You Asked For It: More Right-angle Weave With Two-holed Seed Beads

Well, you asked for it, and here it is: a challenging little technique I stumbled upon using two-holed seed beads for right-angle weave. I don't know what it is about right-angle weave that inspires me so when I play with my two-holed seed beads and my round druk beads, but right-angle weave is one of those beading stitches that just came naturally to me when I first started learning how to bead. Right-angle weave is one of those stitches that I can use to lull myself to sleep at night when I'm wide awake and can't relax — there's something about the thread path of this beading stitch that I find to be just naturally relaxing and meditative.

I especially love the challenge of stitching with two-hole seed beads, and I'm constantly being inspired by all of the lovely pieces of beaded jewelry I see using these innovative new beads. Modifying the thread paths of my favorite beading stitches for use with these seed beads is a delight when it results in something like this! Try it yourself and see how many uses you can come up with for it!

For this right-angle weave technique, you'll need the following beads:

• Twin or SuperDuo two-holed seed beads. (A) The little bulge in the SuperDuos will result in a more dimensional piece of beadwork. Twins will give the finished piece a more subtle look.
• 3mm round druks. (B) If you don't have 3mm round druks, try using size 8 or size 6 seed beads, or 3mm crystals.
• Size 15 seed beads. (C) You can really get creative with the seed beads in this project. Think about substituting Czech Charlottes for the regular size 15 seed beads, or use size 15 seed beads for the outside rings and size 11 for the inner holes of the two-hole seed beads.

Threads and other tools:

• Because you'll be making more thread passes through each bead than you would with a different right-angle weave variation, use a 6 lb. or 4 lb. Fireline. Nothing larger than a 6 lb., or you may risk breaking beads as you stitch.
• Your favorite beading needle. I highly recommend Tulip beading needles for their strength and flexibility, especially for this right-angle weave technique.

A word about tension:

This particular technique for right-angle weave with two-hole seed beads relies on your ability to maintain a reasonably tight tension throughout the process. I've found that other variations of right-angle weave require a looser tension in order to prevent puckering, but in this case, keeping your stitches snug will reduce the amount of thread you see between beads and, depending on which type of two-hole seed bead you use, will create a puffy texture in your finished piece.

Ready to start beading?

The first row of this right-angle weave technique sets up just like the free bracelet making project I posted a couple of weeks ago. You can check out that project and get the details before you go on to this more advanced technique.

		On a comfortable length of beading thread, pick up a stop bead. String on 1 A, 1 C, 1 B, 1 C. Repeat until you have 4 A and 4 C, ending with an A. Pass through all the beads again, exiting from the second A picked up.
		To make the turn, just pass your needle through the top (empty) hole of the two-holed seed bead from which you are exiting. Pull your thread snug to maintain tension.
		Pick up 1 C, pass through the empty hole of the next two-hole seed bead. Repeat until you have added 4 C, then go through all the beads again a few times just to cinch up the inside of the unit. To get into position to add the next unit, exit from the "inside" hole of a two-hole seed bead, then pass through the "outside" hole. Pass through the adjacent C-B-C set of beads, and you are in position to add the next unit.
		To add more units, begin by picking up 1 A, 1 C, 1 B, 1 C. Repeat for a total of 4 A and 3 B. Add units as desired. I kept this one pretty quick and just made a total of 3 units for the base row. To get into position to add the second row, make sure you are exiting from a C-B-C set of beads on the top of your row as pictured. (Working thread is on the upper left.)
		Add the first unit of each row the same as you did in the base row. Pick up 1 A, 1 C, 1 B, 1 C. Repeat for a total of 4 A and 3 B. Cinch up the center of the two-hole seed beads as you did before, and exit from the side C-B-C unit. Pick up 1 A, and pass through the top C-B-C set of beads from the second unit in the base as pictured.
		Pick up 1 A, 1 C, 1 B, 1 C. Repeat for a total of 3 A and 2 B. Pass through the C-B-C set of beads you exited at the beginning of this unit, and then back through all the beads just added. Make the turn to get to the inside of the two-hole seed beads, and cinch them up by adding 1 C between each A.
		After you've cinched up the inside holes, you should exit so that your working thread is heading up towards the top of your beadwork. Pick up 1 A, 1 C, 1 B, 1 C. Repeat for a total of 3 A and 2 B. Pass through the top C-B-C set of beads in the next unit from the previous row. Pick up 1 A, then pass through the C-B-C you exited at the beginning of this step, and through all the beads added in this step. Cinch up in the insides of the two-hole seed beads, and exit through the top C-B-C set of beads in this unit.
		The finished piece of right-angle weave will have a nice texture and make a sturdy base for other embellishments or for large pendants! Play with your colors, your beads, your textures and see how you can make this technique your own.

Ready for more innovative beading projects using right-angle weave? Check out Jean Campbell's Sakura beading kit, available exclusively in the Beading Daily Shop! You'll get all the beads you need to create this striking bracelet, along with complete instructions for the project. You'll learn how to combine right-angle weave with herringbone stitch and peyote stitch in this beaded bracelet project by a master bead artist. Get your Sakura beading kit now before they sell out! Make sure you check out all of Jean's amazing beading kits in the Beading Daily Shop!

Have you challenged yourself with right-angle weave lately? What other right-angle weave techniques would you like to see on Beading Daily? Leave a comment with your suggestions here on the Beading Daily blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer