GetCrafty Craft Facts

Q: Now I am interested in the peyote and loom with seed beads. Please tell me the difference. Is it two different ways of beading the same thing or is it totally different? What is a beginner's project to start beading for both kinds? For now I am into jewelry but I can't help think in the future I will want to do some of those bottle covers as well as many other harder projects. I hope I am not asking too much but I have absolutely no idea and I have no one to consult with. I have read many books but I am only more confused. Is this beading thing addictive or what?

A: Peyote and loom are different in several ways. Loom stitch is used to create beadwork panels where the beads are aligned in straight rows both horizontally and vertically. Since I don't do loomwork, I'm not the best source of information for how it's done, but loomed beadwork is very strong due to the way it's constructed. It's sometimes easier to chart geometric designs on loomed beadwork because the beads are in straight rows. You need a loom to do loomed beadwork. Peyote is an "off-loom" beadwork stitch. The beads are woven together in a staggered pattern that resembles brick masonry when turned sideways. With the Peyote stitch, the thread is virtually invisible - hidden by the beads. Peyote woven beadwork often is a little more flexible than other stitches, because of it's construction. No other equipment besides a needle, thread, and beads are needed for offloom work. (Well, okay, scissors and wax, but I mean no loom). Loom has to do with bead work that is woven on a loom using a Warp and Weave approach. The basic designs are also adaptable to a free hand weaving, called Square Stitch. Square Stitch implies that the horizontal and vertical rows are lined up evenly. Peyote, more appropriately called "Gourd" stitch, has horizontally aligned rows. Every other Vertical row is offset by 1/2 bead. This is a free hand weaving stitch and has many varieties such as 2 Drop Peyote and even 5 Drop Peyote. The "Drop" implies that you alternate the offset with multiple beads. In other words 2 High, 2 Low in the case of 2 Drop. Another stitch that may interest you is Brick. There are no Drop Stitches in Brick that I am aware of. In Brick, it is the horizontal rows that are offset. This stitch lends itself well to tapers for earrings, pendents, pins, etc. Yet another popular stitch is the Right Angle Weave. This stitch is a free hand weaving stitch and results in a Lace-Like appearance. It can also be done in a variety of "Drops" It is called right angle because of the arrangement of the holes in the beads. The holes in adjacent rows are right angled from each other or in the case of the Drop stitches, the Drops are right angled from each other.