I wanted to share with you, my friends, a little announcement about Lace Cross, my latest HeartStrings pattern. This ornate cross can be used as a bookmark, communion gift, mounted and framed, or a thoughtful Christian token of friendship.
Lace Crosses (unbeaded to left, beaded version to right)
Right now, it is available as pdf or hard-copy pattern. I am thinking of offering as a kit, too. But first I’ll see if there is interest in kits or just the pattern where people can select their own yarn and (optional) beads.
These crosses work up very quickly. They are knitted as a wide lace strip and then shaped using an interesting seamless construction. The pattern includes both the basic set of instructions for the version without the beads, and also a beaded cast on version.
I’ll be announcing this new pattern in the upcoming November dealer newsletter, but wanted to give everyone a heads up earlier than that for the gift-making and gift-giving season that we’re already getting into.
Lace Cross (cast on row and shape-as-you-go bind off in contrast color)
Let’s celebrate along with Patternfish and HeartStrings. The newest pattern by HeartStrings has been posted on Patternfish, making that the 200th publication.
The pattern is titled V-Start Neck Kerchief Scarf; details can be seen here along with all 199 other HeartStrings publications offered at Patternfish.
This is the second installment of the series that began with What will it become? … The next logical question is What is it becoming? So let’s start off again with the Crystal Palace Sausalito yarn. If you missed the beginning of this series, it is here.
I had wanted to say that I am having a ball with the Sausalito, but actually I am having 2 balls of fun. That is because I have 2 balls in the Monet colorway that are being turned into the sample model for a new beaded scarf design.
In the design for this yarn, here are the goals I am focusing on —
textured knit and purl for pleasing reversibility
undulating movement of color (to emphasize the long runs of color in this yarn)
self-shaping edges (no hard lines here; just more movement against negative space)
and of course beads, but they will just be accents here and there to add to the interest, rather than detract from the flowing colors of the yarn
Remember the beads that I was considering last time? I decided on the #430 Miyuki blue-lined white ceylon beads. It’s always a difficult choice. The blue-lined white and the #592 ivory ceylon were my finalists. I felt the Monet color together with this stitch pattern and the plan to have occasional bead accents (rather than an all-over beaded pattern) required contrast. Either of the finalists would have worked out equally well. But that subtle blue won out this time. Maybe on another day, the ivory ceylon would have been the winner.
And I did tell you that I’d give you a peek into what the yarn is becoming.
Sneak peek of in-progress beaded scarf in progress
This project is hard to put down because of looking forward to the next new color to come up. That always makes the knitting go faster for me. Does it for you?
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.
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.
Related Images:
Behind the scenes with Jackie E-S and life at the HeartStrings FiberArts studio.
