beadwork : peyote stitch — basics and beyond

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B e a dwo r k : P e yot e S t i t c h — Ba s i cs
a n d B e yo n d
by Melinda Barta
Editor, Beadwork magazine

Stitches, Shaping Techniques,

and Embellishments
F l at p e yo t e
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 be-
come 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.

As presented on Beading Daily workshop DVD Beadwork: Peyote Stitch—Basics and Beyond. Copyright © 2010 Interweave Press
LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.
 beadwork : peyote stitch — basics and beyond
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1. even count flat count flat

1. even
1. even count flat
Figure 2: Odd-count peyote stitch—traditional turn-
around. 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
2. odd-count
Figure 2 turn traditional
2. odd-count turn traditional
for row 3 (see the illustration’s blue thread). Complete rows 4 2. odd-count turn 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 bead-
work. 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
3. odd stitch
count turn stitch turn
square
passing down through the edge bead. String 1 new bead (indi- 3. odd count square stitch 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.
Figure 4
4. increase 4. increase
4. 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 increase5 splitting
increase 2splitting
pairs 2 pairs
Figure 5

Figure 6: Decreasing flat peyote stitch. To work a de-

crease, 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.
6. decrease
Figure 6 6. decrease

As presented on Beading Daily workshop DVD Beadwork: Peyote Stitch—Basics and Beyond. Copyright © 2010 Interweave Press
LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.

7. odd-count circular 8. even-count circular

 5 increase splitting 2 pairs
beadwork : peyote stitch — basics and beyond
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6. decrease
5 increase splitting 2 pairs

C i rc u l a r p e yo t e
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 pass-
ing through the first bead added in round 2 (indicated 6. in decrease
orange).
7. odd-count circular 8. even-count circula
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

T u b u l a r p e yo t e
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-
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. increase
Beyond. at end
Copyright of row
© 2010 Interweave Press
LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.
 beadwork : peyote stitch — basics and beyond
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9. even-count tubular 10. odd-count tubula

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

Sh a pi ng
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- 11.
Figure 11decrease - 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
12.12increase at end of row
Figure
across the rows as before.

12. increase at end of row

Emb e l l i s h m e n t s
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 13. stitch
Figure 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

15. adding RAW

As presented on Beading Daily workshop DVD Beadwork: Peyote Stitch—Basics and Beyond. Copyright © 2010 Interweave Press
LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.
16. adding herringbone
 beadwork : peyote stitch — basics and beyond
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About the Ar tist

F e at u r e d Pro j e c t s 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.

As presented on Beading Daily workshop DVD Beadwork: Peyote Stitch—Basics and Beyond. Copyright © 2010 Interweave Press
LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.