Do you know what soutache is?
It's a narrow, flat, braided and textured braid found in the haberdashery and trimmings department. Traditionally used to decorate garments or lampshades, soutache is now enjoying a renaissance with the trend towards textile jewelry and Bead Embroidery.
To introduce you to this technique, here's a tutorial on how to make an elegant bracelet and discover how to use soutache to make costume jewelry. With a little patience and dexterity, the soutache technique will hold no secrets for you!
Thanks to Julie Roméro for creating this step-by-step tutorial, and check out our other jewelry tutorials using soutache.
We'd love to see your creations, so please share them with us on our Facebook page.
NB: Please note that the list of products below does not fully correspond to the presentation photo. For stock reasons, we are offering a different color of SuperDuo beads.
Cut 40 cm of soutache (1 length of blue and 2 lengths of red)
Start sewing by forming a hollow loop
Sew all the way around.
Join the two parts as shown in the photo, then insert a group of 4 spinning tops to form a diamond shape (see following images).
Once you've sewn the spinners together, join the two parts again, then repeat the process of adding a group of 4 Superduo beads to form a diamond shape (see following images).
Continue alternating lozenges until you have 4 in a row.
To complete this row, make a loop and sew a top. Secure your seam at the back and loop again next to it, inserting a red top.
The result is as follows.
We'll now make the second row, using the soutaches to measure a 14mm rivoli (see image below).
Start sewing, keeping the shape of the rivoli.
Once the circumference is complete, we'll add a thin layer of glue before positioning the Rivoli to close the work.
Add a spinning top in the center to conceal the gap.
Then continue sewing, adding the pearl lozenges as before.
Once the second row has been completed, you'll get the following result.
Take the part with the hollowed-out loop and add a fillet of glue around the loop.
Glue it to the back of the loop with the rivoli. Let dry.
Once dry, reinforce by sewing the two parts together with red nylon thread.
Do this all around the circumference and finish with an end knot at the back, then stitch the needle further in before cutting the thread.
Prepare your clasp by gluing the PureCrystal cabochon to it.
We'll now add the clasp.
Take 5 seed beads + the clasp + 5 seed beads and secure your work several times with the red nylon thread (see photos below).
After securing your clasp, finish your stitching with a finishing knot, then pull your needle forward and cut the thread.
Repeat on the other side.
Then mask the soutache finish with a small piece of ultra suede.
Your PureCrystal soutache bracelet is finished. Here's a view from the back.
You have a question about this tutorial? Ask it to our team and the people who have already tested it. The Perles & Co community is here to help you!
Credits
Perles & Co, Internet & E-Commerce company [02/02/2017] Any reproduction, representation, adaptation, in any form whatsoever, even partial, is prohibited, except for reproduction for private use not intended for collective use, representation in the family circle (art. L 122-5 CPI) and online publishing on condition that the source is mentioned and a link is included to the corresponding page of our site www.perlesandco.com.
