Welcome back to Bead Weaving 101. For the last few weeks, we have been exploring RAW (Right Angle Weave) techniques and variations of this highly versatile stitch.
We began our exploration into one of the three dimensional forms of the stitch, CRAW or Cubic Right Angle Weave, with the Basics and made our first cubes.
In that lesson, we learned all about the structure and thread path of making a cube. It is really important that we understand the both of these elements of CRAW before moving into creating complex pieces of bead work using this technique.
We also touched upon the fact that there are two methods we can use to create complex CRAW bead work.
If you need a refresher on RAW or CRAW basics, head back to those tutorials and brush up before coming back here.
In the last post, we focused on CRAW Method 1. We began with a piece of flat RAW bead work with multiple rows, and built it up into three dimensions.
In this lesson, we are going to explore the second method, of creating a base cube and building our bead work cube by cube.
Getting Started
Materials
- 2 Colors of 3 mm bugle beads
- 3-4 ft. Beading thread
- Size 10 beading needle or smaller
I will begin the written lesson with a base Cube bead work made with the single bead method.
I used Color A beads for the base and the top four beads and I used Color B beads for the sides.
We are going to create a sample of CRAW that is 2 cubes by 2 cubes. Head back to the CRAW basics lesson if you need help making the base cube.
Additional Cubes in a Straight Line
Once we have our base cube created, the top side of that cube, becomes the shared as the bottom side of the next cube.
So we begin by having the bottom bead in place.
After you create the cube, remember to sew through the four top beads, plus one to close the bead work.
From here, the steps are the same as if you were making a single cube from the four base beads of your original RAW unit.
The 1st Wall
Pick up Color B – Color A – Color B beads and sew back through the bead on the base where you are positioned.
Reinforce by sewing back through all the beads and move into the next bead on the base.
The 2nd Wall
The 2nd and 3rd walls will have two shared beads already in place.
Pick up Color B and Color A beads and sew down through the Color B bead on the previous wall and the bead on the base.
Reinforce the four beads and move into the next base bead.
The 3rd Wall
Pick up Color B and Color A beads and sew down through the Color B bead on the previous wall and the bead on the base.
Reinforce the four beads and move into the last base bead.
The 4th Wall
The 4th wall will have three shared beads already in place.
To get into position to add the last top bead, sew up into the side bead as shown.
Pick a Color A bead and sew down the Color B bead on the other side of this unit.
Reinforce by sewing back through all the beads.
Sew up through the side bead.
Sew through all four beads on the top, plus one to close the bead work.
From here, you simply repeat these steps over and over to the length you desire. But what if you want to add an additional row?
Adding an Additional Row
Well the answer is simple, we turn the bead work on it’s side and move into a side bead and start another cube.
At this point, we have two base units to work with.
The sides of our first row are shared with the additional row. Follow the steps to make the first cube using the four beads as the base.
The next cube with have two shared sides, the four base beads plus the three bead on the side of the first cube of this row.
We have reviewed these steps several time over the last three posts, so I think you have the hang of it by now.
Plus, I go over all the steps for this row, in the video below.
I have a confession to make. I did not pick up the beads properly for a few steps. So the pattern goes a little off track. But we weren’t really focusing on pattern in this lesson.
In the next lesson, we are going to talk about creating shapes with CRAW. Whether filled or hollow, CRAW shapes are exciting and fun to work with.
So stay tuned for much more.
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