Peyote Stitch Beading Class Part Three

This class we're going to talk about increasing and decreasing flat peyote. The first thing you need to know about increasing in flat peyote is that it's hardly ever necessary. Most designs just don't require it. You can usually get away with starting from the widest point and decreasing in both directions. But, and this is an important but, you can expand the possibilities of peyote stitch by learning how to do it.


Increasing on the Edges

Increasing an outside edge by is tricky, because you are actually increasing the width of two rows at once, and if you are adding an odd number of beads, one of them is the row before last! Be sure to keep this in mind while you are working a pattern that requires this.

To increase by one column, instead of adding the first bead of the new row at the end of a row, go through the last bead of the previous row. Pick up two beads and go back through the end bead your needle is coming out of. Go right through the bead just below and through the lower of the two beads you just added then up and left through the top of the two. Your thread should now be in position to work the next row.

If you really only want to add one bead without actually starting a whole new column, just brick stitch it to the edge. For instance, if you are working with odd number of columns, add the last bead of the row normally by going down and left through the bead below. Go up through the bead to the left diagonally and down and to the right through the bead directly below. Go up and to the right through the second bead from the top on the final row. Pick up your increase bead. Pass your needle under the thread that runs between the bead your thread is coming out of and the bead above it. Go back through your increase bead and pull tight. Then go up and to the left through the top bead on the rightmost column. Continue normally.



To increase an outside edge by two columns, pick up three beads and go back through the first of them. That's it! Cool, huh? In this case you are increasing the row you were at the end of and the new row. Any increase of an even number of beads is done the same way.



Adding an odd number of columns greater than one is not really that different than just adding one, but it looks different so I'm including diagrams. Say you want to add three columns. Pick up four beads and go back through the second of them. Pick up one more and go through the end bead you originally left. Now you've got new columns, but they are kinda wobbly and the bottom bead is just hanging there.



To attach that bottom bead and get your thread back where you want it to be, go down and to the right through the bead underneath the one your thread is coming out of. Then go through that wobbly bottom bead, the center bead, and the lower of the two beads on the outside edge. Now go up and to the left through the top one. Now you are ready to start the new row.



Increasing on the Inside  

Increasing within a row is guaranteed to distort your work. Be sure that the "fanned out" effect this creates is what you are looking for before doing this.

To increase within a row, simply put two beads where you would normally put one. To minimize the distortion, choose two beads that are somewhat thinner than the rest. These might be hard to find if you are using Delicas! (g) Complete the rest of the row normally.

On your way back, bring your needle up between the two beads. Pick up a bead and go on through the second of them and complete the rest of the row normally.



Decreasing on the Edges

Decreasing at the beginning of a row can be simply a matter of skipping a bead if you don't mind the thread showing. If you want to hide the thread you must god own and to the right through the bead directly below where your thread is coming out, then through the bead that is down and to the right on a diagonal from that bead and up and to the left through the bead above that. Then up and through the second bead from the left edge on the top. Now you can continue the row normally.

At the end of a row, continue through the last bead in the previous row. Go left through the bead below, through the bead that is up and left on the diagonal, down and right through the bead directly below, then up and to the right through the second bead from the top on the final column. Then go to the left through the top bead on the final row and then through the bead to the left of it. Continue the row normally.



Decreasing on the Inside

Decreasing in the midst of a row will cause distortion, practice with it to make sure you will get the effect you desire.

To decrease inside a row, skip a bead and finish the row normally.

On the way back, treat the space with the missing bead just as though it were a normal sized space and put a bead in it. Finish the row normally.

This content created by Emily Hackbarth