Q I have printed the peyote graph paper from the "How To" section so I can draw my own pattern. If I want the finished piece to measure 5 x 7 inches (13 x 18 cm), how large will my pattern have to be? Thanks! Rachel Morris

A I am glad you are using the free graph paper, and that is a really great question! The answer depends on what size beads you will be using. I have decided to make up 1-in. (2.5 cm) samples in several bead sizes for each of the graph papers we provide. I will begin with peyote and loomwork, and as I finish the samples I'll update this post with the rest.

The following bead counts are as close as I could get them to square samples, but different beads (such as Czech seed beads), tension, and thread thickness may produce a different count. It is best to do a test square with the beads you are using to get an accurate count. After creating a square, multiply the desired length and width by the number of beads in the sample. So for a 5 x 7-in. (13 x 18 cm) finished piece using size 11 cylinders, multiply 5 times 20, and 7 times 30. You would pick up 100 size 11 cylinders to make up the first two rows, and work 210 rows.

Create 1-in. (2.5 cm) square samples to calculate the number of beads in the finished piece. Here are examples of size 11 seed beads and size 10 cylinders.

PEYOTE STITCH

Pick up the number of beads that will make up the first two rows, then for each subsequent row pick up half the number of beads (for odd-count samples, you will pick up one less than half). To count rows, count the number of beads along both straight edges (along the edges where the thread shows).

• Size 15 Japanese cylinder beads: Odd-count peyote; Pick up 21 beads for the first two rows, work 40 rows.

• Size 15 Japanese seed beads: Even-count peyote; Pick up 24 beads for the first two rows, work 31 rows.

• Size 11 Japanese cylinder beads: Even-count peyote; Pick up 20 beads for the first two rows, work 30 rows.

• Size 11 Japanese seed beads: Odd-count peyote; Pick up 17 beads for the first two rows, work 23 rows.

• Size 10 Japanese cylinder beads: Even-count peyote; Pick up 16 beads for the first two rows, work 24 rows.

LOOMWORK / SQUARE STITCH

• Size 15 Japanese cylinder beads: 20 beads across, 19 rows down.

• Size 15 Japanese seed beads: 22 beads across, 16 rows down.

• Size 11 Japanese cylinder beads: 19 beads across, 15 rows down.

• Size 11 Japanese seed beads: 17 beads across, 12 rows down.

• Size 10 Japanese cylinder beads: 14 beads across, 13 rows down.

HERRINGBONE

•Size 15 cylinder beads: 16 beads across, 20 rows.

• Size 15 seed beads: 16 beads across, 22 rows.

• Size 11 cylinder beads: 14 beads across, 17 rows.

• Size 11 seed beads: 12 beads across, 16 rows.

• Size 10 cylinders: 10 beads across, 13 rows.

RIGHT-ANGLE WEAVE

The nature of right-angle weave produces a square sample, so the stitches per row are the same as the number of rows.

• Size 15 cylinder beads: 11 stitches

• Size 15 seed beads: 10 stitches

• Size 11 cylinder beads: 8 stitches

• Size 11 seed beads: 7 stitches

• Size 10 cylinder beads: 7 stitches 

TWO-DROP PEYOTE

• Size 15 cylinder beads: odd-count, pick up 22 beads for the first two rows, work 36 rows

• Size 15 seed beads: even-count, pick up 24 beads for the first two rows, work 30 rows

• Size 11 cylinder beads: even-count, pick up 20 beads for the first two rows, work 29 rows

• Size 11 seed beads: even-count, pick up 16 beads for the first tow rows, work 22 rows

• Size 10 cylinder beads: odd-count, pick up 14 beads or even-count, pick up 16 beads for the first row (1 in. is exactly 15 beads), work 24 rows
 

Warp threads add to the width of the finished piece.

Anna Elizabeth Draeger
Associate Editor
Bead&Button magazine