Knitting Embellishments: Beading. Part 2

Here is the second part of the series of posts about bedding in knitting. Today’s we’ll talk about knitted-in beading on a knit row. This is a really effective beading method and is the preferred method of most knitwear designers. Many knitters avoid this technique because they think it is going to be tricky, but in fact it is not. Knitting with beads is incredibly satisfying, creates beautiful results and is really easy to do.

Knitted-in beading on a knit row

This technique allows you to place a bead in every stitch on every row. However, if you bead an item heavily you may affect your tension and will certainly affect the drape of the finished project. It is usually worked on stocking (stockinette) stitch, and you use this technique to place a bead on a knit row.

1. Knit to the position of the bead. Put the tip of the right-hand needle into the next stitch, wrap the yarn around it and slide the bead down to the needles.

2. Knit the stitch, making sure that as you pull the loop of yarn through, the bead comes with it to the right side of the work.

Knitted-in beading on a purl row

Use this technique to place a bead on the stocking (stockinette) side of the work when working a purl row.

1. Purl to the position of the bead, put the tip of the right-hand needle into the next stitch, wrap the yarn around it and slide the bead down to the needles.

2. Purl the stitch, making sure that as you pull the loop of yarn through, the bead comes with it to the right side of the work.

Wriggling beads

With knitted in beading you will find that the beads will try to wriggle their way through to the back of the work. To help prevent this, before you work the next row push all the beads down so that they are sitting at the bottom of their stitches, then keep an eye on them as you work the next row.