I made my first 6 wheels or so using the instructions given by Jobst Brandt in The Wheel, lacing 4 "groups" of spokes to the rim. My wheel building class taught us the way Schwinn did it with all the spokes placed into the hub then going from there to lace to the rim.

Its complicated to explain in writing. Do you have a place you could take it or a friend who could look and advise you?