I have never tried a fancy weave and I would like to make a rod for my parents for Christmas. I would like to do a weave of a traditional Navajo pattern. So is there a 'best' book to use as a teaching guide for practicing and learning how to do a weave like this? AND does anyone know of a pattern in a book that could be followed for this type of weave?

If it makes a difference this is going to be done on a 6' - 7' general purpose casting blank for fresh water. I haven't decided on the blank quite yet, Just wanted to make it clear it would not be on a larger salt water blank.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Jim Upton's book, A Guide to Thread Weaving, is a good source and available from several sponsors on the left. Read it and then decide how intricate of a pattern you want to tackle.

Doc Ski also has two super videos on weaving. I highly recommend Jim's book and both of these videos.

SK Custom Rods
American Tackle Pro Staff

Fish now, cause you'll be dead for a long time.

Yep. Jim Upton's book and Doc Ski's dvd's are "must haves" for those who want to learn to thread weave. The book by Dale Clemens "Custom Rod Thread Art" also covers weaving and has some patterns too.

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

Charles,

Your email address is hidden. I'd like to help you further so please email me at rcadams1957@msn.com

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

Charles; Far be it from me to talk you out of buying my book but are you sure it's a weave you want. To weave a pattern is one thing but to weave it 360 degrees around the rod is quite another. You didn't say specifically what you intend to do so that's why I'm asking. Doing a 360 degree weave for your first weave will certainly make any weave you do after that a piece of cake.

A good deal of time will be needed to get the pattern to fit the blank and you will need a Wonder Weaver to accomplish the weave. Have you thought about a cross wrap? If you decide to go ahead with the Weave and need help setting it up don't hesitate to E-Mail me. There is a small section in my book on the 360 degree weave but other sections apply as well, but if this is your first weave you'll need more of an explanation.

So you don't get discouraged with a complex weave on the first try at weaving, I suggest you practice doing a few silhouette weaves to get the thread movements down and the packing and adjusting your threads.

Thanks for the suggestions. I may be using an incorrect term in calling it a weave, but I would like to create a small pattern on the top and bottom or one pattern that basically is centered on top that wraps most of the way around the rod. I got the hair brained idea aftter seeing the color blends on the NERBS site and thought hmm. Seeing the dragon, and Billy V's stuff at ICRBE well, that didn't help, other than to fire me up. I will get the book and DVD's ASAP.

Wraps with all kinds of accent threads are nice and different inlays can be pretty cool, but a weave, well that will show some dedication to the task and I know they will like it. I already did one spinning rod for them for Christmas that I did in a purple pearl with pink, white, and silver flames (air brushing is easy way to add pop) and used hot pink thread with the purple flash accents. Painted the reel seet in the purple pearl as well. Just what a couple of octogenarians that camp and fish from Mothers day till Labor day need to feel young!