Trying to knit my first beaded scarf

hello out there…i am trying out a new scarf pattern.
it is a beaded scarf and i have never knit with beads before.
my patter tells me to transfer one half of the beads (6 strands)
i have finished this process. the next instructions says:
cast on is LONG TAIL (?)…slide 40 beads on the left side or the
tail side…did it…now i must cast on 5 stitches…before i do this…how long should my tail be?..that was my first question…2nd question…i am to slide 10 beads from tail side and 10 beads from working side…i get that, but now it says to “pinch the 2 cast on threads tog next to the beads and cast on the next 5 stitches”…
HUH?

Tail length really doesn’t matter as long as you leave enough to easily weave in later on.

Is this pattern online? It would help to be able to look at it. From what you wrote I am assuming (probably incorrectly) that they just want you to make sure the stuff on the cast on side is not spread out before casting on the next stitches, thus preventing gapes.

How fun, never tried that.
But I have seen yarn with beads already on it too.
That looks cool too.
Show picture when done, love to see it.

Thanks
Kathy

Hi,

I’m painfully new at knitting. I think you and I must be doing similar scarves. I was assured by the teacher that this scarf only had one type of stitch, so it was “perfect for beginners” like me. Yeah right. This scarf is unforgiving as you can see every single mistake in the beading.

You start by adding about a kajillion beads to a skein of wound up yarn. This takes forever. Take about 15-20 inches of unbeaded yarn from the tail end and slide up 50 beads. Make a knot so they don’t fall off. Make a slip knot. You have 50 beads on the tail end with a knot at the end, a slip knot, and about 10 uncontrollable pounds of beads slid part way up a big ball of yarn. Now here is the next awful part. You will do a long tail cast on, which isn’t so bad once you learn how. Do 5 of them. Slide up 10 beads. Just let them hang there because you are doing long tail cast ons on each side. Repeat this cast on and the bead sliding five times. I will spare you the rest of the directions because your scarf may be different. The scallops get smaller with each row because one bead less is added to the row. (I know, this doesn’t make ANY sense.) Finally, you are doing this: knit 5, slide on a bead, knit 5, slide on a bead, until you have done this 5 times. What you end up with are hangy-downy beaded scallops at the bottom edge. The body of the scarf are five “columns” of knit stitch, which are separated with a bead. The beading sort of ends up making a stripe effect. You make two sections of scarf and join them with a “three needle bind-off.” I have spared the details of how you have to stop periodically to keep shoving the beads back toward the ball, and how I had to con my husband to help me undo knots from hell. If this sounds at all like what you are doing, it isn’t fun, it isn’t satisfying. Unless you have the tenacity of a pit bull (like me) it will put you off of knitting forever. Stop now, it isn’t worth it. Put it away. Start a new project. I didn’t know when I began this project that this is only a “decorative” scarf, not long enough wrap around your neck, and not warm. Geez, what a frustrating time-consuming bummer that shows every mistake, and won’t even keep me warm! I am not one to discourage people from trying new things, but for me, the time I used on this project could have been better spent making something I could really use and be proud of. This scarf is too frustrating and time consuming for brand-new knitters. I should’ve spent the time making a fluffy warm scarf with beautiful big yarn in a garter stitch where mistakes don’t scream out at me. Please think about it before you invest too much time.

I am working on the same pattern. How do you cast on the next 5 stitches with 10 beads on each on both sides?

The pattern will tell you how many beads to transfer to the yarn, then you’ll slide however many the pattern says to the “tail side”, in this case, 40. You cast on five stitches using the long tail method and the unbeaded portion of your yarn, then you slide ten beads from the tail side and ten from the working side up close to the needle and to the last cast on stitch you made. Cast on a stitch positioning it as close as possible to the last end beads from the two, ten bead strands. This is very awkward, so try to hang in. Then you cast on four more and repeat the process pulling up 10 beads from both sides, snuggying them up close to the last cast on stitch, and cast on, etc.

These scarves are drop dead gorgeous. Once you get past the scalloped edge and are into the main portion of the scarf, it seems to me that if you knit continental it will be easier and quicker to slide and position the beads. Just my opinion. Hope this helps.

This clock projects the time, date, or temp on the wall or ceiling http://www.liangdianup.com/clocks_1.htm some people call
it a ceiling clock but I call it a digital projection clock. I got the black one because at the time that was the only color
they had. But now they have them in black and also in white.

Hi,
I’ve been wanting to try a beaded project as well. If you could post a link to this pattern (if it’s a freebie online), that would be great as it sounds like a beaded scarf is about the best way to try out a beaded project.

Thanks much & Good luck with your project!
Lee Lee

Hey Mason, I love to drink gapes!!!:clink: Just kiddin… this is the best explanation for “beads”
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/na_knitting/article/0,2025,DIY_14141_4246179,00.html sorry can’t find the video for it,but if you google Lilly Chin you might find the vid…

I’ll do some searching online to see if I can come up with it, or something similar. The pattern I have now was taught in class and I don’t know where she got it.
Jan

Well, that was easy! Here’s the link for the scarf:

https://interlacementsyarns.com/product.asp?id=620

Unfortunately, it’s not a freebie and is sold in a kit. It’s true that this is a “decorative” scarf~~ not one you’d wear to the grocery store. As a matter of fact, I have yet to wear mine for fear it might get either stolen or spilled on at a restaurant, so it’s just sitting in the drawer. It is made in “halves”, that is, you make one half of the scarf and put it on a stitch holder; then you make the other half and sew them together using the kitchener stitch. For each half, you have to string on 1,128 prestrung beads, for a total of 2,256 beads altogether when all is said and done. That’s a lot of beads! I took a class to learn how to make this scarf and we got a lot of support/help from the teacher. What was really amazing was that everyone ended up purchasing a completely different color of yarn from the yarn store (we were told to stick with the Tiny Toes brand.) After purchasing the yarn, we had to go to a bead store with the yarn to try to find just the right color to compliment it. It was cool to see the finished scarves~~ every single one was unique and beautiful colorwise. Well I’m rambling here, but one of the students ended up making more to sell on Etsy for $100 per. Most of us made more to give as gifts as they are so beautiful. Our class formed a knitting group, and now we meet once a week at different houses. Oh, and one more thing. Because of the beads, this is kind of a heavy scarf. I ended up making mine longer because I am tall, but the natural heft of the scarf will eventually stretch it longer. Good luck!

OH MY GOSH!!! I just had a look at the picture. That needs some serious patience. But how beautiful the results would be.

This is now 2014 and I’m doing the same scarf. Did you ever finish yours. I took a class at Michaels Craft store and learned this…I can finish up the scarf, but I have forgotten how to get it started.

Welcome to KnittingHelp!
This may not have been available at the time of the original post but now there’s a video for this scarf that gives directions from the beginning.


Post 6 above is also very helpful if you prefer written directions.