Peyote is a needle-based bead-weaving technique that doesn't require a loom. All you need is a needle, weaving thread and pearls. In previous episodes of Needlework Bead Weaving Training, we looked at Brick Stitch, Peyote Pair and Peyote Impair. There are many variants of these techniques, including Circular Peyote, which itself comes in hundreds of variations. It would be complicated to list all these versions, but broadly speaking, they can be grouped into the following categories:
What is the Circular Peyote?
It's a variation on the simple Peyote. Instead of weaving a strip of beads, the beads are woven in a spiral, starting from a loop of beads. The number of beads in the starting loop will influence the desired result. Similarly, one or two pearls can be added to each hole in the weave, allowing you to create different shapes, to create a 3D model or, on the contrary, to maintain a flat weave. You can also change bead sizes during weaving to achieve even more different results.
Tubular Circular Peyote: Bangle Miyuki
Tubular circular peyote is a weaving technique that creates tube-shaped structures. It is commonly used to make semi-rigid bracelets, known as Miyuki bangles or beaded bangles.
The first step is to create a loop of pearls corresponding to a diameter slightly larger than your hand's circumference, so that you can thread your bangle once finished. As you can see, these are bracelets without clasps. This loop of pearls is always an even number and corresponds to the first two rows of the weave, as in classic peyote. The empty spaces are then created with the third row of beads. Each hole is then filled with a pearl, as in classic peyote. But to start each new row, you must pass through the first bead of the previous round and the first bead of the completed round. The weave is spiral, increasing the width of the bracelet as you go. In the case of Peyote Classique, the length of the bracelet is increased as you weave.
Rings can also be made, simply by reducing the number of beads on the starting loop.
Tubular Circular Peyote is also the basis for the technique of setting cabochons with pearls. To shrink the setting and include the stone, we reduce the size of the pearls as we go along, and we can also use no pearls at all - every other pearl, for example.
3D circular peyote: the basis of 3D pearl weaving
When pearls are woven in concentric circles, the weave will often tend to curl or bulge. This is most noticeable when trying to weave squares with a starting loop of four beads and following the principle of circular peyote weaving: to form angles and thus achieve different geometric shapes, two beads are usually placed at these angles on each turn. Applying this technique to our base of four beads, we obtain warped squares. However, these squares can be used to create 3D stars. Assemble 5 to form a Miyuki 3D star.
Similarly, with a base of three beads, you can create 3D triangles like the stud earrings shown in the tutorial, or even 3D beaded Christmas ornaments. The possibilities are endless.
Flat circular peyote: weaving concentric circles
This technique creates flat or slightly concave shapes from a loop of beads. Examples include flat Miyuki stars and flowers. As explained above, when beads are woven in a circle using this technique, the shape naturally becomes more and more voluminous as the weaving progresses. To compensate for this, at certain key points in the weave, we'll add a single bead instead of two, or two beads instead of one, or even change the size of the beads. This requires a lot of testing if you don't follow a tutorial, as the weave is not totally predictable and depends on the shape and size of the beads. For example, in our star example below, stars made with delica 8/0 are flat, whereas with the same pattern, stars made with delica 11/0 or 15/0 are slightly concave.
In the video tutorial example, the blue flowers are almost flat. You should have continued to use a single bead for the Gold Tone beads instead of two blue beads.
Hollow shapes in Circular Peyote
You thought you'd finally seen and understood everything there was to know about Circular Peyote? Well, no... There are so many possibilities, it'll probably take you decades to go through them all! 3D Peyote creations also include hollowed-out volume shapes. Here are just a few examples:
Hollowed pearl triangle earrings
Hollowed pearl triangle pendant
Learn how to make a pearl clasp
