Knitting with Beads

Knitting with Beads

This week on Ask Me Monday we’re knitting with beads! 

Years ago I was invited to take part in the “Crafting from the Collection” series at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in which I was asked to pick a few pieces from the collection as inspiration for handicrafts I would create. One of the works I chose was a painting by Wilson Alwyn Bently entitled, “Dew on Spider’s Vertical Web.” My take on the piece was a lace-weight, knit ascot with elongated stitches to mock the web and glass beads to evoke the look of dew. 

With Summer coming upon us, I thought elements from this scarf seem timely, especially updated with brightly, hand-dyed yarn. Our focus is on how knitting with beads is an easy way to add interest and texture to a piece while pairing with graduated loops balances out a project to keep it airy. Tune in live on Facebook at 12pmCT (today, Monday 5/8), or watch the recorded broadcast below. Then put your beading skills to work by knitting your version of the Dewy scarf!

 

***This episode of Ask Me Monday is sponsored by Knitter’s Pride/ KnitPro***

See more KP products during “Vic’s Tips” segments of The Knit Show!

 

Tips for Knitting with Beads

Always knit beads on the wrong side of the piece.
If your sewing needle has too small of an eye to accommodate both the bead hole and the yarn size, use a piece of thread as a catalyst (see video)
If you need to add a bead on the right side of the piece and/or run out of pre-strung beads, use a tiny crochet hook to place bed directly on the stitch.



Knitting with Beads: Dewy Ascot 

Materials

Approx 230 yds, laceweight yarn 

Size US 6 (4.0mm) Needles — I used Knitter’s Pride Marblz

Glass Beads

Sewing thread & needle (see video)

Finished Measurements

4 1/2” (at beaded ends) x 30”

Gauge

25 sts x 24 rows= 4” (10cm) in pattern

Note: Gauge is not important for this project

Directions (Make 2) 

Pre-string beads onto yarn.

CO 26 sts.

Rows 1-2: Knit.

Row 3: Knit.

Row 4 (WS): Knit (sliding 1 bead up per stitch).

Row 5: K 6, *YO, K1, YO2, K1, YO3, K1, YO2, K1, YO, K6. Repeat from * to end

Row 6: Knit all knit sts, drop all YOs.

Rows 7-8: Knit all sts.

Row 9: K1, *YO, K1, YO2, K1, YO3, K1, YO2, K1, YO, K6. Repeat to last 5 sts. YO, K1, YO2, K1, YO3, K1, YO2, K1, YO, K1.

Row 10: Repeat row 6.

Repeat Rows 3-10, 8 times more.

Repeat Rows 3-10, 4 times more, but WITHOUT using beads on Row 4.

BO.

Finishing

Use mattress stitch to attach seam two pieces together at narrow ends.

Weave in ends. Block if necessary.

Tune in to Facebook on Mondays for more,  Ask Me Monday videos. You can watch past videos here!

The post Knitting with Beads appeared first on Vickie Howell.