Category Archives: Friends of HeartStrings Gallery

Joy Cyr’s Beaded Winter Wonderland Socks

Friends of HeartStrings Knitter’s Showcase

I love to see projects that people have worked up using HeartStrings patterns. And I do count myself fortunate that I can actually see. There is a reason for that statement, so read on to find out why.

Here’s winter-themed inspiration that should be right in keeping with the snowy weather that a good part or the country has been seeing. They are Beaded Winter Wonderland socks knitted by Joy Cyr (and yes, those are tiny beads that she has knitted into her lovely socks). She actually sent me pictures and comments almost a year ago. I have since then had it on my to-do list to tell you about them — sometimes I can be terribly slow! I hope that you will enjoy seeing and hearing Joy’s story as much as I have.

Joy Cyr's Socks
Joy Cyr's Socks

I wanted to thank you again so very very much for transcribing the beaded chart for the Winter Wonderland Socks for me.  In an act of rampant self indulgence (I still had gifts to make but they were going to be Very late anyway) I cast on my first cuff on Boxing Day and enjoyed every moment of making my Gorgeous socks.  I got held up along the way but was able to wear them on January 24th, (my birthday) for the first time.  That made it a celebration all by itself.  I adore them!  They are lovely and you’ve placed the beads so well that I can see the design without anyone having to explain it to me.  Unfortunately the piece of yarn I carried along for the snow at the bottom was too close to the off white (undyed wool) colour of the socks themselves to show up, but I only found that out after I was into the foot and I can’t say it damaged my affection for them in the slightest.  My Mother kindly took the pictures of them for me and now that she has sent copies to me I wanted to share them with you.  I am Really grateful for your help.  (So is my Mother, now that she’s seen them she wants a pair for herself, and another as a birthday present for a friend of hers, … guess my summer knitting has been taking care of!)

Isn’t that heart-warming? Well, it is to me … because, you see, Joy is totally blind. Remember when I blogged earlier this year about “Anyone can see … (not)“? This is the knitter I was referring to in that article. I do hope you will also take a few moments to browse and enjoy Joy’s original artwork at www.tigerfeathers.ca

I look forward to making many more of your patterns and want to thank you again for making them available in an accessible format.  It is wonderful to be able to make the kind of pieces one enjoys working, giving and wearing.  It is also much more comfortable to feel confident in the description of the finished item, and the quality of the instructions.

Joy's Socks
Joy's Socks

Thank you, Joy, for sharing with us. And an early happy birthday to you! Can you believe almost a whole year has flown by again?!

p.s. Information about pattern and kits for Beaded Winter Wonderland Socks is at the HeartStrings FiberArts website.

Related Images:

Halloween Sockies to Bring a Smile

Friends of HeartStrings Knitter’s Showcase

In observance of Halloween, a tradition that dates back to Celtic rituals thousands of years ago, we envision ghosts and goblins, skeletons, and spidery concoctions. Instead of scary scenes, I purport to friendly stuff that brings smiles.

happyspider6's spider-web-sockies
happyspider6's spider-web-sockies

With that in mind, aren’t these just the sexiest Spider-and-Web Socks with those red pumps?

Thank you happyspider6 for giving me permission to share. Beautiful knitting and a great photo shoot!

Happy Hallowe’en to everyone. Keep the ghost and goblins smilin’.

Related Images:

Wool Therapy yarn hug

I love to see what other people do with my HeartStrings patterns and to hear the stories behind their making. I was particularly touched by this one …

This was Kelly’s first Faroese shawl and I am delighted she picked one of my HeartStrings patterns to knit – the All-Over Faroese Lace Shawl. She actually had started making it for herself in yarn dyed using the Gradiance technique she has developed for The Unique Sheep. Just as she was finishing the shawl, her mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She wrote on her Ravelry project page for Wool Therapy that she felt the shawl was meant to be her mother-in-law’s all along. The colors were perfect for her and she will now have a warm yarn “hug” to wear as she faces treatments to cure her cancer.

In talking to Kelly since then to get permission to feature her story and pictures, I expressed my sorrow in a family member being diagnosed with cancer and let her know what a wonderful hug she had made for her mother-in-law (even though she did not know it at the time). She said that luckily the tumor is small, so hopefully her treatment will not be too harsh and she will recover quickly. Let’s all wish and pray that is the case.

Isn’t the story heart-warming and the color transitions in the shawl are just stunning?! If you like this effect in yarn specially dyed for color transitions, you will want to check out the Gradiance Collection colorways offered at The Unique Sheep.

Related Images: