I took three classes during the weekend. On Friday afternoon, I took a class with Virginia on how to knit with beads. I've read a few books on the topic, but had never really sat down to try it. Not only did Virginia provide each of us with a spool of wire and some beads, but she also brought other beads to encourage our artistic play. And she says she recycles old necklaces she finds at yard sales and thrift stores. I don't know that I'm going to want to knit much with wire, but it was good to try it. Wire is rather stiff, so the kinesthetic feeling is like you are back in kindergarten and learning to write with a giant pencil. This 3-row black bracelet was made as follows: String 57 beads on the wire. (57 = 3 rows x 19 beads per row) Sliding a bead between each stitch, cast on 20 stitches using backward loop. (Notice you'll use 19 beads, not 20.) Turn. Do not slide a bead up between the last cast-on stitch and the first stitch of Row 1. Row 1: Sliding a bead ...
Advanced, esoteric, perfectionist knitting including free patterns, reviews of books and products, and illustrated technique tutorials.