Make a beaded bead using Peyote Stitch
and just a few Delica beads. They are fun, versatile and a terrific Beinner's
Project.
I'm not sure who originally came up with Bitty Beads, as these Peyote creations
are called, but I'm pretty sure it was Wendy
Hubrick and Sue Jackson, those amazing "beaded bead" teachers. I first saw them in Bead and Button in an article written by them, a couple of years ago.
My favorite instructions online are from the delightful Red Ventling, who has graciously allowed me to out them here for you. The bracelet design is mine, as I love these beads, and have been thinking up different ways to display them, lately.
In
this article, I want to share the instructions on making these little beads with you, and
later we'll construct some different pieces with them. Here's what you need to get started:
Delica Beads, your choice of colors
Charlotte beads, in an accent color for trim
Nymo "0", in a color to match the finished bead
These instructions are from Red Ventling, who has been generous enough to allow me to present them to you.
"I got hooked on the peyote beaded beads at Embellishment and have tried them in 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 beads across and 6 rows down with
Delicas, 14's and 15's; haven't tried 11's yet because I really like the bitty beads best done with 8 beads in size 14's or 15's! There are a lot of peyote beaded bead both hollow and around a form techniques
in magazines and web sites. Be careful, they are addictive!
Here's the recipe for bitty beaded beads I use:
String 1 gold or silver charlotte, then 6 choose your color Delicas, 14's or 15's and one more gold or silver charlotte. Now flat peyote stitch across and down until you have 6 charlottes on each edge of the flat peyote piece.
Now zip up the sides and you have a small beaded bead. Weave your ends back and forth several times to reinforce the bead. I use Nymo O because I go through the beads so many times. The weaving in ends takes longer than the actual bead stringing.
The charlottes act as a spacer bead on each side of the beaded bead. You can then string onto wire and put a crystal or glass bead in between each beaded bead; add clasp and crimps.
If you are going to use spacer beads, then the recipe should be start with 6 beads across and then 6 rows down. I used Bali gold and silver spacers on some of the bracelets and then figured out the charlotte idea.
These are done in even peyote stitch so they can be zipped the same way you do an amulet bag bottom."
Also, Red wrote and told me that she has discovered an even cooler way to do these beads. She has been using a 6 bead across and 5 bead long strip, rather than 6 bead long strip, and likes them even better, as they make a more compact bead.
Give these a try, and get a few made up, because next week we are going to make a really fun bracelet with them, something a bit different than what you may have seen made with the little gems!!
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