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!)
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!)