Knit One, Bead Too: Essential Techniques for Knitting with Beads [Hardcover-spiral]

Judith Durant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 12, 2009

Never have two distinct crafts paired as beautifully as knitting and beading. In Knit One, Bead Too Judith Durant introduces crafters to fun stitching techniques that perk up knitted items with beautiful beads. Now knitters will have fun embellishing their fiber crafts with pretty beads, and jewelry makers will enjoy the challenge of working with beads in a whole new way.

Knit One, Bead Too arms crafters with the skills to pair fibers and beads in unexpected ways. Five distinct knitting methods fully incorporate beads into knitted items rather than simply adding beads as fringe or appliqué. The results are intricate works of art that every knitter will be proud to wear.

Each of the five techniques - Bead Knitting, Beaded Knitting, Slipstitch Bead Knitting, Carry-along Bead Knitting, and Hooked Beading - is carefully described with in-depth text and step-by-step illustrations. Durant describes all the tips and tricks of knitting with each technique, including casting on and binding off, beading with various stitches, and correcting mistakes.

Each of the five technique sections includes three complete patterns that highlight that beading method. A Golden Purse shows off Beaded Knitting on an evening bag that sparkles and shimmers. A subtler project uses Slipstitch Bead Knitting to add elegance to a Magic Mohair Beret. Thirteen additional projects give crafters plenty of options to play with before striking out on their own. Once the techniques are mastered, knitters will want to add beads to all sorts of patterns!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Add sparkle to your knitting!
Embellish your knitted projects with eye-catching beauty of beads. Using five easy-to-learn beading techniques, you can turn designs for simple bags and wearables into stunning special-occasion creations. And it's all done right on your knitting needles!
Judith Durant offers step-by-step instructions for mastering the techniques as well as sixteen original patterns that feature beadwork. What's more, after you have learned how to knit with beads, you can apply the techniques to any pattern. The possiblities for beaded knitting are endless!

Praise for the book:
"An inspiring, in-depth, and accesible guide to knitting with beads. With excellent instructions, Judith not only answers the questions about these tantalizing techniques, she also presents a world of possibilities for knitters of all levels. In this knitter's opinion, Knit One Bead Too is destined to become a definitive and very welcome addition to the world of knitting."
- Cheryl Oberle, Author of Knitted Jackets, Folk Vests, and Folk Shawls

"Spectacular, highly appealing projects - gloves, pillow, shawl, sweaters, and more - using nearly forgotten bead knitting techniques...a fresh twist on the craft, with subtle, understated colors and designs." - Diane Fitzgerald, Internationally known bead artist and author of several books, including Shaped Beadwork

About the Author

Judith Durant is the editor of the best-selling One-Skein knitting books and the author of Never Knit Your Man a Sweater* (*unless you’ve got the ring!). She is also a founding editor of Interweave Knits magazine and a contributor to Interweave Knits, Beadwork, and Piecework magazines.

Product Details

• Hardcover-spiral: 160 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (June 12, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1603421491
• ISBN-13: 978-1603421492
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,038 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

In the late 1970s, Emerson College in Boston granted me a highly useful degree in theater, with a specialty in costume design. After spending several years hanging around the costume shops in New York trying to make ends meet, I was fortunate enough to land a publishing job; I've been working as an editor and writer ever since.

My mom taught me to knit when I was a young girl. The beadwork thing got serious while I was working as the book editor for Interweave Press. Many other crafty things have presented themselves along the way, and as a result I'm never bored.

Originally from Massachusetts, I spent fifteen years in New York City, then six and one-half in Colorado; the past six years have been spent back in Massachusetts. Retiring in France is a current dream.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book on Knitting with Beads, June 24, 2009

By 

Annette - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Knit One, Bead Too: Essential Techniques for Knitting with Beads (Hardcover-spiral)

This is the book I have been looking for. It teaches several different techniques of using beads in knitting. The illustrations are great as are the explanations of the techniques. She offers patterns for each of the techniques. This book is spiral bound so stays open easily. I have several other books on knitting with beads, but this is, by far, the best.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Detailed instructions on how to make beautiful and functional beaded knitted works, July 13, 2009

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Knit One, Bead Too: Essential Techniques for Knitting with Beads (Hardcover-spiral)

I grew up in a household where my mother was always knitting, crocheting, braiding or sewing. Rugs, quilts, Afghans, doilies, and sweaters seemed to pile up only to be distributed to family or sold. I was a part of some of this, at one time I knew how to knit, crochet and I can still sew things up and braid rope out of strands of twine.
Incorporating beads into knitted work certainly makes things dazzle and it appears that it is hard to add this form of glitter to a project. That is not the case, as Durant clearly demonstrates using instructions that even I could follow, if you have a basic understanding of the knitting process, then you can include beads in your work. After explaining the terminology, sequences and how to read the charts, Durant presents a photo of a project and then gives a detailed description of how it is done. Most of the projects are very complex, which requires different knitting techniques to be used at different points in the creation.
If you have some talent at knitting and really want to demonstrate how good you are, read this book and create some of the projects. From caps to socks, you will impress everyone that sees your results. If you do this, be prepared to field the question, "That is beautiful, where did you buy it?" many times.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book on Knitting with Beads Ever Written, January 9, 2010

By 

S. Sur "Beads of Glass" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Knit One, Bead Too: Essential Techniques for Knitting with Beads (Hardcover-spiral)

I would give this book more stars if I could. Why do I like this book so much?

It is well written, well edited, and well illustrated.
The author has a BFA and it shows in the lovely designs. I can see making every one of them. And the alternate design colors suggested are lovely.

The author knows how to write an instructional book that is easy to use, entertaining, and tempting. Starting from a pictorial overview of the five established techniques for incorporating beads into your knitting, to the last project where you can try out every one of them on one small beaded bag, everything is there to make you learn and internalize the crafts of bead and beaded knitting. Yes there is a difference. Also the essential trick about using Eastern knitting to prevent bead knitting from warping is clearly illustrated in photos.

The best part is how the beads are an integral part of the designs from the choice of color and placement of the beads inside cables, or other appropriate knitting stitches to how they add beauty to the garments and accessories. They are not added on for the ride. The lovely scarf is designed to be knit from the center out for symmetry, but with a smart provisional cast on so you do not need to fuss with weaving the two halves and possibly ruining the scarf on the last step. I love how thoughtful all the designs are in preventing problems before you get there.


As a final bonus, the book is hardcover but also ring bound so it lies perfectly flat as you follow the row by row instructions when you need to. It is small so you can take it with you in a bag. And she tells you how to store the strung yarn so you do not get those devilish slip knots in your work.

If you want to buy one knitting book for learning how to use beads and yarn, make it this one. You won't need another beaded knitting book. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.