Easy knit rainbow beaded necklaces (beginner knitting)

Is your part of the world suffering from un-May-like dreary weather? Clouds, rain, wind? What we all need is a nice cheery rainbow of colors to perk us all up! The other day, inspired by the crummy weather, I posted the picture above on my Facebook page. Pretty, yes, but what is it?

These easy knit rainbow beaded necklaces! Such happy colors!

I’ve mentioned these necklaces quite a few times, but have only posted a picture of the first one I knit a few years ago. The pattern is from 101 Designer Yarn Stash Wonders* and is actually surprisingly easy and fast to knit up. When I made my first one, I only knew how to knit and purl rectangles but I had no problems with this pattern at all.

Since then, I’ve made a bunch of them to give away as gifts. I prefer shorter necklaces, so I’ve changed to slightly smaller needles to make the knitting more compact and the necklace a bit shorter. I love the effect of the matching or contrasting bead colors. So pretty. Depending on the colors chosen or type of beads (I used glass beads, but I bet that wooden beads would look gorgeous), you can make these to fit any sort of personality. They can be bright and cheery, as I made them, or more muted and serious. And they look like so much more work to make than they really are.

I won’t be giving instructions on how to make these because you can find them in this book*, which has lots of other great projects, too, even for beginning knitting!

Question of the day: Do you prefer wearing bright or muted colors?

I like both bright and muted/dark colors, though never bright to the point of flourescent. But even when I’m wearing mostly black or other dark or muted colors, I generally like to add a pop of bright color somehow with accessories.

*This post contains affiliate links.