Adding Beads to Knitting

I’m truly obsessed with adding beads to knitting. I’m fairly certain this is a phase and it will pass but for now, it’s all I can think about.

Every time I look at this shawl, I smile. I just love it!

When I first began beading, I learned using Super Floss. Since this is the way I learned, this was my favorite method until I did the above shown shawl which had about 900 beads on it and then I had to come up with a faster way.

Advantages: 

• With this method, the yarn never splits.
• Super Floss is easy to find (Walmart and everywhere!). There are many strands in a package so I can lose them and keep replacing them and not be stuck waiting for more to arrive.
• Multiple beads can be threaded onto the floss so you can add quite a few beads before having to “reload”.

Disadvantages:

• Extremely slow.
• Can be a bit fiddly when there are just a few beads and they’re at the “other end” of the floss. Even with tying a knot, if I’m going to leave enough space for 10 or 20 beads on the floss, when I get down to 1 or 2 beads, it’s a bit of distance to get them to the end, which adds to the slowness of using this method.

Of the other more traditional methods of adding beads, there are crochet hooks, a Cro-tat gizmo and the Fleegle Beader.

I’m only using size 6/0 beads so what I’ve written below applies only to size 6/0. If using size 8/0, you would have to use smaller tools.

Left to right:

• Lacis Crochet/Cro-Tatting/Bead Knitting Hook ($4.84 Amazon Prime)
• Fleegle Beader ($11.50 plus shipping)
• Crochet Hook, size 12/1.0 mm ($4.60 with free shipping – Amazon)
• ChiaoGoo Crochet Hook – metal hook with bamboo handle ($6.50 Amazon Prime)

Check prices before ordering. The prices listed are the prices posted when I was looking at them on 10/18/17).

All of the above tools work pretty much the same. The Fleegle Beader is a bit different so I’ll talk about the others first.

With all except the Fleegle Beader, you pick up one bead at a time.

Slip the yarn, which is usually in the form of the next stitch you’re going to make, over the end of the tool.

While holding the yarn taut, pull the bead over the yarn. I’ve seen some videos where the user holds the yarn in the left hand, as I’m doing, and, with the same hand, slips the bead over the needle. I am going to practice doing it that way because it has to be faster but the way I’m currently doing it is this: I’m holding the yarn and needle tight in my left hand and use my right hand to push the bead over the yarn.

This would be the stitch you would knit into next and the bead is attached.

In the above photo, you can see how the plies in the yarn are separated a bit. They’ll be fine once it’s knitted but with the Fleegle Beader, because the “groove” into which the yarn fits is so shallow, I end up splitting the yarn quite often and pretty extensively. It always looks ok in the end but I don’t like doing that to the yarn.

It isn’t easy to see but can you see the difference in the “grooves” in the two tools? On the right is a plain Jane crochet hook. On the left is the Fleegle Beader.

Where the Fleegle Beader shines, for me, is when I’m using a single ply lace weight yarn. I never have a problem with it then and I love that I can load it up with numerous beads and not have to pick beads up individually.

In the end, if I can have one tool, it’s going to be the size 12/1 mm crochet hook. Another advantage, besides the utility, is that they’re inexpensive, readily available – I can get them at Walmart, Hobby Lobby, and most any crafty type store. If I’m out of town and can’t find mine, I can drop in most anywhere and get another one whereas with the Lacis and Fleegle Beader, they have to be ordered.

No matter what tool I’m using . . I love beading knitted projects!