Monica Knits

This is the fifth in a series of articles on inserting beads and sequins in knitting. In this case, the beads are sewn onto a worsted weight stocking stitch ground using a fingering weight yarn. The yarn is anchored to the reverse side by weaving it in and the yarn weight is matched to the bead size. One advantage of attaching beads with sewing is that beaded embellishment can added to a handknitted garment after it is completed or can be used to personalize a purchased garment. Read more ...

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Instructions
In the photo above, the bottom right hand bead was sewn on with grey fingering weight yarn. The remaining beads in the photo were knitted in with a beige colored woolly nylon elastic as discussed in the third article in this series. Both carrier yarns were selected to contrast with the gold colored, worsted weight yarn to enhance stitch visibility for these demonstrations. Now you know why the sample for the third article looked like it was missing a bead.

The fiber content of the bead carrier yarn is matched to the garment yarn for laundering purposes (wool blend). The carrier yarn is sized to match the bead. In this case, a fingering weight yarn snuggly holds the bead--this prevents the bead from sliding around on the garment face.

Steps
1. The carrier yarn is anchored to the work on the wrong side by weaving it in for one half to one inch" using a tapestry needle. Snake the yarn up and down through the purl stitches.
2. The yarn is then brought forward to the right side of the work and a bead is threaded on. The article: "Bead Insertion in Knitting", describes how to string beads onto yarn.
3. The needle is returned to the wrong side of the work and the bead is anchored by weaving in the yarn. The yarn comes up on one side of a knit stitch and goes back down on the other side of the same stitch in the photo at the top.
4. The process is repeated for however many beads need to be attached.

The first article in this series, Bead Insertion in Knitting, described stringing beads on yarn and purling beads into a 2 x 2 rib stitch ground. The second article, Bead Insertion - Slip Stitch Method, describes a slip stitch method of inserting beads into a stocking stitch ground. The third article in this series Bead Insertion - Two Yarn Method demonstrated the use of a carrier yarn knitted together with the fashion yarn except for the position at which the bead is placed. The fourth article, Bead Insertion - Two Yarn Method with Weaving demonstrates a variation of the carrier yarn method in which a coordinating, fingering weight carrier is stranded and/or woven behind the work.