How to get Soft Silky Peyote
Lovely peyote amulet bag made by SandFibers
As promised, here is the tutorial for how to get soft, silky peyote.
I am a self-taught beader. My peyote pieces always came out really stiff. That is the way that I thought it was supposed to be. Then I got to feel some pieces made by some really wonderful beaders and found out I was all wrong (see above for one of the wonder pieces of art). Their pieces were smooth and silky. I thought Wow! I need to get my pieces feeling like that so started writing to some of them and asking in the forums. Here are their basic answers:
1) Stretch your thread really well, especially Nymo D. REALLY pull on it.
2) Add the bead and pull just until the bead snaps into place, do not over tighten. Remember though not to let it be too loose either. Try to keep the tension even.
Bead Gently. Just enough…ever so slight tug to bring the beads together. No more. You can actually feel the bead snap into place.
When you hear that little "snick" pull no more! When ever doing peyote there is always a sound or a feel when the bead "pops into place. That is when the tension is right. It does not matter what kind of beads it makes it with Delicas or Myuki’s or Toho.
3) Make sure you have plenty of tail when you start. As you go, you will see that you will need to let up on the tail a tad to ease the tension. The beadwork will need a little "breathing room".
4) One beader said that she checks the tension at the end of each row to make sure that it is even. She said I have found that the same as with anything the more you relax and just do and enjoy the easier and better it gets.
5) One beader suggested I always do a couple of extra rows at the beginning of a tapestry as my beginning tension is never quite right, at least in my eyes. That way I can rip it out and the tapestry looks great. This is great advice, except I would suggest a starter strip instead (I will talk about this in another tutorial I will call Starting Peyote).
6) Quite a few of them told me to use Nymo D. I found I did not like it so tried what they told me with my PowerPro and it worked just as well. Well, mine came out soft and silky anyway.
Well, these were the helpful hints that I got that helped me to make a soft, silky, sexy bracelet. I could just sit here and run it through my fingers all day long. Oh, what a feel. You haven’t felt anything until you have felt a wonderful piece made with peyote the right way. Hope this information helps you to get soft, silky peyote, too.
I want to thank all the wonderful beaders (Tracey N., Tammy Uren, Sigrid Wynne-Evans (beadedbear), Sassy from Beadchat group, SandFibers, and Hummingbirdsings) that helped me with this information. I am passing it forward with this tutorial for all beaders.
Awwww…thanks for the compliment! I am glad to see you are still learning as you go! i too am a self-taught beader. I have a friend who did peyote and her pieces were so stiff they stood up on their own! I knew that wasnt how I wanted mine to be, so i experimented until i got the desired feel in my pieces. I am so glad to hear my suggestions helped you! Hugs, Tracey
Great advice, Marilyn! I love the soft slinky feel. I must confess I’m a Nymo lover though.
That sounds like a very Zen technique to get the tension right. Thanks for sharing.
I’m a Fireline convert…but that amulet bag was done with Nymo B in my “early days” of peyote. I think over time we all discover that perfect tension for our own work…but your guidance will surely help some find it sooner
(I’m self-taught as well, by the way. The first peyote I ever felt was my own.)
Wonderful Info, Marilyn. Stunning Bracelet too!!
Excellent information and reminders, even to some of us who have been beading with peyote for a long time. Your designs are great, too
Thank you all for your wonderful comments. I was so excited when I found this out that I just had to share. Also, thank the ones of you who complimented my designs.
thank you for this very good tutorial. I have been trying to master the peyote stitch for ages. Mine always turned out stiff and hard but after trying your way of listening for the ‘ snick’ it has been a lot more pliable. Thank you again
I’m glad, Pat. Just remember to pull lightly on the thread until it pops into place and then stop pulling. It is so rhythmic that it is calming for me now. Used to be, I would be stressed making sure everything was tight. And, like you, I had stiff hard peyote. Enjoy!
Hi Marilyn, What little peyote I’ve done has been very stiff. I’ve bookmarked your post, and will pull it up for my next peyote project. I’ll also be more likely to try peyote again now that I know I don’t have to constantly tug to keep it stiff!
~Liz
Liz, I would like to know how it comes out once you try some of these techniques. Hope they help you like they did me.
I learned a few new things today. Great Blog G-MA!