Brick stitch is a personal favorite of mine. It is sturdy yet flexible, and holds a firm, flat shape but easily curls into cuffs, tubes and rings. It’s adaptable to many bead sizes, and increases and decreases in a logical way. Brick stitch can be worked flat, tubular or circular, as in the fabulous Crystal Radiance Brooch by Tina Koyama. Brick stitch combines really well with other stitches. Many artists add it to the edge of an even-count peyote strip to make it odd count. A nifty trick, which works because brick looks like peyote stitch turned on its side–the beads fit together in the same way, but the thread stitching method differs.
Leslie Rogalski