Once you've mastered the basics of soutache, the fun begins! This necklace uses some of my favorite elements, Crystals and Pearls.
Like winding paths in a misty forest glen, this necklace features swirling layers of soutache that will take you on a magical journey Follow the rows of crystal pearls, seed beads and soutache and discover the ultimate in style. What magic will you find in this Enchanted Forest?
Glue the 30x22mm fancy oval in Crystal Gold Patina to a bead backing and allow to dry. Sew 4mm round pearls in Crystal Iridescent Green around the oval using the two-seed-bead backstitch.
Starting at the center top of the oval, sew The BeadSmith soutache ornamental rayon braid in black, sage green and beaver brown, in that order, as layers around the pearls. Make sure you have long enough strands of soutache to layer around the focal several times.
Add a row of seed beads from the Mixed Metal Glam Designer Seed Bead Blend around the layers of soutache using the two-seed-bead backstitch.
Sew the three strands of soutache around the row of seed beads. When the strands meet at the top of the oval, sew all six strands together to close the gap.
Starting to one side of the top of the soutache, Sew a row of Iridescent Green pearls around the soutache. Make sure you leave enough room for your soutache to come down to the middle of the bottom of the oval. Repeat on the other side of the soutache.
Sew the three strands of soutache around the row of pearls on either side. Bring the three strands on each end to the center of the bottom of the oval.
Trim the ends of the soutache and apply adhesive so they stay in place and the ends don't fray.
To cover the unfinished ends of the soutache, bring your needle from the back of the piece to the front. Add a 3.8x1mm Czech glass jet bronze O bead to the thread, followed by a seed bead from the Warm Metals Designer Seed Bead Blend. Bring your needle back through the O bead and through the bead backing. Repeat until the unfinished ends of the soutache are covered.
Carefully trim the bead backing around the soutache, making sure you don't cut any of your stitching. Make a bail with three pieces of the beaver brown soutache. This bail will need to be wide enough for a tubular herringbone strand to slide through. At its widest, the strand is 1/2 of an inch wide.
Cut a moss green suede oval insert to fit the back of the focal and glue it to the back. Allow to dry.
Add seed beads from the Mixed Metal Glam Designer Seed Bead Blend to the edge of the focal using the brick stitch technique, making sure you sew into the suede backing and the soutache. We used beads that all feature the dark brassy gold color.
Bring your needle up through the last seed bead on the edge of the focal. Add an O bead and a seed bead from the Warm Metals Designer Seed Bead Blend to the thread. Bring your needle back down through the O bead and the edge bead to make a picot edge.
Continue the picot edge all around the outer edge to finish your focal.
Now you are going to make the necklace using the tubular herringbone stitch. Start with seed beads from the Warm Metals Designer Seed Bead Blend. Use these beads for 3 1/2 inches of the necklace, then add one row of Mixed Metal Glam seed beads. Add a row of bicones from the 4mm Bicone Sand Dune Designer Blend and then another row of Mixed Metal Glam seed beads. Add two inches of Warm Metals seed beads. Make another row of Mixed Metal Glam seed beads, a row of bicones and a row of Mixed Metal Glam seed beads. Add another two inches of Warm Metals seed beads. Add a row of Mixed Metal Glam, a row of bicones and a row of Mixed Metal Glam. Add 1 1/2 inches of the Warm Metals seed beads.
If you find your bail is too small to allow your tubular herringbone necklace to slide through, you can add a length of 15/0 seed beads to the necklace. If your necklace fits through your bail, you can continue making a mirror image of the pattern from the previous step.
Glue a TierraCast 6mm brass oxide pagoda cord end cap to each end of the necklace and allow to dry. Attach one half of the TierraCast 6mm brass oxide pewter artisan toggle set to each end cap using an 8mm antique brass-plated open jump ring.
List of Components: 4127 30x22mm Fancy Oval Crystal Gold Patina (4127-CGP30, qty 1) 5810 4mm Round Pearl Crystal Iridescent Green (5810-CIG4, qty 61) Mixed Metal Glam Designer Seed Bead Blend (ADB0086, qty 1) The BeadSmith Soutache Ornamental Rayon Braid 3 yd - Black (EMB-0047, qty 1) The BeadSmith Soutache Ornamental Rayon Braid 3 yd - Sage Green (EMB-0036, qty 1) The BeadSmith Soutache Ornamental Rayon Braid 3 yd - Beaver Brown (EMB-0026, qty 1) 3.8x1mm Czech Glass Jet Hematite O Bead 8 gram Pack (BEADS-0435, qty 1) Black Suede Oval Embellishment (Pack of 2)(EMBMT-0303, qty 1) Warm Metals Designer Seed Bead Blend (ADB0082, qty 2) 5328 4mm Bicone Sand Dune Designer Blend (ADB0114, qty 1) TierraCast 6mm Brass Oxide Pagoda Cord End Cap (BRO-0201, qty 2) TierraCast Brass Oxide Pewter Artisan Toggle Set (BRO-6214, qty 1) 8mm Antique Brass-Plated Open Jump Ring (BBA-OJR08, qty 2) TOHO Bead Round 15/0 Dark Copper (TBRD15-222, qty 1)
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Enchanted Forest Necklace Tutorial
Earthy Green Soutache Pendant on Herringbone Cord
designed byCynthia Kimura
Skill LevelAdvanced (or at least patient)
TechniqueSoutache
Time6+ Hours
Approximate Size24 Inches
Once you've mastered the basics of soutache, the fun begins! This necklace uses some of my favorite elements, Crystals and Pearls.
