Welcome back to Bead Weaving 101 – Peyote Stitch.
By now you are getting really proficient in flat peyote stitch techniques.
Today I want to talk about ways you can add texture and embellishments to Flat Peyote beadwork.
Flat Peyote Stitch – Even and Odd Count
Fast Peyote in Flat Peyote
Diagonal Peyote – Increasing and Decreasing Peyote Stitch
If you need additional help with Flat Peyote, I have the Bead Weaving Basics – Flat Peyote Stitch PDF – 3 Techniques – Even Count, Odd Count and Circular Peyote.
available for a few dollars in The Alluring Bead Boutique Shop. Check out all my Technique Guides, with Step by Step photos and written instructions.
Probably the most obvious way to add texture and embellishment to Flat Peyote work is to use color and patterns within the work.
Peyote patterns are readily available and you can even download your own peyote graph paper and design your own patterns.
There are also a few free software options available to download and use for this purpose.
We have already talked about using the Multiple Drop Peyote methods which add a new texture to the bead work.
In this example, I used two colors of beads along with the 2 drop method to create an interesting texture that is very subtle but elegant.
You can also use different size beads.
On the right. is an example of Flat Cellini bead work.
The Cellini stitch is just flat peyote using multiple sizes of beads in a preset sequence.
It creates this beautiful wavy bead work and is also used in Tubular Peyote to create a Cellini Spiral.
I have a few posts coming soon to this series that will get into spirals and using different size beads in flat work.
But today I want to show you a technique that allows you to add another layer to flat peyote beadwork to embellish and add texture and interest to your designs.
Increasing and decreasing, such asd with diagonal peyote, are other methods of adding shape and interest to flat peyote beadwork.
The Russian Leaf is a great example.
You can also stitch patterns into this technique.
Stitch in the Ditch
For this lesson, you will need a strip of flat even count peyote.
You can also use the technique in odd count, but I will be demonstrating on an even count strip today.
Tools and Material
- 2 Colors – 11/0 Delica Beads
- 2-3 feet of Beading Thread
- Beading Needle
- Stop Bead
Begin by working up a strip of Flat Even Count Peyote with an even number of rows.
A few inches will do for learning purposes.
The next step is to get into position on the top of the bead work.
Stitch on the diagonal through the beads until your working thread is exiting the bottom of the second bead on the bottom edge. Then sew up through the third bead.
We are going to stitch in a row of beads on a straight line or row of the bead work.
Pick up a second color bead and stitch into the next bead on the row.
Note that you will be skipping over the offset beads on either side of the row.
Repeat the step above to the end of the row.
The design options for the Stitch in the Ditch are numerous.
You can repeat the steps above on every odd numbered row for a symmetrical look.
You have the option of stepping up into the new beads and adding an accent bead between them, such as a crystal.
Stitch in the ditch is not confined to Peyote Stitch.
In the example here, I used the technique to add interest to this Flat Herringbone Stitch bracelet.
I used a random scatter of 11/0 seed beads and you can use this approach in flat peyote beadwork as well.
I hope you have learned a lot today about adding interest, texture and embellishment to Flat Peyote beadwork and that you will have fun adding these design techniques to your work.
In the next post, we are going to cover Circular peyote, which is another form of Flat Peyote but it is worked in a round.
Sign up below and you will be notified when new content becomes available.