Beadwork: Peyote Stitch—Basics and Beyond Page 1 of 5

beadwork: peyote stitch—basics and beyond Page 1 of 5

Beadwork: Peyote Stitch—Basics and Beyond

by Melinda Barta Editor, Beadwork magazine

Stitches, Shaping Techniques, and Embellishments

Flat peyote Figure 1: Even-count flat peyote stitch. String an even number of beads. Remember the first set of beads strung makes up both rows 1 and 2. Although they appear as a straight line of beads now, they will shift to become distinct “up” and “down” beads once you work the next row. To begin working the third row, string 1 bead and pass back through the second-to- last bead strung for rows 1 and 2. Continue stitching across following the basic peyote pattern: “Pick up 1 new bead, skip over a bead of the previous row, and pass through the next.” This illustration shows an 8-bead-wide Figure1. 1 even count flat strip with the fourth row partially completed.

2. odd-count turn traditional

3. odd count square stitch turn

4. increase beadwork: peyote stitch—basics and beyond Page 2 of 5

1. even count flat 1. even1. even count count flat flat

Figure 2: Odd-count peyote stitch—traditional turnaround. As the name implies, begin odd-count peyote stitch by stringing an odd number of beads. Remember the first set of beads strung makes up both rows 1 and 2. Work row 3 back across row 2 as before and, when you reach the end, tie a knot with the working and tail threads to secure the first 3 rows. Step up for the next row by passing back through the last bead added Figure2. odd-count 2 turn traditional for row 3 (see the illustration’s blue thread). Complete rows 4 2. odd-count2. odd-count turn turn traditional traditional and 5 as usual, but in order to turn around at the end of row 5, loop the thread under previous threads at the end of the beadwork. Step up by passing back through the last bead added for row 5 (see red thread).

Figure 3: Odd-count peyote stitch—square-stitch turnaround. Another type of odd-count turnaround involves a Figure 3 square stitch. In this instance, exit the end of the beadwork by 3. odd count square stitch turn passing down through the edge bead. String 1 new bead (indi- 3. odd3. odd count count square square stitch stitch turn turn cated in blue), and work a square stitch.

Figure 4: Two-drop peyote stitch. You aren’t limited to working just 1 bead at a time. Try two-drop peyote stitch by us- ing 2 beads in each stitch. When working subsequent rows, treat the 2 beads as one and continue stitching. Figure4. increase 4 4. increase4. increase Figure 5: Increasing flat peyote stitch. To get ready to work an increase, work a row with 2 beads in each stitch as you did in Figure 4 (and shown with a blue thread and orange beads in Figure 5). Stitch across the row and place 1 bead between each bead of the previous row. The increase beads that split the pair of orange beads in the previous row are indicated in blue. 5 increase splitting 2 pairs Figure 5 5 increase splitting 2 pairs

Figure 6: Decreasing flat peyote stitch. To work a decrease, simply work across the row as before but don’t add a bead in 1 or more stitches (see the exposed thread without a blue bead in Figure 6). Pull the thread with tight tension to snug the beadwork and conceal the exposed thread. Figure6. decrease 6 6. decrease

7. odd-count7. odd-count circular circular8. even-count8. even-count circular circular 5 increase splitting 2 pairs

beadwork: peyote stitch—basics and beyond Page 3 of 5

6. decrease 5 increase splitting 2 pairs

Circular peyote Figure 7: Odd-count circular peyote stitch. Unlike flat peyote stitch, the first beads strung for circular peyote stitch make up only round 1. The “up” and “down” beads Figure 7 become evident when the round 2 beads (indicated in blue and orange) are added. Step up for the next round by passing through the first bead added in round 2 (indicated 6.in decrease orange). 7. odd-count circular 8. even-count circular

Figure 8: Even-count circular peyote stitch. Work even-count circular peyote stitch just like you did for odd- count circular peyote stitch. Notice that you still need to Figure 8 step up for the next round by passing through the first bead added in round 2 (indicated in orange).

7. odd-count circular 8. even-count circular Tubular peyote Figure 9: Tubular peyote stitch—step up required. This stitch is very similar to circular peyote stitch because Figure 9 you’ll be stitching around and around, but here the beads stack on top of each other to form a tube. Unlike circular peyote stitch where the first ring of beads make up round 1, tubular peyote stitch starts out much like flat peyote and the first beads strung make up both rounds 1 and 2. In this illustration, we begin with an even number of beads. After completing round 3, be sure to step up for round 4 by pass- 9. even-count tubular 10. odd-count tubular ing through the first bead of round 3 (indicated in orange).

