor, Beadwork magazine