Single-Strand Necklace and Earring Set with Labradorite Gemstone Cabochons, Seed Beads and Soutache Cord

Cut a 4x2 inch rectangle of Lacy's Stiff Stuff and two 2-3/4 inch lengths of 3.6mm flat cable chain.

Apply E6000® Fray Lock™ to the end of light blue soutache to prevent fraying. Set aside to dry.

Repeat with black soutache.

Note: Do not cut either cord at this time.

Use E6000 to add a 16mm labradorite cabochon to the center of the backing material.

Repeat to add a 14mm labradorite cabochon approximately 11mm below and a 10mm labradorite cabochon approximately 18mm above the 16mm cabochon.

Set aside to dry.

Trim the backing material, reflecting the shape created by the cabochons, leaving a 1/2 inch edge.

Embroidering Seed Beads

Cut a 3-foot length of Toho Beads® One-G™ thread. Thread a beading needle, leaving a tail. Knot the end of the working thread.

Pass the needle up through the Lacy's Stiff Stuff half of a #11 seed bead's width away from the 16mm cabochon, pulling the knot flush with the back of the material.

Pick up two emerald-lined rainbow cobalt #11 seed beads then pass back down through the material, pulling the beads tight. Pass up through the material behind the first bead picked up then pass through both previously stitched beads again. Repeat to backstitch all the way around the cabochon. Secure the thread with a knot on the back of the material.

Repeat to backstitch around the 10mm and 14mm cabochons.

Soutache Around the 16mm Cabochon

Cut and prepare a new length of thread, as done in Step 4.

Match the ends of the light blue and black soutache.

Note: When matching lengths of soutache make sure the grain of the cord is going in the same direction to prevent warping.

Pass the needle through the light blue then the black soutache 5-1/2 inches from the end.

Fold the light blue/black soutache back on itself, with the light blue on the inside, then add 2mm stitches in the groove of the soutache around the folded curve. End by passing back in through the light blue/black soutache.

Pick up an emerald-lined cobalt #11 seed bead then pass out through the light blue/black soutache on the opposite side.

Pass back in through the light blue/black soutache, exiting half a bead width from the last bead added.

Repeat to add seed beads down the center of the 5-12 inch length of the doubled light blue/black soutache.

Note: While adding beads to this length manipulate the soutache into the curve you wish to achieve in the finished design.

Fold the light blue/black soutache back on itself, approximately 1-3/4 inches from the where the beading needle exited, with the light blue on the inside.

Repeat Step 10 to add seed beads inside the length of the light blue/black soutache switchback, creating a slight downward curve while stitching.

Fold the light blue/black soutache back on itself below the previous switchback, with the black on the inside. The curve of the new switchback should be adjacent to the beginning of the soutache.

Pick up a #11 seed bead then pass out through the light blue/black soutache on the opposite side.

Pass back in through the light blue/black soutache, exiting half of a bead width from the last bead added then pick up a #11 seed bead.

Pass out through the black soutache on the opposite side then pass back in, exiting half of a bead width from the last bead added.

Repeat to add seed beads down the length of the light blue/black soutache switchback.

Bring the light blue/black soutache into a circle approximately 3mm from the seed beads embroidered around the 16mm cabochon.

Trim the black soutache to a length that allows it to complete the circle then bypass the previous switchback by approximately 10mm. Apply E6000 adhesive to the end of the black soutache. Do not trim the light blue soutache.

Stitch the end of the black soutache and the matched section of light blue soutache to the adjacent switchback section of soutache, exiting toward the 16mm cabochon.

Move the light blue soutache in a spiral toward the 16mm cabochon up against the embroidered seed beads.

Pick up a #11 seed bead then pass through the inner light blue soutache and down at an angle through the backing material close to the embroidered seed beads.

Pass back up through the backing material and the inner light blue soutache, exiting half of a bead width from the last bead added.

Pick up a #11 seed bead then pass out through the outer light blue soutache of the spiral.

Pass back in through the outer light blue soutache of the spiral.

Repeat to complete a single circle of seed beads between the two spirals of light blue soutache.

Trim the light blue soutache and apply adhesive to prevent fraying. Tuck the soutache underneath the adjacent spiraled soutache.

Pass the needle down through the end of the light blue soutache and the backing material. Knot to secure the thread.

Soutache Around the 10mm Cabochon

Cut a 24-inch length of light blue soutache and a 24-inch length of black soutache. Apply adhesive to the ends to prevent fraying.

Cut and prepare a new length of thread, as done in Step 4.

Match the ends of the light blue and black soutache. Pass through the light blue then the black soutache at the center of the cords.

Double the light blue/black soutache at the needle, with the light blue on the inside, then add 2mm stitches in the groove of the soutache around the created curve. End by passing in through the light blue/black soutache.

Repeat Step 10.

Separate the doubled light blue/black soutache into a group of light blue/black/black and a single strand of blue.

Stitch the light blue/black/black soutache together for approximately 1/4 inch, exiting through the light blue soutache.

Separate the light blue soutache from the group of light blue/black/black. Trim the two legs of black soutache and apply adhesive to prevent fraying.

Tuck the two sections of black soutache under the first beaded switchback created in Step 11.

Stitch the light blue soutache separated in Step 24 along the black soutache of the first beaded switchback for approximately 1 inch.

Double the light blue soutache back on itself, toward the 10mm cabochon. Stitch the switchback together for approximately 3/8 inches.

Circle the light blue soutache around the seed beads embroidered around the 10mm cabochon.

