Project: Beaded napkin ring

Worked in wire adorned with iridescent beads, these quick and easy napkin rings make a unique addition to the urban tabletop. Knit one in a different colour for each person in the family or make a matching set for a special party or dinner. Contrast with matte linen or sumptuous shantung silk napkins.

MAKING THE BEADED NAPKIN RINGS
Materials
Amounts given for one napkin ring
7 3/4 yards (23 feet) coloured artistic wire, 24 gauge (0.5mm)
Approximately 120 iridescent beads, 4 mm in diameter, in a complementary or contrasting colour.
1 pair of size 9 (5.5mm) knitting needles

Size
One size (each napkin ring measures 7 inches by 2 inches)

Gauge
10 stitches and 12 rows = 4 inches/10cm in garter stitch using size 9 knitting needles. Always work a gauge swatch and change needles accordingly if necessary.

Tips
It is important to thread the correct number of beads (or a few more than necessary) onto the wire before starting to knit. Once the wire coil is started, it is difficult to add more beads unless threaded from the other end of the wire or by breaking off the wire, adding more beads, then rejoining the wire.

Threading the beads
Check that the wire will pass through the beads. Make a small loop at one end of the wire and add a twist so that the beads will stay on. Thread the beads onto the wire.

Knitting the bands
Cast on 16 stitches, putting one bead on every stitch as you cast on. As you bring the wire around to make a stitch, slide up a bead first.
Knit to the end of the row, sliding up a bead for each stitch knitted. Again, as you bring the wire around to make a stitch, slide a bead up first.
Knit 7 rows in garter stitch in this way.
Bind off, putting a bead on every stitch as you bind off.
Leave a long end (approximately 5 inches) to use when joining the knitted band into a ring.

Finishing the napking rings
Bend the knitted band into a ring and thread the long end of the wire all along the seam to fasten together.

Excerpted from Simple Knits with a Twist: Unique Projects for Creative Knitters by Erika Knight. Copyright 2004 by Stewart, Tabori & Chang. Excerpted with permission by Stewart, Tabori & Chang. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

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