I am currently working with Flo Hoppe who has written several books on basketry techniques and is just generally a great person. Our book will be the first in depth exploration of Single Needle Right Angle Weave. This stitch has become my signature stitch and an invaluable tool. I started working with this technique about 15 years ago after visually dissecting a purse that my father had found for me at a garage sale. I attempted to figure out the way that the purse had been constructed. What I figured out was a single needle version of right angle weave, which traditionally uses two needles. This new tool completely revolutionized the way that I work and made it possible to work in ways that I had not previously been able to.

The stitch is based on a four-bead unit that forms a square with one bead per side. Consecutive units are added which share the sides of the other units to form a grid of beads. Once I started using the basic technique I began to figure out a myriad of mutations which allow for working three-dimensionally, in the round and in organic shapes. Right angle weave lends itself to embellishment and is great for covering rigid forms. On its own it forms an absolutely fluid and drapable fabric but can be made rigid by sewing more beads to the surface or by the addition of armature. This is perhaps the most versatile of all of the beadworking techniques.

The book that we are writing will give the reader a generous introduction to the techniques that I use most frequently in my work. We have tested our directions and diagrams and have talked at length about the successes and failings of previously published books on similar topics. Our book will be a bit different that any other books on beadwork. We will challenge our readers with interesting techniques to whet the creative appetite but this book will not be just another book full of projects. I am excited about the direction that the book is taking and will be happy to be able to share it with the public.


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