Beadscape Wordcharts

The easiest way I have ever found to start a beadscape wordchart pattern is by using a starter strip. I beaded up two for myself, one for smaller patterns, and one for larger tapestry sized patterns. They let you start quickly and keeps your work straight. (Instructions for peyote starter strips can be found under peyote help.)

With a starter strip, you don’t have to worry about combining the first two rows. You just start with row one and bead up the peyote as normal. Then, when you reach a good amount of length, you detach your work from the starter strip and finish your project. So much easier and way less complicated! Especially on these larger patterns. And you can use the starter strips over and over!

Otherwise you will need to combine beads from the first two rows, alternating the beads from row two and row one as you go, which requires paying close attention.

Example: You will start with the first bead from row 2, and the very last bead from row 1. Keep combining rows by adding the next right bead on row 2, and the next bead from the end of row 1 moving to the left. You will need to make sure you split up those multiple bead sections into individual beads when combining the first two rows like this.

I recommend looking at the included graph as you begin for patterns that start with more than 1 color to make sure you get your project started correctly. Continue until row 1 and 2 are combined, and then start row three as normal, making sure to pay attention that each bead is going in the gap it needs to as charted.

The first two rows of one of my patterns is included below for reference. The first 6 beads have been color coded to help. Start combining in this order:

Yellow, green, blue, purple, orange, pink and continue moving between the two rows in that fashion while combining beads.

—– Row 1 left to right —– (the multiple beads have been split up)

(1) 731, (1) 731, (1) 731, (1) 731, (1) 307, (1) 731, (1) 200, (1) 168, (1) 252, (1) 202, (1) 202, (1) 202, (1) 306, (1) 168, (1) 242, (1) 242, (1) 731, (1) 209, (1) 202, (1) 871, (1) 306, (1) 252, (1) 202, (1) 202, (1) 202 (1) 209, (1) 307, (1) 202, (1) 731, (1) 301

—– Row 2 right to left —–

(1) 301, (1) 731, (1) 200, (1) 209, (1) 307, (1) 209, (1) 202, (1) 202, (1) 252, (1) 310, (1) 871, (1) 731, (1) 209, (1) 871, (1) 252, (1) 307, (1) 731, (1) 306, (1) 202, (1) 202, (1) 202, (1) 202, (1) 301, (1) 307, (1) 200, (1) 307, (1) 168, (1) 871, (1) 168, (1) 731

End result of first two rows combined in example: (then just continue to row 3)

(2) 301, (2) 731, (1) 200, (1) 202, (1) 209, (2) 307, (2) 209, (5) 202, (2) 252, (1) 310, (1) 306,

(2) 871, (1) 731, (1) 202, (2) 209, (1) 871, (1) 731, (1) 252, (1) 242, (1) 307, (1) 242, (1) 731,

(1) 168, (2) 306, (7) 202, (1) 252, (1) 301, (1) 168, (1) 307, (2) 200, (1) 731, (2) 307 (1) 168,
(1) 731, (1) 871, (1) 731, (1) 168, (3) 731

Tip: I recommend counting your combined beads of row 1 and 2 before going on to row three to make sure you have strung the right amount. This will help prevent errors, especially with larger patterns. (The example has 60 total combined beads – 30 per row)