|
|
February 2013 Yarn Newsletter
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| We're back with the latest installment in our Limited Edition Denise2Go series, and it's sure to get you talking! For February, I chose this fabric because the playful heart prints instantly reminded me of those classic Valentine's candies with the cute messages on them. And thus, Conversation Hearts was born! In addition, February happens to be American Heart Month, an occasion near and dear to our hearts at Jimmy Beans Wool - it goes hand in hand with our Stitch Red campaign to help raise awareness of heart disease in women. |
As you may already know, heart disease is the #1 killer of women, and we feel it is important to start a conversation to help women all over live heart-healthy lives. To learn more, check out the Stitch Red website!
Alright, back to this fun and flirty interchangeable needle set. The Denise2Go is an essential tool for any no-fuss knitter who enjoys being able to knit anywhere, anytime. With six pairs of needle tips in US 5 through US 10 sizes, three cords (14", 16", and 19" lengths) plus an extender, 2 cord end caps, and a handy crochet hook, this set includes all the knitting must-haves in a charming little bundle that fits easily in a handbag or pocket.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Those of you who know the story of Jimmy Beans Wool - from the small yarn shop in Truckee, California to our current store and e-commerce business - know that it is nothing short of inspiring. Laura (a.k.a. Jimmy) and her husband Doug invested their life savings and grew that investment into something much more than just a business: for every employee here, it's a family, a career-builder, and a place to explore our creativity, all rolled into one. Laura inspires each of us to reach for our dreams, and works to give us the tools and opportunities to make those dreams a reality. She's more than just a boss; she's a motivator, a mentor, and a daily example of ean be. And she makes us want to strive for things we never even thought possible.
That's why we're thrilled that Laura was chosen for a featured profile on The Story Exchange, a campaign that hopes to inspire and empower women toward achieving their business dreams. Their goal is to provide exposure in the media for women entrepreneurs, and at the same time to allow those women to share their trade secrets and encouragement for those just starting out. We hope Laura's story, and the rest of the success stories from The Story Exchange, will motivate those of you out there who are teetering on the edge of the entrepreneurial pool to jump in with both feet.
Extra JBW News: Check out Laura's Tedx Talk and a recent feature in The New York Times!
Editor's note: please note that this section was written by Heather (a fellow North Carolinian turned Nevadan) and she makes me and Doug sound a heck of a lot cooler than we really are. I just wanted to make sure you all know that! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New this month to the Jimmy Beans family are three yarns from Lotus Yarns. These yarns are the absolute height of luxury containing fibers like mink, cashmere, and yak. Autumn Wind (Leanne's new favorite) is a blend of super soft cotton and cashmere, which is harmoniously spun together to create a sumptuously soft sport-weight yarn that is perfect for summer sweaters and accessories like the Spring Garden Tee from Never Not Knitting.
Mimi (Kristen's personal favorite) is made from 100% mink and is light and airy with a gorgeous halo. This yarn would be great as a light cowl or shawlette to wrap around your neck on chilly spring days. With 330 yards each, one skein could be the gateway to endless possibilities! Or if you can't get enough of Mimi's minky goodness, snag a few skeins to knit the Lightweight Pullover from Knitbot. Finally, the Tibetan Cloud Fingering is perhaps the biggest hit of the bunch. Everyone at the shop has just gone nuts for it - especially Sandy, who sometimes carries a skein around with her just because it's soft. This lofty fingering weight is made of 100could see it knit up beautifully Brooklyn Tweed's Celes Shawl with plenty of drape and airy lightness! