Flat Peyote Stitch Even Count is an easy, all around basic stitch, used for making any flat piece of beadwork. Used extensively for Amulet bags, straps and even to make beads out of beads, this is a must-know stitch for any beader.
Difficulty Level: Moderate Time Required: Varies - about 60 minutes to learn the stitch.
Here's How:
- Start by threading a #12 beading needle with about 1 yard of prepared thread. Use Nymo or Sylamide thread for best results.
- String your first bead onto the thread and loop through it again. Be sure to leave a 6 inch tail. This bead will hold your work in place and the thread will be unlooped and woven back into the finished piece.
- String the rest of your beads for rows 1 and 2 onto the thread. Make sure they are alternating, row 1 bead, row 2 bead, etc. and make sure there are an even number of beads strung.
- When all beads for the first 2 rows are strung, begin your 3rd row.
- Pick up a Row 3 bead, then pass the thread through the second bead from the end.
- Continue the 3rd row by picking up a bead, and passing through every other bead ie: the 4th, 6th, etc. until you come to the end of the row.
- To start row 4 and for all rows after, pick up a bead and pass through the last bead strung on the previous row.
- Continue on in this manner until all of the beads indicated on your graph or chart have been strung.
- Complete your piece by weaving any loose threads back in to the piece.
- After stringing all of the beads for the first 2 rows onto your thread, place the beads for the 1st row onto a long needle or thin piece of wire to make starting the third row much easier.
- Introduce new thread at the beginning of a row. Just thread your needle and start the row as if it were the same thread, then weave in the ends later.
- To make reading a graph easier, make yourself a graph ruler by cutting along the edge of a blank graph and covering it with tape or plastic laminating material.
Related Features:
- Beadwork Tutorials
- Patterns for Off Loom Weaving
- A simple bracelet pattern for Flat Peyote stitch.
- Links to Peyote Stitch pattern design software packages
