See my signature.

This is basically the method Sheldon Brown proposes on his web page, which is what I've followed -- only he does right side first. With “left-handed” rims (most of them, from what I hear), it's actually easier to start on the left side, because then the “key” spoke (first one forward of valve hole) goes to the left side.

(meaning radial spoking)
But it looks so cartoonish, not complex like a real bike. Just kiddin' -- if you can ride those then more power to ya.

Actually, I didn't mean left first. I just meant one side first, other side second. I had forgotten that most rims are right-handed.

Erm, I'm a newbie here, obviously, but I thought that most rim mfgrs make them left-handed -- the first hole ahead of the stem is biased toward the left flange. All the Mavics I have are this way, so far as I know. Weinmann concaves right-handed, Wolber Aspin right, but Alpine left. Sun CR18 right. Fiamme Ergal left. Velocity Synergy and Aerohead, can't tell that the spoke holes are biased at all.

Please, don't take my word for it. I have a sticky memory for SOME details and a slippery one for others. You may well be right that most rims are left-handed. Whatever is normal, the old Raleighs were the opposite. Maybe because they also drive on the wrong side of the road.