Author Scarlet Taylor book Knit With Beads : Beautiful Gifts lives up to it's title. Published by Watson-Uptill.
It's not a book for beginning knitters, even though it has a brief overview in the back of the book about how to knit. However, if you already have the basics, it's got projects that are just incredible. Most of them are fairly simple, letting the beads take the spotlight and provide the design element. Very elegant projects, even the dog sweater, which is the most challenging project in the book is lovely and whimsical instead of being just silly.
I have just the basics, I can knit, I can purl, much past that, and I'm absolutely confused, the patterns are written clearly enough I can understand them, the photographs are gorgeous and inspiring, and a few of them are simple enough for novices like me. The camo messenger bag is one of my favorites, it's held closed with carabiners for a rugged look and function. My favorite project in the whole book is one simple enough for a novice like me, a really beautiful garter.
If you're a more experienced knitter though, there are some amazing patterns and ideas. The beads are a part of the designs, not just tacked on as an afterthought, and they are elegant. Fun quick projects like the socks knitted in cotton on size 6 needles to the very intricate Christmas stocking with color changes and beads. The projects have a nice range of skill level and time involved.
It is a gift book, there are gifts suitable for brides, new parents, men, children, your best friend, and even dogs in it, but I think a lot of the projects in the book you'll want to make for yourself. I certainly do.
Look for it at your favorite book store, or just click the Amazon link below.