Satin cord can be used as is for cords for pendants or medallions, or for stringing beads with large holes. It can be knotted, braided, used for kumihimo, and for ornamental Chinese knotting. Choosing the right type of satin cord is important, here are the differences:

• Rayon Satin more subject to damage and harder to keep clean than Nylon Satin.
• Rayon Satin and Ultra Soft Nylon Satin have a finer texture than Nylon Satin
• All Nylon Satin cords ends can be melted with thread burners or cord zapper making it easier to finish pieces. Rayon Satin ends need to be glued, they cannot be melted.
• Rayon Satin can be washed by hand, but colors may bleed. Nylon Satin colors are very stable, but somr dye lots are not as evenly dyed.
• Rayon Satin diameters vary within the same size from roll to roll especially for the larger sizes. Nylon Satin has less diameter variations, Ultra Soft Nylon Satin diameters are very even.

Satin cords are shimmery cords that reflect lights, soft and slippery to touch. They are woven and most have a center core. Originally satin cord was made of silk. Nowadays most satin cords are made out of nylon and produced in China. US made rayon satin cord with a cotton center is no longer manufactured, some stock is still available. The company manufacturing Rayon Satin was closed and no other company has stepped in.

Personal Note - I use satin cord as the central core for most of my hand braided and kumihimo cords. Satin cord has no elasticity, so the braid will not stretch over time. Since the satin cord is hidden inside the braid, basic colors are fine. If the length of the braided cord needs adjusting, pull on the core to shorten the braid. For thicker braids, I often use multiple cords as it gives me the option to pull one of the cords out when the braid is finished if I find the result a bit stiff.

As to sizes, there is lots of choices, here are the diameter sizes from small to large:

Diameter	Name	Material	by yd	5 yd	10 yd	spool
1 mm Ø	Nylon Satin	Nylon	x		x	x
1.1 mm Ø	Ultra Soft Nylon Satin Cord Size 1	Nylon	x		x	x
1.2 mm Ø	Rayon Satin Size #0	Rayon/Cotton	x
1.6 mm Ø	Rayon Satin Size #1	Rayon/Cotton	x
1.8mm Ø	Ultra Soft Nylon Satin Cord Size 2	Nylon	x		x	x
2mm Ø	Nylon Satin	Nylon	x	x		x
2.2-2.5mm Ø	Rayon Satin Size #2	Rayon/Cotton	x
2.5mm Ø	Ultra Soft Nylon Satin Cord Size 3	Nylon	x	x		x

Still not sure which one you want? Order 1 yd samples or email to request free samples.