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Beading
Peyote

Increasing & Decreasing Peyote

Increasing

To increase you pick up more than one bead.

Decreasing

To decrease you don't pick up a bead. We refer to this as a "Gap".


Well that was easy, wasn't it? But there is one more thing you need to know. How to deal with these increases and decreases on the next rows.....


The Next Rows

In my designs, on the next rows after an increase or decrease, I only want you to think about beads that were picked up in the previous row. Between each bead you will always be required to add either; one bead, an increase (more than one bead) or a decrease (Gap), unless told otherwise.

The most important thing you need to remember:

When beading a row ALL beads on previous row are treated the same, regardless of how they were picked up (unless stated otherwise in a pattern).

In the examples below, beads on the previous row are coloured in pink. Take a close look and see how we are always following this above rule.

After an Increase

Note how the increase has affected the shape of the beadwork.

Picking up 1 bead

Picking up 2 beads

Picking up no bead (Gap)

After a Decrease

Note how the decrease has affected the shape of the beadwork.

Picking up 1 bead

Picking up 2 beads

Picking up no bead (Gap)


So there you have it, that's how to increase and decrease. You may find yourself in a scenario where your beadwork doesn't quite look like our examples, don't worry the rule remains the same.

Don't forget you can send us a photo of your beadwork at contact@threadabead.com and we can help with specific examples in our patterns if you are still struggling.