Metallic Yarn

Knitting, macrame, crochet...? I need an easy to read book or website, with instructions for some basic stitches, to create small pieces of costuming. I need something like chainmail, but it doesnt need to be stiff, or from wire (they take a long time to make). I am hoping to create something similiar with metallic yarn and possibly very small guage wire, with easy to create stitches. Any help is appreciated. There are several online sites to help with learning to crochet: http://www.anniesattic.com/ This one actually has written words with pictures and then for some things there are small videos. Some more places for crochet: http://www.geocities.com/snowymts.geo/crochet2.html http://www.learntoknit.com/instructions_cr.php3 http://www.crochetcabana.com/ These are just a few. A simple search for crochet will get you many more. For knitting well there are also many great sites for that also: http://www.knittinghelp.com/ My favorite place with videos http://learntoknit.lionbrand.com/ The lionbrand yarns website has many things to check over (oh they also have a crochet area) http://learn-to-knit.com/ This one will teach you left or right handed knitting. Macrame is not a difficult thing to learn. It is simple to complex knotting but easy to pick up, but I have never found many sites to teach it on the internet. Still there is this: http://www.elainecraft.com/instructions/instrucFAQ.html You have to realize that it takes time to learn to crochet, knit, or to do macrame. For a piece of chainmail the best might be the macrame, expecially if you have any experience with knotting. None of these crafts are a learn it in minutes type of thing. It takes practice to learn how to handle hook, and needle and to be able to make knots uniform.

8 Skeins Lion Brand Moonlight Mohair Yarn Safari Gold Metallic ABSTRACT YARN MOLECULES BUBBLES CONTEMPORARY MODERN METAL WALL ART BALL ROUND NEW TRENDSETTER YARN BULK FASHION METAL EYELASH SALE VINTAGE KEYCHAIN METAL YARN BALL DRALON FRANCE Metal Jumbo Yarn Ball Winder BIG SAVINGS TRENDSETTER YARN METAL EYELASH SALE ALPACA METAL SIGN ANY NAME NO CHARGE FARM WOOL YARN Metal Yarn Wool ball Winder high speed JUMBO MH701R Blue Heron Yarns Handdyed RAYON METALLIC in Bronze TRENDSETTER YARN METAL EYELASH YARN SALE BIG SAVINGS TRENDSETTER BULK METAL EYELASH YARN SALE BIG SAVINGS Plastic and Metal Umbrella Yarn Swiftknittingcrochet 2 CHICOS Fluffy Metallic Sequins Cardigan Sz L Sweater Fancy Novelty Yarns 8 x 100gr METALLIC CROCHET THREAD THICK YARN SILVER RAYON LUREX 4500 YPP YELLOW WITH METALLIC CRAFT CONE YARN 6 1 2 LBS 08 RAYON LUREX 4500 YPP PEA WITH METALLIC WRAP CONE YARN 2 LBS 8 OZS 010 RAYON LUREX 4500 YPP PURPLE WITH METALLIC CRAFT CONE YARN 4 LBS 2 OZS 08 NEW METAL EYELASH YARN FLUTTER 131 RED 10 BALL BAG NEW METAL EYELASH YARN FLUTTER 139 RED 10 BALL BAG NEW COMPONENT YARN SALE FLUTTER METAL EYELASH 10 Balls FRIZZETTE TEXTURED METALLIC MYLAR CONE YARN LT BLUE SHIMMER 1 LB 1 OZ F12 PURPLE OR WHITE 8 3 COTTON METALLIC WRAP 2500 YPP CONE YARN 2 LB 2 OZS C3 175 3 Chalk Cotton Metallic Silver Lurex Yarn 22 lbs Blue Heron Yarns Handdyed RAYON METALLIC in Chocolate Blue Heron Yarns Handdyed RAYON METALLIC in EARLY MEADOW Blue Heron Yarns Handdyed RAYON METALLIC in fun spicy CURRY Blue Heron Yarns Handdyed RAYON METALLIC in Deep Deep AUBERGINE with Silver FRIZZETTE TEXTURED METALLIC MYLAR CONE YARN ROYAL BLUE SHIMMER 1 LB 3 OZS F7 FRIZZETTE TEXTURED METALLIC MYLAR CRAFT CONE YARN ROSE NATURAL 1 LB 2 OZS F6 FRIZZETTE TEXTURED METALLIC MYLAR CRAFT CONE YARN ROYAL BLUE SHIMMER 1 LB F7 FRIZZETTE TEXTURED METALLIC MYLAR CRAFT CONE YARN SILVER NATURAL 1 LB F5 FRIZZETTE TEXTURED METALLIC MYLAR CRAFT CONE YARN ROYAL BLUE 1 LB 5 OZS F7 FRIZZETTE TEXTURED METALLIC MYLAR CRAFT CONE YARN RAINBOW NAT 1 LB 5 OZS F11 FRIZZETTE TEXTURED METALLIC MYLAR CRAFT CONE YARN RAINBOW NAT 1 LB 3 OZS F11 FRIZZETTE TEXTURED METALLIC MYLAR CRAFT CONE YARN PURPLE BLACK 1 LB 6 OZS F8 FRIZZETTE TEXTURED METALLIC MYLAR CRAFT CONE YARN ROYAL BLUE 1 LB 10 OZS F7 Blue Heron Yarns Handdyed RAYON METALLIC in Marine with a silver toned thread Blue Heron Yarns Handdyed RAYON METALLIC SOFT ROSE with a GOLD toned thread Blue Heron Yarns Handdyed RAYON METALLIC PINK PEARL with a gold toned thread New Yarn String Ball Winder Hand OperateMetal Umbrella Swift Yarn Winder Holder Vtg Mid Century Metal Yarn Art Wall Hanging Eames Era Ethnic Tribal Textile Lg METALLIC GOLD AND SILVER YARN Filatura DiCrosa Italian Yarn 6 skeins NEW Blue Heron Yarns Handdyed RAYON METALLIC Tangerine with a gold toned thread FRIZZETTE TEXTURED METALLIC MYLAR CONE YARN BLACK 4 PLY SHIMMER 1 LB 3 OZS F15 FRIZZETTE TEXTURED METALLIC MYLAR CONE YARN BLACK 4 PLY SHIMMER 1 LB F15 FRIZZETTE TEXTURED METALLIC MYLAR CRAFT CONE YARN GOLD SHIMMER 1 LB 3 OZS 1944 Print Metal Yarn Warp Eugene Karlin Eva Jane Mill Avondale Sylacauga AL Art

