The Long Tail Beaded Cast On results in beads placed along the very bottom edge of the cast on stitches. This type of beaded cast on is very attractive because the beads position themselves away from the fabric’s edge, giving a picot effect along the border.
Picot effect resulting from Long Tail Beaded Cast On
Upper: Beads placed every cast on stitch
Lower: Beads placed every 4 out of 5 stitches
getting beads to jump onto your beading needle using a straw
For those reading yesterday’s article about Beading Options, you might have noticed Judy Gibson’s comment about ” … Somehow I just imagined that you scoop the beading needle through a bunch of beads and they would magically jump onto the needle. Doesn’t seem to be working that way. You’ve done many beaded projects in the past so maybe it’s on your site somewhere already … ”
I didn’t get online to reply right away (I was buried deep in doing my income taxes, which is about the most horrible way to spend a Sunday, let me tell you!). Anyway, being the smart, resourceful person that Judy is, she came up with her own trick to help beads jump onto her beading needle. Here are pictures and an explanation that she sent me, and I think they are certainly worthy of sharing. Thank you Judy!
“Hi, Jackie! … I did look around and find your tips on stringing beads in an earlier KAL (and THANK YOU for mentioning placing a towel under the plate of beads!)”
“Meanwhile I came up with another little twist on technique: I scooped my beads into a drinking straw …”
Filling the straw with beads
“… and held it over the plate as I ran the beading needle into the straw scooping up the beads.”
Getting beads on the beading needle
“I found that it works best if the beads are not too tightly packed, so they can jiggle into single file. Also any missed beads are not a problem, as they fall out onto the plate when you slide the captured beads onto the thread. This is good because it allowed me to skip a few puny or malformed beads.”
Pulling captured beads on beading needle out of straw
“I counted my beads into groups of 40 (i.e. multiples of 4), separated by a slip knot. Ready to knit!”
All strung up!
Note: Judy’s reference to multiples of 4 is in anticipation of doing the beaded caston for the petit scallop edging option.
Judy went on to say: “I’m having a whole lot of fun already with this KAL, and now I think I’ll probably also knit a second using the other beaded edging option (unless some other shiny object comes along and catches my eye first…). I’ve certainly got plenty of beads.”
Tea-time Serviette begins at the outer edge and is knit circularly toward the center. The pattern includes instructions for a delightful Beaded Petit Scallop Edging (shown in the middle of the below photo). I’ll be posting photo tutorials soon to demonstrate and provide more detail about the Long Tail Beaded Cast On and Petit Scallop Edging.
But first, I wanted to cover other edging options, as it will affect how you begin your project. You might prefer one of these options if you don’t want to use beads, or if you want something simpler, quicker and less involved.
Upper: Un-beaded petit scallop edging
Middle (dyed): Beaded petit scallop edging
Lower: Beaded without petit scallop edging
The sample shown at the top of the photo is the Petit Scallop Edging without beads. If you choose this option, please mark your pattern as follows –
Then proceed as given from there.
The sample shown at the bottom of the photo is a beaded cast on without the petit scallops. Because of the slight bias in the Center Area stitch pattern, you still auto-magically get broad scallops along the edge. This fluted edge can be further enhanced during the blocking. For more about bias, read Bias Effects in Lace Patterning.
If you choose this option, please mark your pattern as follows –
Then proceed from the Center Area section as given.
This option is not pictured, but basically it will look like the Plain Beaded Edging without beads! Proceed as for the Plain Beaded Edging option except omit the beads.
Let us know what Edging option you are planning to do. Can’t decide? There’s time to do them all if you want. The project knits up relatively quickly (the edging is probably the most time-consuming portion if you add beads and/or do the petit scallops). What do you think?
The idea of featuring tea time dyeing in one of my designs has been brewing for years! I’m thrilled to finally be sharing it with you for this month’s KAL of Tea-Time Serviette.