Like winding paths in a misty forest glen, this necklace features swirling layers of soutache that will take you on a magical journey Follow the rows of crystal pearls, seed beads and soutache and discover the ultimate in style. What magic will you find in this Enchanted Forest?
Supplies
TOHO Bead Round 15/0 Dark Copper 2.5-Inch Tube
Code TBRD15-222
$3.59
×1
KO Nylon Japanese Beading Thread, Dark Olive (55-Yard Spool)
PRESTIGE 5810 4mm Round Crystal Pearl Iridescent Green - Min Qty 10
Code 5810-CIG4
$0.15
×61
Artbeads Warm Metals Designer Blend, 11/0 TOHO Round Seed Beads
Code ADB0082
$5.99
×2
Step-by-Step Instructions
Glue the 30x22mm fancy oval in Crystal Gold Patina to a bead backing and allow to dry. Sew 4mm round pearls in Crystal Iridescent Green around the oval using the two-seed-bead backstitch.
Starting at the center top of the oval, sew The BeadSmith soutache ornamental rayon braid in black, sage green and beaver brown, in that order, as layers around the pearls. Make sure you have long enough strands of soutache to layer around the focal several times.
Add a row of seed beads from the Mixed Metal Glam Designer Seed Bead Blend around the layers of soutache using the two-seed-bead backstitch.
Sew the three strands of soutache around the row of seed beads. When the strands meet at the top of the oval, sew all six strands together to close the gap.
Starting to one side of the top of the soutache, Sew a row of Iridescent Green pearls around the soutache. Make sure you leave enough room for your soutache to come down to the middle of the bottom of the oval. Repeat on the other side of the soutache.
Sew the three strands of soutache around the row of pearls on either side. Bring the three strands on each end to the center of the bottom of the oval.
Trim the ends of the soutache and apply adhesive so they stay in place and the ends don't fray.
To cover the unfinished ends of the soutache, bring your needle from the back of the piece to the front. Add a 3.8x1mm Czech glass jet bronze O bead to the thread, followed by a seed bead from the Warm Metals Designer Seed Bead Blend. Bring your needle back through the O bead and through the bead backing. Repeat until the unfinished ends of the soutache are covered.
Carefully trim the bead backing around the soutache, making sure you don't cut any of your stitching. Make a bail with three pieces of the beaver brown soutache. This bail will need to be wide enough for a tubular herringbone strand to slide through. At its widest, the strand is 1/2 of an inch wide.
Cut a moss green suede oval insert to fit the back of the focal and glue it to the back. Allow to dry.
Add seed beads from the Mixed Metal Glam Designer Seed Bead Blend to the edge of the focal using the brick stitch technique, making sure you sew into the suede backing and the soutache. We used beads that all feature the dark brassy gold color.
Bring your needle up through the last seed bead on the edge of the focal. Add an O bead and a seed bead from the Warm Metals Designer Seed Bead Blend to the thread. Bring your needle back down through the O bead and the edge bead to make a picot edge.
Continue the picot edge all around the outer edge to finish your focal.
Now you are going to make the necklace using the tubular herringbone stitch. Start with seed beads from the Warm Metals Designer Seed Bead Blend. Use these beads for 3 1/2 inches of the necklace, then add one row of Mixed Metal Glam seed beads. Add a row of bicones from the 4mm Bicone Sand Dune Designer Blend and then another row of Mixed Metal Glam seed beads. Add two inches of Warm Metals seed beads. Make another row of Mixed Metal Glam seed beads, a row of bicones and a row of Mixed Metal Glam seed beads. Add another two inches of Warm Metals seed beads. Add a row of Mixed Metal Glam, a row of bicones and a row of Mixed Metal Glam. Add 1 1/2 inches of the Warm Metals seed beads.
If you find your bail is too small to allow your tubular herringbone necklace to slide through, you can add a length of 15/0 seed beads to the necklace. If your necklace fits through your bail, you can continue making a mirror image of the pattern from the previous step.
Glue a TierraCast 6mm brass oxide pagoda cord end cap to each end of the necklace and allow to dry. Attach one half of the TierraCast 6mm brass oxide pewter artisan toggle set to each end cap using an 8mm antique brass-plated open jump ring.
List of Components: 4127 30x22mm Fancy Oval Crystal Gold Patina (4127-CGP30, qty 1) 5810 4mm Round Pearl Crystal Iridescent Green (5810-CIG4, qty 61) Mixed Metal Glam Designer Seed Bead Blend (ADB0086, qty 1) The BeadSmith Soutache Ornamental Rayon Braid 3 yd - Black (EMB-0047, qty 1) The BeadSmith Soutache Ornamental Rayon Braid 3 yd - Sage Green (EMB-0036, qty 1) The BeadSmith Soutache Ornamental Rayon Braid 3 yd - Beaver Brown (EMB-0026, qty 1) 3.8x1mm Czech Glass Jet Hematite O Bead 8 gram Pack (BEADS-0435, qty 1) Black Suede Oval Embellishment (Pack of 2)(EMBMT-0303, qty 1) Warm Metals Designer Seed Bead Blend (ADB0082, qty 2) 5328 4mm Bicone Sand Dune Designer Blend (ADB0114, qty 1) TierraCast 6mm Brass Oxide Pagoda Cord End Cap (BRO-0201, qty 2) TierraCast Brass Oxide Pewter Artisan Toggle Set (BRO-6214, qty 1) 8mm Antique Brass-Plated Open Jump Ring (BBA-OJR08, qty 2) TOHO Bead Round 15/0 Dark Copper (TBRD15-222, qty 1)
