Hello Dear Steemitians,

Today's post is a bit different than the others posted on this profile. It will be a short tutorial and you will be able to make soutache earrings yourself at home. This is one of the simpler designs in this technique. I hope you will try and show the results of your work.

Have you ever wondered how a jewelry is made of such slender strings and sometimes it is so large? In addition to a lot of patience and time, some skills are also needed here. Skills that you can acquire by taking part in various types of expensive workshops or watching free tutorials on the internet. The choice is yours!

I do not always make spectacular theatrical jewelry, today I decided to show you one of the simpler patterns and how you can do it yourself. These will be earrings that you can make from any chosen beads and colors. The only thing you need is a central stone (the largest), a smaller stone placed in the upper element can be glass crystals, natural stones or any cabochons, soutache cords in your favorite colors and beads of various sizes or tassels for decorations.

I will start with the basics, if you have never done soutache jewelry before, it may be interesting information for you, soutache is a braided string made of tiny thread-like threads. It has two sides: right and left.

How to distinguish them from each other?

Very simply, one side is smooth and shiny while the other side on the opposite side has a visible gradation of the falling of the threads or is matte depending on the type of strings. while sewing is very important information for us. We must pay attention when laying the strings so that the direction of the ear in each one is the same, otherwise the strings will not be even and work will look unsightly. We arrange the strings so that the right side is from the front of the jewelry.

Another important thing when creating jewelry are tools. A thin and precise needle is the basis. If it is curved or has unevenness on its surface, it may draw threads on strings, which will look bad.

You also need to remember about small and sharp scissors. Very often you have to cut the finishing material behind the work. Protruding pieces or jagged edges look unsightly, it is worth devoting more attention to it.

If you get involved enough in making hand made jewelry, it would be good to have a set of tools. For example, like in the picture.
The price of the tools is not the lowest, but you will see how it will help you at work.
Such tools are useful for many other jobs. It is also worth having something in your workshop.
The set contains 8 tools slim:
1 x round pliers
1 x flat pliers
1 x flat wide pliers
1 x flat bent pliers
1 x pliers with a nylon cover
1 x cut side pliers
2 x tweezers

Well let's get started!

This time I prepared earrings with an eye on everyday life, ideal for work or school. Subdued colors, classic pattern of small sizes.

We have to prepare for making earrings:

1. Pega acetat soutache in gold, navy blue, cornflower,
2. Faceted crystals: 2 x rivoli round 12mm, 2x almond 18x12mm,
3. Beads Toho i firepolish,
4. A drop of Brazilian agate x 2,
5. Bigle with a saucer,
6. Leather (navy),
7. Threads, glue.

I put strings (Pega gold, Pega acetat navy blue and cornflower at the end) in the same right side of the weave for Pega acetat (herringbone >>>) and sew the shape corresponding to the crystal - rivoli round, remembering about leaving about 5cm from beginning of strings for later snails.

I connected the strings and placed the crystal in the middle, gluing it on the edge with quick gel glue.

I pulled out the cords and sewed the snail onto a toho glass bead, finished the snail by sewing on the back side so as not to deform the strings. I put the strings underneath, securing them with glue.

Then I put the strings like in the loop on the upper part of the earring (left about 5 cm on the underside) and sew in the shape of an almond crystal. I connected, embedded a crystal and glued exactly like in the case of rivoli round fastening. I pulled out the cords and made snails from them around Firepolish faceted glass beads.

I received an omega, which I sewed into the upper element by using respectively gold-colored Firepolish beads.

In the upper part of the tag I sewed a bead covering the clearance between the strings and the crystal.

I also glued sticks with quick gel glue.

Then in the lower element I sewed the beads arranged successively from the shortest to the longest adorning the bottom of the earring. So that they hang freely and dangle.

To prepare the back of the earring to be finished with a peel, I glued the tips with Glue & fix - All purpose, previously slightly crushing them to reduce the resulting bumps

I cut out a piece of leather matching the shape of the earring, remembering to leave a free space from the extreme edges of the earring, in the right place I made an incision on the stick. I used Glue & fix - All purpose glue for gluing the whole thing because it is great for this while maintaining the right flexibility. I stuck the edges of the skin precisely using a toothpick.

I added secured to sticks, so that after inserting the earrings did not fall out of the holes in the ears.

Earrings are ready. Now you can enjoy hand-made earrings.

I hope that the tutorial will be helpful and useful in learning the new technique. I keep my fingers crossed for the success of the work.

Thank you for your attention and time.
Kasia Voitak