Dutch spiral tutorial

This is the stitch I love; the way it lays is beautiful. The way it feels and looks it’s just so full of awesomeness!

So to begin I work with nymo thread and a size twelve beading needle if you prefer fire line then use that. It’s not something I care for. I also use a thread conditioner which is thread heaven, however bees wax will work, and I used it for a number of projects before I became aware of thread heaven.

Seed beads used: Sorry I don’t have manufactures or actual names for these the shop I bought them from doesn’t label where they come from.

A 6 O/T seed beads-Silver lined red

B 11 O/T Blue cobalt

C 11 O/T Grey sparkle

Starting:

Begin by stringing 1 A, 4B and 3C onto your needle. Slide them down leaving about a eight inch tail to weave in later. Next back through the A bead and then through the rest, repeat to close the circle go back through only the 1A bead this eliminates the knot and I feel like it gives me better starting tension.

So coming out of the A bead pick up another A bead and pass through the first B bead in the previous row pull snug.

Now pick up 1B bead and go through the very next B bead you are creating the peyote part of your dutch spiral by doing this. 

Repeat step, pick up 1B bead and go through the very next B bead. 

Once again pick up 1B bead and go through the next and last blue (B) Bead 

My thread isn't showing because I compulsively wrap it around my fingers so I can hold onto the work (crochet habit) But in the above photo there are three new up beads for peyote, we need four however so now pick up 1B bead (because the thread is still coming out of the blue)

 and go through the very first C bead in the previous row.

Now it is time for your first 'Swag' as I like to call them. Pick up three C beads and go through the second A bead, which if you notice is offset like a up bead. 

Now you have completed row two and its time to start the third row. So as before pick up 1A bead, next you will want to skip the first B bead as its a down bead, and will be sort of like a cradle for your new A bead. Go through the second B bead, or the first up bead in the new row. 

This row gets kind of messy, your work doesn't really look like much but a heap of beads, but stick with it, it gets better! So next you're coming out of a B bead so you'll pick up a B bead and go through the next up B bead in the row. 

Continue to pick up a blue bead and go through the next blue bead until you are ready for your next bead swag.

So now step into the swag by going through the very first C bead in the second row. Pick up three C beads and go through the up A bead. This is pretty much how it goes for the hole piece, you can adjust the number of beads per swag as wanted. Usually about ten rows makes a full spiral. below are some pictures as a go through this work.