Please see attached for a photo of the lacing pattern.

Lacing Pattern

Outer Spokes (90 degrees) are BLUE and go to the LEFT.
[every 5th hole]

Inner Spokes (110 degrees) are RED and go to the RIGHT.
[every 3rd hole]



Many times when the spokes come up "too short", this means that the spokes were laced in the opposite direction.
If you were to re-lace the wheels, this should give you the length you are looking for to screw in the nipples.