Tutorial: How to embellish your ligatures with a trim band

Techniques and steps to add a trim band to your ligatures

In a previous post, we discovered how to embellish the ends of your ligatures. In this tutorial, we will focus on the body of them by adding a trim band. This technique involves inserting a thread of a different color to create a band that is more or less contrasted and wide.

Table of Contents

• Creating a full trim band
• Creating an alternating trim band

Creating a full trim band

Step 1: Start your ligature

• Pass your main thread over itself from left to right.
• Maintain tension and make the first turns.
• After 6 or 7 turns, your ligature is securely in place.

Step 2: Preparation of the colored thread

• Twelve turns before the trim band position, place a colored thread under a coil.
• Secure it parallel to the blank using painter’s tape.
• Continue the ligature with constant tension.
• Cut the excess and adjust if necessary.

Step 3: Positioning the colored thread

• Pass the colored thread over the main thread, from right to left.

Step 4: Creating the trim band

• Make a first turn parallel to the main coils.
• Maintain the tension for a clean finish.

Step 5: Adding additional turns

• Perform several turns while keeping them even.
• Ensure that the coils do not overlap.

Step 6: Securing the colored thread

• Pass the colored thread under the main thread perpendicularly.

Step 7: Locking the trim band

• Make an extra turn with the main thread to secure the band.

Step 8: Finalizing the ligature

• Continue the ligature by compressing the coils using a burnisher.
• After 5-6 turns, cut the excess colored thread.

Step 9: Final locking

• Finish your ligature as usual.

Step 10: Varnishing

• Cut the excess threads and refine your ligature.
• Your trim band is ready for varnish application.

Creating an alternating trim band

• The first three steps are identical to those of the full trim band.

Step 4: Parallel positioning

• After passing the colored thread, keep it parallel to the main thread.
• Squeeze both threads between your thumb and index finger.

Step 5: Alternating the threads

• Perform the desired number of turns while alternating the two threads.

Step 6: Securing the trim band

• Pass the colored thread under the main thread.
• Add one turn with the main thread to secure the assembly.

Step 7: Continuing the ligature

• Continue by firmly compressing the coils with a burnisher.
• Cut the excess colored thread after 5-6 turns.

Step 8: Finishing and varnishing

• Finish and secure your ligature as usual.

Step 9: Finalization

• Cut the excess threads and compress the coils one last time.