Pass the needle in through the light blue soutache and angled down through the backing material close to the seed beads.

Pass back up through the backing material and the light blue soutache.

Repeat to apply the light blue soutache around the ring of seed beads then secure with a knot behind the backing material.

Trim the light blue soutache and apply adhesive to prevent fraying. Tuck the light blue soutache under the last switchback created.

Cut a 3-inch length of light blue soutache and apply adhesive to the ends to prevent fraying. Stitch the 3-inch length of light blue soutache to the soutache stitched around the 10mm cabochon in Step 29.

Trim the excess light blue soutache from the 3-inch length and apply adhesive to prevent fraying.

Soutache Around the 14mm Cabochon

Cut and prepare another length of thread.

Move the single light blue soutache separated in Step 23 down toward the 14mm cabochon. Stitch the light blue soutache to the outer black soutache along the right side and bottom of the 16mm cabochon.

Repeat Steps 27 - 30 to encircle the 14mm cabochon.

Trim any excess backing material.

Cut leather to match the back of the necklace component.

Note: It may be necessary to use multiple pieces of leather for ease of stitching and/or due to the size and shapes of leather available.

Cut and prepare a new length of thread with a sharp needle.

Pass the needle through the leather, near the edge, exiting the right side.

Use glue to place the leather over the back of the coordinating section of the necklace.

Pass the needle in through the groove of the adjacent outer soutache, down through the backing and out through the leather then pull tight.

Repeat to securely stitch around the edge of the leather and the back of the necklace component. Finish with a knot.

Cut and prepare a new length of thread with a sharp needle.

Pass the needle out through the groove of an outermost layer of soutache, hiding the knot between soutache layers.

Pick up two sets of a black #8 seed bead and a #11 seed bead then pass back in through the soutache approximately one bead width away from where the needle exited.

Pass out through the leather near the edge and pull tight.

Pass out through the last #8 seed bead added then pick up a new #8 and #11 seed bead.

Pass in through the soutache, approximately half a #8 seed bead width away from the last bead added, then through the leather near the edge.

Repeat to add beading to the entire edge of the necklace component.

Secure with a knot hidden between layers of soutache.

Cut and prepare a new length of thread using a sharp needle.

Pass out through the leather backing near the edge of one edge of the necklace, through a 6mm jump ring and back in through the leather backing pulling tight.

Repeat 3 to 4 times to secure the jump ring, finishing with a knot.

Repeat to attach a jump ring to the opposite end.

Use a 4mm jump ring to attach the first link of a length of chain to an attached 6mm jump ring. Use a 4mm jump ring to attach one half of a toggle clasp to the opposite end of the chain.

Repeat on the opposite end of the necklace.

Earrings Instructions

Cut two 1-1/2 inch squares of Lacy's Stiff Stuff, two 1-inch lengths of light blue soutache and two 1-inch lengths of black soutache.

Apply adhesive to the ends of the soutache to prevent fraying.

Use E6000 to add a 12mm labradorite cabochon to the center of the square of backing material. Repeat with the second square of backing material and the second cabochon.

Set aside to dry.

Cut a 3-foot length of Toho Beads One-G thread. Thread a beading needle, leaving a tail. Knot the end of the working thread.

Pass the needle up through the Lacy's Stiff Stuff one seed bead's width away from the cabochon, pulling the knot flush with the back of the material.

Pick up two emerald-lined rainbow cobalt #11 seed beads then pass back down through the material, pulling the beads tight. Pass up through the material behind the first bead picked up then pass through both previous stitched beads again. Repeat to backstitch all the way around the cabochon. Secure the thread with a knot on the back of the material.

Prepare another length of thread with a beading needle.

Match up a length of light blue and a length of black soutache. Pass up through the backing material exiting at an angle close to the row of seed beads.

Pass the needle up through the backing material exiting at an angle close to the row of seed beads then through the groove of the light blue soutache, exiting out the groove of the black soutache.

Pass back in through the light blue/black soutache and down at an angle through the backing material approximately 2mm from where the needle exited.

Repeat to apply soutache around the cabochon.

Trim soutache, apply adhesive to prevent fraying then tuck the ends of the soutache under the beginning ends.

Trim any excess backing material.

Cut leather to match the back of the soutache component.

Cut and prepare a new length of thread with a sharp needle.

Pass the needle through the leather, near the edge, exiting the right side.

Place the leather over the back of the coordinating section of the necklace, holding in place with your non-dominate hand.

Pass the needle in through the groove of the adjacent outer soutache, down through the backing and out through the leather close to the edge then pull tight.

Repeat to securely stitch around the edge of the leather and the back of the necklace component. Finish with a small knot.

Cut and prepare a new length of thread with a sharp needle.

Pass the needle out through the groove of an outermost layer of soutache, hiding the knot between soutache layers.

Pick up two sets of a black #8 seed bead and a #11 seed bead then pass back in through the soutache approximately one bead width away from where the needle exited.

Pass out through the leather near the edge and pull tight.

Pass out through the last #8 seed bead added then pick up a new #8 and #11 seed bead.

Pass in through the soutache, approximately half a #8 seed bead width away from the last bead added, then through the leather near the edge.

Repeat to add beading to the entire edge of the soutache component.

Secure with a knot hidden between layers of soutache.

Repeat Steps 3 - 15 to create a second earring component.

Apply adhesive to the center of the leather backing of an earring component and the pad of an earstud then press together.

Set aside to dry.

Repeat to complete the second earring.