The Springing of Spring
The color and beauty of springtime is an eternal blessing. I hope that you will soon be enjoying the signs of spring as I already am. Tempt your customers by displaying a "flowering" yarn display of colors along with HeartStrings patterns they will enjoy.

By the way, in case the banner photo caught your eye, it is for HeartStrings pattern #H77 Buds in the Breeze.

The big news is that the 3 new HeartStrings patterns are now officially released for publication and I can ship to you now. You got a sneak peek of 2 of them in last month's newsletter, so I hope that whetted the appetite of you and our customers. More information on those, along with a signature inaugural pattern in my new Filet Lace Knitting series follows.

Standing auto-ship orders will ship Monday 3/12/2012. Whether you are on auto-ship or not, check your inventory now and see what you'd like to add into an order. Any questions? Of course, please feel free to contact me by any of the usual means.

Also, be sure to check out the Business Savvy and News Nuggets in the column to the right.

I Heart Filet Lace

#H76 I Heart Lace Filet is the inaugural design launching the HeartStrings series in knitted even-count designs that mimic filet crochet or darned netting.

Since we need no excuse around here at HeartStrings to use hearts as a design theme anytime of the year, the I Heart Filet Lace inaugural pattern kicks off this signature project. It is a quick-knit short ascot-like scarf using just 125 yards of fingering weight yarn on US 6 (4 mm) needles. Suggested retail $6

Austrian Lace Stirrup Leg Warmers

The latest "Classics Revisited" republication is #A29U Austrian Lace Stirrup Leg Warmers. Enjoy the beautiful photographs of these warmers knit in Tilli Tomas Artisan Sock, an affordably-priced hand-dyed luxury yarn.

This replaces the previous publication #A29 Sock-Not Leggings. Besides new photography, the pattern has been expanded to include written instructions as well as charts. Suggested retail $7.50

Classics like these live on. Team the pattern with a fingering weight sock yarn you stock in either solid or nearly solid colors. Read about the inspiration for these leg warmers ...

Dragonfly Dreams

Dragonflies symbolize the illusion of light, thoughts and dreams in this knitted interpretation featuring lace, beads and Estonian gathered stitches.

Pattern #H79 Dragonfly Dreams
Suggested retail $7.50

Dragonfly Dreams debuted at Patternfish as a first-run World Exclusive and was the very close 2nd runner-up in their Patternfish 10,000th Design Competition announced in the November 2011 Patternfish Newsletter. Thank you for everyone's help in voting and cheering and voting for Dragonfly Dreams in the competition.

Read more about the Design Competition ...

Business Savvy

Brandyn of Colinton Angoras designed this clever yarn sample card of her new Color Finesse line introduced at January TNNA. It was a hit!

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.

Even if you are not doing sample cards for your customers per se, this might motivate you to come up with creative ideas of how to wow them with yarn-eye-candy and bring them back to buy. Read more ...

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News Nuggets

Bits of Lace 2012
If you'd like to see what is going on and get more ideas for shop knit-alongs and classes featuring HeartStrings patterns, register for a Free Membership.

This is a great way to get ideas of how to introduce your customers to lace, and to engage those who already know with simple and interesting skill-building projects. Check it out and join now ...

Let Me Help You
Planning an event with HeartStrings patterns? Let me help you talk it up on my social media networks, fan groups, and newsletter. Read more ...

Shaded Fiber to Spin
For a recent Twisted Tuesday at the Jackie E-S Blog, I wrote about Shades of Red in Hand Spun Romney Wool.

If you sell dyed fiber to be spun (or maybe are thinking about it for the future), here's an idea for fiber batts in shades of a color from dark to light.