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Earthfaire.com


by Adrienne Robson

In the 1920s, many women knitted or crocheted their own beaded bags. As I learned this technique, I thought it would be an excellent way to make a beautiful beaded cuff.

MaryElla is surprisingly simple to make. The only real difficulty in this pattern is becoming accustomed to the tiny needles and thread used.

MaryElla can be worn as is, or you can add ribbon to make it more girly. For one variation, I used 1/8" polyester satin ribbon, threaded through the eyelets and tied in a bow in the center. For another, I used grosgrain ribbon to make a bow, which I sewed to the closing of the cuff.

 

 

model/photos: Adrienne Robson
SIZE
S[M, L, XL]
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Width: 1.65[1.65, 1.65, 1.65] inches, at widest point
Length: 6.5[7.25, 8, 8.75] inches

To fit wrists: 5.5-6[6.25-6.75, 7-7.5, 7.75-8.25] inches
 

MATERIALS

DMC Perle 8 [100% cotton; 87 yd/80 m per 10g ball]; color: 3033; 1[1, 1] ball
34[38, 42, 46] yards used for each cuff. DMC Perle cotton is widely available at craft stores

1 set US #0000/1.25 mm double-point needles
2 sew-on snaps, size/no. 1/0
5 strands from a hank (approx. 1400)[5 strands (1595), 6 strands (1785), 6 strands (1975)] glass seed beads; pearl

Tapestry needle
Beading needle (needed if beads are in a container, and can be useful if there are any mishaps)
Beading thread (needed if beads are in a container, not a hank)
Ribbon (optional)

 
GAUGE

11 sts/22 rows = 1" in garter stitch
 
abbreviation

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations can be found here]

Sld: Slide indicated number of beads between sts.
 
DIRECTIONS

Transfer 5 (1400 beads)[5 (1595 beads), 6 (1785 beads), 6 (1975 beads)] strands of seed beads onto the ball of DMC cotton as follows:

If you bought the beads on a hank, separate a strand and tie off one of its ends to prevent losing beads. Make a loop with the end of the cotton, and tie the loose end of the strand around the cotton. Gently slide the beads onto the cotton.

If you did not buy beads on a hank, you will need to first thread the beads onto the beading thread. Pour the beads into a shallow bowl, and use the beading needle to thread the beads. Follow the instructions for transferring the strands of beads onto the ball of cotton, but only transfer a few hundred beads at a time. Don't thread all the beads and try to transfer them all at once.

CO 15 sts.

Work in garter stitch for 0.5 inches.

Begin Beadwork
NOTE: In sections marked "Bead Increases" and "Bead Decreases", the number of sts in the row does not change. Only the numbers of beads between sts, and therefore the overall width of the cuff, changes.

Bead increases
Row 1 [RS]: K2, sld1, k3, sld1, k5, sld1, k3, sld1, k2.
Row 2 [WS]: K2, sld1, k3, sld1, k1, p3, k1, sld1, k3, sld1, k2.
Row 3 [RS]: K2, sld2, k3, sld2, k5, sld2, k3, sld2, k2.
Row 4 [WS]: K2, sld2, k3, sld2, k1, p3, k1, sld2, k3, sld2, k2.
Row 5 [RS]: K2, sld2, k3, sld3, k5, sld3, k3, sld2, k2.
Row 6 [WS]: K2, sld2, k3, sld3, k1, p3, k1, sld3, k3, sld2, k2.

Body of beadwork
Row 7 [RS]: K2, sld2, k3, sld4, k2, yo, k2tog, k1, sld4, k3, sld2, k2.
Rows 8, 10, 12 [WS]: K2, sld2, k3, sld4, k1, p3, k1, sld4, k3, sld2, k2.
Rows 9, 11 [RS]: K2, sld2, k3, sld4, k5, sld4, k3, sld2, k2.

Repeat Rows 7-12 until bracelet reaches 5.75[6.5, 7.25, 8] inches, ending with Row 8.

Bead decreases
Row 1 [RS]: K2, sld2, k3, sld3, k5, sld3, k3, sld2, k2.
Row 2 [WS]: K2, sld2, k3, sld3, k1, p3, k1, sld3, k3, sld2, k2.
Row 3 [RS]: K2, sld2, k3, sld2, k5, sld2, k3, sld2, k2.
Row 4 [WS]: K2, sld2, k3, sld2, k1, p3, k1, sld2, k3, sld2, k2.
Row 5 [RS]: K2, sld1, k3, sld1, k5, sld1, k3, sld1, k2.
Row 6 [WS]: K2, sld1, k3, sld1, k1, p3, k1, sld1, k3, sld1, k2.

Work in garter stitch for 0.5 inches.

BO all sts.
 
FINISHING

Weave in loose ends.

The 0.5 inch garter stitch ends will overlap each other to create a place for the fastener. Using the tapestry needle and piece of the DMC cotton, sew snaps onto garter stitch ends, about 0.1 inch from the edge of the fabric, and about 0.3 inch from each other.

Add ribbon if desired.

 
ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Adrienne Robson has been knitting for 5 years, and lives in Logan, Utah, with her husband.

She is a graphic designer for an educational software company most of the time, and a snowboard instructor some of the time.
Pattern & images © 2004 Adrienne Robson. Contact Adrienne