Bijou

You will be adding cup chain to soutache in steps 1-4 of this bracelet. To begin, use Gem-Tac to adhere the 25x18mm lime Lucite oval cabochon to bead backing. Allow to dry.

Soutache with Cup Chain Tutorial

Cut a length of the rhodium-plated cup chain with 1028 PP11 XIRIUS Crystals so that it includes 28 stones. Use Gem-Tac to position it around the cabochon and allow to dry.

Stitch the cup chain around the cabochon. Trim any excess bead backing.

Attach two layers of The BeadSmith soutache ornamental rayon braid in navy blue around each side of the cup chain.

Wrap the ends of the soutache layers around a 4mm faceted round in Crystal Comet Argent Light Full Coat. The ends should meet at the elongated end of the oval cabochon. Repeat this step for the remaining three ends of soutache layers.

Soutache Basics Part 1 Tutorial

Position your thread so that it is coming out of the top of the end of a soutache layer wrapped around a crystal. Add a TOHO 15/0 bead round in opaque sour apple to the thread, followed by a 4mm Crystal Comet Argent Light round and another sour apple TOHO. Attach the beads to the other soutache ends wrapped around a crystal. Repeat this for the soutache ends on the other side of the cabochon.

Now you are going to add a beaded edge to the focal. For each part, string on a Crystal Comet Argent Light round and a sour apple TOHO. There will be ten crystals on each side of the cabochon.

Soutache with Beaded Edge Tutorial

Cut a section of cup chain with 20 stones. Use the navy blue soutache and The BeadSmith soutache ornamental rayon braid in ivy to make two curved soutache sections around the cup chain. Repeat this step so that you have two curved cup chain sections.

Soutache with Cup Chain Tutorial

Attach one curved section to each end of the soutache focal.

Sew seven Crystal Comet Argent Light rounds between one layer of navy blue soutache. Add two more layers of navy blue soutache to the outside. Before you add the last layer, slip a 925/10 silver-filled 18 gauge 5mm open jump ring onto the layer so that is positioned at the top of the crystals. Curl each end of the soutache to the back and secure. Repeat this step to make another strip of soutache and beads.

Cut a piece of suede to size to cover the back of the focal. Sew it to the back. You can use more bead backing to fill in the uneven spaces on the back of the focal. Cut pieces of suede to size to cover the back of the soutache and beads ends, too.

Soutache Basics Part 2 Tutorial

Attach one of the soutache and beads ends to a curved section of the focal by adding a Crystal Comet Argent Light round to the end of each curl and sewing them into place. Repeat for the other side of the bracelet.

List of Components:
25x18mm Lime Lucite Oval Cabochon (EMBMT-0326, qty 1)
27004 Rhodium-Plated Bezel Chain with 1028 PP11 XIRIUS Crystal (27004-RCRY11PP, qty 1)
The BeadSmith Soutache Ornamental Rayon Braid 3 yd - Navy Blue (EMB-0032, qty 1)
The BeadSmith Soutache Ornamental Rayon Braid 3 yd - Ivy (EMB-0038, qty 1)
5000 4mm Faceted Round Crystal Comet Argent Light Full Coat (5000-CALC4, qty 44)
TOHO Bead Round 15/0 Opaque Sour Apple (TBRD15-44, qty 1)
Montana Blue Suede Oval Inserts (Pack of 2) (EMBMT-0308, qty 1)
JBB Sterling Silver Round Magnetic Clasp (ISCL-0028, qty 1)
925/10 Silver-Filled 5mm Open Jump Ring, 18 Gauge (find-0685, qty 2)
Sterling Silver Open Jump Ring - 0.035 x .150 inches (0.90 x 3.90mm) (ss-ojr35-a, qty 14)