Crochet Hook Beading

OR  

Never string another bead for a knitting project again.

I love beads.  Well I seem to love glitz, which is why I add angelina to most of my Pixie Batts and favor yarn with stellina.  I also find ways to add beads to most of my patterns in one way or another.

At vendings when I tell folks that they can add the beads one at a time, exactly where they are called for, people get rather happy and want to use this method.  After all stringing 100 or 500 or even 1000 beads is tedious at best and feels like the string weighs 6 pounds instead of a few ounces.  Also moving those beads up and down the yarn actually begins to wear on the thread as well.

So first off put your beads into an open container.  The container can have a lid but leave it open for now.  Also acquire a steel US 9-12 crochet hook.  

Skewer a bead.

Snag the next stitch (the one that is to be beaded) with the hook.

Pull the loop through the bead being careful not to split the yarn.

Now replace that beaded loop back onto the left needle and knit or purl as directed.

That all folks!  Simple, easy and convenient.  

The only thing you might want to do is slide the bead up the stitch a bit once it is knit.  

Really now, even those of you who have stayed away from beaded items can add some glitz in your projects too.

Basel

"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them, and every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are"  Anonymous

Basel left us on April 8.  It has taken me this long to be able to write anything about him.  I miss him terribly.  He lived to be 13.5 years which is approx 4.5 years longer than the vet predicted.  That part is marvelous so I don't begrudge him leaving at all.  I just miss his wonderful loving presence in my life.

He went quietly over a couple of days.  Actually once we realized his body was shutting down, we called in the traveling vet to see if she agreed.  She did and so gave him the needed shots so he could pass peacefully into doggie heaven.

Basel came to us as a rescue out of a guy's apartment.  He had 2 broken legs from a car accident that had not been dealt with so the poor guy dragged himself around for that length of time until a couple of women broke into this guy's apartment and removed the 6 month old rottie.  We found a vet that would do the surgery for cost. What a happy puppy!  It was predicted that he could never jump or run but he overcame it all. He actually levitated into the back of my Pilot until he was about 9, then he used a ramp.  Basel loved all creatures and slept with the bunnies and some of our cats.  He especially enjoyed being a shop dog and greeting all customers.