Recently, I received a special request from a very nice lady on my Facebook page.
Dianne Culbertson-Jacques sent this photo to me and asked for my help.
Dianne loves making peyote bracelets with Miyuki Delicas and she want to use this shape to make a matching beaded Toggle Clasp.
I was more than happy to help out with the request. I had not tried this shape yet and thought it might make for a good tutorial as well.
I used Delicas on my first attempt shown here on the right. I able to figure out the specifics but I was not very happy with the way the cylinder beads look as they round the curve.
So I decided to try it out using round seed beads. I am much happier with the result and appeal of the bead work.
Dianne also specified that the base of the component be about an inch in width. Swapping out for round seed beads did not significantly alter the width of the project. So I was pleased with that also.
However, I did have to alter the pattern quite a bit to compensate for the shape and size of the round seed beads.
In this tutorial, I used size 15/0 seed beads for the corners. And let me tell you that the shape looked like it would never work out but I hung in there to the end and when I zipped the front and back together, I fell in love with it.
You can try the project using all 11/0 beads if you prefer. I don’t think it will alter the overall design as I have it patterned out. Although the base with probably be slightly wider.
So let’s take a look at the beads and get started.
Tools and Materials
Size 11 – Toho Seed Beads – Transparent Frosted Olivine
Size 15 – Toho Seed Beads – Silver Lined Topaz
Size 12 or smaller Beading Needle
Approx. 5 ft Fireline Beading Thread
If you prefer the Delicas, I used two colors of size 11’s
Technique Talk
As I have discussed on my other Shaped peyote tutorials, the technique used for shapes is technically a modified form of Circular Peyote. We work the front of the form first. Then sew to the center and form the back side before finally zipping the sides together at the outer edge.
Circular Peyote differs from the tubular form, in that the work lays flat for the most part. When worked int a round form, we have to incorporate increases to allow for the increasing circumference of the work. In this project, we will also utilize the 2 drop and 3 drop methods of stitching, commonly used in flat peyote, to work the increases.
Creating shaped peyote components with corners and straight lines, such as a square or triangle, we do not need to increase the bead work.
So when it comes to our half-round shape, we will have to use some occasional increases as we work the curved side of the shape.
Instructions
Sample 1 Delicas
For the Front Side
Rows 1 and 2:
Pick up 2 Color A – 7 Color B – 2 Color A – 19 Color B
Tie the beads into a round and pass through the first Color A Bead.
For the remaining rows you will work two color A beads using Herringbone stitch at the corners.
You will use regular peyote stitch with color B beads along the short side and the curve with the following exceptions for the curved side of the bead work. Row 3 is worked with regular peyote to the end and step up.
- Row 4 – Add 4 regular stitches – 3 two drop stitches – 4 regular stitches.
- Row 5 – Regular 1 bead peyote around the curve, when you reach the sets of two, sew through both before picking up the next bead. Continue regular 1 bead peyote to the end and step up.
- Row 6 – Add 4 regular stitches – 1 two drop stitch – 3 three drop stitches – 1 two drop stitch and 4 regular stitches.
- Row 7 – Add only one Color A bead between the corner beads. Peyote normally along the short side. For the curved side, add one bead at a time, remembering to sew through the multiples of your two and three drop sets before picking up the next bead.
Sew down the corner beads into the first Delica in the center.
For the Back Side
Row 1 of the work is in place.
Rows 2 and 3 are worked using regular peyote and color B beads along the side and curve and a Color A herringbone stitch at the corners. You will need to add the first two color A beads as we did with the Square or the Triangles.
Rows 4-6 are worked exactly as the front. The only difference is that the step ups are no longer at the corner.
Zip the sides together and remember to sew through all the beads on your multiples.
Sample 2 Round Seed Beads - As shown in the Video
For the Front Side
Rows 1 and 2:
Pick up 2 15/0 SB – 7 11/0 SB – 2 15/0 SB – 19 11/0 SB
Tie the beads into a round and pass through the first 15/0 bead.
For the remaining rows you will work two 15/0 SB’s using Herringbone stitch at the corners.
You will use regular peyote stitch with 11/0 beads along the short side and the curve with the following exceptions for the curved side of the bead work. Row 3 is worked with regular peyote to the end and step up.
- Row 4 – Add 4 regular stitches – 3 two drop stitches – 4 regular stitches.
- Row 5 – Regular 1 bead peyote around the curve, when you reach the sets of two, sew through both before picking up the next bead. Continue regular 1 bead peyote to the end and step up.
- Row 6 – Add 5 regular stitches – three 3 three drop stitches – 5 regular stitches on the curve and step up.
- Row 7 – Add only one 15/0 bead between the corner beads. Peyote normally along the short side. For the curved side, add one bead at a time, remembering to sew through the multiples of your two and three drop sets before picking up the next bead.
Sew down the corner beads into the first seed bead in the center.
For the Back Side
Row 1 of the work is in place.
Rows 2 – 5 are worked using regular peyote and 11/0 beads along the side and curve and a 15/0 beads and herringbone stitch at the corners. You will need to add the first two 15/0 beads in the corners, using the 11/0 beads, just as we did with the Square or the Triangles.
Row 6 is worked the same as row 6 on the front.
Zip the sides together and remember to sew through all the beads on your multiples.
I hope you have enjoyed beading this creative shape today.
As always …….