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St. Patrick's Day is utterly unique in that it's a traditionally Irish holiday that's celebrated the world over, by Irish and non-Irish people alike. The March installment in our Tasty Tosh 2015 series will have everybody in the mood to celebrate (and eat): introducing Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Corned Beef! For a modern twist on the classic St. Paddy's Day dish of corned beef and cabbage, this recipe uses Brussels sprouts (hey, they're mini cabbages, after all...) and roasts them for a delicious bit of buttery caramelization that will make this dish a new tradition in your household! | |
If you're wondering what to make with your tasty new yarn, take a look at the Luck o' The Irish Cowl! A free pattern on Ravelry designed by our very own Kristen of takes just one skein of Tosh Vintage and works up quickly into a fun, zig-zaggy neckwarmer that will keep you warm during the St. Patrick's Day Parade! Or how about a lovely Irish-style tam? The Mica Tam in Tosh Sock can be made with or without coordinating beads for extra sparkle! | |
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Once the sun starts shining here in Reno (and it's been shining a lot lately!), we get an itch to travel, and that means planning our travel knitting! Good thing Tanis Gray's new book, Wanderlust, has arrived! It's packed with 46 patterns inspired by travel and meant to roam with you wherever you might have a hankering to go, all featuring Cascade Longwood yarn. And believe us, this gorgeous yarn is deserving of a book all to itself: it's the perfect combo of sturdy, springy, and superbly soft in heavy worsted, 100% Superwash Merino Wool that comes in over 40 colors - what more could you ask for? | Twenty-seven darling designers contributed to this amazing collection of sweaters, hats, shawls, and accessories for both men and women, including industry favorites like Carol J. Sulcoski, Amy Weaver, Melissa LaBarre, and of course, Tanis Gray herself. Each design shows off the stellar qualities of the Longwood perfectly - we can hardly decide what to start on first! Will it be Carol's Kennett Square Wristers? Here's what she had to say about them:
"I have a soft spot for really plump, cushy merino yarns. So I was very excited when Tanis said we would be knitting with Longwood. It's very elastic yarn - if you just take a strand and stretch it a little, you can actually see it bounce back. That means it's a great yarn for wristers, because the elasticity means they will stay on your wrists rather than stretch out." |
Hear, hear! Nobody likes a floppy wrister, especially if you're wearing them while knitting - and if you're like us, you'll be casting on for the next project from this great book as soon as you finish the first... you might be so struck with Wanderlust, it may not leave your side for the next few months! But that's the idea: these beautiful projects are meant to be portable so you can take them along with you on road trips, picnics, or even just your morning commute. Have fun and don't be afraid to wander! First, wander on over and check out our videos featuring the Cascade Longwood yarn and some of our favorite designs in the Wanderlust pattern collection! | |
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By now you may have heard that we're in love with Knitter's Pride - and after Laura's trip to India to visit them (check it out in our In Focus section below!), we have even more reasons to be enamored, not least of which is that all of their amazing needles and hooks are made by hand! In our last newsletter, we detailed all the knitting needle types we carry, so this time around we're showcasing their amazing crochet hooks! Without further ado, our Crochet Hook Chronicle:
| Dreamz Crochet Hooks are the ones you already know well: smooth, polished wood that's light in the hand and easy on the eye in beautiful colors that correspond to each hook size. The tip of each hook is perfectly tapered to slide through loops without snagging stitches, and the ridges on each ip and keep hold of even when your hook's a-flying! We have them in single and half sizes E (3.5 mm) through N (10 mm), plus 12 mm. We also have a beautiful set featuring sizes E, G, 7, H, I, J, K, and L! |
| Trendz are stealing all the attention at the shop, and it's no wonder - these fun, brightly colored beauties are just impossible to ignore! They're made of super-durable, super-smooth acrylic, meaning they're light, flexible, and strong. Like the Dreamz, each size is a different color, making them easy to find at a glance, and they feature ridges on the shaft for extra grip. You can try them out in sizes H (5.0 mm) through N (10 mm), including 12 mm. Why wait?! |
| We're all about ergonomics here at JBW - a properly shaped tool really does help relieve stress on the hands, especially when working for long periods of time! Knitter's Pride has a hook for that: the Aluminum Gold and Aluminum Silver hooks! Each features an attractive, anodized finish in either gold or silver so you can see stitches easily in any color yarn, plus a smooth, ergonomic handle that makes them ultra-comfortable to hold and hook with. Both finishes are available in quarter, half, and full sizes A (2 mm) through N (10 mm), plus 12 mm! |
