Beaded knitting

Using Anna and Clara's wool bamboo yarn and circular knitting needle size 6 mm, cast on 112 (122) stitches (sts) and work 9 (10 cm) twisted rib back and forth as follows: Right side (RS) row (r): Purl (p)3, T2L*. Repeat until 2 last sts in r, p2. Wrong side (WS) row: Knit (k)3, T2R on WS**. Repeat until 2 last sts in row, k2. Repeat these 2 rs. *T2L: Twist 2 sts to the Left = knit the 2nd stitch through the back loop, then knit the first stitch and then slide both stitches off the left needle. **T2R on WS: Twist 2 sts to the Right = Purl the 2nd stitch, then purl the first stitch and then slide both stitches off the left needle.

Then, from RS, work 15 (18) cm of stocking stitch in the round (rd) (= k to end of each rd). The sweater now measures a total of 24 (28) cm.

Shape armholes as follows: k52 (57), cast off 4 sts, k52 (57), cast off 4 sts. Leave the work on the needle while you make the sleeves.

Using double-pointed needles size 6 mm, cast on 27 (32) sts and work twisted rib as described above, back and forth on 2 needles. Work 9 (10) cm. Then, from RS, work 4 rds (= k to end of each rd). Mark start of rd. In the next rd and then in every 6th rd, increase (inc)1 in the 2nd and 2nd to last sts in the rd.

Work until sleeve measures 25 (27) cm and there are 41 (48) sts in the rd. Cast off 2 sts at start and 2 sts at end of rd. Leave the work on the needle. Make second sleeve identical with the first.

Thread 140 (170) beads onto a ball of Anna and Clara's wool bamboo yarn. Gently push the beads forward to knit them into the work. Pull the yarn through when working the yarn without beads. Work one bead into every 8th st. Adjust at the raglan decreasing (dec) to ensure that the beads are equidistant on sweater front, back and sleeves. You can set the beads closer if you wish but remember to increase the number of beads accordingly.

Knit 1 rd without beads as follows: The rd starts at the sweater back: k1, set a stitch marker (ssm), knit 2 sts together ((k2tog), k46 (51), k2tog, ssm, k1. Insert left sleeve, k1, ssm, k2tog, k31 (38), k2tog, ssm, k1 from the sweater front, ssm, k2tog, k46 (51), k2tog, ssm. Insert right sleeve, k1, ssm, k31 (38), k2tog, ssm, k1.

Work 2nd rd with beads but without dec. Continue dec in alternate rds and knit beads into the work in every 4th rd until 62 (62) sts remain.

To finish, work 5 rs of twisted rib back and forth on the circular needle. Cast off loosely so that the neckline is sufficiently elastic.

Sew the twisted rib seams at the neck, sleeves and bottom edge. Weave in ends.