Make this simple and fun project with wildly colorful beads and buttons, muted classy colors with antique buttons, or, for an evening out, elegant golds and silvers and black or white with fancy modern buttons. I chose aqua-lined cube beads; silver-lined AB finished cobalt, size 6°; silver-lined chartreuse, size 8°; matte-finished periwinkle, size 8°; and purple-lined light blue, size 6°. Be creative. If you can't find these specific beads, use any combination of your favorite colors. (The buttons I use are made by Judie Mistretta, of Albuquerque, NM.)

You will make 1" x 1" flat peyote stitched squares and connect them to each other with buttons. It is important to use shank-style buttons. The typical shank is approximately 1/8" wide. Measure your wrist, and add the quantity of squares and buttons to calculate the length of the bracelet. Be sure to account for the connecting loop and button. The quantity of squares and buttons will, of course, depend on the size of your wrist, and how loose or tight you like to wear your bracelets. If you prefer more delicate jewelry, make your squares smaller and use smaller buttons.

Editor's note: To read about this bead artist, see “Sweet Obsession,” page 58 in the January 1999 issue.

STEP 1. Flat peyote stitch.
String enough beads to make about a 1" strand. The total length of the bead strand will decrease one bead in the first step. Always begin with an odd number of beads on the thread. Leave a 2" tail between the first bead and the knot or keeper bead. Use a 6' length of thread, then double it and knot the end. This will give you a 3' length of doubled thread to work with.

Counting from the needle end and heading for the knot, put your needle through the third bead only, marked with a star in the drawing.

STEP 2.
Pull the thread all the way through the bead while holding this bead with your other hand. Tighten the thread until you've taken out all the slack. The first bead will sit on top of the second bead (you may need to help it).

STEP 3.
Pick up a bead with your needle, then bring your needle through the fifth bead. Tighten the thread, pick up another bead, and go through the seventh bead. Continue picking up a bead and going through every other bead to the end of the row. The bead you add will always sit on top of the bead you skip.

STEP 4.
Both the knot and the needle threads should be coming out of the last bead. Tighten your work by using your fingernails to push each set of 2 beads away from the knot, then pull the 2 thread ends apart to tighten the rows even more. Tie the threads together in 3 knots. Put a dot of clear nail polish or knot glue on the knot you've just tied. Cut off the short end of the thread. Now turn the beadwork over, add a bead, and bring the needle through the “up” bead, add another bead and bring the needle through the “up” bead, etc., all the way to the end. Be sure to tighten the thread as you go.

STEP 6.
When you finish each of the little pieces, tie a knot around a core thread using the following method: put your needle under the thread right after the bead through which the needle comes out. Pull it up until there is a little loop of thread. Put your needle through the loop and pull tight.

STEP 7.
When you pull the thread tight, the knot will disappear inside a bead. Run your needle through a few more beads and tie another knot. Repeat until you have 3 knots. Cut off the thread close to the beadwork. To begin a new thread, use the same procedure but bring your new thread through a couple of beads, leaving a tail to hold onto. Tie your 3 knots and cut off the little tail of thread. Your needle thread will be very secure. If there is a tiny tail or fuzzies, you can melt them away with a lighter, being careful not to burn yourself.

STEP 8. Connecting the squares with buttons.
After you have made all your squares, connect them with a button between each square. You need to thread down 2 rows deep for strength.

STEP 9.
Bring the needle and thread out the center bead of the edge of the peyote square that has holes showing, then through the button shank and into the next square. Stitch back and forth between the 2 squares as many times as you can, pulling the thread tight to take out the slack. If you can get back through the beads 4 to 6 times, with doubled thread, of course, that should make a very sturdy link.

STEP 10. Finishing your bracelet.
Stitch another button on the last square of one end of the bracelet. Bring the needle and thread out the center bead on the edge of the peyote square. Bring the needle through the button, put a size 6° bead on the needle, then go back through the button shank and into the center bead in the bead square. Repeat until you have made 4 to 6 passes back and forth for strength.

STEP 11.
Putting on the button loop is very simple. Bring your needle out the first bead on the opposite edge of your bracelet. String enough beads to fit over your button, then bring the needle into the last bead on the edge of the square. Again, pass back and forth through the button loop and the beads in the peyote square as many times as you can.

Wear your new creation proudly.

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