How To Re-String Really Small-Holed Beads

by Cee Cee
(Birmingham, AL)

I got the brilliant idea to add a pendant to a strand of hematite beads I bought in the Southwest from a Native American selling them from his truck at the side of the road.


It took awhile to get it apart (knotted black thread/cord) but I finally did, took off half the beads, put on the pendant--but now I can't restring it: the thread just barely goes through the holes and I can't figure out for the life of me how they did it in the first place.

A very thin needle could go through, but the thread is too thick for a thin needle.

I've tried applying glue to stiffen the thread and managed to get it through maybe 4 of the beads, but just can't get it through anymore (28 more to go). What do I do?

(In case you haven't figured it out, I'm not a beader and don't intend to do anything beyond this one project.)

Thanks!