Hello Beaders.
Last post, we learned the traditional technique for tubular right angle weave.
Now, let’s learn how to approach the bead work from a different angle.
In today’s lesson, we will begin with a flat piece of bead work. We create the base row the full length of our sample and add two additional rows.
Next we will stitch the two sides together.
And you will see that our bead work come out with the exact same tubular structure as with traditional Tubular Right Angle Weave.
The sample I will be working with today, has 2 bead units. I have worked my sample four units long by three units wide.
I will be adding one more unit as I stitch the sides together.
The new units will already have the Color B beads in place on both the right and the left. We will only need to add the Color A beads to our four units.
In this portion of the Bead Weaving 101 series, we are exploring Right Angle Weave. If you are new to this technique, you may want to check out the Intro, Part 1 and Part 2 of Right Angle Weave Basics as well as Traditional Tubular RAW first.
Tools and materials
- 2 Colors of Seed Beads – Size 11/0
- 3-4 feet Beading Thread
- 1 – Size 10 Beading Needle
- Scissors or Thread Burner
- Optional – Dowel or Mandrel
You can use any seed beads you prefer. But to keep things simple, use beads that are all the same size. I will demonstrate with two colors so that you can clearly differentiate between the walls of each unit.
The Technique
Since we have already covered the technique for using multiple beads and additional rows, in Part 2 of RAW basics, I will begin the tutorials with my flat sample.
I will be using this chop stick as my dowel as it fits nicely inside the bead work and gives me the space I need to create the final row.
As I said earlier, I will be adding on last row as I stitch the two sides together.
Note the position of my working thread. It is exiting the top of the Color B beads on the left side.
Position the bead work so that the working thread is closest to the end of the dowel and the tail thread is at the bottom.
Notice how the Color B beads line up along each side. Now we only need to add the Color A beads at the top and bottom of each unit.
Pick up 2 Color A beads and sew down through the 2 Color B beads on the opposite side.
Pick up 2 Color A beads and sew back up the Color B beads on the other side to form the full unit.
We have discussed the importance of reinforcing the units in Right Angle Weave. Follow these steps to fully reinforce the unit and then move into position for the next unit.
Sew across the 2 beads at the top.
Sew down the 2 beads on the side.
Sew back across the 2 beads at the bottom.
Sew up the 2 beads on the side you started from.
Repeat the first three steps above.
Sew down the 2 side beads of the next unit on the base.
For the remaining units, we already have the bead for three sides of the unit in place and only need to add the 2 color A beads at the bottom of each unit.
I will assume that you are getting pretty skilled at reinforcing the units and know to follow the exact same figure eight thread path for the rest of the row
Now the working thread is exiting the bottom of the side beads on this base unit.
Pick up 2 Color A and sew up the two beads on the opposite side.
Reinforce by sewing back across the top beads, down the beads on the other side, up the beads on the opposite sides.
Move into position by sewing across the top, down the side, across the bottom and down the beads of the next unit on the base.
Notice that we are now going to work on the other side of the base.
Pick up 2 Color A beads and sew up the Color B beads on the other side of the third unit.
Reinforce by sewing back across the top beads, down the beads on the other side, up the beads on the opposite sides.
Move into position by sewing across the top, down the side, across the bottom and down the beads of the next unit on the base.
Notice that we are now back on the opposite side of the base again.
Now we add the last beads of the row.
Pick up 2 Color A and sew up the two beads on the opposite side. Reinforce the unit and move back through the the unit as we did with the second unit.
Here are our samples from both the traditional and the non-traditional techniques.
As you can see they both have the same structure and thread paths.
The Video Tutorial
I hope you have found this lesson useful and will experiment in your own designs and bead work.
Now that we have a good understanding of tubular right angle weave, we are ready to move on to a fully three dimensional variation of the stitch known as cubic right angle weave or CRAW for short. CRAW is similar to the tubular form but with some very important differences.
But more on that in the next post.
In the next post, we will begin exploring the cubic right angle weave technique.
We will begin by making a six sided cube.
First we will make a cube using bugle beads, and then move on to cubes made of seed beads.
Many of the principles of the RAW technique will be emphasized and revisited.