Make Your Own Simple Folded End Cones

I love strung and knotted pieces, and it always requires a lot of head-scratching to decide the best way to finish off the ends. Most of the time, I prefer to hide my "dirty work"--all the knots, crimps, etc.--involved in fastening the ends. This idea was inspired by some beadcaps I bought at a gem show:

I thought something like this might work as an end cone, if the two "wings" on either side were wider; then I could curl the ends over and hide more of my dirty work.

The easiest way was to just modify my poppy cap design, creating just two giant "petals." I started with a couple of discs, as usual (these are 1" in diameter, but you could make them any size you like), and textured them:

Then I made center holes, and two more holes on either side of the center hole:

I cut notches on both, as shown, with my metal snips, and rounded the ends a bit:

Then I annealed and pickled, then folded each shape over, as pictured, with my tiny bail-making pliers (but you could use a kebab skewer or something skinny like that as well):

Then I curled the wings on one side inwards, at a slight angle (so that it's slightly pointier at the top):

Then I folded the remaining wings up and over with my fingers, tapped them down gently with my nylon-head hammer, et voila!

Now you're ready to string and knot away!

Keirsten
Etsy
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