Right Angle Weave

Right angle weave - or RAW - is more of a beading concept than a technique, and was developed by David Chatt. Beads are stitched together at right angles, with the thread moving in a figure eight pattern. The size, shape and number of beads used will create different types of beadwork. In a basic piece of RAW, all of the edges are identical, allowing for easy three-dimensional stitching, or conversion to different stitches such as peyote. The two needle version of RAW is called cross-weave.

Basic RAW

Materials:

Seed beads

Thread

Needle

1) Attach a stop-bead to a comfortable length of thread, leaving a 6 inch tail. Pick up 4 beads and slide them down to the stop-bead.

2) Stitch through all of the beads again, and pull tight. Stitch through the next bead to form a cluster shape.

3) Pick up 3 beads and slide them down. Stitch through the bead from Step 2 again, following the direction of the thread path. Pull tight.

4) Stitch through the new bead cluster to exit the last horizontal bead.

5) Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the strip is the desired length.

Tip: Find a comfortable position to hold the beadwork so that you can stitch without flipping the strip over when adding each new cluster. This will help speed up beading.

Flat RAW

1) Create a strip of basic right angle weave of the desired length.

2) After adding the final cluster in the row, stitch around so that the thread is exiting a vertical bead.

3) Pick up three beads and slide them down to the beadwork. Stitch through the bead from step 2 again and pull tight.

4) Stitch through the last horizontal bead in the cluster.

5) Pick up 2 beads, and stitch through the next vertical bead from the previous row, and the horizontal bead from the previous cluster.

6) Stitch through the new cluster and into the next vertical bead from the previous row.

7) Pick up two beads, and stitch through the previous horizontal bead, and the vertical bead. Stitch through the cluster again to begin the next stitch.

8) Continue adding beads in this manner until you reach the end of the row. Stitch around to the start position as in Step 1 to begin another row.

9) Add rows until the piece is the desired width. Secure the tail threads with a few knots and trim.

Tip: Remember as you are stitching that the thread will move in a figure eight pattern. Each two beads that you pick up will form one half of a cluster, using 2 nearby beads to complete it. The more you stitch, the more intuitive the steps will become.

Adding and Ending Thread:

With about 4-6 inches of working thread remaining, complete a bead cluster, and follow the thread path back into the beadwork. Stitch towards the center, circling through clusters as you go, tying knots if desired. Knot the thread after the final stitch and trim.

Attach a stop-bead to the new thread, and enter the beadwork up through a horizontal bead, 2 beads from the last cluster added. Follow the thread path and exit where you left of stitching.

Add 2 clusters, then secure the tail thread so that it does not get tangled while you stitch. Resume beading normally.

Square RAW Chain

Materials:

Seed beads in 3 colors (A, B, C)

Thread

Needle

1) Attach a stop-bead to a comfortable length of thread. Pick up 16 color A beads and slide them down to the stop bead.

2) Stitch through all 16 beads again and pull tight. Stitch through the next four beads in the ring again.

3) Pick up 4 color B, 4 color C, and 4 color B beads. Slide them down to the beadwork.

4) Stitch through the last 4 A, then through the next four B and C again. Snug up the beads if necessary.

5) Pick up 12 color C beads and slide them down. Stitch through the four C from the previous step, and the next 8 C picked up in this round. Snug up the beads if necessary.

6) Pick up 3 B, 3 A, and 3 B. Stitch through the last four C, and four B and A beads again.

7) Pick up 12 A beads. Stitch through the four A from the previous step, and the next 8 As. Pull tight.

8) Continue adding squares using right angle weave until the chain is the desired length. Finish the ends as desired, secure the tail threads and trim.