- 1). Cut six feet of Fireline using the scissors. Thread the needle with the Fireline and string on the single bead in a contrasting color. Pull it to the end of the Fireline, leaving a six-inch tail, and push the needle through it again, going in the same direction. Pull the thread taut. This creates a stop bead that will keep your peyote from falling off the Fireline.
- 2). Pour several dozen beads onto the beading tray, unstringing them from the hank if needed. Use the needle to pick up 16 beads. Pick up a 17th bead, then pass the needle back through the 15th bead on the thread, going in the opposite direction from the first pass. This will create the beginning of an additional row on top of your foundation row of 16 beads.
- 3). Pick up a bead, skip the next bead (the 14th in the foundation row) and pass the needle through the next bead. Work your way across the foundation row in this manner, always picking up a bead, skipping the next bead, and passing through the bead after that. This will create a row that is a series of alternating "high" and "low" beads.
- 4). Turn the beadwork over each time you reach the end of a row. Pick up a bead, skip the first bead on the previous row, and pass through the next bead. From now on, this will be a "high" bead and every bead you add will fit into a slot on top of a "low" bead. Work your way across the row, following the peyote stitch pattern: pick up a bead, skip the next bead (a "low" bead), and pass your needle through the next bead (a "high" bead).
- 5). Repeat Step Four until the beadwork is the desired size. Weave the thread back into the beadwork in a zigzag pattern across several rows to secure it. Cut the Fireline close to the beadwork, remove the stop bead, and thread the needle onto the tail. Weave the tail thread back into the beadwork in a zigzag pattern across several rows to secure it. Cut the tail thread close to the beadwork.
SHARE
