Tutorial: Diagonal SuperDuo Peyote

One of the best things about most flat beadwork stitches is their ability to transform with just a few simple tweaks. Start with a ring, and you get a gorgeous rope. Drop or add a bead in the right place, and you’ve got some intriguing shapes and structures crafted with beads.

This variation on diagonal peyote stitch uses two-hole SuperDuo beads for a honey-comb like pattern that is perfect for earrings and pendants. The technique is pretty simple, and the large bead sizes make it easy to stitch. Even if you’re not quite comfortable with ordinary flat peyote stitch, this technique is very easy to start thanks to the SuperDuos.

To make a swatch of diagonal two-hole peyote, you’ll need a few grams of 11/o and 8/o seed beads, and some two-hole beads that are a good match for 8/o’s. SuperDuos are ideal, but you could also try this with Rullas, half-Tilas, Twins, Bi-Bos, or smaller CzechMates. In this tutorial, we’ll be using two colors of SuperDuos for clarity, but you can certainly create any pattern or palette that you like.

1. Attach a stop bead to a comfortable length of beading thread, leaving a 6 inch tail. Pick up 1 color A SuperDuo and one 8/o seed bead. Repeat 5 times, then add a 6th SuperDuo.

2. Flip the beadwork so the stop bead is facing away from you. Pick up three 11/o seed beads and a Color B SuperDuo. Stitch up through the 2nd hole of the last Color A SuperDuo added in step 1. Pull snug.

3. Pick up 1 Color B SuperDuo, and stitch through the 2nd hole of the next Color A in the strand. Pull snug and repeat along the row to add a total of 6 Color B.

4. Flip the beadwork. Pick up three 11/o seed beads, and stitch up through the 2nd hole of the last Color B added.

5. Pick up 1 Color A SuperDuo, and stitch through the 2nd hole of the next Color B in the previous row. Repeat to add a total of 5 Color A.

6. Flip the beadwork. Pick up 1 Color A SuperDuo, three 11/o, and 1 Color B. Push the Color A SuperDuo up to the work, then stitch up through the 2nd hole of the same Color A. Carefully pull snug.

7. Pick up 1 Color B, and stitch up through the 2nd hole of the next Color A in the previous row. Repeat to add 4 more Color B, for a total of 6 in this row.

8. Repeat steps 4-7 until your swatch has reached the desired length. Finish with a Color B row, and turn to add three 11/o seed beads as usual. Fill in the final row with five 8/o seed beads. Add a loop or finish as desired, then weave in your thread and trim.

Are you a fan of SuperDuos? What’s your favorite stitch to use them with?

Mortira

Subscribe * Facebook * Google+
Send your beading questions to InspirationalBeading@gmail.com
Support Inspirational Beading for bonus tutorials and more!

Copyright 2015 Inspirational Beading