Knit One, Bead Too: Essential Techniques For Knitting With Beads

The thought of beaded projects used to make me shudder. I made some attempts when I designed a beaded Christmas ornament, but the beads did not stay on the right side of the fabric as much as I would have liked. Then I came across this book, this fabulous reference for making knit beaded projects. The book is spiral bound, perfect to have by your side as you knit. This is by far my favorite Durant book.

As Durant explains with pictures and words in the book, there are different types of beads and yarns to use i n these projects. The book is separated into seven chapters: Tools and Techniques, Bead Knitting, Beaded Knitting, Slipstitch Bead Knitting, Cary-Along Bead Knitting, Hook Bead Knitting, and Putting it all together. Each chapter begins by teaching you the technique, and then it shows you pattern so you can use to practice the technique.

The beaded projects you can make from the patterns in this work have a range in the amount of beading they contain. Some have so much beading you can barely see the knitting and others are very subtle and give a bit of a shimmer to make the garment more elegant. The patterns are so diverse that you really understand how versatile beading can really be. The patterns are beautiful, but the real value of this book is in the beaded knitting instructions. As a reference book, it belongs on every knitter's shelf.