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.
I am pleased to introduce Yvonne Peelen-Pel for this week’s Friends of HeartStrings Gallery. Yvonne was born in the Netherlands and now lives in Sweden. She is studying at the university and wants to be a handcraft teacher. Until she has completed her studies, she said that she only does little projects. That is why she loved the Knitted Bunny so much. She said, “When I am ready for teaching young children to stitch, it would be a nice and easy project to do with them.”
It’s always great to hear enthusiasm like that. But that’s not all. Yvonne has translated the Knitted Bunny into Dutch and Swedish and offered it to all of us. It’s available now for free download along with the original English version (by me) and the Spanish version (translated by another HeartStrings friend, Paula Toledo) at the HeartStrings website.
Next up in my series of introductory posts on “New Yarns – New Designs to Come” is the new Symphony DK and Solo yarns from Tilli Tomas.
I have done several designs for Tilli Tomas in their other yarns, but not in the Symphony DK and Solo as they are new. Symphony is a single-ply yarn of 70% silk / 30% kid mohair plied with tiny seed beads on skinny 2-ply silk thread. Solo is the companion non-beaded single-ply yarn.
Skeins of Tilli Tomas Symphony DK and Solo for a new HeartStrings design
I had not previously seen these particular yarns in person prior to Tracy Robinson, owner and designer of Tilli Tomas yarns, asking me to do another design for her. But I had no doubts that I would love the yarn, as I’ve never met a yarn of hers that I haven’t loved to design with. Apparently she does not have doubts of me, either. Based only on a loose idea concept for an unstructured over-garment I proposed in my reply to her email, she sent the whole project’s worth of ample yarn.
A few skeins wound into donuts to get started
These yarns are hand-painted in subtle colors. This one is named “Parchment”. In the above picture, you can now see some of the yarn outside of its clear packaging. To get started, I have wound a few skeins into donuts. (Note: these would be center-pull balls, but with the non-elastic nature of the silk, the hole from the ball winder stays open — I think they are cute) Be sure to enlarge the picture (click on it) so you can better see the structure of the yarn and subtle variation of the colors.
Time to start swatching
I’ve drawn a rough schematic of the vest with ancient technology: pencil and paper. And now with my ideas for the stitch patterns I will use (taken from various sampler scarves I’ve made in the past to experiment with stitch patterns), I am ready to start swatching. This swatching is not to achieve a pre-established gauge. Rather, the gauge will be determined later based on the results of the swatch(es) and needle size that gives the results I want for this design. To begin, I am targeting a needle size US 7 / 4.5 mm, but that could change based on look, feel, drape and stability of the fabric in the pattern stitches I choose.
So thats today’s peek into the designing studio. I’d better get back to work now, as there is much still to be done. Stay tuned for future blog posts about how the new designs are progressing.
Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is a light, fluffy, edible seed. I like its slightly nutty taste. Eating quinoa makes me feel healthy, too, knowing it is extremely nutritious. It’s very high in protein, so for you guys (and gals) looking for a meat substitute for Meatless Mondays or the Lent season, make some quinoa.
Cooked red quinoa
The usual variety of quinoa is white. There is also a red variety that is nice for added color such as in salads. Cooking quinoa is easy and quick. Here’s my basic recipe: 1 cup quinoa; scant 2 cups water (slightly less for cooking al dente such as for salads); a touch of salt. Bring to boil. Cover and simmer until water is absorbed (about 15 minutes).
The main ingredients - parsley, green onions and quinoa
Here’s one way I’ve used quinoa for a healthy salad. The idea was spawned when I saw a lovely, huge bunch of flat parsley at the local German Coast Farmer’s Market. I paired my purchase with a bunch of spring onions, then headed home while wondering the best use for these goodies.
The idea for Tabouli Salad popped into my head. I had never myself made Tabouli, but had it at a Chicago restaurant a few years ago. I love parsley anyway, so loving Tabouli is not a stretch given that its main ingredient is chopped parsley. I did a few quick Google searches to review recommended recipes. Then per my usual cooking style, ad libbed with what I had on hand.
