Beaded Ornaments
And the Bead Goes on
Memories of the ’60′s – love beads, hippie beads, beads on a string around necks and wrists, homemade, handmade, swinging with long hair and flowered skirts. Beads were such a strong fashion element of that decade. The subject of beads is a vast one and the hippie incarnation was just a small part of beading history. It is thought that our early ancestors were stringing sea shells as early as 30,000 years ago and the first beads, that developed as a significant trading item, were likely made from seeds. The many materials and methods used in making beads have resulted in an infinite variety. When raw materials of stone, metal, glass, plastic or resin combine with assorted artistic and cultural influences, the bead is in very little danger of becoming boring.
Even with the vast choice of beads available there are a few cautions that should be noted when it come to using beads in your knitting. Along with beads, anything that can have a hole drilled in it or have a shank attached can be successfully worked into your garment. This would include items such as buttons, small charms, mirrors, or even coins. The first consideration is weight. Adding bead ornamentation to your knitted garment will add extra weight whether attached with an embroidery method or knitting in the bead. The trick is to find the beads in the right weight and quantity without causing your garment to sag. So decisions must be made as to what size of bead to use, how many, and is it suitable to the yarn weight. The size of the bead hole must also be considered. A larger bead hole may cause the bead to hang loosely with a dangling effect, unless that is the intent. A bead hole that is too small will not allow for passage of the yarn thickness that you have chosen. Before you begin, it is always best to test your bead choice through whatever cleaning process the finished garment will have to undergo. Join a few of the chosen beads to a knitted swatch and wash or dry clean. Check the sample carefully for dye leakage or staining on your ground fabric.
Beads or decorative objects should be threaded onto the yarn before you begin knitting. If you are working from a chart which will require specific placement and a certain color order, remember that first is last. The first bead to be strung onto the yarn is the last bead to be placed in the knitting. Joining a marker on the yarn to indicate row changes is also helpful. It is advisable to practice the threading and knitting in of the bead to know how the bead will “sit” on the knitting. The proper placement can vary with size, shape, the way the bead is threaded, and direction of the bead hole. Beads can be knit on a variety of stitches but to start, practice on knit stitches, working as follows: Knit to where you wish to place the bead, bring yarn and the bead to front of work, slip the next stitch purlwise, take yarn to back of work, leaving the bead at front, knit the next stitch.
If this experiment gets you hooked on beads, there a number of books which outline the fascinating history of beads as well as tempting projects. A classic standby, both encyclopedic and inspirational, that will give you wonderful lessons in the history and classification of beads is “The Book Of Beads” by Janet Cole and Robert Budwig (Simon and Schuster). A more recent offering from Lily Chin, “Knit and Crochet With Beads” (Interweave Press) will walk you through specific beading and knitting projects.
Placing beads on your knitting can add additional layers of color and texture to your knit and purls, not to mention triggering all those flower child memories.
About the Author
Maddy Cranley is a professional knitwear designer, who has created exclusive designs for knitting and craft magazines, authored and published three books on the subject of creating felt garments and projects from handknitting, and produces an ever-expanding line of maddy laine and maddy baby handknitting patterns. For additional information, see http://www.maddycraft.com
Beading Projects : How to Make Beaded Christmas Ornaments
|
|
Kim Seybert Beaded Holiday Ornament Napkin Ring – Set of 4 $100.00 Kim Seybert’s beaded and embroidered designs have helped to redefine beauty in home decor. This whimsical holiday napkin ring combines a blend of true sophistication and a sense of fun…. |
|
|
Green Beaded Leaf Napkin Ring – Assorted set of 4 $31.99 You will receive a set of 4 napkin rings, one each in the designs shown. Each ring is about 3 inches wide…. |
|
|
Holiday Sleigh Beaded Candy Dish Kit This sleigh is a nice holiday decoration as well as a candy dish…. |
|
|
Seasons of Elegance Gold & Clear Spiral Beaded Chandelier Christmas Ornament $6.99 From the Seasons of Elegance Collection Item #TD1210 Ornament is comprised of a variety of multi-faceted faux crystal beads. They dangle from a golden, spiral metal accent and reflect the light from your Christmas tree Use it on your tree, in garlands or wreaths, it would even look pretty hanging in a window as sun catchers Fully dimensional Comes ready-to-hang on a gold cord Dimensions: 5″H x 2…. |
|
|
8 Purple Passion Beaded Clip-On Bird Figure Christmas Ornament $5.99 Purple Passion Beaded Clip-On Bird Item #P103506 Welcome the holiday season, and your guests, with this light-catching purple passion beaded clip-on bird ornament Ornament features large shades of purple and pink colored gems, beads, and glitter with sparkling silver glitter accents Ideal for displaying on trees, wreaths, dry vase arrangements, garlands – the decorating possibilities are endless C… |
|
|
