The Taos Sunset Necklace (above and right) is a combination of tubular peyote, triangular peyote and spiraling peyote fringe. It is an intermediate/advanced class. If you would like me to visit your bead society or shop and teach this necklace, please email me.

1. Cut about 1 yard of thread and thread your needle.

2. Pick up 12 beads and tie them in a circle with a square knot, leaving about a 10 to 12 inch tail. (The tail will be used later to reinforce the top rows of the cylinder and to make the loop on which to hang the ear wires. In our case, we need to make sure they fit around the straw. Whatever number you use must be an EVEN number!

3. Slide the loop of beads onto the drinking straw. The fit should be slightly loose.

4. Bring the needle through the 1st bead a second time.

5. For the next row, pick up a bead and bring the needle through the 3rd bead in row 1. Pick up another bead and bring the needle through the 5th bead in row 1. Pick up a bead and come through the 7th bead in row 1. Pick up a bead and come through the 9th bead in row 1. Pick up a bead and come through the 11th bead in row 1.

6. Pick up another bead and bring the needle through the 1st bead in row 1 and the 1st bead in row 2. From now on, you'll end each row by going through two beads: the 1st bead of the previous row and the 1st bead of the current row.

7. To begin the next row, pick up a bead and come through the 2nd bead in the previous row. Pick up another bead and go through the 3rd bead in the previous row. Continue this process, picking up one bead at a time and going through one bead in the previous row, until you're ready to pick up the 6th bead. Pick up the 6th bead and go through two beads: the 1st bead of the previous row and the 1st bead of the current row. By now you may have noticed that the 12 beads in the 1st row have shifted slightly, so that every other bead is lower than the rest. Although you've beaded only three rows, you actually have four, because the first circle of beads has split into two rows. Continue by going through a bead, picking up a bead, and then going through the next raised bead.

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Good River Gallery
Taos, NM
GoodRiverGallery@aol.com