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deep Teal $8.00 | In preparation for summer, Cascade has presented us with a gleaming ray of sunshine - Sunseeker! Sunseeker is a machine washable and dryable DK weight yarn that not only comes in a range of stunning shades, but also has a hint of glitter spun throughout for a look that is sure to dazzle! Comprised of cool cotton and acrylic, this yarn is soft and easy to work with, plus it is the perfect weight yarn for summer tops and tanks, accessories, and kids' garments. Make a splash with this hot new yarn from Cascade! | Pumpkin Spice $7.00 | Are you perpetually searching for the perfect little bag to store small items such as stitch markers, makeup, glove-compartment essentials, or even Scrabble tiles? So are we! Namaste has come to the rescue with the Jemma Pouch - a convenient little zippered bag perfectly sized for all of those tiny items that always seem to be rolling about in the bottom of your purse or knitting bag. These cute pouches are so handy you'll want one for every room in the house! | Rose Bud $9.50 | This summer Trendsetter is debuting a truly exquisite yarn that is sure to "rise" above the others. Phoenix is a shimmery chainette yarn made from cotton and viscose creating a soft yarn that works up into a flowing fabric with excellent drape. The smooth, supple texture of this yarn is perfect for light summer garments and accessories. Phoenix comes in chalky, tonal colorways that create a unique variation in hue for both knit and crochet projects. Rise from the ashes of winter in style with this fashionable new yarn from Trendsetter! | Knitscene '13 Spring $7.99 | Looking for something to knit with all of these lovely new spring yarns? Well, the Spring Issue of Knitscene Magazine is out and chock full of beautiful warm weather knits! Choose from a variety of light accessories for layering, 1920s style tunics, and stunning sweaters. We're particularly in love with the cover design - a lightw href="https://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/knitting/yarn/Noro/TaiyoSock.asp">Taiyo Sock, a gorgeous self-striping blend of cotton, wool, nylon and silk. This issue of Knitscene is a great addition to anyone's knitting library! | Cadet $29.99 | Kristen went a little nuts over Bijou Basin's Bijou Bliss yarn last year at STITCHES West because of its squishy-soft blend of yak down and American Cormo wool. Bijou Basin Ranch specializes in the raising of Tibetan yaks, and the yak fiber in Bijou yarns comes primarily from their herd - pretty darn cool, right?! With stunning colors that are hand-dyed by our good friends at Lorna's Laces, Bijou Bliss is a versatile DK weight yarn that comes with 150 yards per hank. Use two hanks for the Autumn Vines Beret, or one hank for the Lace-Back Fingerless Gloves! | Olana Slouch Hat $6.30 | Grace Akhrem is as sweet as can be and her designs are equally so! We love her patterns so much that we couldn't help but add some new ones to our inventory. We are so excited to welcome the Sweetheart Cardi, Olana Slouch, and Rippling Lace vest to our library! The Olana Slouch takes its design concepts from the ever-popular Olana Shawl and is the perfect head-cozy to have with you in the final weeks of winter. If you're thinking bigger, the Rippling Lace Vest is a great all-seasons garment. This flowing and flattering vest takes between 7 and 11 hanks of HiKoo SimpliWorsted or 900 to 1500 yards of your favorite worsted weight merino blend. If you're gearing up for spring and summer, you can't go wrong with the Sweetheart Cardigan. A darling top-down cardi with adorable button details, the Sweetheart looks stunning in Madelinetosh Pashmina! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Last year my hubby, Nick, celebrated his 30th birthday, and the only thing he wanted to do was hike the Ruby Crest Trail. The 35 mile stretch across the crest of the Ruby Mountains in eastern Nevada had been on our bucket list for years. The two of us get out to the Ruby Mountains to camp and hike as often as we can, but we hadn't attempted the big trail yet - so we decided to go for it. Finally seeing the remote nooks and crannies of those mountains was amazing, and it's some of the most beautiful country we've experienced to date.
The ridges and valleys of the Ruby Mountains inspired this design.
As I was trying to figure out what to make for Nick for Christmas, this squishy garter stitch pattern with slipped stitch detailing just popped into my head. | |
Nick loves just about anything I make him, but I knew this would quickly become one of his favorites. Especially since it is inspired by one of our favorite places!
The Fibre Company's Terra yarn is perfect for this hat and mitt set - warm, textured, and just delightful to knit with! The slipped stitch "seams" create interest and give the hat and mitts a unique ridged look and are perfect for an intermediate knitter. I love the way that the Terra yarn has little slubs of texture throughout which gives the overall look of the set a rustic feel. I hope you enjoy wearing this set as much as Nick does! |
|
|
|
|
|
Terry's Tips: Carrying Up The Side
|
<
|
|
|
This is a simple technique that seems to cause a lot of angst among knitters for striping colors or alternating skeins. If you've ever over-thought knitting stripes, relax and read the steps below!
