Beading Tutorial: Rope Sandwiches

A gauntlet with Sandwich trim on the bottom and Rope Sandwiches on the side. See the difference?

Now the fun begins! Combine the Rope technique with the Sandwich technique by adding a Rope between your sequin "sandwich buns" for even more ways to decorate your costume.

You will need:

• Beading thread
• Beading needles
• Scissors
• Sequins
• Rocaille or seed beads
• Tray/lid (to hold your beads)
• Thimble (for pushing needle through thick layers of fabric, optional)

Make sure your are familiar with the Rope technique and Sandwich technique before you begin.

Begin by threading and knotting your needle. Pull the needle through the fabric where you want the Rope Sandwiches to begin. Add one sequin (the bottom "bun" with facet facing up,) your desired amount of beads for the Rope filling, and a sequin (the top "bun" with facet facing down.)

Slide the Rope Sandwich down against the fabric and insert the needle into the fabric where the loose sequin touches it.

We will place the next Rope Sandwich so that they create a staggered pattern. Pull the needle back up through the fabric above the closest sequin.

Load another Rope Sandwich onto your needle and slide it down against the fabric.

Again, insert the needle into the fabric under the loose sequin but in front of the previous Rope Sandwich. Continue staggering Rope Sandwiches to create your design.

Let's apply this technique to the edge of the fabric to give you a clearer view of staggered Rope Sandwiches.

I have placed the first Rope Sandwich along the edge of the fabric, one sequin on the edge, the other slightly away from the edge creating an angle with the Rope Sandwich.

I begin the next Rope Sandwich along the edge of the fabric as well. Notice the the top sequin of the new Rope Sandwich is directly above the bottom sequin of the previous Rope Sandwich.

Here is a line of staggered Rope Sandwiches along the fabric edge. Changing the angle you use when placing them will create different looks. They can be loosely staggered (as above,) stacked in straight lines (like rungs on a ladder,) tightly overlapped like Ropes, etc. Here are more examples of Rope Sandwiches.

An applique trimmed with stacked Rope Sandwiched and filled with staggered Rope Sandwiches.

A bra covered with swirling Rope Sandwiches and a crystal.

Good luck and have fun!

~N