All posts by Jackie E-S

Jackie E-S is the owner of HeartStrings FiberArts, a showcase for her growing roster of original pattern designs. As a certified master knitter and teacher, Jackie continues to share her love of knitting and knowledge through design and publication of skill-building pattern instructions, and conducting workshops, programs and demonstrations. Her interest in the fiber arts extends beyond knitting and spinning to include weaving, dyeing and all needle arts. She also enjoys contract bridge and music.
Spinning

Twisted Tuesday: What do these lovely Cotswold wool locks want to become?

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Kim Caulfield of Far Out Farm in Cornersville, TN gifted me with some lovely sheared locks from a Cotswold sheep Saddleback several years ago. She challenged me to “play”, doing something wonderful with them. But then life took a turn and several years passed. That was then and now is now, and I am ready to “play”.

Unwashed Cotswold fleece
Unwashed Cotswold fleece

What reminded me of these locks awaiting the challenge is that I had written last week about the Fleece Piece Keeper sort and wash bags. Those mesh bags made the job of washing the locks in small batches to preserve the structure so easy. Actually I had washed the locks almost immediately after I received the batch of locks from Kim.

Some locks in the mesh bag ready for washing
Some locks in the mesh bag ready for washing

Then carefully laid the bundles of locks out in layers on towels. Much later after everything was thoroughly dried, I rolled the towels carefully, again carefully so as to not disturb the lock structure. Those rolled bundles of towels with their treasure is what awaits me now.

Locks laid out on towel and dried
Locks laid out on towel and dried

I’m so glad I could find some photos of the initial fleece and washing so that I might document this journey. Even though the journey is already a long one with my temporarily setting aside the project!

Coincidentally, Joe Zachry over at The Fleece Report is featuring Cotswold this month. In his report, he explains “Typically the Cotswold is found in natural white, however, there is a recessive genetic note which produces a black sheep (with the long locks of various shades of greys with a delightful tint of umber)”. And that is obviously what I have here. Just beautiful.

Cotswold locks - Beautiful shades of gray and umber
Cotswold locks - Beautiful shades of gray and umber

 

I think these locks are just so lovely by themselves. I wish you could be here to admire and touch them in person. Although I have a bunch of dyed Cotswold, I still think the nuances of natural colors within the locks is just breath-taking. i.e. God’s colors.

I’m thinking of doing some kind of tail-spun yarn. But then what? Or maybe just weave the locks into a hand-woven tapestry?

* Play, fondle, admire; repeat from *. Am I in an infinite loop? Can you help me decide what these lovely Cotswold locks will become?

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Spinning

Twisted Tuesday: Piece Fleece Keepers

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Sort and Wash Mesh Bags
a.k.a “Fleece Piece Keepers”

I love to discover and re-purpose things that probably were never intended to use with my fiber addictions. That is why for this Twisted Tuesday, I want to tell you about these poly mesh bags and how they can be used with washing fibers for spinning, for dyeing, controlling balls of fine yarn, and with caring for your small accessory knits like socks.

Cotswold wool locks in mesh bag for washing
Cotswold wool locks in mesh bag for washing

These mesh bags are sort like the bags that onions are packaged in at the grocery. The difference is that these are reusable, hold up to heat, and are nonreactive to chemicals.

Just for fun, I dub them “Piece Fleece Keepers”. I’ve found so many uses for them, that I am not sure what other fun, all-inclusive name I might give them. I use them to:

  • confine fiber and yarn in wash or dye baths
  • preserve lock structure of fleece while washing or dyeing
  • keep socks and other small items sorted in the wash and protected from excessive rubbing
  • fold the bag over multiple times and use it as an ‘elastic’ cradle to control a center-pull ball of fine lace yarn
Corral fine lace weight yarn in an elastic-like mesh cradle
Corral fine lace weight yarn in an elastic-like mesh cradle

Best of all, they are low cost and re-usable.

For use in wash or dye baths, I just fill loosely and tie off the end with a temporary overhand knot. You could also lace with a cord near the top and pull that tight and tie off.