For flat knitting:
-Cast on and knit an even number of rows in your first color
-Join and work two rows of contrasting color
-To return to knitting with first color, hold work so the right side of the work is facing you, pick up the first color by reaching underneath the second color and bring the yarn to the front, knit the first stitch
-Give the fabric a little tug to lengthen the yarn being carried up the side
-Work normally for two rows
-When you return to the right side of your work, do one of two things:
1) To change colors, repeat the instructions above OR
2) To continue knitting with the same color for two more rows, drop the yarn, reach under the idle color and the yarn under the idle color and back into knitting position
You've just created a half wrap, which will carry the idle yarn up the side. Repeat this partial wrap every other row to lock the unused yarn in place.
Note: Always be sure to stretch your fabric after the first stitch or two after a wrap to make sure you are leaving enough slack in the carried yarn - that way it doesn't pull that edge tighter than the opposite edge!
For knitting in the round you can do the half wrap every round at the beginning of each round, OR every other round - knitter's choice.
For more help, you can send an email to askTerry@JimmyBeansWool.com.
Happy Knitting!
Terry
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We have so many wonderful yarns on sale, but here are just a few of our favorites...
Lorna's Laces Black Sheep: 50% Off! Lorna's Laces's Black Sheep, a worsted weight wool and viscose blend, features one strand of black yarn that is plied with some of your favorite Lorna's dyed yarn! Use one to two hank of for the Churchmouse Cozy Boot Cuffs or 5 hanks for the Prairie Blanket by Oat Couture.
Bittersweet Was $19.90 Now $9.95 (50% off!) | Huron Was $19.90 Now $9.95 (50% off!) | Pewter Was $19.90 Now $9.95 (50% off!) | Spats Was $19.90 Now $9.95 (50% off!) |
Euro Yarns Rumples: 35% Off! We never get tired of ruffles - and it seems like you don't, either! As ruffle yarns continue to be popular, we're continually seeking out new and different options. We especially love to find a line with an interesting color palette, like Euro Yarns Rumples! A small-mesh construction yarn with enough yardage in one skein to make a whole scarf, Rumples has you covered in the color department - there's even a Rainbow color. It looks fantastic either knitted or crocheted! Regia Lace: 50% Off! Lace knitters, have we got something exciting for you - beautiful, colorful Regia Lace at half price! This easy-care, superwash merino blend is not only finger-pleasingly soft, it's also self-striping and creates gorgeous, muted color changes as you knit or crochet. Best of all, one 656-yard skein is enough for a full-sized lace project! If you're in need of some project inspiration, check out the out the Regia Lace Shawl. Believe it or not, you could knit this whole shawl -and a machine washable one at that- for less than ten bucks! Select Cascade Yarns on Sale: Starting at 38% Off! The Cascade Cash Vero Aran and Cash Vero DK yarns were such a huge hit, we completely sold out last month. This plush blend of extra fine merino wool, cashmere, and microfiber is perfect for warm but light garments and accessories. But not to fear, we've ordered more and they're still 40% off! If you're ready for cotton, check out Cotton Rich, an aran-weight, silky cotton/nylon blend or Cotton Club -this soft but durable cotton and acrylic blend is a steal! Ella Rae Sand Art: 42% Off! We absolutely love the hand-dyed look of Ella Rae Sand Art yarn! This DK-weight, 100% wool beauty pools and stripes as you knit in stunning, eye-catching ways, and the colorways are absolutely gorgeous! It would be perfect for the Churchmouse Classics Welted Cowl and Infinity Loop. You'd only need one 220-yard ball for the cowl, which is a pretty sweet deal... Just imagine all of those fantastic colotable border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="10"> 1611 Was $11.00 Now $6.30 (43% off!) | 1614 Was $11.00 Now $6.30 (43% off!) | 1615 Was $11.00 Now $6.30 (43% off!) | 1616 Was $11.00 Now $6.30 (43% off!) | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shevawns Orchids and Fairy Lights Hat | Shevawn is probably the biggest Tiny Owl Knits fan we have, which is why she just HAD to knit this adorable hat! Orchids and Fairy Lights is a bobbled and cabled delight to knit: It can be worn more like a beanie or slightly slouchy, making it a very versatile hat for yourself or as a gift. Shevawn chose a lovely shade of Tosh Merino called 'Night Bloom', a great combo of muted purples, pinks, and grays. We think this hat matches Shevawn's fun-loving and whimsical nature perfectly! |
