Knitting

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Learn How to Knit with Beads with this Fun Book

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knit one, bead too

Helen is getting this one.

This week’s giveaway is a book all about embellishing your knitting with beads. Knit One, Bead Too by Judith Durant is the perfect book to get you started using beads in your knitting, because it covers all the techniques you need to know, offers plenty of examples for how to use beads as a design element and has 15 patterns (some of which you can find on Ravelry) using a variety of techniques on a range of projects, from bags to pillows to a gorgeous wedding stole.

This book really is a one-stop source for everything you need to know about adding beads to your knitting, so if that’s a technique you want to try or something you’d like to do more of, you’re going to want to leave a comment on this post for a chance to win it.

Leave a comment before the end of the day Sunday, Aug. 6, and I’ll pick a winner at random. I’d love to know if you’ve ever used beads in your knitting before. I have a couple of times and it’s lovely but not something I think to do very often.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

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Comments

  1. Yes I have used beads in knitting.
    Stunning effect.
    It’s my birthday…Hope I win!

  2. I love adding beads to my knitting. I have added beads to shawls, scarves, and fingerless mitts. I think this book will be very helpful. Thank you.

  5. I have the beads, I knit, I just never had the courage to do it. One day I will. I saw Lily Chin doing that once on TV and it looked pretty easy. But then, Lily would make anything look easy.

  6. I started adding beads to my knitting after I spotted a woman knitting with beads on the bus to work.

  7. I’ve knitted a beaded hairband for my daughter, but would like to be more adventurous in my beaded knitting!

  9. I’ve tried to knit with beads without instruction and wasn’t successful. I definitely need to learn the technique. I would love to have this book.

  13. I’ve taught a class on knitting a beaded scarf. The beads were located on the scarf ends and create a godet affect. The scarf was knit in two pieces and grafted at the center. I’d love to learn more techniques!

  14. Oh, I would LOVE to get this book! I’ve been planning to learn how to knit with beads for several months now. I have a scarf project and a shawl project that I plan to knit with beads.

  15. I have used beads to decorate my traditional clothing. I would love to learn how to use beads when I knit.

  17. I have not knitted with beads, but it looks so pretty and fun. I would like to learn how and this book would be a great tool to help me with that. Thanks

  19. I haven’t used beads………..kind of a place that angels fear to tread. This might push me over the starting line;)

    from ‘neath the bright blue skies of VT,
    the Vermonster

  20. I have never used beads in my knitting or crocheting, but would love to one of these days. The past three years I have been busy knitting and crocheting baby items for my one daughter and now I’m back doing more baby things for my other daughter. It would be wonderful to have a book to teach me from the start how to add beads correctly to an item.

  21. I am also new to beading in my knitting projects and I love the extra glamour they add! It’s not that hard to do after all! This looks like a great resource book!

  22. I am a beginner at knitting. So, I don’t know how to do this. I love the look of beads in sweaters and would like to make a shawl with beads.

  23. Yeah, I added beads to a shawl I was making for a friend. Threading hundreds of beads was a bit of lengthy surprise and I thought I’d understood the placement directions but the beads ended up facing the back of the piece. Obviously I need a smidgen of help before starting again.

  24. I have restrung beads but prefer to use the tiny crochet hook, which I got stuck in my hand one day! Trip to the ER removed it! Then I finished the shawl!

  25. I haven’t yet tried to knit with beads, but would love to try it!
    Thanks, Kim R.

  27. I have tried using beads in one project, but I’m interested in expanding my use of them. Especially in shawls.

  28. oooooh, beads! To date, have not used beads in my knitting. would like to learn. I have one pattern, that I have not started, because of the beads. What a nice looking resource to own! Someday, I’ll start Fragile Heart wrap — do need to figure out the bead parts!

  30. I have never used beads in my knitting, but I would love to learn how! I have two awesome granddaughters who would love some of their knitted Granny gifts to be a little blinged out ????

  31. I haven’t tried knitting with beads, but I’d love to learn. I think beads can be a beautiful addition to knitting. Thanks for this great giveaway!!

  33. I do a lot of bead crochet but haven’t tried knitting with beads yet. It is something I have wanted to try.

  34. I would love this book. I bought a booklet of beaded Christmas ornament patterns a couple of years ago and have played around with one or two of theservice patterns a time or two since purchase. Planned to give them to friends and co-workers as gifts but just haven’t been able to achieve an actual “finished” look. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in your give-away.

  35. I have beads and of course I have yarn. I just have never had the guts to put them together. This book would definitely change that!!

Have you read?

Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults: A Sweet Handmade Dress-Up Idea

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.