Video Tutorial: Techniques – Simple Peyote Pattern

This Beadschool tutorial is about how to work a pattern in Peyote stitch. Using just two colours of seed beads, a main and a contrast colour, I demonstrate beading a simple open diamond shape into a Peyote strip. It’s important to understand that if you want to bead a symmetrical pattern into a piece of Peyote beadwork you are making, the strip has to be an odd number of beads in width, to provide a central bead position. In the video, to highlight the issue about symmetry, I show you two strips of Peyote, one made in even count and one in odd count (these are links to my tutorial videos covering both techniques). If, however,  you want to build a random or off-centre pattern, even count Peyote will be fine.

One thing I always find helpful to point out to students is that when you are putting any pattern into Peyote, you must try to think a step ahead. What does that mean? Well, the Peyote bead formation is such that every row you bead contains half of the row below and half of the row above, so thinking a step ahead means you are anticipating the coming shaping of the design you are beading. You will understand exactly what I mean when you’ve had a little practice with building patterns into your Peyote beadwork. There are plenty of blank Peyote grids available online, so it’s only a matter of time and a little practice, and you’ll soon be designing your own patterns to bead. It’s actually a great deal of fun, drawing patterns and choosing your colours. Have fun!

In this video I’m wearing:

Isabella necklace in the Dorado colour way
I’ll be teaching the Isabella design at:
The Bead & Button Show in June 2013. Link to book the class

Isabella Kits will be available in Dorado, Topaz, Bermuda Blue, Aqua and Peridot – for more information follow the link to the Isabella page in my Gallery.

Kiku ring.

Emilie bracelet: Made with Swarovski bi-cone crystals and Miyuki seed beads. I will also be teaching this at the Bead & Button Show, 2013.
Link to book the class

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Materials used & links to Suppliers:

Nymo thread Size D – Stitchncraft
Size 12 needle – Stitchncraft
Matsuno Size 8 seed beads – GJ Beads