Step-up/Step-down Peyote stitch:
How would you like to make a flat
strip of odd count Peyote stitch
without “homeless beads”, thread
catches or figure eights? Yes, you
heard it right, and it is possible.
Thread up a needle, get out some
Delica beads (D) and let’s play!
This technique works for any width of strip
but since this free PDF is to support my
December 2013 Bead & Button magazine
article for Fire & Ice Cuff, I have designed
this instructional PDF using the numbers
for the cuff.
If you are not making Fire & Ice Cuff, but
you want to learn this technique, just
make a sample. The width of the strip can
be any odd number; so practice with these
numbers first then try it with other odd
numbers. Talk about awesome!
Photo credit: Kalmbach Publishing, Jim Forbes photographer
Figure 1
Figure 2
Rows 1 & 2: With 6 feet of prepared thread in a color that blends with the
cylinder beads, string 14D, leaving a 6 inch tail.
Row 3: Without a bead on the needle, skip the last 2D strung and sew back
through the third (fig. 1); adjust the tension. Using 1D in each stitch, make
5 more stitches; string 1D and sew back through the first D strung (fig. 2).
Adjust the tension and how you are holding the strip.
Row 4: Using 1D in each stitch, make 6 stitches (fig. 3).
Figure 3
Figure 4
Row 5: Using 1D in each stitch, make 5 stitches; string 1D make 1 stitch
and step-down through the closest 2D (fig. 4). String 1D and step-up through
the closest 2D (fig. 5).
Note: Row 5 is now complete, but the thread is not at the beginning of the
row. This is the trick, so with that said, Step-up/Step-down flat odd count
Peyote stitch begins now!
Figure 5
cynthiarutledge.net
©2013 by Cynthia Rutledge
Figure 6
Rows 6 & 7: Row 6: Using 1D in each stitch, make 5 stitches (fig. 6, blue thread). Row 7:
Using 1D in each stitch, make 4 stitches; using 1D, make 1 stitch and step-down (fig. 6, red
thread). Back to Row 6: Using 1D, make 1 stitch (fig. 7, green thread). Back to Row 7: Using
1D, make 1 stitch (fig. 7, blue thread); using 1D, make 1 stitch and step-up (fig. 7, red thread).
Rows 8 & 9: Row 8: Using 1D in each stitch, make 4 stitches (fig. 8, blue thread). Row 9:
Using 1D in each stitch, make 4 stitches and step-down (fig. 8, red thread). Back to Row 8:
Using 1D in each stitch, make 2 stitches (fig. 9, blue thread). Back to Row 9: Using 1D in
each stitch, make 3 stitches and step-up (fig. 9, red thread).
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Rows 10 & 11: Row 10: Using 1D in each stitch, make 3 stitches (fig. 10, blue thread).
Row 11: Using 1D in each stitch, make 3 stitches and step-down (fig. 10, red thread). Back
to Row 10: Using 1D in each stitch, make 3 stitches (fig. 11, blue thread). Back to Row 11:
Using 1D in each stitch, make 4 stitches and step-up (fig. 11, red thread).
Rows 12 & 13: Row 12: Using 1D in each stitch, make 2 stitches (fig. 12, blue thread).
Row 13: Using 1D in each stitch, make 2 stitches and step-down (fig. 12, red thread). Back
to Row 12: Using 1D in each stitch, make 4 stitches (fig. 13, blue thread). Back to Row 13:
Using 1D in each stitch, make 5 stitches and step-up (fig. 13, red thread).
Rows 14 & 15: Row 14: Using 1D in each stitch, make 1 stitch (fig. 14, blue thread). Row
15: Using 1D, make 1 stitch and step-down (fig. 14, red thread). Back to Row 14: Using 1D
in each stitch, make 5 stitches (fig. 15, blue thread). Back to Row 15: This is the end of the
progression for this count, so pay attention! Using 1D in each stitch, make 5 stitches; using
1D, make 1 stitch; step-down and turnaround (fig. 15, red thread).
For Fire & Ice Cuff: Repeat Rows 4-15 until the strip, when wrapped around the
circumference of the cuff, and without squeezing in the ends to meet, is about 1/2” from
the ends meeting. You will have to add thread at about the halfway point, so weave off the
tail thread but keep the remaining working thread.
Artist tip: Whether you are making Fire & Ice Cuff or just playing with this fabulous
technique, here are a few tips.
I begin Peyote stitch my own way, so what was strung for Rows 1 & 2 has all of the beads
for those rows plus 1 bead for the beginning of Row 3. The strip for this PDF is 13D wide.
Figure 11
The width of the strip will determine how many rows for the pattern repeat. In this case, it
took 15 rows to get the point of repeating the technique. If the strip was to be an odd
number lower than this count, the step-down and turnaround technique at the end of the
progression would happen sooner than if the odd number of beads were a larger number.
Also, no matter how wide the strip needs to be for the piece you are making, the step-down
and turnaround technique alternates sides, so the strip is smooth, straight and gorgeous!
Happy Beading,
Figure 12
Figure 13
cynthiarutledge.net
Cynthia
Figure 14
Figure 15
©2013 by Cynthia Rutledge