Do you love working with right-angle weave? This superhero of bead-weaving stitches can do just about anything with any kind of beads that you have handy. When I want to bead just for beading's sake, I'll grab two or three colors of seed beads and start working in right-angle weave.

For those of us who love to embellish the surface of our bead-weaving with fringe and accent beads, right-angle weave provides the perfect base for us to let our imaginations run wild.

The thread path of right-angle weave is unique in that it goes in little circles as you work across each row or around in a tube. It's this thread path that makes right-angle weave such a strong and flexible bead-weaving stitch - you can even use it to create a right-angle weave beaded "fabric" that can be folded and stitched.

If you've never worked right-angle weave before, get an easy lesson in single-needle right-angle weave from none other than Jean Campbell in her Stitch Pro column from the pages of Beadwork magazine. Jean takes the guesswork out of right-angle weave with her clearly illustrated instructions.

Once you've mastered the basics, put them to use with one of these five free right-angle weave beading patterns:

• While Margo C. Field's Magic Carpet Bracelets may seem simple, the use of three different sizes of seed beads is kind of like a little right-angle weave test. By the time you've finished your bracelet, you'll not only have a great understanding of the right-angle weave thread path, you'll also know a little bit more about how to pull off a successful color gradation!
• Even though Shelley Nybakke's Crazy for Copper necklace only uses one base row of right-angle weave, it's a great way to practice that thread path. Bonus: you'll have a gorgeous copper and crystal beaded necklace when you're finished!
• Right-angle weave also makes beautiful and easy beaded beads. Learn how to make self-supporting right-angle weave beaded beads when you make Amy Haftkowycz's Vintage Charm bracelet. Mixing the beaded beads with beaded dangles on a brass chain makes a beaded bracelet with a distinctive Victorian flair.
• The thread path of right-angle weave also makes it perfect for securing multiple components in a beading project. Kelly Wiese's Royal Chains Lariat takes a few strands of chevron stitch and joins them together using right-angle weave for a beautiful and sturdy beaded necklace.
• Now, if you're ready for a challenge, pick up two beading needles and make Trang Gordon's Diamond of Pearls Pendant. Use your favorite colors of sparking crystal beads, pearls, and seed beads to create this double layered pendant using two-needle right-angle weave!

Take a break from the ordinary and refine your bead stitching skills with these fantastic right-angle weave beading patterns. Layer it, shape it, embellish it - whatever you do with right-angle weave, you'll be one happy beader when you're finished. When you find yourself in a bead-weaving emergency, call on right-angle weave, the superhero of bead-weaving stitches, to save the day!