By pulling the knots toward the center of the necklace, you will shorten the length. To lengthen it, pull the knots together. Slipknots are best for long necklaces, i.e., one that comes as low as your chest. At your local bead store, you may ask the staff about the values and properties of many different beads that are made of natural substances. For more opulent stones like Austrian crystals, you may be able to purchase those at a specialty store that has a jeweler on staff, or you can purchase them at estate sales or online auctions.
Auctions are great locations to buy loose stones for beading.
For people who enjoy the folkloric aspect of beads, a beading consultant may also be able to tell you about legends associated with each type of stone. For example, hematite, a shiny, charcoal-gray stone, is rumored to symbolize good luck in small quantities. However, it can also cause allergies and skin rash in more sensitive wearers. Points like these are good to consider when selecting beads for your project. PageWise makes no representations about the content published on this site.