Peyote triple-tube bracelet Stitch a striking, ethnic-inspired wristband by Ava Farrington

Peyote triple-tube bracelet
by Ava Farrington
The peyote triple tube was inspired by a
Native American choker made of bone
hairpipe and leather. I translated the
design into beadwork by creating 3 peyote-stitched tubes in graduated sizes and
connecting them. I put this element in
many jewelry designs. Here I use them to
frame a pi-stone or donut centerpiece.
stepbystep
This project uses 2-bead-wide strips of
peyote stitch as key components. To
prevent fraying and ensure a firm stitch,
wax or condition your thread. A peyote
piece must have an even number of
rows to join into a tube or a ring. These
directions will make a bracelet 71⁄4 to 71⁄2
in. (18-19cm) long with a 20mm pistone or donut and a 1-in. (2.5cm)
clasp. Adjust the length of the strips if
your components are different sizes or
for a larger or smaller wrist.
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Stitch a striking, ethnic-inspired wristband
triple-tube and pi-stone connection
There are two ways to make the peyote
triple tube. I often stitch the tubes as a
single unit by making the large tube first
and stitching the middle and small tubes
directly off the previous one. If you
choose this method, add 2 rows (12 rows
total) to the middle and small patterns
and join the last row to the 3rd row to
make each tube. Be sure to begin the
small tube opposite from the join for the
middle tube. A simplified construction
method is described below.
Follow the patterns (figures 1-3) to
weave 3 striped pieces in flat peyote stitch
(see “Basics,” p. 104). After you complete
the last row of each piece, roll it into a
tube and stitch between the first and last
rows like a zipper (photo a).
To join the tubes, align the stripes and
stitch between a row of beads on each one
(photo b). Join the small and large tubes
opposite each other on the medium tube.
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With the same color beads used for
the tubes’ central stripe, make a peyote
strip 2 beads wide and long enough to
reach from the edge of the pi-stone,
through the hole, and back to the edge.
Stitch the strip ends together around the
pi-stone and connect the strip to the
small tube, aligning it with the central
stripe (photo c). Reinforce the connection by stitching back through the beadwork before clipping the thread.
wristband and clasp
Make a peyote strip 2 beads wide
and 22 beads long, using the same color
beads as the large tube’s edge stripes.
Weave the ends together to make a ring
and slip it over one end of the large tube
(photo d). Stitch between the beads on
the tube and the beads on the ring to
secure it in position.
Stitch through the beads to exit a
bead on the ring at the outside edge of
the large tube. Stitch a 2-bead-wide
peyote strip 14 beads long. Leave the
needle threaded on this side.
Start with a new needle and repeat
steps 1 and 2, attaching the ring to the
large tube’s other end.
Each needle should exit a bead on
the inner edge of the strips. If a needle is
exiting the outer edge, stitch through
the beads to exit the last bead on the
inside of the strip.
Pick up a round bead with one needle
and sew through the last bead on the
other strip’s inner edge (photo e). Sew the
other needle through the round bead in
the opposite direction and go through the
last bead on the other strip’s inner edge.
Reinforce the connection by sewing
each needle back through the round
bead to the side where it started.
Stitch 12 more beads onto each
strip. Repeat steps 4-6 to add another
round bead.
Stitch 20 more beads onto each
strip. Use one needle to sew the strips
together from the ends to approximately 10 beads from the second round bead
(photo f), forming a 4-bead wide peyote
panel. Stitch through the beads to
secure the join and clip the thread.
With the other needle, sew through
a
d
b
e
c
f
materials
• 7.5g Japanese cylinder beads, one color
• 5g Each of 3 colors of Japanese
cylinder beads
• 1 20-30mm Pi-stone or donut
• 4 6-7mm Round beads
• 2 6mm Split rings
• 1 Clasp
• Nymo B to match main-color beads
• Beading needles, #12
• Beeswax or thread conditioner
g
the beads to exit the end bead on one of
the 2 center rows. Start a 2-bead-wide
peyote strip from the center rows.
After adding 10 beads, loop the strip
through a split ring and stitch the last
row back to the first row of the strip
(photo g). Stitch through the beadwork
again to reinforce the join.
Attach one side of the clasp to the
split ring.
Repeat steps 1-11 to complete the
other side of the bracelet. w
Ava is the author of two beading books,
Band O’Beads and Tassel O’Beads. You
can reach her at at P.O. Box 760, Amity,
OR 97101, (503) 835-0300 or
avasbead@viclink.com.
Bead & Button • April 2002
55
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