Festive feathers peyote ornament

Deck your house with peyote fringe feathers. You can vary the pattern of your design to represent the feathers of any domestic or exotic birds.

SUPPLIES

• 0.5 g 11/0 cylinder beads, natural
• 11/0 seed beads
  • 2 g color A, natural
  • 2.5 g color B, rust
• nylon beading thread, size B, natural
• beading needles, #12
• size 12 snap swivel, with the snap removed
• magnetic board (optional)
• wire cutters (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Body

1. Stitch the body of the feather in peyote stitch as follows:

Rows 1 and 2: Attach a stop bead to a comfortable length of thread. Pick up 35 11/0 cylinder beads, leaving a 6-in. (15cm) tail. 

Row 3: Pick up one cylinder, skip the previous cylinder (FIGURE 1, a–b), and sew through the next. Continue working in peyote stitch across the row (b–c). To turn, pick up a cylinder, and sew through the first bead in row 2 (c–d).

Row 4: Row 4 will be sewn to row 2 rather than row 3: Pick up a color B 11/0 seed bead, and sew through the next cylinder in row 2 (d–e). Work peyote stitch across the row, following the color pattern shown in (e–f). 

Row 5: Work the row and exit at point g. To turn, sew under the thread bridge between the bead exited and the bead that sits diagonally below it. Sew back through the bead exited and the last bead added (g–h).

Row 6: Work the row, and exit at point i. To turn, sew under the thread bridge between the bead exited and the bead below it. Sew back through the bead exited and the last bead added (i–j)

Row 7: Work the row, and repeat the turn shown at the end of row 5 (j–k).

Row 8: Work the row, and exit at point l. Repeat the turn shown at the end of row 5 (l–m).

Rows 9 and 10: Work each row, turning as in row 5 (m–n).

Row 11: Work the row, and exit at point o. To turn, sew through the bead below the one exited (o–p). Sew through three beads that sit at an angle (p–q).

Row 12: Work the row, and exit at point r. To turn, sew through the bead below the one exited (r–s). Sew through the three beads that sit at an angle (s–t).

Row 13: Work the row (t–u), and repeat the turn at the end of row 11 (u–v).

Row 14: Pick up one bead, and sew through the next (v–w). Sew through the beadwork to exit at FIGURE 2, point a.

Rows 15 and 16: Work the rows and exit the bead shown (a–b). Pick up one 11/0. To turn, sew under the thread bridge between the two beads above it. Sew through the last bead added (b–c).

Rows 17 and 18: Work the rows, and repeat the turn at the end of row 16 (c–d).

Row 19: Work the row, and exit the bead shown (d–e). To turn, sew under the thread bridge between the two beads above the bead exited and back through the bead exited and the last bead added (e–f).

Rows 20 and 21: Work the rows, and exit the bead shown (f–g). Pick up one bead, and sew under the thread bridge between the bead above it and the one diagonally above it. Sew back through the bead just added (g–h).

Row 22: Work the row. To turn, sew under the thread bridge between the bead just exited and the one that sits above it. Sew back through the bead just exited and the last bead added (h–i).

Row 23: Work the row. To turn, sew under the thread bridge between the bead just exited and the one that sits diagonally above it. Sew back through the bead just exited and the last bead strung (i–j).

Row 24: Work the row, and repeat the turn at the end of row 23 (j–k).

Row 25: Work three stitches (k–l). Sew through the bead diagonally above, and exit the next bead in row 24 (l–m). Work to the end of the row, and repeat the turn at the end of row 23 (m–n).

Row 26: Work eight stitches (n–o). To turn, sew through the bead above the bead just exited (o–p). Follow the thread path, and sew to exit the bead shown (p–q).

Row 27: Work across the row. 

2. End the thread.

Spine ends

Top

Thread a needle with the tail end of the thread. Pick up one cylinder, and sew through the end bead in row 3 (FIGURE 3, a–b). End the thread. 

Base

1. Add a new thread in the beadwork, and exit at point c. Pick up two cylinders, and sew through the end bead in row 2 (c–d). Sew through the adjacent cylinder and the first cylinder added in this step (d–e).

2. Repeat to the desired length, and exit at point f.

3. Pick up three cylinders and the loop on a snap swivel. Sew through the two end beads (f–g). Retrace the thread path through the loop to reinforce the connection. If the swivel has a snap attached, remove it by cutting it with the wire cutters.

4. Create an S-hook or embellished S-hook ornament hanger; however, do not wrap the second eye on the hook until it has been threaded through the other end of the swivel loop. Make the final eye.

• It is important to maintain a snug tension throughout the project to achieve the shape of the feather.
• Place the graph on a magnetic board with a straight edge or ruler. This will enable you to easily maintain your place in the pattern.