12 Christmas Traditions Gold Beaded Disk, Ball & Shuttle Glass Ornaments 5 $99.99 From the Christmas Traditions Collection Item #44633 Features three different style ornaments dispersed with beads Color: gold Fully dimensional ornaments Come ready-to-hang on a gold cord Dimensions: 3 -5 L Material(s): glass/metal Pack of 12 ornaments – includes 4 of each style shown |
|
|
12 Christmas Traditions Snow Red & Gold Glass Ball Christmas Ornaments 5 $119.99 From the Christmas Traditions Item #40209 Ornate beaded snow cascades down the sides of these beautiful red and gold glass ball ornaments Fully dimensional ornaments Dimensions: 5 H Material(s): glass Pack of 12 ornaments – includes 6 of each style shown |
|
|
125-Piece Club Pack of Shatterproof Bubblegum Pink Christmas Ornaments $39.99 Bubbblegum Pink Color Theme Shatterproof Christmas Ornament Club Pack Item #N512509 125-piece set This amazing array of ornaments is done in dazzling pretty pink tones with a mixture of matte, shiny and glitter finishes. This special club pack will allow you to build your collection quickly. It includes everything you will need to decorate your Christmas tree Set includes: 4 shiny finish 3 inch ball ornaments embellished with an exquisite glitter design 4 matte finish 3 inch ball ornaments embellished with an exquisite glitter design 16 glitter ball ornaments 1.5 inch 16 shiny finish ball ornaments 1.5 inch 12 disco patterned matte finish ball ornaments 1.5 inch 2 strings of 6.5 foot long beaded garland 4 matte finish Christmas tree ornaments 3 inches high x 2 inches wide x .5 inches deep 4 shiny finish Christmas tree ornaments 3 inches high x 2 inches wide x .5 inches deep 4 shiny finish Bethlehem star ornaments 3.5 inches high x 2.75 inches wide x .5 inches deep 4 matte finish Bethlehem star ornaments 3.5 inches high x 2.75 inches wide x .5 inches deep 7 glitter drenched gift box ornaments 1.75 inches high x 1.75 inches wide x 1.75 inches deep 24 glitter drenched snowflake ornaments 3.75 inches deep 6 shiny icicle ornaments 5 inches high x .25 inches deep 6 matte icicle ornaments 5 inches high x .25 inches deep 4 glitter drenched spiral finial ornaments 5.5 inches high x 1.5 inches deep 4 matte finish spiral finial ornaments 5.5 inches high x 1.5 inches deep 4 shiny finish spiral finial ornaments 5.5 inches high x 1.5 inches deep Material(s): plastic/glitter Each ornament comes ready-to-hang on a silver cord |
|
|
125-Piece Club Pack of Shatterproof Burnt Orange Christmas Ornaments $39.99 Orange Color Theme Shatterproof Christmas Ornament Club Pack Item #N512518 125-piece set This amazing array of ornaments is done in dazzling hard to find bronze and copper tones with a mixture of matte, shiny and glitter finishes. This special club pack will allow you to build your collection quickly. It includes everything you will need to decorate your Christmas tree Set includes: 4 shiny finish 3 inch ball ornaments embellished with an exquisite glitter design 4 matte finish 3 inch ball ornaments embellished with an exquisite glitter design 16 glitter ball ornaments 1.5 inch 16 shiny finish ball ornaments 1.5 inch 12 disco patterned matte finish ball ornaments 1.5 inch 2 strings of 6.5 foot long beaded garland 4 matte finish Christmas tree ornaments 3 inches high x 2 inches wide x .5 inches deep 4 shiny finish Christmas tree ornaments 3 inches high x 2 inches wide x .5 inches deep 4 shiny finish Bethlehem star ornaments 3.5 inches high x 2.75 inches wide x .5 inches deep 4 matte finish Bethlehem star ornaments 3.5 inches high x 2.75 inches wide x .5 inches deep 7 glitter drenched gift box ornaments 1.75 inches high x 1.75 inches wide x 1.75 inches deep 24 glitter drenched snowflake ornaments 3.75 inches deep 6 shiny icicle ornaments 5 inches high x .25 inches deep 6 matte icicle ornaments 5 inches high x .25 inches deep 4 glitter drenched spiral finial ornaments 5.5 inches high x 1.5 inches deep 4 matte finish spiral finial ornaments 5.5 inches high x 1.5 inches deep 4 shiny finish spiral finial ornaments 5.5 inches high x 1.5 inches deep Material(s): plastic/glitter Each ornament comes ready-to-hang on a gold cord |
|
|
125-Piece Club Pack of Shatterproof Fanciful Red & Kiwi Christmas Ornaments $39.99 Red and Green Kiwi Color Theme Shatterproof Christmas Ornament Club Pack Item #N512543 125-piece set This amazing array of ornaments is done in red and kiwi tones with a mixture of matte, shiny and glitter finishes. This special club pack will allow you to build your collection quickly. It includes everything you will need to decorate your Christmas tree. Red and green kiwi set includes: 4 shiny finish 3 ball ornaments embellished with an exquisite glitter design 4 matte finish 3 ball ornaments embellished with an exquisite glitter design 16 glitter ball ornaments 1.5 16 shiny finish ball ornaments 1.5 12 disco patterned matte finish ball ornaments 1.5 2 strings of 6.5 foot long beaded garland 4 matte finish Christmas tree ornaments 3 H x 2 W x .5 D 4 shiny finish Christmas tree ornaments 3 H x 2 W x .5 D 4 shiny finish Bethlehem star ornaments 3.5 H x 2.75 W x .5 D 4 matte finish Bethlehem star ornaments 3.5 H x 2.75 W x .5 D 7 glitter drenched gift box ornaments 1.75 H x 1.75 W x 1.75 D 24 glitter drenched snowflake ornaments 3.75 D 6 shiny icicle ornaments 5 H x .25 D 6 matte icicle ornaments 5 H x .25 D 4 glitter drenched spiral finial ornaments 5.5 H x 1.5 D 4 matte finish spiral finial ornaments 5.5 H x 1.5 D 4 shiny finish spiral finial ornaments 5.5 H x 1.5 D Material(s): plastic/glitter All ornaments come ready-to-hang on a gold cord |
Tags: beaded, beaded ornaments, beaded ornaments for kids, beaded ornaments free patterns, beaded ornaments instructions, beaded ornaments to make, christmas, craft, crafts, ornaments
This entry was posted on Thursday, June 10th, 2010 at 7:00 am and is filed under holiday homes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.