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Dear HeartStrings fan,
I hope you had a nice holiday and are now enjoying some post-holiday relaxation.
I've been busy in the studio to help you start 2012 off with a classy line-up of new patterns to delight your knitting needles. I can't wait to hear what you think and your favorites.
With the new year, I also am contemplating a little series called "Bits of Lace". Read on below for more about it and to sign up to receive notification of the first free pattern in the series.
When I am focusing on what's next, it's easy to lose sight of what's hot right now amongst the over 200 patterns in the HeartStrings line. So, in case you might have missed 'meeting' one of these before, I've included a Top 10 list as 2011 ended and 2012 began.
I realize I wouldn't be where I am today without the continued interest and support of my beloved fans. Special thanks to you. As a token, I invite you to read on about my Sweet Treats coupon offer.
I'm looking forward to sharing with you ideas and inspiration for a great new year of knitting. Happy New Year!
 
Jackie E-S / HeartStrings FiberArts
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http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/e-news.shtm
New HeartStrings Patterns to start the new year
Sign Up for Bits of Lace
A new year brings opportunities to expand knitting horizons. Have you been avoiding learning to knit lace because you think it is too hard? I am going to tempt you with a little project each month that involves just a few stitches. Even if you already know how to knit lace, I think you will find the projects fun (and who knows, you might even pick up a tip or trick along the way).
Click this link to get a peek at the first project (free) that will be offered in the Bits of Lace series. To receive notification when this pattern goes 'live', be sure that you are a HeartStrings newsletter subscriber.
Sweet TreatS :: Candy-Themed Socks
Fun to knit and sweet to wear.
The new pattern Red Hots Anklets and Pulled Salt Water Taffy Socks (released just last fall) are the newest additions to the Jackie E-S collection of candy-themed socks at HeartStrings.
As a sweet treat to you, my sweet fan, I invite you to some no-calorie eye candy. And if you see something you like, there's a coupon offer for 10% at the end of the list.
Enter Coupon Code SWEETS at check-out at the
HeartStrings Downloadable Patterns Store at Ravelry
and get 10% off when you purchase any one or more of the above candy-themed sock patterns.
You can use the coupon as many times as you want, but it does expire at the end of the day January 31, 2012. Now don't wait 'til then and forget!
And it's fine to share this coupon with your friends on Ravelry, on Facebook, Tweet it, share it with your knitting groups, whatever.
I appreciate you introducing your friends to HeartStrings and spreading the word.
Q&A's for this month
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Have you been tempted by the #H77 Buds in the Breeze Stole but wanted to use beads instead of making nupps, or maybe just omit them altogether for a easier project? Some others have already asked these types of questions and I wanted to share the answers with you here. |
Q: I would like to use the beads in place of nupps in the Buds in the Breeze shawl. I have roughly 1400 beads – are there enough? I also want to use tear drop beads on the short edge points and need to know how many points there are in the finished garment.
Can you help? I start getting very confused when I try to figure this out from looking at the pattern.
A: Fortunately, the model was at the top of the crate from the last trunk show. I counted (hopefully correctly, so round up a bit on these just in case). There are 261 nupps and 66 "points" as blocked in the instructions/photos.
Q: I am thinking of making the Buds in the Breeze shawl for my sister in law, whose mother was Estonian. I am wondering if I can do this without nupps and don't want to substitute beads. My SIL is not the nupp/bead type.
I am a new lace knitter. I have done one feather and fan baby blanket and am practicing making a lace scarf with diamonds before I start the shawl. Do you think this is too ambitious for me?
A: Yes, of course, you can do the Buds in the Breeze without the nupps. In place of where a nupp would be formed, just substitute a plain knit stitch on the right side rows and a plain purl stitch on the wrong side rows.
You should be fine in making this shawl. The nupps are pretty much the only unusual thing.
Top 10 as the old year closed and the new year started
Taken from the 'demand rating' reported by Shopatron, this is the top 10 list as of 2011 ended and 2012 began. Are your recent favorites included? Any important ones missing?
Would love to hear what you think as that helps me focus new designs for the types of patterns you really like.
You can let me know and share your love at the same time by posting at my HeartStringsFiberArts Facebook page or at my Ravelry fan group.
Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks!
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Thank you for being a fan of HeartStrings and supporting subscriber of this newsletter.
Best regards,
Jackie E-S / HeartStrings FiberArts |
HeartStrings FiberArts / Jackie E-S Design Collections
From the classic to the uniquely appealing for today's modern knitter.
Skill-building, comprehensive instructions to advance the art of knitting.
Yarn-generic patterns for your creative freedom.
Featuring innovative designs for Knitted Lace and Beaded Knitting based on tradition in updated techniques.
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