Hi knitting friends,

Count-down time to the holidays is upon us! This newsletter issue includes some ideas for adding heart-felt, homemade touches to your purchased gifts. I hope you enjoy them. Read on.

The banner above features Misty Soft, a tubular infinity scarf/cowl. The yarn is Crystal Palace Mini Mochi in the color Citron Mist. This design was inspired by Misty Fjord in Alaska. If interested, you can read about the trip and see some photos at my project page on Ravelry.

There's much more in the newsletter. So let's get on with it!
Happy knitting and gifting,

From Patti T: "Thank you for your generous shares. They are such a blessing, and just help so very much with gifting and enjoying the art of knitting."

7 Ways to Gift It With A Handmade Touch

Giving handmade is a way of showing love and appreciation for others. It means something special.

But sometimes there just isn't enough time to make completely handmade gifts for everyone on your list. Or at least it isn't for me!

Here are 7 ideas for making it special with handmade by complementing ready-made commercial items with small, quick knits. Each is a nice handmade touch with just a little time and materials invested.

Note: You can click on the pictures to visit the HeartStrings website with more details about each of the handmade touch projects shown.

	Idea #1: Knit a gift tag that can be kept as a collectible momento or ornament decoration. (Kits and Supplies Paks for Bitty Beady Christmas Tree are available at the KnitHeartStrings Store.)
	Idea #2: Arrange a small hand-knitted bath spa cloth plus fragrant herbal soap in a pretty basket
	Idea #3: Make hand-knitted edgings to sew to the cuffs of ready-made socks. Shown here for baby socks; works for kids and adult socks, too. Just knit the edging to fit around the cuff when moderately stretched.
	Idea #4: Applique a hand-knitted medallion to a ready-made sweatshirt or tote bag.
	Idea #5: Knit a bookmark and pair it with a book. (Check out the entire collection of Bookmark patterns at HeartStrings.)
	Idea #6: Wrap your gift with the handmade touch of a knitted ribbon. It's a gift in itself. 10 Reasons for Ribbons
	Idea #7: Include your hand-knitted sachet, filled with your lavender or other favorite potpourri, along with a pretty handkerchief or lingerie.
	Yes, I know I said 7 ideas. It's hard to stop coming up with ideas! Here's a Bonus Idea: Knit a mini-sock and fill it with candy favors. (free pattern)

What are some of the ways you like to gift with a handmade touch?

Creative Expression

Using patterns as a jumping off point for your own creations

For this month's ideas of how to use HeartStrings patterns as a jumping off point for your own creative expression, I am pleased to feature Vicki Elster for "Friends of HeartStrings Gallery".

Vicki used the HeartStrings Filigree Lace Wrist Warmers as her jumping off point.

Compare to the original design here —

You can see above how Vicki's clever adaptation turned the original design upside-down, lengthened the glove and inserted a thumbhole.

See more of Vicki's adaptations and read about them at Friends of HeartStrings Gallery.

Easy Elegance Mitts KAL for November

Marie S wrote on Facebook: "... a beautiful fast fun project with plenty of room for jazzing it UP, too."

Indulge yourself with easy elegance —

Join us at KnitHeartStrings this month to knit and learn along. Easy Elegance Mitts are easy to make, yet look so classy. Knit them with or without beads. For the beaded version, you will learn several ways to knit smaller-holed beads into yarns that are thicker or textured.

Featured techniques we will cover in this project will be:
- Knitting with beaded yarn (either purchased or making your own beaded accent yarn)
- Plaited ribbing
- Self-reinforced thumb slot (also good for any projects where you want a tidy, no-gaps horizontal buttonhole)

Easy Elegance Mitts KAL pattern is free for download during November for active KnitHeartStrings members. Be sure you are logged in with your member username and password so that you see the "Download" link rather than the "Buy" link. This limited-time offer ends November 30, 2013.

If interested, I have some Supplies Paks to make Easy Elegance Mitts available in the KnitHeartStrings Online Store. These are in the same mohair/wool yarn as I will be using to demonstrate. When knitted, the beads sparkle amidst the soft halo of the mohair. Check out the yarn/bead color combos still available.

Come join us if you haven't already. Register now. Introductory Free Trial and Premium Level Memberships are available. You get free access to a KAL project pattern each month, along with bit-sized tutorials, tips and techniques articles for members.

Toys of the Trade

Up-cycle an old shoe box and unused straight needle into a reel for thread wound on spools or bobbins. Pulling thread from the side will preserve its consistency without adding or substracting twist.

Handy Links

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Nifty Nuggets

Indie Design Gift-A-Along
is a huge KAL/CAL being held on Ravelry by over 170 worldwide independent designers, including yours truly Jackie E-S. Kick your holiday gift-making into high gear. 100's of prizes! Read on ...

Ways to Wear Triangle Shawls
Expand your wardrobe just by wearing your shawls in new ways to give a new look. See how ...

November Giveaway
Over a pound of assorted quality Dale yarn -- 11 balls in all. Great for one-skein projects and scrap-ghans. Take a look and enter to win ...

Keeping It Simple Short Rows
There is no "wrap" in this method, thus avoiding a break in the ridges of garter stitch. Clean and simple. By slipping the first stitch after the turn, the short row is also jogless, thus providing a smooth, pleasing transition. Learn how ...