Beaded Crochet Amulet Bag

Recently, I taught a class in beaded crocheting, so here is the information if you would like to give it a try.

A Simple Beaded Amulet Bag

Supplies: crochet cotton, beads which can fit through the cotton folded in half, crochet hook appropriate for the size of cotton. (The sample was made with size 3 cotton and size 6 beads.)

1. Slip beads from sewing thread onto crochet thread. Don’t try to do too many at a time or you could risk breaking the sewing thread and having beads cascade everywhere! In the sample, I used 84 beads (7 in each row). It’s better to have a few extra than too few.

2. Chain 29, then join. This gives you a circle of 28 stiches (7 sets of 4 stitches). Single crochet around.

(You will actually be working in a spiral, so no end of row extra chaining will be needed at the start of each row.)

3. At beginning of second row, insert hook, pull thread through, slide one bead toward the far side of the circle, then hook thread to complete single crochet.

Note: the bead stays on the far side. If it slips through, undo the stitch and redo.

Single crochet three stitches.

4. Repeat: single crochet with bead, then 3 single crochets without beads to end of round.

5. Single crochet 2 stitches, *single crochet with bead, single crochet 3 stitches; repeat to end.

To check your work, you should have staggered rows of beads like in the sample.

Repeat rows 4 and 5 for 12 rows or to preferred length.

Single crochet one plain row then fasten off. (Before you fasten off, see if you would like a second plain single crochet row. Turn work inside out then sew bottom edge. Thread ties carefully inbetween stitches of final row and fasten. Enjoy!

To use a finer thread, work a sample with finer beads then increase number of starting chain stitches, being sure you can divide them by 4.

To make a larger purse, you will need to decide on your desired width, then make multiples of 4 in your total chaining. Obviously, you will need to add beads, so that means you will cut your working thread, leaving a 2-3 inch tail. Restring, then start the pattern again, catching the tail of your first thread inside the purse (leaving 2-3 inches of the new thread to be carefully threaded through later).

Don’t overload your thread with beads because glass beads will abrade the thread, and that will show on the non-beaded stitches.

When using finer thread, you might want to end with 1 single crochet row; 1 row with doublecrochet, skip 3 stitches, repeat to end; and 1 single crochet row.

Knitted Amulet Bag

1. Cast on 28 stitches, using double pointed needles which will give firm, close stitches. Knit 1 row in the round plain.

2. Before starting row 2, slide one bead next to the needle then knit 4 stitches, then 

*slide 1 bead then knit 4* to end. Check that the bead is not caught in the stitches but is between them. Slide 1 bead, knit 4 stitches to end.

3. At start of row 2, knit 2 stitches, *slide bead, knit 4* and repeat until 2 plain knit stitches remain and knit those.

4. Continue alternating 2 and 3, checking that you have rows of alternating beads to desired length.

5. Knit 2 rows plain and cast off (not too tight, not too loose). Sew lower edge close. Insert ties between stitches.

When using finer thread, you might want to end with 1 plain row, 1 row with yarn overs every 4 stitches, then 1 plain row.

Note: there are other methods of knitting with beads, but this is the simplest and good to use for a first project.