This is a beaded “booster pack” for the Lotus Chips set. It has six little patterns that includes three methods for crocheting with beads.

I designed them to be a wearable, visual catalog of how beads from one’s bead stash combine with one’s yarn stash colors. Although I had DesigningVashti.com Lotus yarn samples in mind, many other yarns and color combinations can be used. Issues #56 and #57 of my newsletter are about this concept.

The original set of four shapes and two mounts is called Lotus Chips (also available in Ravelry.) Those non-beaded shapes were all designed to be used sort of like paint chips; a reference set of all color samples of a yarn.

Skill Level: Projects range from Easy to Advanced Intermediate. I’ve kept pattern abbreviations to a minimum.

After using this pattern, you will know (if you didn’t already): 

• How to use a crochet hook to add beads to stitches while crocheting, even though you didn’t string them onto the yarn first.
• How to add pre-strung beads to crochet stitches two different ways, including “super-hoisting” (my term).
• How to crochet a jewelry cord variation of a love knot.
• How to add beads two different ways in one love knot stitch.
• How the color of a bead can change the look of a yarn color, and vice versa.
• How to “slip” a loop for a smooth join that uses less yarn than a slip stitch does.
• How to identify the “bump” strand of each chain stitch.
• How to crochet a lean picot that uses very little yarn to add definition to corners. See issue #56 of Crochet Inspirations Newsletter for more.

Finished Dimensions of Each Charm

• Wreathlets: ¾“ {1.9 cm} wide; 1¼” {3.17 cm} from hanging loop. The fancy stitch texture of this shape creates a decorative front. It’s a good example of a reason to use a perpendicular hanging loop, so that the charm is strung from side to side onto its mounting cord and always faces the front.

• Tricorns: ⅞“ {2.2 cm} wide. This simple three-cornered round can be quickly beaded if the bead holes are large enough. The beads accent each corner equally when viewed from every angle, because no stitch loops cover them. String Tricorns onto a mounting cord via its center hole, or one of its open corner spaces.

• Candied Pony Beads: ¾“ {1.9 cm} diameter and ⅜” {0.9 cm} thick. These beaded crochet beads are pure slip stitch crochet. If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s a great way to get hooked on crocheting classic beaded tube jewelry. The weight of this beaded bead feels luxurious. The way the colors interact with each new yarn and bead combination is fascinating. There’s no need to count stitches or join rounds after the 8 foundation chains: when you’ve used all 24 beads, you’re done.

• Flounces, unbeaded: 1¼“ {3.17 cm} at widest edge; 1⅛” {2.85 cm} from hanging loop. Flounces, beaded: 1¾“ {4.45 cm} at widest edge; 1¼” {3.17 cm} from hanging loop. Like the Color Poptabs in the original Lotus Chips kit, Flounces feature a “fat-free picot” for a nice corner edge. If you plan to add beads to your Flounces, have eight beads and a fine steel crochet hook nearby.

• Lovebud Vines: ⅝“ {1.6 cm} wide; 4⅛” {10.47 cm} from hanging loop. My goal when creating this design was to catalog how the different bead colors in my stash look with the same yarn color. Lovebud Vines combine two beading methods: pre-stringing and hoisting.

• ChipDrop: approx. 3” {7.6 cm} long. Use this with any chain, such as the Necklace or Bracelet Chipchain from the original set. Requires less than 1 yd {91.44 cm} of black yarn.  

Materials I’ve also included information for substituting yarns if not using DesigningVashti Lotus.

• Crochet Hook Sizes: Gauge is not important for this project, so choose a hook size that is comfortable for you. Tighter stitches are generally better than loose stitches for these projects. For steel crochet hook sizes needed, see Beads below.

• Choose a #2 Fine Weight yarn with a recommended crochet hook size range of US E/4 {3.5 mm} to US G/6 {4.0 mm}. These yarns may also be referred to as Sport or Heavy Sock {Light DK, 5-Ply}. If you substitute a thinner or a thicker yarn, use crochet hook sizes in ranges appropriate for crocheting tightly with these yarns.

• Small spray bottle filled with water for light blocking.

• Beads: All of the beads shown except those in the Tricorns are size 6/0 seed beads, a.k.a. size 6º, E-beads, and large seed beads. The holes are large enough to be strung onto the yarn with a beading needle, or with a steel crochet hook for the “hoisting” method. The beads in the Tricorns are even larger seed beads: size 1/0, 1º, or “pebble beads.” The holes are larger to accommodate three strands of yarn and a steel crochet hook. Choose a steel crochet hook size that is small enough to fit in the bead holes, but large enough that it doesn’t fray the yarn as you pull it through a bead. See “Special Stitches” below for more on these beading methods. If you lack a beading needle or a small enough steel hook, you can make your own with fine wire (see blogpost link in pattern).

UK and Australian equivalents for American measurements, yarn weights, and stitch terms are in brackets.