Soutache Waves Bracelet Tutorial
This project appeared in the October 2013 issue of Beads & Beyond Magazine and was designed by Juliet
Ingredients
(The ingredients listed below are for the blue version of the bracelet)
13 x 6mm Glass Pearls in Frosted Turquoise
24 x 6mm Glass Pearls in Frosted Purple
Soutache Braid in Antique Silver, Duck & Pansy
Superlon Thread Size D in Turquoise
Ultra Suede in Zodiac
Size 10 Beading Needle
Flat Magnetic Clasp
GS Hypo Cement
Fabric Glue
Fevi Kwik Glue
Method:
Step 1 – The core
1. Begin by cutting six strands of soutache (two of each colour), each strand to be approx 30cm long. Now add a dab of GS Hypo Cement glue to the ends of each strand of soutache – this will prevent them from fraying.
2. Thread a meter of superon thread onto your needle and holding all six strands of soutache together in the pattern shown stitch them together – remember with soutache it’s very important to only stitch through the central channels (this will ensure that all the colours of braid are visible in your finished piece). Continue stitching until you have stiched approx 2cm of braid together.
3. Now separate the six strands of soutache down the middle and add a few more stitches to just one set of three strands of braid. Now thread on a 6mm bead in turquoise and pinch the six threads together around the bead as shown in the picture.
4. Stitch through the braids at the top of the bead, and then take your needle back through all the braids and the bead as shown in the picture.
5. Next stitch all six braids together as shown in the picture.
6. Continue adding beads until you have added all 13 of the turquoise beads. Stitch all six strands of soutche together for two cm. Take your needle off the thread and trim any excess thread.
Stage 2 – Adding the sides
1. Next take six more 30cm strands of soutache and once again seal the ends with GS Hypo Cement.
2. Now thread another meter of superlon thread onto your needle and stitch three of the strands of soutache to the core of the bracelet as shown in the picture 
3. Now stitch along the soutache, when you get to the first turquoise bead in the core go all the way through it and back again to anchor the new braids to the core of the bracelet.
4. Continue stitching until you get to the dip between the beads add on a purple pearl and stitch through the core of the bracelet as shown in the pictures.
5. Continue adding a total of 12 beads to the side of the bracelet remembering to go through the first turquoise pearls and back again each time you reach them.
6. When you have added the 12 beads stitch all the braids together.
7. Repeat for the other side of the bracelet:
Stage 3 – Adding the backing and the clasp
1. Cut a piece of ultra suede to fit on the back of the bracelet and glue it to the back of the bracelet using the fabric glue. Leave to dry for 24 hours.
We recommend that you put a heavy book on top of the bracelet to act as a weight whilst the glue drys.
2. Finally check the length of the bracelet and trim any excess braids. Glue the ends of the bracelet into the clasp using the Fevi Kwik glue and leave to dry.
