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2-drop peyote is regular peyote stitch with one change: every stitch uses two beads instead of one. The beads in each pair sit side by side and behave like a single wide bead. You cover the same area with half the stitches, so a 2-drop piece grows about twice as fast.
If you haven’t tried peyote yet, start with peyote stitch for beginners. Everything there applies here.
The moves
It’s the same as regular peyote, in pairs:
- First string: pick up the beads for rows 1 and 2 together, as listed on Row 1&2 in the word chart.
- Each stitch: pick up 2 beads, skip 2 beads, and pass through the next 2.
- Turning: pick up the first 2 beads of the new row and go through the last 2 up beads.
The pair in a stitch doesn’t have to be one color. Pick them up in the order the chart shows, so they land the right way round.
Reading a 2-drop chart
A 2-drop chart looks like a regular peyote chart, but the beads in each column are drawn in pairs. The word chart counts single beads, so “(2)A, (1)B, (1)E” means two A beads, then one B, then one E, in that order, whatever pair they fall in. Keep counting in twos as you go, and you’ll quickly notice if you’re out by one.
Tips
- Keep the pairs tidy. Pull snug after every stitch so both beads sit flat and side by side.
- Watch for gaps. 2-drop is a little looser than regular peyote, and thread can show between pairs. A thread color close to your main bead color helps it disappear.
- Pick even beads. Two beads have to fit where one would in regular peyote, so a slightly thin or fat bead shows more. Delicas, being very even, are ideal.
Next steps
See finishing a beaded bracelet when you’re done, and browse our 2-drop peyote patterns.
