Knitting With Sequins

I've been wanting to add sequins to my knitting for some time now.  When I began searching around for instructions, I found next to nothing!  I did find a snippet from the Knit Simple site, however their instructions were to pre-string the sequins on an auxiliary thread.  I wanted to add them with a crochet hook, like I do beads.   So, after I finally found some sequins, I began playing around to see what method of adding sequins worked best for me.

I had a hard time finding sequins at the craft stores, believe it or not.  I finally found a small bag of multicolored sequins at Michaels.  I also found a website called Cartwrights - where there are more sequins than you can imagine.  All shapes, sizes, and colors from hearts to ghosts and more!  If you are serious about knitting with sequins, then that is where you should go!

You will need a crochet hook small enough to fit through the hole in your sequins, and the yarn you use should fit as well.  If you prefer, you can use a contrasting or complimentary color of yarn that fits your sequins, and knit that along with a thicker yarn.  You could also sew the sequins on later, however that for me seems too time consuming.

Once you have your sequins, yarn and crochet hook you are ready to begin.

Knit to the stitch that you want to put the sequin on.

If working on stockinette stitch:

1: Place the sequin onto the crochet hook (upside down if using cup shaped sequins)

2: Insert the crochet hook into the stitch you want the sequin on, and pull the working yarn through the stitch - essentially you are making a knit stitch with the crochet hook

3: Now continue pulling the yarn through the sequin

4: Place the new stitch onto the left needle, and purl it together with the original stitch

Continue knitting, adding as many sequins as you like.  On the reverse row, when you come to the stitch(es) with the sequin, purl as you normally would.

If working on garter stitch:

Follow steps 1 - 3 above

4: Place the new stitch onto the left needle, and knit it together with the original stitch

Continue knitting, adding as many sequins as you like.  On the reverse row, when you come to the stitch(es) with the sequin, knit as you normally would.

If any of the sequins want to flip around to the other side of the fabric, give them a gentle tug and straighten them out on the right side.

The above is what works for me.  If you don't like this method, it isn't the only way to knit with sequins.  Play around until you find a technique that works for you.

Here is the video - I hope you find it helpful.  Enjoy!

Carol's Needleworks

Today I stopped in at Carol's Needleworks, in Bridgeville Pa.  A bit out of my way, but I have been wanting to check it out for a while now.  It is a small store, but has a nice selection of yarn, notions and patterns.  The store is neat and organized.  I also had the pleasure of being waited on by Carol herself.  Carol is absolutely lovely!  Probably one of the nicest people I have ever met.  I was greeted by her as soon as I walked in, which is not something you always get upon entering a store these days.  Whenever I go to a yarn store, I always ask if they carry any Lorna's Laces; I've been lusting over Helen's Lace for quite some time, but really didn't want to shell out the bucks before fondling it to make sure I felt it was worth the money.  (For the record, no store I have been in has ever had Helen's Lace, and Carol was the only one who ever offered to order some for me.)  Carol does not carry any Lorna's, but when I told her what I was interested in, she pulled out a color/sample card which had a few strands.  Honestly, it wasn't quite as nice as it looks in the pictures on Jimmy Beans.... sorry.  I was glad I hadn't decided to buy any!  She also suggested a similar yarn by Abstract Fiber called Hepburn, which is 1,000 yards of exquisite merino and silk (80 and 20%, respectively).  The color.... Tequila Sunrise.  How could I resist?  I had to get it.  I also fell in love with Audrey from Schaefer Yarn.  The color I chose is called The Brontes, after the Bronte sisters of course.  Audrey is a scrumptious blend of 50% merino, 50% cultivated silk.  I cannot wait to get this stuff on my needles!!  And, to satisfy my chunky yarn cravings I have been having, I picked up a nice hank of Elaine, also from Schaefer.  Elaine is 99% merino, 1% nylon.  I am not sure what the color is called, that tag must have fallen off.  I don't care what it's name is -- it is fabulous!

If you are in the area, I do highly recommend stopping in at Carol's Needleworks. She definitely knows her stuff, is extremely nice and eager to please all of her customers.  Excellent customer service!  Below are some pictures of the shop, the yarn I got, and one of Carol herself.  She let me take the picture since she was having a good hair day!  Again, very nice lady and I can't wait to see her again!

Here is where you can find Carol's Needleworks:

429 Washington Avenue
Bridgeville, PA 15017