March 9, 2002

Hi friends,

First signs of early spring are beginning to show here in Mississippi.  We've already had the first bloom on the azaleas.  Now, the daffodils are out, male mockingbirds are trying to outdo each other in song and skies are beginning to take on an intense blue.  It won't be long before the dogwoods and redbuds are ablaze with color and serving as an inspiration to create more colorways!  Hope you are enjoying the season wherever you are located.

Dyeing to weave, knit and spin,
Margaret Pittman

In This Issue:

• New Colors-10/2 Tencel
• 8 oz. Tencel gift bags
• 4 oz. Perle Cotton gift packs
• Twill Treadling Options
• FAQ-How to wind a skein into a ball
• Shopping/Contact information

New Colors-10/2 Tencel

The pictures are up of the new tencel colors Mill Dyed Yarns.  New colors include mauve, indigo, emerald and violet and put-up is on 8 oz. skeins in order that you may have a little of each color.

8 oz. Tencel gift bags

Gift packs of 4 skeins of commercially-dyed tencel are available for a limited time in colors of your choice.  Select from the "Brights" pack of Persian Red, Moroccan Blue, Emerald and Violet; the "Pastels" pack of  Purple Sage, Herb Green, Mauve, Indigo, or the "Neutrals" pack of 2 each Tussah and Black.  Or, if you like, design your own gift pack.  This is a good time to add to your tencel collection.  It's like getting 8 oz. free.  See details at Mill Dyed Yarns.

4 oz. Perle Cotton gift packs

These skeins are available singly or in gift packs of 4 for a limited time for a savings of $5 on 4 skeins.  You may design your own gift pack by selecting from Black, Cobalt, Cocoa, Dark Turquoise, Deep Turquoise, Red Hot, Safari, Silver and Wine or select the neutrals pack at Mill Dyed Yarns.

Twill Treadling Options

For newcomers, we are on a journey through the many possible treadling options available with an overshot threading.  To view past treadling options, begin at Heritage Fiber News Issue #5.

Here are a few more to try:

Straight twill, no tabby:  2 & 3, 3 & 4, 4 & 1, 1 & 2  or for "block thinkers" - B, C, D, A.  This is a good one to use to check out your threading for threading errors when you first begin treadling an overshot piece.

Twill on opposites, no tabby:  2 & 3/1 & 4, 3 & 4/1 & 2, 4 & 1/2 & 3, 1 & 2/3 & 4 or B/D, C/A, D/B,  A/C.  This is easier to think about on a direct tie-up as whichever treadles your feet are not on are the opposites!

Reverse twill, no tabby:  2 & 3, 3 & 4, 4 & 1, 1 & 2, 4 & 1, 3 & 4, 2 & 3 or B, C, D, (A), D, C, B.  See the turning block at A?  Leave off the last B in the repeat but include it as the last pick for balance.

Broken Twill, no tabby:  4 & 1, 2 & 3, 3 & 4, 1 & 2 or D, B, C, A.

Broken Twill, with tabby:  This is the same treadling as above but with tabby inserted after every "block."  Example:  D, 1 & 3, B, 2 & 4, C, 1 & 3, A, 2 & 4.

Try any of your favorite twill treadlings as well as the ones shown here and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Question -How to wind a skein into a ball

Q:  I am a new weaver/knitter and have never wound a skein into a ball.  Where do I start?

A:  Remove and save the label for sett suggestions or gauge.  Carefully cut the tie that is holding the twist at one end of the skein.  (It is usually gray.)  Ideally, you will own an umbrella swift and ball winder and these instructions are assuming you do.  Insure that the skein is not twisted, then place the skein on the swift bringing the swift up to meet the circumference of the skein.  Locate the white wool courtesy tie that is on all Heritage yarns.  This is the beginning of the skein.  Cut this loop and
the "figure eights" off the skein.  Caution:  This step should not be done prior to placing the skein on the swift.  Wind off a couple of rounds to see if the yarn is going to feed evenly and insert the end into the ball winder and wind into a center pull ball.

Shopping/Contact Information

Yarn shipments are limited to the U.S. and Canada. If you live outside the U.S. or Canada and would like to place a pattern order, please inquire at Margaret@heritageyarns.com.

Visit Knitting Patterns and take a look around at the wide selection of downloadable patterns from HeartStrings.

Purchasing options:  by PayPal shopping cart, Visa, MasterCard, personal check or money order.

Margaret Pittman
Heritage Yarns
5875 Baxter Drive
Jackson, Mississippi  39211-3317 USA

Telephone - (601) 956-1478
Email - Margaret@heritageyarns.com
Fax - (601) 957-2963
Celebrating color in hand painted skeins and warps since 1994

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