| Waves Crochet Hooks aren't to be outdone: they're ergonomic and colorful! Available in all sizes A (2 mm) through N (10 mm) and 12 mm, these silver-colored aluminum hooks feature a comfortable, ergonomically shaped handle and each size is a different color, making it easy to spot the size you're after! We're sure you'll love them so much, we also have Waves Sets so you can make all of your hooks Waves hooks! |
| Bamboo is renowned for its properties of strength and flexibility, and the Bamboo Crochet Hooks are no different. Each beautiful hook is polished to a flawless finish, and the bamboo is strong enough for these to be available in sizes as small as 3mm! You'll love how warm and natural these feel in the hand, and they'll stay there with the help of the gripping ridges on the handle! Check them out in sizes 3mm through N (10mm), or a great set that includes sizes E, F, G, H, I, J, K and L (3.5, 3.75, 4.0, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5 & 8.0mm)! |
| Sometimes you just need a basic hook to get the job done, and that's exactly what Basix Crochet Hooks are for! Made of lightweight birch wood, they're our no-frills, no-fuss hook - and they're economical to boot! Each hook is polished to a smooth finish and they're weightless enough to make crocheting even bulky weight yarns a breeze. We have them available in sizes I, J, K, 7, L, M, N, and 12 mm. |
| Lastly, don't forget about Knitter's Pride Steel Crochet Hooks - they may be tiny, but they're not to be overlooked! These super-skinny hooks are great for classic filet crochet techniques, making lace, or adding beads to your projects. And we have them in the tiniest sizes you can imagine: 0.5 mm, 0.75 mm, 1.0 mm, 1.25 mm, 1.5 mm, and 1.75 mm! |
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Are you ready for the Mystery Knit-Along? We are! We've stocked up on the March Lorna's Laces Limited Edition color, Craigh na Dun, that symbolizes the magical, ancient circle of stones that transport our heroine Claire back in time to her great love, Jamie! we're in love with the blues, grays, and mulberry purples in this great yarn! You'll need two skeins of Shepherd Sock for the stunning shawl that Rachel has designed. | |
You can pick them up with one of our MKAL kits, which also include a Ravelry download code for the pattern. Just don't forget your exclusive Spark Stitch Markers created especially for this colorway - they're beautiful and they'll help you keep your stitches straight, too! Then you'll be all set to head on over to the Ravelry page and join the fun! You might have noticed the 4/3 ship date on the kits - we are currently out of the yarn, but Lorna's is dyeing more for us feverishly and should have it to us by then. |
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| Great news for lovers of Juniper Moon Farm's irresistible Zooey yarn: Knitting Fever is hosting a Knit-Along using Zooey and the new Firefly Wrap pattern by Pamela Wynne! The fun starts March 15th on the Knitting Fever Blog, and you can pick up your supplies right now with one of our handy kits!
Each kit includes the yarn needed to make the pattern in your size, plus a download code to access the pattern for free from the Knitting Fever website. This easy, breezy wrap is perfect for keeping the chill off your shoulders on warm spring evenings, and the Zooey yarn is a dream blend of cotton and linen for breathability and drape. Be sure to check out the rainbow of new bright and beautiful shades we just got in! |
| We're gearing up for summer with new Shibui Twig yarn! It's a perfect blend of lightweight and breathable linen, soft recycled silk, and just a touch of wool that will knit up into dreamy, weightless garments for warm weather. The best thing about linen is that it softens with wear and wash, meaning that you won't want to put the garments you make with this yarn away when cold weather comes again! Try it in a summer tank like the Slope and wear it all summer long, then put it under a blazer or cardigan and keep on wearing it! |
| Have you ever wondered how we get those hanks of yarn into perfect yarn cakes? Why, with a ball winder, of course! We have some great new winders from Lacis; both clamp to a table top and are operated with a simple hand crank for quick and easy winding! Choose the regular ball winder, or the inline winder which has a moving yarn guide for a smooth gliding motion while you wind. And they don't require a swift - just undo your hank, place the loop of yarn around the top of a dining chair, and wind from the outside in. It couldn't be simpler! |
| We love Grace Akhrem for her simple but stunning designs - they're always sure to elicit compliments! Luckily, we just got in a new passel of patterns! There are some great accessories, like the Sprouting Leaves Cowl, which can also be worn as a shoulder-cozy or capelet. There are two great tunics, the Hydra and the Silver Lining, both worked side-to-side and seamed for easy finishing. There's even a wonderful blanket witall these great new patterns. Come by and see! |
| The newest yarn from Reywa Fibers is a knitter's dream: Reywa Harmony
is a deliciously soft blend of yak down and wool in vibrant, saturated colors that will have you reworking your wardrobe to wear more of them! Each skein is a generous 328 yards of sport-weight yarn perfect for creating one-of-a-kind accessories, shawls, and garments that you'll go to again and again for their softness and beauty. A long scarf with a simple pattern would show off this great yarn perfectly; the Sunday Scarf would be ideal! And, you'd only need one skein!
