Even 2-Drop Peyote Stitch Tutorial

Step 1

String 5 feet (150 cm) of thread through a size 12 needle. Tie on a stop bead by picking up one bead and passing the needle and thread through the bead in the same direction so that the thread wraps around the bead. A stop bead is temporary and will be removed later. It prevents your beads from sliding off of the thread while you’re getting started.

Step 2

To begin weaving flat, even 2-drop peyote, string an even number of beads. The total number of beads, when divided by 2, must equal an even number. To weave four columns of two drop peyote, string eight beads on the thread. These beads will become the first two rows.

Step 3

String two beads. Skip the last two beads. Pass the needle and thread through the next two beads.

Step 4

String two beads. Skip two beads and pass through the next two. The thread is now exiting the first pair of beads strung.

Step 5

Start the next row by stringing two more beads. Skip over the first two beads and pass through the next two “up” beads, which were the last two beads strung in the previous row.

Step 6

String two more beads. Skip over two beads and pass through the next two “up” beads. Continue until the thread is exiting the first two beads of the previous row. Four rows are now completed.

Step 7

Repeat steps 4-6 to continue adding rows until you reach the desired length.

Step 8

Once your thread gets too short to work with, around 3 or 4 inches (8-10 cm), finish the row you are working on, so that your thread is coming out of the edge of the bracelet.

Step 9

Work your thread back through the previous row, working back across the bracelet in a step-like pattern. After weaving through at least one row, trim off your thread tail.

Step 10

Thread a size 12 beading needle with approximately 4 feet (120 cm) of thread. Go through the bead next to the one you exited from when you ended your last piece of thread. Leave a 6 inch (15 cm) tail.

Step 11

Weave down through the row in a step-like fashion. Continue until you have exited through the last “down” beads on the opposite side.

Step 12

Continue to peyote stitch where you left off when you ended your thread.

Step 13

When you’re finished weaving, remove the stop bead, thread a needle on the tail and weave the thread tail into the bracelet as described in step 9. Weave in any other remaining thread tails using the same method and trim off any excess thread.

Step 14

Congratulations, you have learned the basics of flat, even 2-drop peyote stitch!