Tea gives fibers a tan or light brown color, thus shifting a stark white into a vintage look. Tea dyeing can also be used to soften bright colors, or to harmonize a variegated thread into closer tonal values in which lace usually shows better.
Dyeing with tea is definitely not difficult. The necessary supplies are easy to get, too (i.e. tea bags, a bowl and water).
But I do want to make sure you get started in the right direction by choosing a suitable thread/yarn if you plan to dye.
The most critical step to successful tea dyeing is your thread choice. Continue reading
I’m pleased to offer another specially prepared prize for you wonderful members of KnitHeartStrings. The April giveaway is Jaggerspun Zephyr silk/wool yarn in vibrant Garnet Red, plus a full-color printed and autographed shawl pattern. Read more about the prize here.
Jaggerspun Zephyr yarn is a favorite of lace knitters. If you’ve used Zephyr before, you already know the treat that is in store for you. If you haven’t tried this yarn yet, be prepared to be thrilled with how pleasant it is to knit and wear.
Want to win? Simply hop on over to the Monthly Prize Giveaway page to read about the different ways you can rack up entries. The random drawing to determine winner will be held on May 1, 2014. Good luck!
p.s. Zephyr Lace Yarn in choice of colors is also available for sale in the HeartStrings Online store.
Janey W wrote: “That Tea-time Serviette has me sorely tempted already! Roll on April.“
For April’s KAL, I am going to tempt you with Tea-time Serviette. The KAL will officially begin April 5th and I will have the KAL page for Tea-time Serviette available beginning that day in the Knit-A-Longs area of the site. Meantime, you can get your supplies together to be ready to knit and dye. More information and the Shopping List is on the Next Up KAL page.
The pattern will be offered to general membership at special KAL discounts beginning April 5th. Premium Level members have early access now via the Ravelry Library Delivery option.
I’ve got extras in store for KAL members this month, too. Don’t want to use beads? Want something simpler … or smaller … or quicker? I’ve got you covered.
Besides the napkin as given in the pattern instructions, I will be showing several variations and giving guidance on how you can knit those, too, if you want.
I hope everyone had a good time in March’s KAL. The lucky winner of the prize drawing is … TA DA … Susan Barnhorst!
Susan receives a special edition kit that includes Black Watch yarn (it’s the very last ball of what I had set it aside specifically for this prize, even though I could have sold it ten times over at least, lol!). The Kit also includes a full color printed and autographed copy of the new Spring Raindrops pattern plus 30g Miyuki beads in choice of “raindrops” colors.
Thank you everyone for participating in the March KAL and Giveaway.
I’ll be posting about the prize for April’s giveaway soon. I can’t wait to show you!
Patti T wrote: Thanks so much for this lovely double pattern! The perfect project for a special skein of fingering weight wool. And the “pull over” bind off is ingenious! I look forward to another year of premium content when I renew in March.
Besides the bonus Beaded Lace Leaves chart posted 2 weeks ago, I have one more Bonus Extra for you this month! It is for a Halfsies Scarf with Matching Ends.
This will appeal to those who prefer exact symmetry to your scarves. A scarf with matching ends might also be preferred if you are outlining the leaves with beads, as that will make the motifs stand out even more and highlight their direction when the scarf is worn.
Simply put, to convert the original Spring Lace Leaves end-to-end scarf instructions into a version with 2 identical halves:
1. Work Outer Border and Inner Border as given in pattern instructions.
2. Work Main Area as given except repeat only until half the desired length of scarf, and completing through an even-number row.
3. Cut yarn and put stitches for first half on hold.
4. Work second half the same as in steps 1 and 2 above. Cut yarn.
5. Join the 2 halves (I’ll demonstrate below the “pull over” join for those who fear grafting or just want to learn an easy no-knit, no-bulk join).
Using the Pull-Over Bind Off for joining is an easy alternative method to grafting. Just like grafting, the pull-over bind off can be used to join the live stitches of 2 pieces of knitting. The resulting seam is nearly invisible to all but the most discerning eye. Continue reading
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