And the Bead Goes on

Memories of the '60's - love beads, hippie beads, beads on a string around necks and wrists, homemade, handmade, swinging with long hair and flowered skirts. Beads were such a strong fashion element of that decade. The subject of beads is a vast one and the hippie incarnation was just a small part of beading history. It is thought that our early ancestors were stringing sea shells as early as 30,000 years ago and the first beads, that developed as a significant trading item, were likely made from seeds. The many materials and methods used in making beads have resulted in an infinite variety. When raw materials of stone, metal, glass, plastic or resin combine with assorted artistic and cultural influences, the bead is in very little danger of becoming boring.

Even with the vast choice of beads available there are a few cautions that should be noted when it come to using beads in your knitting. Along with beads, anything that can have a hole drilled in it or have a shank attached can be successfully worked into your garment. This would include items such as buttons, small charms, mirrors, or even coins. The first consideration is weight. Adding bead ornamentation to your knitted garment will add extra weight whether attached with an embroidery method or knitting in the bead. The trick is to find the beads in the right weight and quantity without causing your garment to sag. So decisions must be made as to what size of bead to use, how many, and is it suitable to the yarn weight. The size of the bead hole must also be considered. A larger bead hole may cause the bead to hang loosely with a dangling effect, unless that is the intent. A bead hole that is too small will not allow for passage of the yarn thickness that you have chosen. Before you begin, it is always best to test your bead choice through whatever cleaning process the finished garment will have to undergo. Join a few of the chosen beads to a knitted swatch and wash or dry clean. Check the sample carefully for dye leakage or staining on your ground fabric.

Beads or decorative objects should be threaded onto the yarn before you begin knitting. If you are working from a chart which will require specific placement and a certain color order, remember that first is last. The first bead to be strung onto the yarn is the last bead to be placed in the knitting. Joining a marker on the yarn to indicate row changes is also helpful. It is advisable to practice the threading and knitting in of the bead to know how the bead will “sit” on the knitting. The proper placement can vary with size, shape, the way the bead is threaded, and direction of the bead hole. Beads can be knit on a variety of stitches but to start, practice on knit stitches, working as follows: Knit to where you wish to place the bead, bring yarn and the bead to front of work, slip the next stitch purlwise, take yarn to back of work, leaving the bead at front, knit the next stitch.

If this experiment gets you hooked on beads, there a number of books which outline the fascinating history of beads as well as tempting projects. A classic standby, both encyclopedic and inspirational, that will give you wonderful lessons in the history and classification of beads is "The Book Of Beads" by Janet Cole and Robert Budwig (Simon and Schuster). A more recent offering from Lily Chin, "Knit and Crochet With Beads" (Interweave Press) will walk you through specific beading and knitting projects.

Placing beads on your knitting can add additional layers of color and texture to your knit and purls, not to mention triggering all those flower child memories.

About the Author

Maddy Cranley is a professional knitwear designer, who has created exclusive designs for knitting and craft magazines, authored and published three books on the subject of creating felt garments and projects from handknitting, and produces an ever-expanding line of maddy laine and maddy baby handknitting patterns. For additional information, see http://www.maddycraft.com