Hello Beaders!
Today we are going to revisit the two needle or cross-weave technique. Only instead of Ladder stitch, we are going to apply the technique to Right Angle Weave.
Just like it sounds, cross weave technique involves crossing two thread paths through the same bead. Two needles are threaded onto both ends of a beading thread, then the needles are crossed through the bead in opposite directions.
In RAW, the bead used for the cross over is the connecting beads between units.
We have reviewed the technique once before.
When we were working on the Ladder Stitch portion of Bead Weaving 101, we went over Cross Weave during our discussion on Alternative methods for working with Ladder Stitch.
Now let’s take a look at how the concept applies to RAW.
Materials
2 – Beading Needles
3-4 ft. Beading Thread
4 mm Firepolish Beads, Rounds or Seed Beads
Before we start, thread a needle onto each end of the beading thread.
Cross-Weave RAW
Pick up three beads and drop them down to the center of the thread.
Pick up the fourth bead and cross the needles through the bead.
For smaller beads, you may want to pass the needles through one at a time.
Pull the bead down to sit at the top of the first RAW unit.
To reinforce the unit, use the needle on your dominant side to pass through all of the beads again. As you add the next unit, the opposite thread will be positioned on the dominant side. Remember to use the thread on that side to reinforce each time and both threads will remain relatively the same length as your work progresses.
For the next unit, we already have the shared bead in place.
Pick up two beads, one on each needle, and drop them down to the bead work below.
Pick up the fourth bead and cross the needles through the bead.
Pull the bead down to the bead work below and reinforce the unit using the needle on the dominant side again.
Repeat these steps until you have added a total of four units.
Next I will show you how to join the two ends together.
Beading the Ends together...
There may be a time that you want to close the two ends of your bead work together to form a round. Examples are a beaded bead, a dimensional pendant, a ring band and more.
To do this will require adding one last unit. And for this unit, we already have two beads in place. The top bead of the last unit and the bottom bead of the first unit are in place.
Pick up a bead with one of your needles and sew through the bottom bead of the first unit.
Note that I began on the left side so I sew through the bead from left to right.
Pick up a bead on the other needle and sew through the bottom bead from the other side.
Now both threads are exiting the bottom bead of the first unit.
With the left needle, sew up through the bead on the left side.
Still working with the left needle, sew through the bead at the top from left to right.
With the right needle, sew up through the bead on the right side.
Still working with the right needle, sew through the bead at the top from right to left.
Now the bead work is formed into a around or tubular shape.
Video Tutorial
I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and found it useful.