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Hi Heartstrings friends and fans –
I hope you are enjoying a good fall with festivities and bounteous knitting.
I seem to have time (or lack thereof) on my mind a lot these days. Did you gain back an hour the beginning of this week? I guess for those of us who are unfortunate enough to live in areas ruled by Daylight Savings Time, we should be glad that we have gained back that hour in our lives we lost last spring. However, I think I lost that hour again in resetting clocks! I am still discovering a clock here and there that needs to be changed. I'd really rather be knitting, wouldn't you?
Don't let time slip by — if you have not already sent me your answers for the Win a Kit Contest, the deadline for prize entry is Saturday November 15, just 8 days away. Did you miss the announcement for this contest? Not to worry; you can read about it in the prior newsletter issue in the archives.
And now to this issue's line-up of tidbits and tips. Enjoy!
Jackie E-S / HeartStrings FiberArts
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Don't Forget Your Man
Looking for ideas to knit for the man? I don't know why I didn't do it earlier — I finally thought to pull together a listing of HeartStrings patterns that were designed with the man in mind. So you'll now see the category For the Man in the Design Collections. I hope this makes a handy way to start your list of projects for all your favorite men-folk.
#A10 Side-to-Side Dickey
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As I was reviewing patterns for the man, I could envision the Side-to-Side Dickey made in camouflage yarn. The side-to-side construction of the yoke on this dickey offset by the in-the-round turtleneck collar was designed especially for taking advantage of variegated yarn.
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Don't you think the Side-to-Side Dickey in camouflage colors would be perfect for the fashion forward hunter this upcoming hunting season? I think I just had a great idea for an early Christmas present for my brother-in-law! Quicker to knit than an entire sweater, yet has a lot of the same advantages in warmth and wearability as a layered accessory.
Do You Believe in Magic?
Wasn't there a fairy tale about a toad and a prince? Do you believe in magic? Well, just compare the before and after of knitted lace!
Click to enlarge in another window
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You can see an unblocked work-in-progress (messy heap of knitting!) vs. the blocked swatch. Look at the comparison here — You talk about a toad turned into prince(ss) - right?
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By the way, I did that swatch first so I can plan measurements, yardage amounts, etc. appropriately, as well as make sure early on that the end product will be as expected.
As much as you are probably going to say you don't like to swatch, I really do recommend for lace knitting that you not only swatch, but also wash and block that sample swatch in whatever way you are planning to do with the lace article you are are going to knit. This actually can save time so you know early on if you need to change course. It can make the difference between calamity and a pleasurable knitting experience. If you still remain one of the "I hate to swatch" bunch, you can consider doing a Blocking in Progress.
By blocking a smaller sample (or in-progress piece) as you will the finished article, you will have the confidence to move ahead (or take another course if not satisfied with the sample). And if moving ahead, you will have stress-free pleasure throughout the knitting of the project in anticipation of that magical moment of the final blocking to turn the toad into a princess.
Oh, and in case you are wondering what that is I am knitting, you can get a sneak peek of the new upcoming pattern Elemental Changes Shetland Stole.
First-run Offering: Lace Puffs Smoke Ring
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I am pleased to now have PatternFish offering several designs in downloadable format from my HeartStrings patterns collections. Additionally, the new Lace Puffs Smoke Ring is available as a first-run exclusive on PatternFish.
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HeartStrings patterns at PatternFish
If you like Lace Puffs Smoke Ring, but prefer printed version, my schedule is to include that in the January 2009 release. Meantime I need to finish the Novemeber release for my retailers! (Pssst ... you can watch the Jackie E-S Blog this month for hints of what is coming.)
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That's all for now. I'll be back in just a little over a week to announce the winner of the Win a Kit drawing. That will also celebrate the 100th issue of HeartStrings Knitterly News! Can you believe it? See what I mean about time flying, lol. — Warm regards and happy knitting,
p.s. Remember to get your prize entry for the Bella's Beads Win a Kit drawing to me by Saturday, November 15.
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HeartStrings FiberArts / Jackie E-S Design Collections
From the classic to the uniquely appealing.
Skill-building, comprehensive instructions.
Yarn-generic patterns for your creative freedom.
Specializing in Knitted Lace and Beaded Knitting.
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