Beadwrangler Special Feature
July 20, 2000

Question: I've avoided peyote patterns simply because I have no real ideas for keeping track of rows in the pattern. How do you keep track of what row you're on without losing your mind? Is there some easy method I'm missing?

ANSWER: HI Joanne. Yes, keeping track on a peyote pattern is very confusing sometimes. It will be a little challenging to answer without graphics, but I will try. With peyote beadwork, as you know by now, the beadwork does not lay in perfect lines. Instead, the rows interlock just like teeth in a zipper. So the beads in all the rows, after row one, actually interlock with the row above it and the next row below it. One of the easiest ways to keep track of your rows is to keep your place with a ruler by sliding it down each time you change a row. Some people use those magnet boards that cross stitchers use. It is a metal page holder of some kind with long strip of magnet, (like you'd get at a craft store to cut and glue onto things to hang onto your fridge) The magnet clings to the metal clip board and holds the page in place and also works as a guide line.

Another way, or actually a way you can also use with this method is to mark each row off when you get it finished. I use a light pencil to put a check by the row I just finished. Or, you can custom make a guide by measuring the height of the beads in a row, then cutting a slit in a piece of paper the same size as the row and then sliding this 'window' each time you start a new row. This way, you isolate the beads in the row you are working on and it helps take some of the confusion out of it. You will also see half of the row below and the row above, but you need to focus only on the current row.

If all else fails, you need to count the rows. The easiest way to do this is to count by zig zagging between the columns. First let me give you a little lesson. Keep in mind that I bead from the top to the bottom of a piece, so instructions here are given for working top to bottom. Look at your peyote pattern. You will see rows and columns. The COLUMNS of beads run from top to bottom in the pattern, while the ROWS run side to side. Notice that the beads in the columns are all in a straight vertical line and touch each other. But the beads in the ROWS are different. The beads in a particular row do not touch each other.

Here is a little exercise you can do to help you understand how to work peyote. I call this color-coded learning. Make a little sample strip of peyote work by using the colors I suggest here. String 8 beads in this order. (The first two rows are actually strung at the same time) Rows 1&2: Start with a red bead and then add a white bead. Alternate red and white until you have 8 beads. Row 3, Work row 3 in blue beads. Row 4: Work this row in yellow beads.

Now, look at your work. The first string of red and white beads, actually make up rows one and two. The white beads moved up to make row one, the red beads pulled down to make row two, the blue beads are row three and the yellow beads are row four. Notice how none of the beads in any particular row touch each other. The white all have red beads between them; the red have white beads at the top half and blue beads at the bottom half separating them. And so on. But if you look at the COLUMNS ..the lines of beads that run up and down...you will notice that they touch.

Now, for flat peyote, you only count the beads in the first two columns, So if you were to count them in a zigzag manner, you would count them this way. The white bead is row one, then "zig" a little to the red bead below, this is row two, now 'zag' back to the blue bead below in row 3. Then 'zig' again to the yellow bead. This is row 4.

That is how you count peyote rows. There is one other way, and that is to count on the diagonal. Look at your beadwork, then count them this way, White, red, blue, yellow going down in a diagonal direction. Many beadworkers count rows this way, but I prefer to count them using the zigzag method.

Enjoy! Barb Grainger

She is currently working on a third book which is scheduled to be available this Summer.
She also teaches workshops at various locations around the country.
You can contact her at Beadteach@aol.com

Visit Barb's new Website - BarbsPage