Peyote stitch links

form an intricate
chain
Use a favorite stitch to make a trendy piece of jewelry

designed by Maiko Kage

Large links of chain seem to be everywhere in fashion

lately, and here’s an interesting way to stitch them. Work
around the circumference of a ring of beads as if making a
wheel. Then do it again from the same base row. Sew the
two halves together to form sturdy circular and oval links.

You can dramatically change the look of this

piece by choosing seed beads in different
sizes and colors.

98 Bead&Button | beadandbutton.com

stepbystep
Circular link
Beads in the photos and
illustrations are shown in
several colors for clarity.
[1] On 2 yd. (1.8m) of
thread, center 40 color A
110 seed beads. Tie the beads
into a ring with a square
knot (Basics, p. 140). Sew
through the next A
(figure 1, a–b).
[2] Work in peyote stitch
(Basics) by picking up an A,
skipping an A on the ring,
and sewing through the next
A. Continue until you get
back to the first A in this step.
Sew through the A to step up
to the next round (b–c).
[a]
e
d
c
b
a
figure 1
[3] Work an increase in the
next round by picking up
two As instead of one in
every other stitch (c–d).
[4] Work the next round,
using one A per stitch and
sewing through both increase
beads on the previous round
(d–e and photo a).
[5] Set aside the working
thread, and thread a needle
on the tail. Work two rounds
of peyote off the first row,
remembering to step up
(photo b).
[6] Repeat steps 3 and 4,
making sure the increases
match the increases on the
existing rounds (photo c).
[7] With the thread exiting a
single A on the last round,
[b]
a c
b
figure 2
pick up two As, and sew
through the next single A on
the opposite edge (figure 2,
a–b). Pick up one A, and sew
through the next single A on
the opposite edge (b–c and
photo d).
[8] Continue around the
ring until you reach the first
As added in step 7. Sew
through them, and continue,
sewing through the As
opposite the ones you sewed
through in the last round.
[9] Secure the tails using
half-hitch knots (Basics)
between beads. Make six
circular links.
[c]
beadandbutton.com
Materials
bracelet 8 in. (20cm)
• 6 6–8mm round gemstone
beads
• 12 3mm bicone crystals
• size 110 Japanese seed
beads
30g color A
30g color B
• Nymo B
• beading needles, #13
earrings
• 4 4mm pearls
• 2 6mm round crystals
• 5g 150 Japanese seed
beads
• Nymo B
• beading needles, #13
• 2 4mm soldered jump rings
• pair of earring findings
• chainnose pliers
[d]
figure 3
| August 2006 99
 Toggle
[1] On 2 yd. of thread,
make a flat, odd-count
peyote strip 21 As long and
six rows wide (Basics and
figure 3).
[2] Sew the first row to the
last row by zipping up the
edge beads (Basics).
[e]
Connecting the links
[1] Secure a 2-yd. length of
thread in the first ring, and
exit one of the single edge
beads from step 7 of the
circular link.
[2] Pick up a 3mm bicone
crystal, a 6mm gemstone,
and a 3mm crystal. Sew
through a corresponding
bead on a second chain link,
[f]
back through the beads just
added, and back into the
bead from step 1 (photo e).
[3] Retrace the thread path
to secure the connection.
[g]
Editor’s note:
If you prefer a more
delicate bracelet, use 150
Japanese seed beads for
the circular and oval links.
Use a 4mm gemstone
bead instead of a 6mm to
figure 4
connect the circular links.
100 Bead&Button
Then, sew around the
outside edge of the second
link to a single bead on the
opposite side. Connect the
remaining links in the same
manner. Connect the toggle
to the end link.
Oval link
Make oval links in the same
manner as the circular links,
with the following changes:
Pick up 52 color B 110s
instead of 40 As. Sew
through two circular links
before tying the beads into
a ring (photo f). Refer to
figure 4 for the increases
and bead counts.
Earrings
[1] Make a circular link
using 150 seed beads, but
don’t trim one of the tails.
[2] With the tail exiting
an outer edge bead, pick up
a 4mm pearl, a 6mm round
crystal, a 4mm pearl, a
150, and a 4mm soldered
jump ring.
[3] Sew back through the
beads and through the bead
on the link where you
started. Reinforce with a
second thread path, tie a few
half-hitch knots between
beads, and trim the tails.
[4] Open the earring
finding, and slide the
soldered jump ring into it.
Close the finding (photo g).
[5] Make a second earring
to match the first. w
You can contact Maiko
Kage at 1474-6 Nakasho
Izumisano-shi Osaka
5980002 Japan, rosette_c@
hotmail.com, or visit her
website at homepage3.nifty
.com/thebeadmilkyway.