So Much Better (Plus Giveaway)
So, as promised, I’d like you to meet someone who really knows her way around the bead shop. May I introduce the lovely Laura Nelkin?
I got to know Laura when she was design director for Schaefer Yarn. She got in touch with me when I was very new at this pattern thing and asked if I’d like to do a design for Schaefer. This was an incredibly generous thing to do. I was a complete newbie and was totally making it up as I went along. Her encouragement was a tremendous help.
Laura has recently made the switch to being an independent knitwear designer, and she’s doing some amazing things. Her latest project is a video class on lace shawls that looks like great fun. Even more impressive (at lest to me, as I sit here surrounded by hundreds of beads and a few false starts) is her way with beads.
She’s done lots of individual beaded patterns in the past (Ennoble more or less makes me weak in the knees), but now she’s done something even more fun. She’s put together a whole collection of knitted jewelry and other accessories (most of it with beads). She’s releasing one pattern a month, plus a few surprise patterns here and there. The first pattern came out back in May, and new patterns are being added every month.
The pattern collection is called Adorn, and it is absolutely marvelous. The patterns are lovely, and the instructions are clear enough that even a bead novice like me isn’t intimidated. If you’re already a bead expert or if you’ve only been considering taking up beading (and really, if you like yarn shops, there is a good chance you’ll like bead shops…they hit a lot of the same ‘oooooh, pretty colors’ buttons in my brain), you’ll want to add this to your collection.
I’ve got a copy to give away to one lucky reader. If you’d like it to be you, just leave me a comment below and tell me what you like to do with beads (even if it’s just admire them from a distance). I’ll pick a winner on Friday. Do be sure to use a real email address so I can get in touch if you win (and don’t worry, I won’t do anything with any of the addresses except contact the winner).
I used to make jewelry with beads (long ago, when I was 12 years old). And now? I think I will use them to embellish some bags I’m going to make. And who knows, maybe I’ll use them in my knitting too (haven’t done that before).
Jittina, the Netherlands
I love to just look and marvel at beads of all kinds. I aim to one day incorporate beads into a knitted shawl.
I like to make embroidered and beaded brooches, mainly with little tiny seed beads, but I just recently made one with some pearl beads for the centre of flowers. I really love doing it 🙂
Mostly I use beads for knitting lace, but I am having fun making stitch markers and earring at the moment. I would love to learn more. Thanx for giving up 1 of yours so one of us will have the chance to enjoy it.
Well, once upon a time I used beads on my amazing bead loom and of course in my macrame hemp jewelry…
More recently I used them for the fringe on my niece’s “fashion scarf”. I still have not attempted knitting with beads…
My first beading/knitting attempt was with stretch cord and 6/0 beads; I made a watch band out of it! Lately, I love knitting beads into my knitted shawls, and think occasionally of putting some into sweater edgings.
A few years ago, I started a mystery shawl that used beads. It taught me how to set them with a crochet hook, which was totally the best part of that whole adventure (the shawl itself is presently in timeout about 1 chart in… and actually upon seeing the finished pattern, I find I’m not a huge fan. But I’m also not a huge fan of ripping out beaded lace. /digression). These days, I keep dreaming about using them on lace shawls … clear ones to look like fresh dew on leaves and flowers.
Or maybe making some knitted jewelry. Those bracelets on Laura’s site look rather fetching in a fun noveau-bohemian sort of way.
I love to use beads in knitting for shawls and socks but I also buy them with the intention of using them and end up just admiring them 🙂
I love her beaded necklaces.
She is an amazing artist.
I’ve never used beads in knitting. I’d like to try.