How To Use Peyote Stitch Patterns For Creative Cross Stitching
Our fascination with creating a fabric by stitching or weaving tiny beads together is not new. The Egyptians created burial garments using peyote stitch patterns over 4000 years ago! The technique got its name from the Native American’s who created beaded items for ceremonial events. Over the years the techniques have changed although the name has stayed the same.
Because of the beading, peyote stitch patterns are most often used to create jewelry and items like small handbags, gloves, scarves and sweaters. Another item created by the peyote stitch are wonder beads or super beads, which are larger beads used in jewelry created out of several smaller peyote stitch patterns.
Peyote stitch patterns are the most popular amongst contemporary beadworkers. The technique is simple but can be confusiing for beginners, especially when it comes to following the pattern. The work progresses in an zigzag manner with each alternate bead belonging to a different row of the pattern. If you count your rows on the diagonal it will help you find your place on the graph.
The beads used in a peyote stitch pattern are glass seed beads which are available in several different sizes. To add contrast to a necklace you can have fun creating “beaded beads” which involve using a larger wooden bead as a base and stitching the seed beads around it in tubular fashion.
Various crafters have contributed projects using the peyote stitch to the book, “Beaded Pictures: Charts and Instructions for Beadweaving.” The book has a wide variety of peyote stitch patterns and includes everything from animals and floral patterns to geometric patterns, seasonal items and even has patterns of different people.
“Knitting with Beads: 35 Beautiful Sweaters, Scarves, Hats and Gloves” details many different beading projects. The main peyote stitch project is a peyote stitch tunic marked as a challenging project in the book. A book that ties back to the Native American tradition with the peyote stitch pattern is “Native American Beadwork: Projects and Techniques from the Southwest.” “Creative Cloth Doll Making” is a book that shows how to combine the peyote stitch beading with several other craft techniques.
Let peyote stitch patterns open up a new world of creativity for you as you weave tradition into your modern life.
