Bead Weaving Stitches - Peyote

My favorite of all of the bead weaving stitches is Peyote.  It's very calming for me.  Although starting, like in all bead weaving stitches, can be frustrating.   Put it in your mind that the first couple of rows will look weird until you get further along.  I like to use Delica beads for my peyote patterns because they snap in and look better.  You can also use regular seed beads, if you prefer.  When  you are just learning the Peyote stitch, you should start with an even count Peyote.  Odd count Peyote requires a step up.  It's not hard, but it's better to do the even first.  I also recommend picking two different colors to start.  It will be easier to see which bead to go into next.

First you cut an amount of thread that you are comfortable with.  *Put a stopper bead on the thread leaving a tail that will be long enough for you to weave in later.  String on an even amount of beads of your first (A) color.  String on one of your second (B) color and skip the last (A) bead you just strung and go thru the next (A) bead.  Pick up another (B) bead and skip the next (A) bead and go in the bead after that.  You continue across.  Try to get your work as close to the stopper bead as you can.  Pull the beads so they snap into place.  When you are done with that row,  pick up an (A) bead and  go thru the (B) bead that is sticking up.  Continue across by picking up an (A) bead and going in the (B) bead that is sticking up. Switch colors and continue until you reach the length you want.  You don't have to use two colors but this way you can see which bead you need to go into because it's a different color.

And that's Peyote!!  There are so many things you can do with this stitch.


*A stopper bead is a different bead than the ones you are using to do your stitch.  You go thru the stopper bead with the needle and thread.  Then you go thru the same way again so that it actually anchors the bead on the thread.  Pull the stopper bead down to the tail. The stopper bead will hold the beads you are using on the thread.   It is very easy to take the stopper bead off when you have a few rows done.