Figure 10: Tubular peyote stitch—NO step up Figure 10 required. With this quick-to-stitch spiraling variation no step up is required. Here we start by stringing 11 beads. Pass through the first 2 beads added. As with all peyote, think “pick up 1 new bead, skip over a bead of the previous round, and pass through the next.” Continue stitching in this manner to build the beaded tube. 11. decrease - stop row short/early

As presented on Beading Daily workshop DVD Beadwork: Peyote Stitch—Basics and 12.Beyond. increase Copyright at end © 2010 of rowInterweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. beadwork: peyote stitch—basics and beyond Page 4 of 5

9. even-count tubular 10. odd-count tubular 9. even-count tubular 10. odd-count tubular

Shaping Figure 11: End-row decrease. To end a row short, work a mid-row turnaround between previously stitched beads by passing the needle under the thread of the previous row. String 1 bead (indicated in blue) and continue peyote- Figure11. 11 decrease - stop row short/early stitching across the row. 11. decrease - stop row short/early

Figure 12: End-row increase. To increase the width of a strip of beadwork exit a “down” bead at the end of the strip. (This “down” bead is in the second-to-last row.) Note: The following beads are added in blue on the illustration. String 3 beads and pass back through the first bead just added. String 1 bead and pass through the nearest “up” bead in the final row of the beadwork. Continue stitching back and forth 12. increase at end of row across the rows as before. Figure 12 12. increase at end of row

Embellishments Figure 13: Stitch in the ditch. “Stitching in the ditch” is a way to add dimension by embellishing the surface of a strip of beadwork. Exit a bead of the strip, string 1 crystal bicone (or other accent bead) and pass through the next bead in the same row of the strip. Note: One row of beads is indicated with orange beads to show which row is being embellished Figure13. stitch 13 in ditch with crystal bicones. 13. stitch in ditch

Figure 14: Peaked edging. To give the end of your beadwork a decorative look, create peaked edging by adding a bead in every other stitch. For the spaces where you aren’t 14. peaked edging adding beads, weave through beads of the previous rows to reach the next “up” bead. 14. peaked edging Figure 14

15. adding RAW

16. adding herringbone beadwork: peyote stitch—basics and beyond Page 5 of 5

About the Artist Featured Projects Melinda Barta is editor Pixilated Peyote by Melinda Barta. See the June/July of Beadwork magazine. 2009 issue of Beadwork magazine for instructions. She is the author of the best-selling books Spring Blossoms by Melinda Barta. See the April/May Custom Cool Jewelry 2010 issue of Beadwork magazine for instructions. (Interweave, 2008) and Hip to Stitch Flirty Framboise by Melinda Barta. See the October/ (Interweave, 2005) November 2008 issue of Beadwork magazine for instruc- and coauthor of Mixed tions, or visit www.interweavestore.com/Beading-Jewelry/ Metals (Interweave, Projects/Flirty-Framboise.html. 2009). She regularly teaches jewelry workshops across the country and her Beadwork: Herring- Playful Peyote Toggle Clasps by Melinda Barta. bone Stitch—Basics and Beyond DVD offers See the October/November 2009 issue of Beadwork more great lessons in seed beads. Visit magazine for instructions, or visit www.beadingdaily.com/ www.melindabarta.com. media/p/64749.aspx. Pattern used for clasps and bracelet variations.

Ruffled Beaded Bead Caps by Melinda Barta. See the June/July 2009 issue of Beadwork magazine for instructions.

Jeweled Epaulet Necklace by Laura McCabe. See the August/September 2010 issue of Beadwork magazine for instructions.

Sparkling Waves by Shelley Nybakke. See the October/ November 2010 issue of Beadwork magazine for instructions.

Braided Bands by Lynette Fisk. See the August/ September 2010 issue of Beadworkk magazine for instructions.

Paisley Drops by Jane Lock. See the August/September 2010 issue of Beadwork magazine for instructions.

Heavenly Hexagons by Mikki Ferrugiaro. See the August/September 2010 issue of Beadwork magazine for instructions.