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| We can't get enough of the gorgeous patterns from Laura Nelkin's new book, Knockout Knits - every single one is truly a knockout! Laura's eye for fashion and her talent with interesting techniques make these stunning designs both a joy to knit and to wear. She focuses on small projects like hats, mitts, socks, and small shawls, so you can choose a favorite hand dyed yarn or single skein from your stash and turn it into a treasure!
Many of the patterns feature beautiful beading for an added bit of something special, and Laura shows you how to do the various bead techniques she uses so you'll soon be a bead-placing pro! |
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Tosh Onesies - 15% off! We know how much you love Madelinetosh Onesies, and so do we, so we've filled the warehouse with them! These one-of-a-kind skeins might not have matched the rest of the batch in the dye pot, but we think they're just as beautiful! We have them in almost all of the Madelinetosh yarn bases we carry: Tosh Sport, Tosh DK, Tosh Chunky, Tosh Merino, Tosh Merino DK, Pashmina Worsted, and Pashmina! Because each one is unique, Onesies are best suited to small projects needing just one skein, or multicolor or stripy projects that won't be affected by mismatched skeins. How about Churchmouse's Welted Fingerless Mitts or the Striped Tooth Shawl from Grace Akhrem? Perfect!
Shibui Sale yarns - from 35% off! In a rare opportunity for you, we have some beautiful Shibui yarn at great salettps://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/knitting/yarn/Shibui/MerinoAlpaca.asp">Shibui Merino Alpaca
is a balanced blend of merino wool and baby alpaca in a dense, springy worsted-weight yarn perfect for garments and accessories. The muted, natural colors are just gorgeous! We adore laceweight Shibui Cima for shawls, and right now, select discontinued colors are 35% off! Shibui Linen is a favorite for warm weather garments - take advantage of the discount on select colors and get ready for your summer knitting! And don't forget the sale colors of merino/silk blend Shibui Staccato! It's so soft and so lovely!
Knit Collage Wildflower & Pixie Dust Mini - from 25% off! We don't often get so many gorgeous yarns at such great deals, but right now we've got a few sure to pique your interest! Knit Collage is known for one-of-a-kind handspun yarns, and these two are no different: Wildflower is spun from strands of beautiful cotton voile fabric from Jaipur, India, that's been printed by hand in ancreative cowls or kitchen accessories! Pixie Dust Mini is a single-ply, roving-style bulky yarn with fun slubs for extra texture and a sprinkling of sparkles, just like magical pixie dust! Use it to knit the Pixie Ruffle Shawl or the Pixie Dust Mini Bandana (both patterns are free with the purchase of yarn!)
Swans Island Onesies - 35% off! You know we love our onesies here at Jimmy Beans - stunning yarns that weren't colored to the dyer's standards, but are beautiful by our book! And now, we have the rare opportunity to stock up on some gorgeous skeins from one of our favorite natural dyers: Swans Island! These one-of-a-kind wonders in naturally dyed, organic merino wool are available in Worsted, Bulky and Fingering as well as Lace. Grab some before they're gone! Crystal Palace Moonshine & Juniper Moon Farm Marlowe - 50% off! For you color-lovers out there, we have something extra-special - two somethings, actually! Crystal Palace Moonshine is a worsted-weight blend of mohair, wool, nylon, and a touch of shine for added interest. It comes in eye-catching variegated shades that knit up into light but warm projects that will have people asking, "Where did you GET that?"! But don't leave Juniper Moon Farm Marlowe out of the fun: this single-ply, sumptuously soft merino wool and silk blend is ready to party in bright and beautiful jewel-toned and variegated shades! You can even try carrying the two together for a vibrant hat or cowl with a gorgeous halo. Why not?! Muench Sale Yarns - from 60% off!We have some great Muench yarns on sale to add some sparkle to your stash! Verikeri is very fun, with shiny metallic slubs sprinkled throughout. It would be great for an edging or as a carry-along yarn to add interest to another project! String of Pearls is a tubular cotton yarn with shimmery sections scattered throughout, so when you knit it up, your project pops with luster and shine! And don't forget Diva - this one-of-a-kind yarn combines a flat ribbon with a textural detail and beads sewn right in. Use it for trims, weaving, or truly unique garments. These yarns are priced to go, so grab some before they do!
