I've wanted to learn to bead for ages. Through my EGA chapter, I had the chance to take a correspondence course to learn the peyote stitch, an off-loom beading technique. Though I didn't like all the instructions in this course's text book (I found some of it quite confusing), I was very happy to take this course and learn the basics. Where the course instructions were vague, I turned to some books and online sources for clarification.

The first part of the course taught us to do a basic odd-count peyote stitch with Delica seed beads. By using two colors of beads, it more easily illustrated how the beads fall into place ... a bit like bricks in a wall, as you create the first three rows. This first image shows a close-up of my practice piece as I learned the basic stitch.

In the second step, we learned to weave a fabric of beads and turn it into a simple amulet pouch. If you wanted to, you could add the points to the beaded fabric. Once the pouch was constructed, we added a beaded necklace. The instructor gave us a choice of techniques. I decided to string bead my necklace.

Once the amulet pouch was constructed, we were also given a choice as to how we wanted to finish the sides. Here is where the instructions fell apart. The written directions did not seem to match the illustrations in the text. I finally just tried a number of bead combinations, and came up with this solution.

I alternated seed beads with the larger beads used in the necklace. I strung them, laid them over the seam of the amulet pouch, then couched them into place. I'm very pleased with the finished result. This detail image is a close-up of the side seam.

The final step of the course was to learn to stitch peyote in the round, making either a Zulu necklace or a scarf holder in a spiral pattern. We were also urged to try using round beads instead of the Delicas.

I didn't think either finished project was something I'd end up using once it was completed, so I chose to make the smaller project, the scarf holder. Also, since I was not planning on using the finished piece, I simply used some beads from my stash that were the correct size, even though it's not a very pretty color combination. My main objective was to learn the technique.

I had stitched peyote in the round once before, when I made a beaded tassel for another correspondence course. That was a nightmare! Thankfully, this scarf holder was much easier to construct than the tassel. I think having learned flat peyote first, and then attempting peyote in the round, made all the difference.

Overall, this course was a very satisfying experience. I have since bought a few more beaded bag patterns — giraffes, of course! I hope to have one of them to share before too long.

Stitched February 15 - March 12, 2005

Pattern name:	Fun with Beads and Peyote Stitch
Designer:	Margaret Fleming
Copyright year:	1996

Mine's for Sale!
Like my scarf holder? I'm willing to part with it. Excellent condition.
$4.00 scarf holder + $1.00 shipping = $5.00
E-mail me for details.
International orders, add $.50 extra for shipping.

A portion of all sales goes to Oprah's Angel Network

Back to Cameo's Corner: 2005
On to next project: Giraffe (#3) by nmi