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?

10 Knitted Christmas Bauble Patterns for a Tree Full of Handmade Charm

There’s always room for one more Christmas decoration, especially when it uses yarn you already own. That’s my reasoning, anyway. Those little leftover balls that aren’t quite enough for a hat suddenly look much more promising when you start thinking about knitted baubles.

I love the idea of adding a few handmade ornaments to the tree each year. They don’t all have to match, either. A traditional colourwork ball beside a slightly cheeky Christmas pudding feels far more interesting than a tree where everything arrived in the same box.

These knitted Christmas bauble patterns include flat-knit designs, festive characters and detailed colourwork ornaments. Most are free, with a paid collection included for anyone who wants plenty of designs to work through. Some suit newer knitters; others are small projects for practising skills you already know.

Christmas Baubles Knitted Flat

The free Christmas Baubles—Knit Flat pattern from Tat’sgrans Treasures is worth a look if knitting tiny rounds doesn’t appeal. It includes three sizes and charted words such as Peace, Hope, Love and Joy, worked using intarsia. The flat construction is approachable, although the lettering adds a challenge beyond basic stocking stitch. I’d choose this for meaningful gift ornaments, particularly when one of those words suits the person receiving it.

Christmas Pudding Bauble

The free Christmas Pudding Bauble by Amanda Berry has all the appeal of a festive pudding without anyone debating whether they actually like eating it. Knitted flat in DK yarn, it combines shaping, colourwork and seaming, with a little holly topper to finish. It’s best for confident beginners with some experience rather than someone learning their first knit stitch. At approximately 6 cm tall, it would make a lovely tree decoration or an extra treat tied onto a wrapped present.

Rudolf & Friends Character Baubles

The free Rudolf & Friends Ornaments by Claire Fairall bring a playful touch to a handmade Christmas tree. These character baubles are knitted flat, and the instructions include illustrations for assembly and embroidery. Hobbii lists the pattern as suitable for beginners, making it a useful option for knitters who would rather practise finishing details than stranded colourwork. The finished ornaments measure approximately 8 × 6 cm and would also look cheerful tucked into a handmade wreath.

Cute Christmas Baubles With Little Faces

The free Cute Christmas Baubles from Marianna’s Lazy Daisy Days turn small amounts of DK yarn into cheerful character decorations. Worked flat and seamed, they use simple shaping, stuffing and added facial details to create their personality. They suit knitters comfortable with knit, purl, increases and decreases who enjoy a little assembly afterwards. I rather like Marianna’s idea of using them on the Christmas dinner table before adding hanging loops for the tree.

Rudolph’s Nose Christmas Bauble

The free Rudolph’s Nose Bauble from DROPS Design is a useful choice when you want a traditional ball-shaped ornament. Designed in DROPS Flora, it uses knitting in the round with increases and decreases to create the shape. Choose this if you’re comfortable handling a small circumference and want a project focused on construction. I’d make a few in coordinating colours to bring a little consistency to an otherwise wonderfully mismatched handmade tree.

Merry Mints Bauble

The free Merry Mints Bauble from DROPS Design offers another festive option, this time designed in DROPS Cotton Merino. The instructions include working back-and-forth rows and shaping, so it’s worth considering if you prefer that approach to tiny rounds. Read through the construction before starting and pay attention to the instructions for working yarn overs to avoid unwanted holes. This would be a nice project for a knitter who enjoys seeing a shaped decoration emerge from a small piece of knitting.

Caorann Fair Isle Christmas Bauble

The free Caorann Christmas Bauble by Sarah Berry brings delicate Fair Isle detail to a small ornament. It uses fingering-weight yarn and 2.5 mm needles, with instructions sized for an approximately 60 mm bauble insert. Worked in the round, the design includes both written and charted directions for its repeated segments. I’d save this one for knitters with some colourwork experience who want to make a particularly special keepsake.

A Dated 2026 Christmas Bauble

The free 2026 Christmas Bauble by Smaatterier combines the year with two traditional Selbu rose motifs. It’s knitted in the round using stranded colourwork across the middle, with either fibre filling or a suitably sized plastic bauble inside. The charted design is listed as intermediate and finishes at approximately 6.5 cm tall. This is a lovely choice for marking a first Christmas in a new home, a family milestone or simply another year of making things by hand.

Colourful Christmas Balls From Two Strands

The free Christmas Balls by Mary Ann Stephens are full of colourwork detail, with optional touches such as duplicate stitch and nupps. The designer also discusses I-cord hanging loops, which give the ornaments a pleasingly substantial finish. These are better suited to knitters comfortable following charts and managing several colours than complete beginners. Follow the updated download directions in the post to find the patterns on the designer’s current website.

ARNE & CARLOS Christmas Ball Collection

The paid Twenty-four Christmas Balls 2024 collection by ARNE & CARLOS includes a basic ball pattern and 24 different motif charts. The ornaments are worked in the round using stranded colourwork, with a linked tutorial to help you follow the process. Although the designer lists the collection as beginner level, I’d be comfortable knitting in the round and making increases and decreases before starting. This is the pick for someone who wants a whole collection of coordinated ornaments rather than just one small project.

Choosing Yarn for Knitted Baubles

Small decorations are tempting stash projects, but check the yarn weight before diving into that leftover basket. A thicker yarn can make a much larger bauble, while changing the yarn in a fitted cover may stop it fitting the recommended insert.

For colourwork, choose shades with enough contrast for the motif to show. Two lovely colours can look surprisingly similar once they’re knitted together, especially on something this small.

Smooth yarn also makes it easier to see your stitches. Save the fluffy, sparkly and slightly mysterious leftovers for a pattern where you’re confident they’ll work.

Getting a Nicely Rounded Finish

If your pattern uses stuffing, add it gradually and spread it evenly. You’re aiming for a rounded ornament without stretching the stitches so far apart that the filling shows through. For designs worked over an insert, check the diameter and follow the instructions for when to put it inside.

Give the finishing a little time, too. A neat seam, securely woven ends and a tidy hanging loop help a small decoration feel properly finished.

I’d start with a pair for the tree and one to give away. Of course, once you’ve laid out all those yarn colours, “just three” may become a rather flexible arrangement.