Captive Zen

This hybrid Japanese weave was invented by Rebeca in early 2007. It came about as a result of experimenting with captive weaves, in which certain rings are not linked through others, but rather are held in place by the surrounding rings. The futuristic, geometric pattern works beautifully for bracelets as well as earrings. The four-page, full-color instructions include photos of Captive Zen earrings and Captive Zen sheet, as well as detailed instructions on bringing the weave to an elegant finish and tips for adding certain tricky rings.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Captive Zen is a stiff weave (it needs to be, otherwise it will collapse). This means that it is better suited for large wrists, rather than smaller. Even so, the weave will "settle" over time and become more flexible. When you are finished weaving, you may need to gently bend the piece back and forth to loosen it a bit. (The weave is especially stiff in copper.) Rebeca has a very tiny wrist, and wears a Captive Zen several times a week, which has adjusted itself nicely to fit.