Circular peyote stitch – also known as peyote in the round – is a really useful stitch for creating bezels around stones such as rivolis and cabochons.

Using Delicas is best if you’re just getting started, as the beads will sit neatly around the bezel and it will be easier to see the rows.

How to start circular peyote stitch

Begin by picking up an even number of beads; 32 is a good number for a bezel on a 12mm rivoli, as it allows for a decoration that alternates, and the bezel fits comfortably.

Pass through the first few beads again to join into a circle. Peyote stitch around the ring by picking up a bead, skipping a bead in the base ring and passing through the next bead.

Pull snug, and the bead will stack on top of the bead underneath. Repeat this around.

When you get back to the beginning, you’ll need to ‘step-up’ to get in position to start the next round. This means passing through two beads: the low bead and then the first sticky-outy – this is the first bead you added in this round. Now you’re ready to start the next round. You’ll need to do this ‘step-up’ at the end of every round.

How to continue circular peyote

Things will start to cup up now, and you’ll want to encourage that. 

To draw in a bezel to fit around a stone, you can add a row of size 15 seed beads. Pull tightly as you work, and you’ll notice the work really drawing in. Don’t try to keep it flat; allow it to curve.

After the row of size 15s, place the stone in the bezel. Work through to the first row of Delicas. You can add additional rows of Delicas to fit your stone if needed (three rows of Delicas is usually sufficient for a 12mm rivoli, but for a 14mm rivoli, then four or five rows works well).

To complete your bezel, add a round of size 15s to pull the bezel in snugly around the stone.

Audrey Earrings

Give it a try – Audrey Earrings is a great project for practising beading around rivolis, and you’ll have a pretty pair of earrings at the end!