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Aunt Molly's Bead Street
BEADWORK PROJECTS

Peyote Stitch Earring

Part III: THE HANGING LOOP

Back to Part II: The Fringe | Back to Project Starting Page

We'll use the tail of thread leftover from the beginning of the peyote cylinder to reinforce the top beads of the cylinder and to create a loop on which to fasten the ear wire.

  1. Thread the needle onto the leftover tail of thread at the top of the earring.
  2. Bring the needle through the first and second rows of beads, sewing around in a zig zag pattern, one or two times around, depending on the size of your beads. For very small beads, you won't have much room, so go around only once. (You could also do this step after making the hanging loop...)
  3. Bring the needle out through a "high" bead, in the first row.
  4. If you're using French wires, do this step, then proceed to step 5:
    Pick up 6 white beads and bring the needle through the high bead directly across the cylinder.

    4a. If you're using posts with small loops at the bottom, do this step instead of 4: Pick up 3 white beads, then go through the metal loop under the post, then pick up 3 more white beads. Bring the needle through the high bead directly across the cylinder from the first high bead you used.
  5. Bring the needle back up through the new beads and out the original 1st bead in the hanging loop. You should have 2 high beads on either side of the 2 beads which secure the hanging loop.
  6. Bring the needle back through the 1st high bead which secures the loop, going in the opposite side as you came out earlier.

    Now your loop is basically secure, but because this part of the earring takes a lot of wear and tear, it's a good idea to sew through the loop a 3rd or even a 4th time. You can sew directly back through the loop now, or you can sew through the first rows of your peyote cylinder until you get to the other high bead, then go through the loop again.
  7. Weave the thread back down into the peyote cylinder, going back and forth and up and down, until the end of the thread is secure.
  8. If you're using French wires, gently open the wire loop and hang the bead loop onto it. Close the loop, trim the extra threads, and you're done!

Back to Part II: The Fringe | On to Part IV: Variations (optional) | Back to the Starting Page


These instructions, the patterns, and all images are ©1997, Mary J. Tafoya.
Single copies may be downloaded for personal, non-commercial use only.