Adding very small beads to your lace

Isn't it frustrating to want to add beads to your lace only to find that your smallest crochet hook will not fit through them?  And cutting the yarn to thread the beads adds knots or splices that may not hold under the force of blocking.

Here's the method I've been using to add Swarovski Crystals (size 4mm bicones) to the silk lace I am knitting.

1) Thread a regular sewing needle (small enough to go through the bead) with sewing thread of a contrasting color.  Use a thread that is about 24" long.  Pull it even but do not knot your threads.

2) Put your threaded needle through the bead and then from front to back on the stitch you would like to bead.

3) Put your needle again through the bead, the point headed towards the unknotted tail of the threads.

4) Slide the bead down your thread and onto your stitch (removing stitch from the needle).

5) Once the bead is in place.  Pull the needle through and out of you bead.

6) Replace the stitch and knit as usual.

This is a slow method but it works for those tiny seed beads as well.

Comments

[Carrie]

Oooh, handy idea! I have some of the tiniest crochet hooks out there (I would cry if I ever thought to actually use them on yarn) but that is a good idea!

[Cookie]

That is fabulous!

So much easier than my method. Now I want to knit with beads again.

[Karen]

Brilliant!