Kristen's Turkish Bed Socks | Both Jeanne and Autumn have knit these socks and I just had to jump on the bandwagon! I love wearing my Dansko clogs and these seemed like the perfect socks for when I just need a little something to keep my tootsies warm. I was right! I'll definitely be making more of these! This yarn is one we used to carry but no longer do: Supersock Select in Boogieman by IndieDyer. It is really similar to Koigu, which is recommended for the pattern. I just happened to have this in my stash. Hurray for stash busting! |
Ashley's Hooded Cowl | Ashley, one of our newest beans, just completed this adorable cowl for a friend in Berroco Boboli Quick yarn. She kind of made up the pattern as she went (if only it was that easy for all of us!), incorporating some short rows at the top of the hood to create a more comfortable fit. If you are itching to make one of your own, you could use this similar pattern from Churchmouse called Annabella's Cowl. We think a cowl is a great way to show off the beauty of this gorgeous yarn from Berroco! |
Marilyn's Dracula Shawl | This stunning shawl was knit by one of our customers-turned-part-time-retail store helpers, Marilyn, who is quite the prolific knitter! This pattern is called and is designed by Ravelry. Marilyn chose to use Shibui Linen for this0" cellspacing="10"> | Kristen's Parisian Twist Headband | I've loved this pattern for quite some time, but when Rachel knit one recently and raved how easy and fast it was, I just had to get the pattern and make one for myself! I used Berroco Blackstone Tweed Metallic, but you could use any worsted weight yarn held double. You definitely have to hold the yarn double, as the pattern uses a technique for increasing that uses both strands of yarn. The pattern actually calls for Malabrigo Worsted Merino, which would also be lovely! This was a pretty easy knit that I was able to complete in about 2-3 hours.
The pattern can be purchased on Ravelry and is called Parisian Twist! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You may not have seen Jenny, but if you've ever called us here at the shop, you've probably heard her voice! A shift lead with our E-Commerce department, Jenny is often manning the phones, fielding customer service calls and making sure your orders go out swiftly and with a smile! But calls aren't all that Jenny fields - she's also a whiz player on local Co-Ed Adult League Soccer and Softball teams! We love hearing her recounts of the Friday games, and she's in the process of convincing other Beans to join. When she's not on the soccer or softball field, she's painting them...well, not sports fields, but other landscapes and even portraits! Having received an Art Studio minor in her studies at UNR, Jenny uses oils to translate color from the world around her onto the canvas. Color also influences her knitting -she's a huge lover of Madelinetosh hand-dyed yarns, and we often see her sporting a hand-knit cap in a beautiful, bright color! | |
Apart from her other hobbies, Jenny's real passion is hiking. She's trekked all around Reno, in the Ruby Mountains near Elko, and even in California, including climbing Mt. Whitney last summer! She's done trail-building in the Mount Rose wilderness, and she has even touched the real Matterhorn in Switzerland - this lady is fearless!
Another cool thing you might not know about Jenny? She's Swedish! Born in Sweden and raised in Nevada, she's busy learning Swedish to get back to her roots. So, next time you're in Reno, drop by and say "Hej"!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are many ways to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings at Jimmy Beans Wool!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please let us know what you think of our newsletter or if you have problems reading it! Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Email feedback@JimmyBeansWool.com
And please don't forget to support your LYS. In addition to being an online outlet, we also have a retail location and therefore understand how important it is to be supported by our locals.
We only send the newsletter to people who have requested they be added to the list.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jimmy Beans Wool
4850 Joule St. Ste A1
Reno, NV 89502
Toll Free (877)JBW-KNIT (529-5648)
Phone (775)827-9276
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|