KnitWerk

Got back from vacation to a lovely surprise from a grumpy friend:

Pretty beads for knitting:

And some really beautiful beads for jewelry or stitch markers. The pink quartz ones will need to be made into earrings immediately… there are some gorgeous carnelian beads, as well as glass and stone beads in other blue and pink shades. Just beautiful. Hmmm, time to get out the jewelry tools…

I can’t wait to try my hand at knitting with beads—haven’t done that before. Included in the package is a groovy needle with a big hole in the middle that you can use to string the beads on the yarn.

It just so happens that I’ve been collecting bookmarks about knitting with beads. Here are a few that I’ve found helpful or inspirational:

• Beaded Knitting – This link shows threading beads, as well as a few different ways to place them in your knitting. Included are links to a few projects.
• Knit Your Own Jewelry – This Knitter’s Review article shows knitting wire bracelets and necklaces with beads.
• By special request, Beading Made Easy! – FluffyKnitterDeb’s great photo tutorial on using beads in your knitting without stringing them on your yarn beforehand. Very cool!

Thank you, thank you, Grumperina. This will be very fun!

Does anyone have any favorite beaded knitting projects to share? Until I saw the pretty beaded cuffs that Grumperina added to “Karen’s Mia shrug pattern,” I haven’t paid much attention to the technique. I’d love to hear your picks for best beaded projects.

...even though there’s been, as yet, no knitting.

Got a notice from Purl Gurl that Debbie Stoller was going to be at Oakland’s Article Pract for a little book signing. We had emailed briefly about a possible carpool to SF to see her, but my schedule has been dicey, so that was not likely to happen. The Oakland thing was perfect, though… thanks, Purl Gurl! My stepdaughters both got interested in knitting around Christmas, so I let each of them take a Stitch & Bitch book. I’ve been itching to get another copy—there are projects in these books that I want to add to the list soon. Now I’ve got my very own signed copies:

I was too shy to say much, but she seemed really nice.

When I got home, I was greeted by a great package from the Bronx:

They’re beautiful, purple-y and comfy. Thanks so much, Nancy! I really appreciate all of your hard work.

I just realized that I never posted a photo of the finished socks I made, currently on their way to Austin:

Vogue Knitting Spring Summer 2005

Just breezing quickly through email and spotted patterns for the new Vogue issue. At first glance, I like several, especially this one , this one and this one .

Hmmm. Now that Sockapalooza socks are finished and on their way, I’ve got to get my project list updated.