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.

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