Q How does one "load" and follow a pattern for flat peyote stitch? I'm talking bead by bead. I realize it will vary pattern to pattern, but I have bought a lot of books, but none of them spell it out in a very specific way. If someone would just describe it for one pattern, I'm pretty sure I'd be able to apply it to all such projects. I can figure out odd vs. even, but changing colors to follow the pattern mystifies me. Thanks, Nancy Boyum

When reading and following a tubular peyote pattern, do you read the pattern as you would for flat peyote stitch, or do you "read around" the pattern as if the pattern were on a tubular structure and you begin on the same end of the pattern each round? Thanks, Marianne Goodman

A I thought I would try to answer both of these peyote questions in one post as they are somewhat related. First of all, you only "load" the beads that will comprise the first two rows or rounds of any pattern. As you continue to add rows or rounds, you will pick up one bead per stitch (for regular peyote). Refer to the illustration for a sample of a pattern worked in flat even-count peyote:

1. Starting at the bottom of this simple pattern, pick up the beads to make up the first two rows. In this pattern, that would mean picking up two black, two red, and two black beads. In a more complicated pattern the same rule would apply, just in a larger quantity of beads picked up.

2. To begin row three, pick up a red bead, skip the last black bead picked up, and sew through the next black bead.

• Pick up a black bead, skip a red bead, and sew through the next red bead.

• Pick up a red bead, skip a black bead, and sew through the last black bead in the row.

3.This is where I would flip my work, because I like to work in the same direction, while holding my beadwork. If you prefer, you can leave your work on the table, and just work back and forth. Whichever works best for you. Just remember, if you flip your work, you need to read the pattern from left to right, and then right to left for each row.

• Pick up a red bead, and sew through the next red bead (from now on, the beads you sew through stick up or out, which is why they are sometimes referred to as "up-beads" in patterns).

• Pick up a black bead, and sew through the next black bead. 

• Pick up a red bead, and sew through the next red bead.

 4. Continue following the pattern, adding one bead per stitch.

If you are working in tubular peyote, after "loading" the first two rounds, you would tie the beads into a ring and step up through the first bead. Then as you work subsequent rounds, you would read the pattern from left to right for each round, stepping up after each round.
 

These beads that make up the "bottom row" are actually the first two rows. When you pick up the beads in your pattern to get started, you must pick up all the beads for these two rows first.