‘Russia or Russian braid’, it is a flat narrow braid that looks like very small double piping. It is very malleable and easy to work, and is applied or worked by stitching along the centre of the braid. Used to make soutache applied in furnishings and fashion in lines of a single or more colours to define edges, to create a raised pattern or to add a tiny slip of a contrasting colour into a design.
Very often used in lampshade making to define lines, in layers to cover raw edges and to add a slip colour to self-bindings. And for larger items it’s applied to the hems and edges of valances, cushion frills and sheer curtains. It can be stitched virtually on, or very close to the edge or set in a bit to effect a border.