The cooked quinoa along with other salad ingredients
I basically followed the Tabouli Salad recipe at food.com, substituting red organic red quinoa for the bulgur (cracked wheat) and added fresh mint. Then there were a few other minor changes because of what I had on hand (see photo). I also took it up a notch by adding some cayenne pepper and extra freshly ground black pepper. (I have totally adopted the taste for spicy hot food here in Louisiana.)
Tabouli Salad with Quinoa - Healthy and Delicious
Why not plan a meal with quinoa sometime this week?
This is the second in my series of introductory posts on “New Yarns – New Designs to Come”, and peek into the designing day at the HeartStrings studio. Today I am going to show you Colinton 1000 yarn and give you a hint about what’s planned for my new design in this yarn.
Colinton 1000 is a 2-ply fingering yarn of 100% mohair from young Australian goats. There’s a lot of useful information at the Colinton Angoras website about the origin of mohair and its unique qualities; well worth your time if you enjoy learning more about where and how yarn comes about to be.
Colinton’s yarn is different than the mohair yarn you are probably used to seeing and using. The Colinton mohair yarn is not brushed; rather, it has a “flat” look (i.e. far less halo than the usual mohair yarn), and there is a sheen. Thus, it retains good stitch definition, lending itself well to knitted lace and textured fabrics.
We initially considered using either Colinton 1000 fingering (lower) or 2000 laceweight (upper) for the new design.
I have done designs for Colinton’s yarns before (e.g. the White Lotus Stole using Colinton 3000 ultra-fine laceweight and Coronet Collarette using Colinton 1000 fingering). So I was pleased that I was approached again by Colinton to prepare a new design they will be offering in their new line of Tucker Box kits.
Coronet Collarette in Colinton 1000
Over a series of phone calls, emails and sample skeins, we discussed the target yarn amount for the new project and its general design concept — a wide lace fashion scarf/mini stole with beads that would use 3 balls/skeins of either Colinton 1000 fingering or 2000 laceweight.
Skeins of Colinton 1000 and beads (extra skein "just in case" of any mishap)
This new design will be in Colinton’s natural colored, un-dyed yarn with beaded accents in 2 colors. This yarn already has lots of class. So I don’t want to overwhelm the design with a lot of beads. The plan is for just enough to give a touch of color here and there. The working title of the design is “A Touch of Beaded Class”.
Here are the skeins wound into balls and ready to get started
Stay tuned for Chapter 2. 🙂
p.s. Yes, that is an endorsement of HiyaHiya needles. I just think they are good needles (fantastic joins on the circulars) at a good price.
The days on the calendar are ticking by faster than ever, and I have lots to do in preparation for the June TNNA Show. That means that I really should be designing and knitting rather than blogging, but it’s important to share what’s happening here at the HeartStrings studio. So I am starting a blog mini-series around the theme of “New Yarns — New Designs to Come“.
The first round of posts will introduce the yarns I will be working with for soon-to-be new designs and sample models. I won’t be following any set order of yarn introductions … it mostly will come about in the order that I have photos ready and have gotten around to writing up the post. After the introductory posts, then I will continue with follow-up posts as I progress through the process of designing and knitting each of the yarns … or at least that is my plan. Throughout the series, I hope you enjoy taking a peek into what goes on during the designing day.
So come on in to the studio to see the yarns with me and let’s talk about what they might become. I have some design concepts and goals I’ve already talked over with each of the company owners of these yarns, but of course I’d love to get feedback on your ideas and what you like, too.
First up is Crystal Palaces’s new yarn called Sausalito. It is a machine washable 80% Merino wool / 20% nylon fingering weight yarn. Each 50 gram ball is 198 yards / 181 meters. Here it is in the Monet color. I really like the melding of the colors in this 2-ply yarn. Oh, and did I mention that it is luscious feeling — I wish you were actually here to pet it.
Crystal Palace Sausalito in color Monet
With the 2 balls of yarn, I plan a beaded scarf. So the next on the list to do is to decide on the beads I will use. This picture shows the colors that I have narrowed down to consider.
Beads: the semi-finalists
Since the yarn is already variegated in color, I’ve ruled out using more than one bead color (there is a coming design in another yarn that will use two bead colors, though, so watch for that coming up soon).