Mesh bag used as a sock sorter in the wash
Mesh bag used as a sock sorter in the wash

Looking for a cute gift-packing idea? Tie a mesh bag into a bow, and it makes a decoration that can be undone later for use. Both festive and useful!

There are some of of these mesh bags listed at Shopatron if you’d like a convenient source. They are available in packs of 6 bags. Your choice of either all white, or a color combo (2 each of yellow, red, and purple).

Sort and Wash Mesh Bags - Available in packs of 6 bags

p.s. Since the bags are so cheap, the minimum Shopatron shipping is going to be quite a bit by comparison. So consider buying several, or purchase together with one or more of the  yarn paks for HeartStrings patterns you might have been wanting to get. That way, the overall shipping cost will be spread out.

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Cooking

Serving up a different kind of Red Beans

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On this Meatless Monday, I am serving up another kind of dish from the usual edible one. It was just last week on Lundi Gras in New Orleans (as part of Mardi Gras celebrations) that the creative members of the Red Beans parade krewe showed their stuff.

I don’t know how long it has been ‘tradition’ to serve Red Beans on Monday. It makes sense, though, that the Red Beans krewe parades on Monday, Lundi Gras, the day before Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).

I hope you enjoy the photos. So many creative and artistic ways shown here to use dried beans, peas and lentils. Of course, you can figure out for yourself that New Orlean’s own Camellia Brand is a sponsor.

Maybe next year come visit around this time and see the parade for yourself. It is even better in person!

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Friends of HeartStrings Gallery

Friends Friday: Brandyn paints Colinton yarn sample cards with Color Finesse

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Colinton yarn sample card for the new Color Finesse line
Colinton yarn sample card for the new Color Finesse line

One of the delights of the nature of my business is that relationships so often  turn into friendships. Brandyn is the owner of Colinton Angoras, for whom I’ve done some patterns as yarn support. We had a chance to talk on the phone last week before she returned to her home in Australia. (I do not envy her that long trip, although it is still a place I hope to have the opportunity to visit sometime.)

On the phone call she mentioned the new Color Finesse line she introduced at the TNNA show in Phoenix last month. I was not able to attend that show, but I do plan to be at the TNNA show next June in Columbus. Anyway, I wanted to show you this neat yarn sample card she designed to introduce the dyed colors of Colinton’s distinctive, silky smooth mohair yarns. (before this, Colinton only offered the natural white color, sometimes with kits to dye your own).

I can see why this new Color Finesse line was such a hit. Not only is this an exciting expansion into the world of color for Colinton (up until now they basically targeted the dye base market), the  sample card in itself is like a little work of are in itself. What an artistic, impactful arrangement in a limited space that clearly displays each color in each of the 3 yarn weights custom-milled by Colinton.

detail look at the Colinton yarn sample card

Most times I don’t think people realize just how costly and labor intensive it can be to prepare yarn sample cards (even the simple ones), and this sample card clearly takes some talent and love to assemble so neatly. Clever design. It’s a keeper in my book. Who knows, Brandyn might be starting a trend with other yarn companies picking up this idea to “paint” a sample card with their yarn line.

What other clever, artistically creative sample cards have you seen recently?

p.s. The knitting in the background of the sample card photo is A Touch of Beaded Class that I made in Colinton’s fingering weight yarn.

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Musings

Thursday Thoughts: Luck is what happens when …

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I started following Scott McCain this year. He has so many motivating ideas in his One Thought A Day – Project Distinct 2012. Although there’s nothing specific to the yarn industry, there are a lot of good points that have really challenged my thinking in new ways. I love these kinds of things.

Beaded ShamrockFor example, I especially like this recent article that included the quotation “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

I must admit that I too often want to take the easy way out and just let luck find me. This reminds me that we make our own luck, so to speak.

I promise myself to take a more proactive part toward that end. After all, if I don’t envision what “luck” will look like, I might miss that it has happened!

Hope your week is going well and that you get lucky, too.

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