Knitting With Beads

Knitting is one of my favorite activities. It's fun, it's relaxing, and it has a great meditative quality that helps relieve stress. Fiber arts and knitted accessories make clothing more fun. (What's better than someone complementing your scarf and being able to say 'oh, I made it.') Try adding seed beads to your next project, it’s easier than it looks and it adds a special touch to your creations. Adding a few beads or a beaded pattern to your knitting adds beauty and interest. You're able to to add texture or shine depending on the colors or finishes you choose. Rich colored yarn pigments mixed with gorgeous Miyuki seed beads turn any ordinary fiber art into a real show-stopper! If you're a beginner, adding beads to the ends of a scarf is an easy way to get started. If you're a more seasoned knitter, sprinkling beads into the intricate patterns of a cobweb shawl or at the ends of each pointed edge will add weight to that feather-like stitch (and look like a million bucks!)

Supplies for Knitting with Beads

Most knitting patterns will call for a specific size or shape, usually ones with larger holes such as 6/0 seed beads (fits most sport/DK weight yarns) or 5/0 seed beads (fits most worsted weight yarns). These are larger seed beads with rounded edges and they knit in beautifully with any pattern. These beads have a generous hole size and slide easily onto most yarns. You may also try using the smaller 8/0 seed beads (fits most fingering weight yarns) for a more delicate look.

Knitting with 8/0 Seed Beads

Another knitter's favorite are the 5/0 Triangle beads (TR5), which are a triangle bead with soft curving edges. I love the shape of this bead and I especially like the clear beads with colorful linings. Choosing your accent color for this fiber arts technique is so much fun! There are so many options - clear and silverlined, matte and natural, colorful contrast. Try it for yourself and see how different colors completely change the look and style!

Knitting Project with Beads

Before you can knit with beads, you need to get the beads onto your yarn. The most common method is simply to pre-string the beads using a flexible wire needle or 'big-eye' needle. Most knitting patterns will call for a certain number of beads, so it's best to check how many beads come in a tube before getting started to make sure you have enough. There's nothing worse than coming up short when you're in the middle of the plan.

Knitting with Beads

If you prefer to 'bead as you go' or like a more random flow to your piece, bead crochet allows you to add beads at any point using a small crochet hook. You will still need to pre-string your beads onto the yarn, but you can create patterns or an organic look by hooking each bead as you work. Make sure your crochet hook is small enough to pass through the hole in the beads you're planning to use.

Beaded Knitting Project

Knitting with beads has been around since Victorian times. It was popular to knit densely beaded purses using tiny knitting needles smaller than 1mm. Smaller than the tiniest needles available commercially today! Such tiny stitches allowed for some of the most intricate patterns. Try adding beads to a knit purse or sweater to create a vintage and timeless look. Whether you're making a hat with a beaded trim, a scarf or mittens or the most airy of cobweb shawls, adding beads to your creations makes them spectacular. I love trying new things, especially when there's such a big payoff. 'To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it.' (And in my opinion, a little more beads into it!)

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