Caterpillar chain
Learn a 3-dimensional variation of cross-needle weave
by Chris Prussing
If you have any anxiety about trying PowerPro and position them about 7 in. the side AC bead in row 1. Cross the
cross-needle weave, my caterpillar chain (18cm) from each end. String one MC needles through the last bead picked up
is a great way to master the technique. bead and center it on the thread. on the right-hand side (figure 4).
Cross-needle weaving is similar to tying Pick up an AC and MC bead with Repeat step 6 until you re one pat-
overhand knots, and if you think of it one needle (leaving the MC bead on the tern from the end.
that way, you can relax and enjoy the needle). Use the other needle to pick To turn, take the left-hand needle
rhythm of the stitch. up an AC bead and cross through the through the side AC bead in row 1, as
Caterpillar chain is a three-sided ver- MC bead. Pull the needles in opposite before, and pick up an MC and AC
sion of cross-needle weave. It works up directions to slide the beads toward the bead. Cross the needles through the last
quickly, and the finished pieces can be center of the thread (figure 1). Avoid bead picked up (figure 5). Turn the
as casual or as dressy as you like. By piercing the thread when crossing inside piece again.
connecting the chain s ends, you can a bead. Now, connect the rows into a chain.
make circular beads (I call them  torus Repeat step 2 until you have made Using the right-hand (lower) needle,
beads) and bracelets. Once you get 12 crosses. pick up an MC bead and go through the
familiar with the technique, experiment To turn, pick up an AC, MC, and side AC bead from the first row. Pick up
with other bead shapes, sizes, and colors AC bead using the left-hand needle another MC bead and cross the other
to see how they change the chain s (leaving the last bead on the needle). needle through it (figure 6).
look. You can also go from my three- Use the right-hand needle to cross Take the left-hand needle through
sided version to chains with four sides through that bead (figure 2). Tighten the side AC bead from the first row and
or more. the thread. The needles are now exiting the right-hand needle through the side
a side bead. Turn the piece so you can AC bead from the second row. Pick up
work up the side of the previous row. an MC bead on either needle and cross
stepbystep
With the right-hand needle (or in the other through it. Repeat until you
Each row of cross-needle weave this case, the lower needle), pick up an reach the end of the chain.
becomes one side of the caterpillar MC, AC, and MC bead (leaving the last To finish the sample as a straight
chain. When you reach the end of one bead on the needle). Use the other nee- chain, secure the threads in the bead-
row, rotate your piece so you work each dle to cross through that last bead, as work. To turn this chain into a torus
row in the same direction. To sew the before (figure 3). Tighten the thread. bead, stitch the ends together as
last row to the first, work back and forth The needles are now exiting the top described below.
between sides to complete the pattern. bead of the first pattern in row 2. Pick up an AC bead on the left-hand
Turn a chain into a circular bead or To continue row 2, pick up an AC needle, go through the MC bead on the
bracelet by weaving the ends together. and MC bead on the right-hand needle. finished end of the same row, and pick
Thread 2 needles on a yd. (.9m) of With the left-hand needle go through up an AC bead. Cross through this AC
bead with the other needle (figure 7).
When you tighten the thread, the chain
will pull into a circle.
Go through the next MC bead to the
lower right with your right-hand needle.
Go through the next MC bead on the
upper left with your left-hand needle
and pick up an AC bead. Cross through
this AC bead with the other needle as figure 1
in figure 7, but this time don t add a
new bead. figure 6
To complete the circle, take the left-
hand needle clockwise through the MC,
AC, and MC beads that form a diamond
shape where the two chain ends meet.
Knot the two threads (figure 8). Take
each needle back through 2 beads and
make another knot on the other side of
the diamond. Glue the knots and work
the tails into the beadwork.
figure 2 figure 7
Embellishing the basic chain
Once you re comfortable with the basic
technique for making caterpillar chains
and torus beads, you ll find that they
offer plenty of opportunity for embel-
lishment. For the center bead on the
previous page, I used leaf beads in place
of 60 beads when I connected the sides
of the chain (see steps 9 and10, above).
You can try any small novelty bead in
place of the leaves. figure 3 figure 8
Stringing smaller seed beads along
with the 60s and 80s will add color and
texture to your work. Again, follow the
basic design, but pick up a small bead or
two before and after a larger one as in
the bead at right.
A third approach is to add accent
beads after the chain or torus bead is
complete. Secure a new thread in the
beadwork, pick up a bead, and go
through an existing bead. I added two
rows of size 80 green beads to the sam- figure 4
ple at left after finishing the basic bead. w
Chris can be contacted via her website,
www.rightangleweave.com.
materials
" Seed beads, size 60 main colors (MC) and
accent colors (AC)
" Leaf or other novelty beads
" PowerPro 10# test
" Beading needles, #12 figure 5
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