I have been making a lot of knit shawls using lots of beads and I was so exasperated with using the smallest (size 14-16) crochet hooks that really made a mess of the loop of yarn. I have some 8 pound test vinyl/plastic fishing line and I cut about a 10 inch length and then thread it through the loop of yarn on the needle, slip st off, fold fishing line in half, add the bead, slide it down and onto the yarn, slip st back onto needle and knit. This 8 pound test fish line is good for size 6/0 and 8/0, haven’t tried a smaller bead but I’m sure if it’s too big, you can get smaller plastic fish line. I tried the tiger tail jewelry wire and it works almost as good as the plastic fish line.
Thanks for this tip. Yes, those small crochet hooks can be a pain to use. Not often I get to go to the tackle store for my next beaded sweater.
I discovered that if the fishing line is about 20 inches or longer you can tie a knot in one end, put 20-30 beads on it then just fold over about 2 inches of the other end and hook the loop on your left needle, let one bead slide down and over the folded other end, slide the bead onto your loop remove the fishing wire and continue on to where your next bead needs to be placed.
I used the “carry them on the yarn method” was kind of annoying. I heard of a tool on Etsy called the Fleegle Beader:
I just found a fish line that works better than 8 pound test. It is monofilament 15 pound test. It is stiffer, so it is easier to pick up the bead and it doesn’t recoil like the 8 pound test. and the bend over part stays better. and it works for 8/0 +6/0 beads
Is this difficult to do? I haven’t added beads to my knitting before, but it’s definitely been something I’ve thought about doing.
Where do most of you go to find beads? What type of beads do you recommend getting & NOT getting?
Not difficult to incorporate beads at all. It takes a little time and planning, whichever way you choose to do it but it’s fun to try a project with some added beads. Here’s a beads 101 that may help.
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATseducedbybeads.html
It’s not difficult. At first, I put them down the center of the shawl and along each edge Just look at your pattern and decide where you want beads. I use 8/0 and 6/0 seed beads. There are a bunch of places to get your beads. I get mine on Ebay since I loaned my car out last year and haven’t gotten it back yet. JoAnn Fabrics and Michaels have beads. Go ahead and try it. You never learn anything new if you don’t try.
I think I’m going to try one day. I’m just so afraid that I’ll buy the wrong beads & end up screwing up my project & wasting my money. 
You could try a simple pattern, say for a scarf. Use the weight yarn called for and the beads that are specified in the pattern.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#sort=best&query=scarf with beads
That’ll eliminate some guesswork and give you experience with beading.