How Do You Do Native American Lazy Stitch Beadwork?
Native American “lazy” stitch beadwork (also known as “lane” stitch for the manner in which short rows are stitched into lanes) is most commonly used for covering larger areas of leather for amulets, medicine bags, clothing decorations, or moccasins. (See References 2) Often seen on ceremonial pow wow clothing and objects, lazy stitch is recognizable by the characteristic humps created by each lane of stitching, as stated on the Onondaga Lodge Craft Corner. (See References 1) This 200- year-old Native American beading method is easy to replicate using traditional patterns for inspiration or creating new designs for personal use. Calculate the number of beads required for your design and determine how many beads and lanes you will have. For example, a pattern that is 12 beads high and 48 beads long could be done in 6 vertical lanes of 8 beads, 8 vertical lanes of 6 beads, or 2 horizontal lanes of 6 beads. Adjust the pattern or add a border around it if needed to create a number of beads
