Stitch up these drapey peyote earrings which get their shapes from peyote stitch edge decreases. You can add the optional looped fringe (shown), or design your own embellishments.
1. Gather Your Materials
©Chris Franchetti Michaels
Here are the materials you need to complete two peyote stitch earrings with looped fringe:
- 142 (about .75 grams) Delica cylinder beads in lined pea green luster, DB-0274 (A)
- 174 (about .9 grams) Delica cylinder beads in sparkling beige lined chartreuse, DB-0908 (B)
- 126 (about .65 grams) Delica cylinder beads in matte transparent olive, DB-1267 (C)
- 86 (about .45 grams) Delica cylinder beads in goldenrod lined topaz AB, DB-0272 (D)
- Size D, or equivalent, beading thread of your choice (such as Nymo, Wildfire or FireLine)
- Size 12 beading needle
- Clasp of your choice
- Scissors or thread cutter
- Ear wires of your choice
- Chain nose pliers for attaching ear wires
The beads used in the example were purchased from Fox Den Designs.
2. Print the Peyote Stitch Graph Pattern Chart
©Chris Franchetti Michaels
Click on the chart on the left to view the full-size pattern, which you can also print out.
3. Stitch the Upper Portion of the Pattern
©Chris Franchetti Michaels
Work with a six-foot length of beading thread, and leave a three-foot tail. Begin by picking up all of the beads for the first two rows of flat peyote stitch, which are the outlined cells in the pattern. Follow the pattern upward from that point.
Work slowly and carefully when you stitch the edges, weaving through the beadwork as necessary to reposition your needle for the outside edge decreases that create the shape.
At the top of the pattern, reposition your needle so that it exits the last peyote-stitched bead, and pick up 5B to stitch the top loop.
Weave in and end the top thread.
4. Begin Stitching the Bottom Portion of the Pattern
©Chris Franchetti Michaels
Using the bottom thread (the long thread tail), begin stitching the bottom portion of the pattern.
You need to weave through the beadwork to stitch the two sides that have negative space between them. One approach is to stitch one side at a time. The photo on the left shows the first side completed; you can then weave through to the other side (see the next step).
5. Complete the Bottom Portion of the Pattern
©Chris Franchetti Michaels
The photo on the left shows the bottom portion of the pattern completed.
6. Create the First Fringe Loop
©Chris Franchetti Michaels
To begin the looped fringe, pick up 20A and pass through the same bead on the opposite edge of the beadwork (entering through the outside edge). Pull the thread gently taut, and then bring the needle out of the lowermost bead on that side of the beadwork. (Please click the photo on the left for a larger view.)
7. Create the Second Fringe Loop
©Chris Franchetti Michaels
Pick up 9B for the second beaded fringe loop. This is the innermost loop of fringe. Pass through the same bead on the opposite inside edge of the beadwork, and pull the thread gently taut.
8. Create the Third and Fourth Fringe Loops and Complete the Earrings
©Chris Franchetti Michaels
Use the same technique to create the third fringe loop of 27D. (This loop hangs just below the first.)
To position the needle for the fourth fringe loop, weave through the beadwork and exit the edge bead that is just above the base of the third fringe. (Please click on the photo for a larger view.) Pick up 37C for this final loop, and pass into the same bead on the opposite side of the beadwork.
Weave in and end the thread.
Stitch a second earring and attach your choice of earring findings to complete the pair.