Originally published in Black Purl Magazine, Winter 2007
UPDATE May 2009: I have since found out that these are part of the traditional Lithaunian national costume. They are called riešinės (wristbands) in Lithuanian. They are often made in garter stitch with beaded patterns, but are also made in circular knitting with colorwork, lace, and cable patterns.
Finished Measurements
Women’s small (medium)
Approx 6 1/2 (7”)/16.5 (18 cm) around and 7″ (18 cm) long.
Materials
1 ball of Cleckheaton Studio Mohair 8 ply (50% mohair, 50% acrylic, 160m, 50g), color 11
Size 1 (2.25mm) knitting needles
Extra needle for 3-needle bind off
Approx 500 size 6 seed beads
Big-eye beading needleTapestry needle
Placing Beads
Beads are worked on wrong-side rows so they show up on the right-side of the fabric. When the chart calls for a bead, slide a bead up close to the needle, holding it in place as you knit the next stitch.
Gauge
Approx 6 sts and 12 rows = 1” over garter stitch
Wrist Warmer (make 2 alike)
Using the large-eye beading needle, string half of the beads onto the yarn.
Using a provisional cast-on method, CO 35 sts.
Begin garter stitch bead pattern as follows:
WS rows: Sl1 purlwise wyif, knit across the rest of the row, following chart for bead placement.
RS rows: Sl1 purlwise wyif, knit to end of row.
Repeat rows 1 and 2, placing beads on WS rows according to chart until all rows of chart have been worked 3 times. End after completing a beaded (WS) row.
For size medium only: Knit 4 rows with no beads.
Remove provisional cast-on and place sts on needle. With RS tog, join pieces using the 3-needle bind off.
Weave in ends. If desired, fold plain area over to form a cuff.
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Want more patterns? Check out Donna Druchunas’s books at https://sheeptoshawl.com/knitting-books/
Free Pattern: Black Purl Magazine: Lietuvos Riešines (Beaded Wrist Warmers) Pattern by Donna Druchunas is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at sheeptoshawl.com.
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