March 9, 2004

Hi Fiber Friends,

I am finally getting the opportunity, after slowing down a little, to send out a newsletter!  I hope this finds you in good health and pursuing your love of fiber as I am.  Recently, I have joined the weaving class here in Jackson, MS as assistant to weaving teacher and friend, Marcy Petrini.  A side benefit is that I'm getting a little time to weave and enjoying the camaraderie of the class.

The weather here in Mississippi is warming up and we're having beautiful weather.  I have been spending a lot of time in the dye room getting ready for a few upcoming conferences (dates and details listed below).  Hope you will plan to take advantage of the regional conferences and of HGA's Convergence being held in Denver this year.  It's a great opportunity to take from well-known fiber artists that may not be available to you locally.  In addition, there's always great shopping!  Hope to see you at one of them.

Dyeing to weave, knit & spin,
Margaret Pittman - Margaret@heritageyarns.com

http://www.heritageyarns.com - Free e-newsletter
Hand painted yarns & rovings in complex, clear, consistent colorways since 1994

In This Issue:

• Upcoming Conferences
• Garden Maze Faux Ikat Scarf/Shawl Kits
• New Mill Dyed 8/2 Tencel
• New Knitting Patterns
• Variegated Apart
• Synthrapol
• Gift Certificates
• Polychrome Treadling Options
• PayPal Shopping Cart Added for Your Convenience
• Shopping/Contact Information

Upcoming Conferences

Look for something new in the Heritage Yarns booth at the next 2 conferences.  It will be awhile before it is available through the website.  Can't tell as I don't want to spoil the surprise... <g>

Laisse less bons temps roler sur la riviere!  (Let the good times roll on the river!)  I look forward to seeing many familiar faces at Southeast Fiber Forum being held March 26-28 in Plaquemine, LA.  The committee has put in a lot of time planning this conference and I hope you take advantage of the opportunity to take a good class.  Along with many local and regional instructors (including my teacher and friend, Marcy Petrini) will be two international instructors, Laura Fry of Prince George, B.C., Canada and Makiko Tada from Japan.  Laura is the author of Magic in the Water and will be teaching a round robin class in weaving structures and finishing techniques as well as sharing a booth with me.  If you have purchased a copy of Magic in the Water, bring it for Laura to sign, order your own personal copy or pick up one of her Workshops in a Box at the booth.  Makiko will teach Japanese braiding.

Representatives from the LSU Fiber Arts Museum will be keynote speakers.  There are so many good things to say about the area including good food, New Orleans and the beautiful bayou country.  This is a conference not to miss.  If you can't take a class, come shop.

Fiber with an Altitude - HGA's Convergence 2004!  Dates of preconference are 6/27-30 and Convergence 6/30-7/3.  I've only had the opportunity to go once and then, only to shop.  Everything you ever wanted to do in fiber will be in Denver!  Plus plan to stay a few days and enjoy the Rockies.  Colorado is truly a beautiful state any time of the year.  To get the scoop on Convergence, visit http://www.weavespindye.org.

Garden Maze Faux Ikat Scarf/Shawl Kits

Create fabulous ikat affects without the fuss and mess of first dyeing the yarn yourself.  The faux ikat technique requires a variegated yarn, hand dyed being easier to match than commercially dyed.  And the reason why?  Variegated, mill dyed yarns are indeed beautiful.  But, the color repeat will be consistent for awhile and suddenly break.  Faux ikat is not impossible with mill dyed but more challenging.

Follow the easy plan to create two scarves plus one scarf of mill dyed in a single color.  Or you may select the option of a faux ikat shawl with stripes of mill dyed tencel.  Kits are available at Weaving Kits.

New Mill Dyed 8/2 Tencel

Pictures are not yet up of the new mill dyed colors.  Look for them soon at Mill Dyed Yarns.  But, I'll give you a hint.  They are two colors that are very similar in Summer Haze, grayed blue and grayed mauve.  I call them them dusty blue and dusty mauve.  All mill dyed tencel is now available on 8 oz. cones at a very attractive price.

New Knitting Patterns

On the needles is the Drifting Dreams Jacket by Jill Vosburg.  I only have to join the seams and crochet the edging and will have a Finished Object!  Here's hoping that I will have it finished by Southeast Fiber Forum!  I have enjoyed knitting it with Alpine in Majesty and think I will enjoy wearing this short-sleeved beauty in the summer on cool nights.

In addition to Drifting Dreams, look for Jill's Angel Island Shell and the Ann Norling Checkerboard Shell at Knitting Patterns.

Look for yardage on these and other patterns soon.

Variegated Apart

New color with a little bit of variegation in aqua, lavender and blue.  It's still "the Pet," only better!  A free pattern for a triangular scarf comes with a ball of yarn for only $12 at Knitting Kits.

Synthrapol

Synthrapol is now available in small bottles for those of you needing just a bit for washing hand washables or machine washables.  It comes in a 4 oz. bottle and only takes about 1/2 tablespoon for a sinkful of water.  Synthrapol suspends fugitive dye and prevents dye from depositing on other items in the wash or on unwanted parts in a variegated skein or finished item.  It's available at Hand painted Yarns for $3.

Gift Certificates

For those of you who would like to leave the gift choice to the recipient, you may purchase gift certificates in $25 increments.  You may want to tell your friends and family about this if you have a birthday coming up. <g>  Available at What's New.

Polychrome Treadling Options

Pattern (2 colors of the same size), tabby

A.  From Mary Snyder:

Block    Color
D           1
C           2
A           1
B           2

1.  Use one shot of each with tabby.  Repeat.

2.  Use tabby after each pair.  Repeat.

3.  Use tabby after each pattern pick and weave in pairs but use this
treadling sequence:

Block    Color
D           1
Tabby
C           2
Tabby
C           2
Tabby
A           1
Tabby
B           2
Tabby
B           2
Tabby

B.  From Barbara Miller and Susan Wilson

1.  Pattern (2 colors) and tabby

Block    Color
A          1
B          2
Tabby
A          1
B          2
Tabby
----------
B          1
C          2
Tabby
B          1
C          2
Tabby
----------
C          1
D          2
Tabby
C          1
D          2
Tabby
----------
D          1
A          2
Tabby
D          1
A          2
Tabby
----------
Try treadling A X 2, B X 2, C X 2, D X 2, C X 2, B X 2, A X 2

2.  Pattern (4 colors - 1 for each block) and tabby

A.  Try A, B, Tabby, A, B, Tabby
B.  Try C, D, Tabby, C, D, Tabby
C.  Try A, B, Tabby, C, D, Tabby

PayPal Shopping Cart Added for Your Convenience

PayPal shopping cart has recently been added to most items on the website.  If there is an item missing a PayPal button, contact me and I can give you a total.  Or if you would like to use your Visa or MasterCard, email your phone number and I will call you for credit card information.  You may also pay by personal check or money order in U.S. dollars.

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

Do you know other fiber artists who might be interested in receiving a free subscription?  Please forward this to them where they can subscribe at Margaret@heritageyarns.com.

As far as we know, this email is being sent only to those who wish to be on the newsletter list.  If we have made a mistake and you would prefer not to receive it, please let us know and we will remove your address.  Regardless, we will NEVER provide your email address to others.