Potawatomi Weave

An elegant variation on daisy chains, it's done by adding 5 beads at a time so it works up really fast, and seems made for embellishment. I used simple loops on this necklace for a delicate necklace I could wear informally, but it works easily well connected by right angle weave into bracelets and handflowers, or by netting with embellishment beads for bolder cuff style bracelets. It's really fluid, and looks lovely in many different styles.
If you want to learn more about daisy chains, check out my Sparkly Chevron Bracelet article.

You will need

Beading needles and thread

size 11 beads

Start with an amound of thread you feel comfortable working with, and make a loop of 5 beads, knot it, and coming through one of the beads, add 5 beads, go up through the bead 2 beads down from the bead you came out of on the first loop.Then pass your needle and thread up through the second bead of the 5 just added. (okay.. that's confusing, but look at my diagram).

Repeat, only this time, pass the needle and thread through the 4th bead added in the last row, then up through the second bead added.

This is absolutely, bar none, my favorite chain to do. Because it drapes so well and works up so fast I use it to hold handles on lampwork glass vessels, or as bracelets, I've seen some utterly gorgeous chokers made using this chain.

The necklace above has loops added every 3rd down bead. Here's a close up.

If you liked this article, I really recommend Horace Goodhue's wonderful book. It's got a lot of great chain patterns in it, and it's a classic.

I hope you found this easy to follow!