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Erika's Out-landish Shawl | Erika was so excited to get back to her Celtic roots by participating in Rachel's 2014 Out-landish MKAL! Her resulting shawl (modeled here by Heather) in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in Farwell and Kerfuffle, is absolutely stunning! The slipped stitch and striped patterning really pops in these two colors. You can knit your own version of the Out-landish Shawl by choosing your own two colors of Shepherd Sport (2 skeins of each color, 4 skeins total) and be sure to purchase the pattern from Rachel's Ravelry Store! |
Kristen's Nomadic Cowl | Kristen designed this simple yet stunning textured cowl which features a unique design that allows for a comfortable customized fit. The gorgeous and colorful Cast Away yarn from Knit Collage (pictured in the Nomad color) is incredibly soft and light, creating a cowl that is exceptionally warm and almost weightless around your neck. The length of this cowl is easily adjustable to work for any height/size, and it can be worn doubled, buttoned, unbuttoned, and much more! The pattern for the Nomadic Cowl can be purchased on Ravelry from ! |
Monika's Sentiment Shawl for Leanne | Leanne loved the new Baby Alpaca Grande Hand Dye yarn from Plymouth so much, that Monika decided to use it to knit her the Sentiment Shawl as a gift! The project took 3 hanks and the result is super soft and cozy, perfect for those winter days in the office when it never seems to warm up! Monika says that the project was super quick and fairly simple. It would be a great intro to lace and shawl construction because it's a chunky knit, goes really quickly (instant gratification!) and the lace itself is pretty straightforward. What a sweet gift! |
Keeley's Most Bespeckled Hat | Keeley loved Dull Roar's 'A Most Bespeckled Hat' so much that she decided to knit one exactly like the pattern! She used Malabrigo Worsted Merino in Frank Ochre and Natural for this adorable head topper. The design itself is deceptively simple and serves as the perfect intro to Fair Isle techniques. |
Leanne's Stormborn Shawl | Leanne couldn't wait to cast on the for 2014 Game of Thrones KAL, and the lovely result was her Stormborn Shawl. She used 2 skeins of the limited edition colorway 'Fire and Blood' in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, but you could use any color that strikes your fancy. The Stormborn Shawl pattern is available on Ravelry and was designed by , also known as our very own Kristen! |
Chris's Circadia Shawl | Chris recently joined Team JBW and it turns out he's also a budding designer! With an aesthetic similar to Stephen West (lots of stripes, multi colors, and fun angles), Chris's patterns are a ton of fun to knit! Circadia is one of his recent designs, and we just loved watching this shawl evolve as he knit a little more each day during our morning meetings. Three fun colors of Tosh Merino Light (Robin's Red Breast, Optic, and El Greco), a mix of stitch patterns, and a simple short-row design make this stunner a treat to knit and wear! You can find Circadia available to download on Ravelry, in Chris's Ravelry Store. |
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You all know by now that we've embarked on a special partnership with Knitter's Pride, and recently Laura traveled to their operations headquarters in Jaipur, India, to tour their factory and meet in person with the people behind the brand. What she discovered reinforced our commitment to this great company and helped form a personal bond that we hope will bloom into a long-term partnership!
| The biggest highlight of the trip was visiting the factory in Jaipur.
While Laura at first imagined it might be impersonal and industrial, what she found was the complete opposite: a close-knit, friendly team of people who make all the needles by hand!
Each needle starts as a piece of raw material and as it passes through close to 100 hands, it is machined, whittled, and polished into a beautiful finished product that reflects pure artisanship.
Many of the employees are women, and this job represents an opportunity for them to help support their families and be proud of their craft. |
We hope this peek into Knitter's Pride will have you as excited about their products as we are!
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There are many ways to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings at Jimmy Beans Wool!
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Jimmy Beans Wool
4850 Joule St. Ste A1
Reno, NV 89502
Toll Free in U.S. (877)JBW-KNIT (529-5648)
Phone (775)827-9276
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