Mastering Peyote Stitch - review

Mastering Peyote Stitch, 15 inspiring projects, by Melinda Barta

• Amazon: amzn.to/XCJJwD
• Barnes & Noble: bit.ly/Vir2Rx
• Interweave: bit.ly/W1UCqK

One of my goals last year was to delve into all the different forms of art that I’ve had on my “someday” list.  In the world of beading, I had several goals.  As you know, beading has several different stitches that you can try, such as herringbone, and of course peyote.  I was able to make several herringbone projects, rings especially and a spectacular necklace.  Now, here’s my chance for peyote.

What I love about the book?  Each section is able to teach a different stitch within the world of peyote.  Then within that section, a whole lot more.  I can’t tell you how lovely this book is.  Makes my mouth water.  Just look under flat peyote for instance.  There’s a whole chapter on it and within it you will learn odd count, even count, two-needle peyote stitch, and diagonal peyote stitch.  Phew!  It’s a mouthful.  If you try to learn on the internet, you’ll have to go to four or more different tutorials to learn each one, that only for flat peyote!  But how will you know what type of stitch to look up without knowing what stitches exist?  It’s one of those, you have to know your subject in order to ask a question about it.  Mastering Peyote Stitch tells you what exists in the world of peyote, and shows you how to do it. Then…yes, there is more.  Did you forget about the 15 projects?  Projects for all the techniques you just learned.  The tubular peyote really caught my eye.  However, I am in love with the Marcella Cuff.  I’d buy the book just to learn how to do the cuff.  And it doesn’t matter what colors they chose, I can change it and make it my own.  No matter how many times I make that cuff, I can have a new and different one each time I make it, just by changing the color combinations.  In essence…15 projects becomes hundreds of possibilities.

What did I do with the book?  I tried the circular peyote.  I used it to create a kind of bezel for a flat sea-shell.  With a piece of fabric on the back, I beaded around the sea-shell, then glued a pin on the back to make a little brooch.  Lovely!!!  I gave it to my niece.  It had her favorite colored beads, shades of purple, and the sea-shell was a lovely memory of her vacation.

Sadly, this isn’t the type of book you can read in an afternoon.  Pick part of it.  Read it and then try one of the projects.  Another day, try something else.  Better yet, invite your friends over for a beading party.  This is better than a reference book.  It could become your family’s next heirloom to pass down to other generations.  While your doing that…I’m going back to make that cuff.