Knitty Bitz

This technique provides an elegant feature to the stitchwork of knitted garments, especially lacework.

Before You Start

• Depending on your project, you may require washable beads.

• The knitting yarn needs to be strong enough to support the beads without sagging.

• Beads should have holes large enough to allow the bead to move along the yarn.

• Calculate the number of beads you need for your design and thread them onto the yarn using a darning needle that fits through the holes or a beading needle.

There are two ways in which to thread beads onto your yarn:-

Pre-Stringing

• If using a fine yarn or small beads you will need to use a beading needle (these are available in most craft shops).  Alternatively you can make your own:

• • Using a piece of thin wire approximately six inches long, bend the wire in half and then twist the two single ends together until you reach the loop end of the wire.  Keep the loop wide enough to take your yarn.
  • Thread approximately six inches of sewing thread onto the needle and tie in a loop.
  • Fold the knitting yarn through the loop in the sewing thread and over itself.  Thread a bead onto the needle and push it onto the thread and onto the yarn.  Repeat as many times as necessary.

Once you have pre-strung your beads, you are ready to start knitting.

Knitting the Beads into Your Work

Knit or purl one stitch, slide a bead over to your right needle immediately after the last worked stitch.

Knit or purl the next stitch.  The bead will now be secured between the two stitches.

Note: If the bead is placed between two purl stitches, the bead will show on the front of your work.  If it is placed between two knit stitches it will show on the back

Therefore, if you want a bead to appear on the front of a stocking stitch piece of knitting you will need to purl the stitches before and after you insert the bead.  If you want to add a bead on a purl row, you will need to knit the stitches before and after the bead.

Alternatively, if you do not want to spoil the look of your stocking stitch surface try the following:-

• Knit to the place where you would like the bead.

• Bring the yarn between the needles to the front of your work and slide the next stitch purlwise onto your right needle.

• Slide the bead over so that it occupies the small gap left by the slipped stitch.

• Lift the yarn back between the needles and to the rear of your work and knit the next stitch.  The bead should be secured tightly.

Useful Tips

To avoid wear on your yarn, strand only four or five inches of beads at a time.  When you near the end of your pre-strung beads, cut your yarn and string on another lot of beads.  This will mean that there are more ends to weave in, but it is well worth the extra effort.