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Caterpillar chain

Learn a 3-dimensional variation of cross-needle weave


by Chris Prussing
If you have any anxiety about trying
cross-needle weave, my caterpillar chain
is a great way to master the technique.
Cross-needle weaving is similar to tying
overhand knots, and if you think of it
that way, you can relax and enjoy the
rhythm of the stitch.
Caterpillar chain is a three-sided version of cross-needle weave. It works up
quickly, and the finished pieces can be
as casual or as dressy as you like. By
connecting the chains ends, you can
make circular beads (I call them torus
beads) and bracelets. Once you get
familiar with the technique, experiment
with other bead shapes, sizes, and colors
to see how they change the chains
look. You can also go from my threesided version to chains with four sides
or more.

stepbystep
Each row of cross-needle weave
becomes one side of the caterpillar
chain. When you reach the end of one
row, rotate your piece so you work each
row in the same direction. To sew the
last row to the first, work back and forth
between sides to complete the pattern.
Turn a chain into a circular bead or
bracelet by weaving the ends together.
Thread 2 needles on a yd. (.9m) of

PowerPro and position them about 7 in.


(18cm) from each end. String one MC
bead and center it on the thread.
Pick up an AC and MC bead with
one needle (leaving the MC bead on the
needle). Use the other needle to pick
up an AC bead and cross through the
MC bead. Pull the needles in opposite
directions to slide the beads toward the
center of the thread (figure 1). Avoid
piercing the thread when crossing inside
a bead.
Repeat step 2 until you have made
12 crosses.
To turn, pick up an AC, MC, and
AC bead using the left-hand needle
(leaving the last bead on the needle).
Use the right-hand needle to cross
through that bead (figure 2). Tighten
the thread. The needles are now exiting
a side bead. Turn the piece so you can
work up the side of the previous row.
With the right-hand needle (or in
this case, the lower needle), pick up an
MC, AC, and MC bead (leaving the last
bead on the needle). Use the other needle to cross through that last bead, as
before (figure 3). Tighten the thread.
The needles are now exiting the top
bead of the first pattern in row 2.
To continue row 2, pick up an AC
and MC bead on the right-hand needle.
With the left-hand needle go through

the side AC bead in row 1. Cross the


needles through the last bead picked up
on the right-hand side (figure 4).
Repeat step 6 until youre one pattern from the end.
To turn, take the left-hand needle
through the side AC bead in row 1, as
before, and pick up an MC and AC
bead. Cross the needles through the last
bead picked up (figure 5). Turn the
piece again.
Now, connect the rows into a chain.
Using the right-hand (lower) needle,
pick up an MC bead and go through the
side AC bead from the first row. Pick up
another MC bead and cross the other
needle through it (figure 6).
Take the left-hand needle through
the side AC bead from the first row and
the right-hand needle through the side
AC bead from the second row. Pick up
an MC bead on either needle and cross
the other through it. Repeat until you
reach the end of the chain.
To finish the sample as a straight
chain, secure the threads in the beadwork. To turn this chain into a torus
bead, stitch the ends together as
described below.
Pick up an AC bead on the left-hand
needle, go through the MC bead on the
finished end of the same row, and pick
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
in figure 7, but this time dont add a
new bead.
To complete the circle, take the lefthand 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.

Embellishing the basic chain


Once youre comfortable with the basic
technique for making caterpillar chains
and torus beads, youll find that they
offer plenty of opportunity for embellishment. 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.
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 sample at left after finishing the basic bead. w

figure 1
figure 6

figure 2

figure 7

figure 3

figure 8

figure 4

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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