This kind of beaded knitting is easy to do. You just knit in the usual way, bringing a bead up close to the work where indicated in the instructions. The beads hang between two purl stitches and show through on both sides of the scarf.
The beads took an hour to thread, and the scarf took 21 hours to knit: 22 hours total.
ABOUT THIS YARN
Debbie Bliss Cathay is a mix of 50% cotton, 35% viscose microfiber, and 15% silk and is available in 12 jewel-bright shades. There are approx. 109 yds. (100 m) to a 50 g (approx. 1¾ oz.) ball.
SIZE
Width: beaded ends 4¼ in. (11 cm); center 4 in. (10 cm); length: 67 in. (170 cm)
YOU WILL NEED
• 3 x 50 g balls (approx. 5¼ oz.) of Debbie Bliss Cathay in shade 03
• 1,046 beads (approx. 3½ oz. [100 g])
• one size US 3 (3¼ mm) knitting needle and a pair of size US 5 (3¾ mm) needles
GAUGE
30 sts and 26 rows to 4 in. (10 cm) over beaded rib, 34 sts and 24 rows to 4 in. (10 cm) over plain rib, both on size US 5 (3¾ mm) needles, when pressed. Change needle size, if necessary, to obtain these gauges.
ABBREVIATIONS
B1 = slide a bead up close to work; cont = continue; k = knit; p = purl; RS = right side; st(s) = stitch(es); [ ] = work instructions in square brackets as directed.
NOTES
• Thread half of the beads onto one ball of yarn before starting to knit. Thread the other half onto another ball.
• To thread beads onto the yarn, first tip beads into a shallow dish. Thread a sewing needle with a short length of sewing thread, and knot ends to make a loop. Slide the knot to one side and thread yarn end through loop. Pick up beads, 3 or 4 at a time, and slide them down the loop of thread and onto the yarn.
• Wash your beaded scarf by hand. Do not dry-clean. If you want to spin the scarf in the machine to remove excess water before drying, put it in a laundry bag or pillowcase to protect the beads from abrasion.
Jewel-bright silk-blend yarn and matte golden beads combine to make a scarf that will add instant glamour to any outfit.
SCARF
Start with a ball of yarn with approximately 200 beads threaded onto it. Beaded cast-on. Leaving a long end, make a slip knot on the single, smaller needle. Using the knitting-off-the-thumb method on page 144, [B1, cast on 1 st] 33 times. 34 sts. Change to larger needles.
Row 1 (RS) K4, [p1, B1, p1, k2] to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2 K2, [p2, k2] to end.
These 2 rows form a beaded rib with k2 at each end for edging.
Work in beaded rib for 138 more rows.
Using yarn without beads, cont for another 151 rows.
Change to beaded yarn and work 140 rows in beaded rib.
Bind off loosely in rib, bringing a bead up close between stitches each time.
TO FINISH
Weave in yarn ends. Using a cloth to protect the beads, press according to yarn label.
TIPS
• It’s easier to hide the darned-in ends if you join a new ball of yarn inside the k2 edging.
• Sliding the beads along the yarn as you knit does take time. You may find it quicker to thread fewer beads onto the yarn—maybe around 200 at a time—then cut the yarn, add more beads, and join in again.
• Cathay would make a lovely scarf without the beads. You’ll still need 3 x 50 g (approx. 5¼ oz.) balls of yarn. Simply work in rib with k2 edgings as given for 431 rows and bind off. Your scarf will be about 71 in. (180 cm) long.
• For the beaded edging you must cast on by the knitting-off-the-thumb method. Any other type of cast-on will hide the beads.
• You can use any type of bead, either matching or contrasting with the color you choose for your scarf. Just make sure that the beads have a center hole that’s large enough to thread onto the yarn.
Design your own yarn mixture to create a sumptuously textured garter-stitch scarf.
