Hello, everyone!
Guess what? My boss has decided that Beads Direct USA is going to have a YouTube channel! So far, there’s only one video posted, but Liz has lots of big ideas for the future and some of the videos may even feature yours truly at some point? We’ll see. I am terrified at the prospect.
BUT! The first video that Liz posted was this gem about how to read a Peytwist (Peyote with a Twist – not crochet!) pattern – something that I actually didn’t know how to do.
Isn’t it great? It’s Liz’s first video and I am amazed at how clean and professional it looks and sounds. And, it’s really educational. Using it, and having no previous Peytwist experience at all, I was able to make this!
In the video, Liz shows you how to do her snakeskin pattern, but I decided to be a rebel and do her zigzag pattern instead (which is available in the Beading Huddle facebook group for free! Just join the group and check the files). I used Miyuki 8/0’s in Matte Copper (2005) and Duracoat Galvanized Muscat (4206) and Union 8/0’s in Turquoise Capri Gold (8-412-27101).
Since I was using a different pattern, I wasn’t able to follow the video exactly step-by-step, but I’m already familiar with peyote, so the spot where I really needed the video was the join. It went fairly smoothly and I’m really happy with how the pattern appears.
The pattern I used was apparently written for 11/0’s, though, so my tube came out kind of… enormous? It was like a chinese finger trap. So huge. So, I decided to only make it a partial tube and to use some stringing to finish off the necklace.
The actual tube is filled with some brown 6mm glass pearls that I’ve had in my stash forever. The visible pearls, however, are 12mm Swarovski pearls in a deep brown. Then, I used the turquoise and copper seed beads to make little spacers to go between them. Then I attached the copper chain.
The tube is a little stiff, but the core of beads helps it curve when actually worn. I really, really like how the shape of it came out.
I’m really excited to mess around with some more Peytwist patterns. The technique is really fun and I’m curious about what other styles and patterns can be adapted to it.
What do you think? Any interest in learning Peytwist? Any ideas for videos for the new YouTube channel?
Wescott Jewelry 
I would like to see the end of the Peyote a little more finished.
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To each their own! Personally, I liked the kinda bead-cap-like effect of the peyote overlapping the pearls. But I also like my pieces a little more rustic / unfinished looking (frayed ribbon, aged finishes etc), so that definitely informs my design choices. :D
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Hi there, how do you connect the large pearls onto the tube please?
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They aren’t actually connected by any stitching. The tube and pearls are all strung on flexible beading wire and then I beaded the little circles of size 8/0’s to use as spacers between the pearls. :)
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Love it. Looks like something from the past the Indians would have done. Very different style good contrast in colors. This is a piece the young people will go for doesn’t look like the same old boring.
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Thanks, Annette! I like that you can do any pattern with this technique, but I’m glad you liked the one I chose! <3
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