1. Use a Ruler
You can use an ordinary ruler lined up under the beads for each row to keep track of which row you are on. The straight edge will allow you to see which beads you need to stitch in that particular row or round.Some beaders don’t like to use this method, particularly if they have pets or small children, because unless you somehow tape the ruler in place, a nudge or jostle can move the ruler and you might lose your place. This is also not a good method to use if you are going to be beading in the car or in an airplane.
2. Use Sticky Notes
Large sticky notes work well because they will stay in place and you can move them easily from one row to the next. They are inexpensive and relatively easy to find in department stores and grocery stores.Some beaders don’t like to use this method because the glue from the sticky notes can leave a residue in books or on patterns. To prevent this, insert your patterns in a clear plastic document sleeve. (This has the added bonus of preserving your patterns for many more uses!) If the pattern is in a book, you can make a photocopy of the page and then insert it into a clear plastic document sleeve. (Remember that you shouldn’t give away photocopies of published patterns without permission to avoid violating any copyright laws.)
3. Magnetic Line Boards or Magnetic Line Gauge
Another option that works well for some beaders is to use a large metal board with a magnetic strip across the board. The magnetic strip will hold the pattern in place against the board, and all you have to do is slide the magnetic strip up (or down) as you work. They also work well for reading brick stitch and loom or square stitch patterns.One disadvantage of this method is that these boards aren't necessarily portable for traveling with your beads.
These boards can be found in many needlework and craft stores.
4. Quilter's Pins
Some beaders prefer to put their peyote pattern onto a padded surface and use quilter's pins to mark each row or each bead as they stitch. This way you can track exactly where in the row or round you are supposed to be stitching, and it is easy to see on the pattern what the last bead was that you stitched.If you choose this method, make sure that you use a photocopy of the pattern, because sticking it with quilter's pins will leave large holes in the pattern. One disadvantage of using this method is that if you make a mistake, it may be difficult to figure out where because of the holes in each cell (bead) on the pattern.
5. Magic Markers
There are a lot of beaders who like to mark their place by using a colored or black marker. You can either mark off each bead as you stitch it into place, or you can just use it to keep track of each row as you stitch. This method will also require a copy of the pattern since you will be marking it up and you don't want to destroy the original pattern if it is in a book.As with using the quilter's pins, if you make a mistake, it might be difficult to figure out where the mistake happened because the cells (beads) will be marked up.