50697 The Knitters Bible4

EXPLORING CHOICES

BEADED KNITTING

In beaded knitting, beads (or sequins) are uscd on stockinettc (stocking) stitch to form a pattern, or thcy arc incorporated into a lace, cable or texture pattern. (It should not be confused with bead knitting, a techniąue that involves working different colour beads together to form a pattern, and where no knitted fabric is visible.)

Thread the beads on to the bali of yarn before starting the knitting. the pattern instructions will tell you how many.To do this. choose a needle that will pass easily through the hole in the bead. and thread it with the two ends of a loop of sewing cotton. Thread the end of the yarn through the cotton loop. Now thread the beads on to the needle. pulling them down the sewing cotton and on to the yam. Unwind sufficient yarn from the bali to accommodate the number of beads to be used and then rewind the bali to start knitting the item.

Knit Perfect

/ Beads should have a large enoógh hole to slide on to the yam without being forced. If the fit is too tight. the yam will wear and fray.

/ Match the beads to the yam; use smali. Iight beads with a delicate yarn and larger beads with a harder wearing thicker yam.

/ The fabric should be knitted tightly enough $o that the beads wont slip between the stitches to the wrong side. Ałways knit the stitches either side of the bead firmly.

The slip stitch method

Add the beads on a nght side row so they hang honzontally.This is usually referred to in pattern instructions as place bead (PB).

1 On a nght side row. work to the position of the bead. knitting the last stitch worked firmly. Bring the yam to the front of the work and push a bead down the yam so that it rests next to the last stitch worked.

2 Slip the next stitch purlwise.Take the yarn back to the wrong side of the work and knit the next stitch firmly.

KNIT SOMETHING NOW!

A stunning cvcning bag knitted in gold yarn is decoratcd with bronze beads. The simple lace pattern is enhaneed with the beads used in a diantond patiem.

Beaded bag knitted in a sport (4ply) lurex yam on size 3 (3.25mm/UK 10) needles. See page 139 for pattern

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