New BNew A

CC

AAB

B

figure 1

Bead &Button • Apri l 2004 83

GoodquestionCan tubular peyote provide form and function?

by Mary Lou Allen

stepbystepBead a peyote tube around awire core and close the ends.Create a focal bead danglewith a fringe tassle and attachto one end. Add anotherdangle to the other end, ifdesired. Shape the necklaceinto a wearable design.

getting startedIf you are new to tubular (orcircular) peyote, take a lookat Basics on page 166. Manybeaders prefer to do thisstitch without anythinginside the tube, but beadingaround the wire enables youto keep your stitches tight,yet flexible enough to bend.

Electrical wire with blackplastic coating is available athome improvement centers.Unlike metal wire, which issized in gauges according todiameter, electrical wire isgiven an AWG number. I use

#6AWG wire, which is stiffenough to hold its shape andhappens to fit perfectly insidea peyote tube with this beadcount.

Unless you already havebolt cutters at home, bringyour measurements to thestore and have them cut thewire for you. The necklacefeaturing a Kevin O’Gradybead (on the left) is 21-in.(.53m) long without the dangle. The purple exampleon the right, with beads byAlethia Donathan, is 24-in.(.61m) long without dangles.

peyote tubeThread a needle with 2

yd. (1.8m) of Fireline orNymo. If you’re using Nymo,double your thread and condition it with beeswax orThread Heaven.

Leaving a 10-in. (.25m)tail, string twelve beads in the

following order: two color A(size 60), two color B (size80), two color C (size 80), twocolor A, two color B, and twocolor C.

Tie these beads in a ringusing a surgeon’s knot (see“Basics”). Place the ring overthe wire. Keep your thumbon the tail as you bead thefirst few rows so it doesn’t getwoven into the tube.

Start at the knot, andworking from right to left, gothrough the first A bead inthe ring. Pick up one A andgo through the first B. Pickup one B and go through thefirst C. Pick up one C and gothrough the first A (figure 1).Continue around until youcome to the first A.

To “step up” to the nextrow, go through the first Aon the ring and the A youadded in step 4. Pick upanother A and go through

Using a wire armature provides a shapable core support for beadwork and opens up a

whole new realm of possibilities. I love to design with large focal beads and wire

wrapped pendants, but I found that even 20-gauge wire and peyote tubes with size 80

beads weren’t substantial enough to successfully highlight the larger pieces. While rummaging

around in the basement, I came across some electrical wire and knew I was on to something.

Using even-count tubular peyote, I beaded a tube around the wire. Once the ends were closed,

I was able to form the wire into a necklace that would hold it’s shape and still remain light and

flexible enough to take on and off without a clasp. Success!

the next B (photo a). You’llnotice the pattern starting tospiral. Keep your tensionfairly tight, but not so tightthat the tube won’t bend.Continue until the the tubereaches the end of the wire.Do not cut the thread yet.

making the dangleCut a piece of 20-gauge

wire 3-in. (76mm) longerthan the finished length ofyour focal bead and spacers.

Make a wrapped loop atone end (see “Basics”).

String accent beads and afocal bead as desired. Make asmall wrapped loop at thetop (photo b).

You may wish to make asecond, shorter dangle forthe other end of the necklace.

To make the fringe,thread a needle with 2 yd. ofthread. Leaving a 7-in. tail,tie an overhand knot (see“Basics”) through the bottomloop of the dangle.

String an assortment ofbeads and crystals to thedesired tassle length.

Go through the second tolast bead strung and backthrough the rest of the beadsuntil you exit at the topfringe bead (figure 2).

Tie an overhand knot butdo not cut the thread. Repeatsteps 6 and 7, always tying aknot at the loop beforebeginning the next fringe.

To finish, tie a final over-hand knot through the loopand dot with glue. Gothrough several beads on thenearest fringe and cut thethread. Repeat with the tail.

finishing the endsStarting with the step-up

bead, pick up one A and gothrough the first C. Pick upone B and go through thenext B. Pick up one C and gothrough the next A (figure3). The tube will quicklyclose. You may need to add a

bead in the center of the circle to fill the space. Whenthe end is closed, make ahalf-hitch knot and gothrough several nearbybeads, exiting at the centerbead. Don’t cut the thread.

To attach the dangle, gothrough the top loop severaltimes and back up throughnearby beads. Tie a half-hitchknot and go back through thebeads and the dangle loopagain. Go through a few adjacent beads, tie a half-hitch knot, and dot with glue.Weave the tail back in andcut the thread.

Repeat step 1 to finishthe other end. If you areusing a second dangle, repeatstep 2 to attach it.

Gently shape the necklaceuntil it conforms to yourneck and body. The shorterend should start just left ofthe center of your throat andcurve around your neck. Atthe point slightly to the right

of your throat, bend the piecein a right angle . w

Write to Mary Lou at 720 N.Duluth Avenue, Sturgeon Bay,Wisconsin 54235 or email her atbeachstones1@charter.net.

Be sure to see Kevin O’Gradyand Alethia Donathan at theBead&Button show.

84 beadandbutton.com

materials• large focal bead (Kevin O’Grady,

kevinogrady.com, 480-874-9642; Alethia Donathan, DACSBeads, see ad p. 25)

• 60g seed beads, size 60(color A)

• 60g seed beads, size 80(color B)

• 60g seed beads, size 80(color C)

• assortment of glass and silverbeads for fringe and dangle

• Fireline fishing line, 6lb. test orNymo D beading thread

• beading needles, #10 or 12• #6AWG coated electrical wire• 20-gauge sterling or craft wireTools: round- and chainose pliers, wire cutters

a

b

adding threadDon’t wait until youare out of thread to addmore. When you getdown to your last 7 in.(.18m), go backthrough several beads,make a couple of half-hitch knots (see“Basics”) and cut thethread. Rethread theneedle with 2 yd. ofnew thread and tie acouple of half-hitchesnear the beads whereyou tied off. Gothrough several beads.Exit the same beadwhere you left off andcontinue from there.

New A

New B New C

C

C

C

C

A A

AA

BB

B

B

figure 3

figure 2

Order online atwww.beadandbutton.com/promo

Enter code I3D2or call 800-533-6644

Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm Central Time. Outside the U.S. and Canada, call 262-796-8776.

With every issue of Bead&Buttonmagazine, you’ll get 20+ beadingprojects, complete with step-by-step illustrated instructions.You’llalso get shortcuts, solutions, tips,techniques, and inspiration foryour work. Creative Ideas for the Art of Beads and Jewelry

Createstunning gifts20+projectsin everyissue

Make fashionable jewelryStylish designs fornecklaces,bracelets,and earrings

Projects for all levels-from beginner to advanced

www.beadandbutton.com

IT’S FUN! Make jewelry like a pro

Create Fashionable Jewelry withBead&Button Magazine!

SubscribeToday!