Well, I did it again - bought lovely yarn that was on clearance and had no pattern for it. So I have 1,000 yds of "Bonnie's Bamboo" in the colorway "Blue Lagoon"; it knits to 5st/in on a 5/6 needle. I want to make a wrap/shawl with beads. Has anyone seen a nice pattern?

I found a pattern I really liked on knitty.com called 'Entomology' but it calls for a fingering weight yarn. What would the harm be with a fatter yarn, bigger beads, and bigger needles?

Before anyone jumps in with "you could design something yourself" - I have done that in the past. Right now, a combo of health problems and their meds make me very short-tempered with a short attention span. *sigh*

No "harm" but a couple of points to think about:

1) Do you have enough yardage given than you would most likely be reducing the number of stitches/rows to obtain the same dimension.

2) Will you like the look of the particular stitch pattern worked with thicker yarn? You could answer this pretty quickly by doing a swatch; and

3) Consider the weight of larger beads. Bead work with fingering weight yarn may provide just enough weight to help with the swing/drape of your shawl. The same number of beads with worsted weight yarn may really weigh down your shawl. You would need to consider if you can get by with fewer beads.

Hi KT:
Here's a link to the pattern:
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsum...9/PATTentomology.php

1- The pattern stitch is very intricate, and there would have to be a lot of compromise before that could happen. It requires 560yd for the small, twice that for the large, tho' it probably won't take the full 1120. I figured my yardage would work.

2- I've done a swatch, and it is nice, but stiffer than I'd like. My next 'try' will be on larger (than the recommended size 5) needles, and go for a sweeter drape.

3- Larger beads are a must! The size 0/8 called for don't fit on the yarn (the holes are too small), I'd have to use size 0/6. I was playing with it, but stopped when I realized that my brain wasn't functioning right and I was knitting the purls...

Thanks for the questions! I leave for vacation tomorrow and hope to bring this with me. Nothing like sitting by a pool knitting!

Lovely pattern and indeed complex in terms of trying to change sizing.

I would suggest doing a swatch with your beads of choice to see if you want to place beads in those yarn over sections. The finer beads on fingering weight yarn "float" without distorting those lines. If you plan to use your larger beads in the same way, you will want to be sure they do not distort those yarn overs.

I understand you need to use larger beads with worsted weight yarn -- just keep in mind that those beads will be heavier. What may be a couple of ounces with seed beads may be several ounces with worsted weight that you might not want. It looks like from the pattern that if you find the larger beads too heavy, you could limit them to the edges instead of placing them on the floats. Or reduce the number of floats where you place the beads.

I figure I'll give it a go while my DH is bicycling, usually in the rain. I'm not sure I'll like how it looks, that's why I'm looking for another project for that yarn. In the meantime, I need to find a fingering weight for "Entomology" because I love the pattern.

Ok, Louise, I got your message. I'll just keep quiet on this one!

Best wishes, John

UGH! it turns out that heavier yarn and the heavier beads are, well, icky! I managed to find some lovely Lorna's Laces DK-weight yarn at Patternworks (oh how I love love love their clearance corner!) on the way up to the White Mountains. I also picked up three more skeins (600 yds) of "Bonnie's Bamboo", and will search for another project for it.

So much yarn, so little time..

Unfortunately, not everything is better when bigger. Sorry that your plans did not work out the way you'd hoped.

Years ago I purchased a complete set of Susan Bates 'circulon' knitting needles. these are the type that have separate heads that attatch to various length 'cords'. I love them and use them for all my knitting. However over the years all of the plastic cords have broken. I have searched and searched to find replacements and am having no luck. Does anyone know what I am talking about and can help me find these??? Please, Maze

Have you tried to go to their website? Often there will be a "contact us" link and you could ask them if there are replacements available.

Yes, I tried that and never got a response. The other address I tried said that they don't stock that particular model. M

What I might try next is to go back to the website, or look on the product package, and look for an 800 number. Then I would place a phone call and hope for a real person.
But I'm wondering if maybe they just don't make it any more, so there are no replacements to be had. I have the set made by Boye, I was recently given a set from KnitPicks, and I know Denise still has theirs. In fact KnitPicks has a new kind out now, acrylic needle tips, and they're not terribly expensive, so if you need to get something new, that might be something to consider.

quote:

KnitPicks

thanks Diana, I just went there and those sets look just like the one I have. so I think that I will be buying a new set!!! Thanks a bunch! Maze