Learn Soutache : Step-by-step Tutourial Page 2

8. Finish the ends
Make two 5mm shaping stitches and one 2mm shaping stitch. Pick up an 8mm bead and thread the other side. Bring the thread back through the stack and the bead but do not thread the other stack. Now separate the braid and slide a jump ring on the top two sections (Pic. 8a) Bring the three sections of braid back together (Pic. 8b) and thread three 5mm shaping stitches. Bring the stack to the back. Secure with stitches (Pic. 8c) Once secure whip stitch and trim (Pic. 8d).
Repeat on other side of the bracelet.

9. Attaching the Backing Trace and make a pattern for the end sections on a piece of paper. Cut the pattern out of the Ultrasuede* and sew to the end at the back of the bracelet. Repeat for other side. Ultrasuede is easy to sew and doesn’t fray. You can also cut it in any direction.

10. Add The Edging
Size 11 are the smaller seed beads and size 8 the larger size one.
Work your needle under the backing and inside the bracelet so it sit in the same position as Picture 10a & the starting position in Diagram 1.
Pick up one size 8 seed bead and secure by passing your needle next to it and through the FIRST layer of the stack. Now thread back through the first bead and pick up one size 11 seed bead and one size 8 seed bead (Pic. 10b & Diagram 2).
*Now pass the needle back down through the edge of the first layer of braid in the stack so the size 8 beads sit side by side and the size 11 bead sits on the top (Pic. 10c & Diagram 3). Pass the needle back up through the last size 8 bead added and pick up one size 11 and one size 8.*
Repeat from here * to ** three times but on the last repetition do not pick up any beads and work the needle through the stack of braid securing the last bead
(Pic. 10d)
Repeat this step to add edging to each section of bead.
When finish add the clasp to each side of the bracelet.

Earring

64cm black Soutache braid
32cm contrasting Soutache braid
140cm size b Nymo thread
Ultrasuede
2 jump rings
2 ear hooks
2 8cm Howlite beads
4 3x 4cm rondelle
20 size 8 seed beads
14 size 11 seed beads

1. Cut 70cm of thread and thread your needle, knot the other end. Take the black braid and cut two 16cm section. Take the coloured braid and cut one 16cm section. Take the length of braid and stack them on top of each other placing the coloured braid in the centre (make sure the weave is in the same direction). Fold the stack in half to locate the half-way point and make your first stitch threading through the stack (Pic. 1).

2.Make two 5mm shaping stitches (Pic. 2), thread one 8mm Howlite bead (Pic. 3) and then sew from inside to outside of the stack near the knot (Pic. 4). On the other side make two 5mm shaping stitches. Thread the stack of braid, one seed bead and the other stack of braid. The seed bead should sit between the gap where the stacks of braid meet. Secure by sewing back through. (Pic. 5)

3. Pick up one 3x4mm rondelle bead positioning it on the braid (Pic. 6) Wrap the stack around it sew to secure (Pic. 7). Work your needle back through the stack of braid, the rondelle and then only the first layer of the next stack of braid. Work your needle through the one layer of braid so it sits on top of the rondelle. Now take the first layer of braid from the opposite stack and sew together (Pic. 8). By sewing the two inner layers together this will make sure you have no gaps. Secure by working your needle back through the two layers of braid. Now work backwards but sew the entire stack.

4. Your needle should be sitting outside your work. Now pick up with your needle one size 8 seed bead (Pic 9) Wrap your braid around and sew the other side (Pic 10). Make two 3mm spacer stitches. Bring the stack to the back. Secure with stitches
(Pic 10). Once secure whip stitch and trim.

5. Repeat step 2 to 4 for the other side of the Soutache.

6. Trace the section of Soutache to make the pattern and cut out the Ultrasuede (Pic 12 & 13). Sew the jump ring to the earring (Pic 14) After you have finished securing the jump ring stitch the backing to the section of Soutache (Pic 15).

7. Complete the edging as step 10 of the bracelet (but work the edging around the bead from swirl to swirl – use finished photo as a guide). Take one ear hook and using your round-nose pliers open the bottom loop and thread the top jump ring of the Soutche section (Pic 16, 17 & 18).

8. Repeat steps 1 to 7 for the second earring.

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