http://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/The latest knitting news from the leading supplier of knitting and crochet products.en-usThu, 6 Aug 2009 21:58:41 GMTThu, 6 Aug 2009 21:58:41 GMTrss@JimmyBeansWool.cominfo@JimmyBeansWool.com http://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=16Coveted BizRate Research "Circle of Excellence" Award. JimmyBeansWool.com finds itself once again among such internet retailing giants as Zappos, Crutchfield, Bath and Body Works, and Fisher-Price. This time, the occasion is BizRate Research's annual recognition of online businesses that provide exemplary customer service. BizRate handed out only 167 "Circle of Excellence" awards this year; the awards were given to online retailers that provide exceptional customer service experiences, as rated by the retailer's own customers.

"We couldn't be more pleased than to know our customers are happy with us." said co-Founder Laura Zander. "Out of all of the possible awards that we could win, this one is definitely the most meaningful. As knitters ourselves, our goal has always been to give our website a human touch - and to simulate the local-yarn-shop feel online. We go to great lengths to make sure that every customer walks away a happy knitter - and winning this award shows that our customers are indeed walking away happy!"

The Jimmy Beans Wool website is geared towards making the knitting customer's experience as easy, friendly and informative as possible. To that end, it features written and video product reviews, instructional articles, a knitting calculator, a 5% back rewards program, and a host of online shopping tools. In keeping with the goal of providing online customers with an in-store experience, the site also offers knitting and crocheting help via online chat, email, twitter, and a toll-free number. Jimmy Beans Wool is THE local yarn shop... online.

Founded in 2002 by Laura, aka "Jimmy," and Doug Zander, Jimmy Beans Wool is both a bricks and mortar and Internet knitting superstore, offering knitters worldwide a comprehensive selection of the finest yarns and knitting supplies along with the latest fashion trends. With customers from Los Angeles to Uzbekistan and all points in between, Jimmy Beans Wool has successfully created an international knitting community comparable to that of the local yarn store, and is theresource for knitters looking for inspiration, instructions and project help. Headquartered in Reno, NV, the store was recently the subject of a small business profile on Forbes.com, has been featured on NPR and CNN.com, and has been cited in magazines from Vogue Australia to Family Circle.]]>Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMThttp://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=16 http://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=15Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest Growing Private Companies!

Reno-based Jimmy Beans Wool has joined previously listed businesses Jamba Juice (2000-01), Timberland (1983), Microsoft (1984-85), and Zappos (2004-2007) as a prestigious Inc. 5000 company.

Inc. Magazine announced today their 2009 list of the top 5000 fastest-growing private businesses in America based on 2005-2008 growth. Businesses must have recorded at least 2 million in 2008 revenues to be eligible. Jimmy Beans Wool is ranked at #3253 and 79% growth.

"We may be the only fiber arts company ever ranked on the Inc.5000," says Laura Zander, owner of the Reno, Nevada based knitting and crochet retailer. Jimmy Beans Wool opened its doors in 2002 and has since supplied knitters and crocheters from Reno to New York to Paris with luxury yarns and accessories. "Our brick-and-mortar storefront and shipping facility in Reno has nearly doubled in size in the last year to help accommodate the growth," says Zander.

Zander attributes much of the company's success in online retailing not only to the personalized service they offer, but to their promptness in shipping. Open seven days a week, the company often receives elated emails from customers on the East Coast who have placed orders on Saturday afternoon and received them in the mail on Monday. "It's as close to the local shop experience as online gets!"

And while the majority of the growth has come from the knitting shop's internet business, the brick-and-mortar shop has also seen its share of increased traffic. "Because we strive to create the local shop experience for our online customers, we end up meeting many of our online customers in person." says Zander. "Customers from all over the country make Reno a destination in their travel plans because they want to visit our shop. It's an incredible feeling, to know that we've succeeded in making our customers feel like they are a part of our little knitting business. We couldn't be happier."

Jimmy Beans Wool is both a bricks and mortar and Internet knitting superstore, offering knitters worldwide a comprehensive selection of the finest yarns and knitting supplies along with the latest fashion trends. With customers from Los Angeles to Uzbekistan and all points in between, Jimmy Beans Wool has successfully created an international knitting community comparable to that of the local yarn store, and is the resource for knitters looking for inspiration, instructions and project help (including youtube.com video reviews). Headquartered in Reno, NV, the store was recently the subject of a small business profile on CNN.com, has been featured on NPR, in Fortune Small Business, and has been cited in magazines from Vogue Australia to Family Circle (and more recently, forbes.com and usatoday.com). It is now officially an Inc. 5000 company.]]>Wed, 12 Aug 2009 05:00:00 GMThttp://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=15 http://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=14
"We wanted to create something that could be knit and worn (or given away) as a show of support," says Jimmy Beans Wool owner Laura Zander. "Chances are we all know someone who has been affected by breast cancer. Though the kits were planned to be sold only during October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the brick-and-mortar and online retailer has continued to sell kits on a daily basis - with no end in sight. "The response has been great! Based on the numbers so far - and our commitment to get the word out - we're optimistic that we'll be able to hit the $5,000 mark by this time next year," says Zander. "We'll just keep sending checks!"

Zander originally created the beautiful, yet delightfully simple scarf for the 2007 pre-Emmy Celebrity Swag Suite. TV celebrities Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Ernie Hudson (Desperate Housewives) and others knit a few rows on the original scarf, which was later auctioned off on www.ClothesOffMyBack.org.

The kit and free pattern are available online at Jimmy Beans Wool Breast Cancer Support Scarf page.

Founded in 2002 by Laura Zander, aka "Jimmy," Jimmy Beans Wool is both a bricks and mortar and Internet knitting superstore, offering knitters worldwide a comprehensive selection of the finest yarns and knitting supplies along with the latest fashion trends. With customers from Los Angeles to Uzbekistan and all points in between, Jimmy Beans Wool has successfully created an international knitting community comparable to that of the local yarn store, and is the resource for knitters looking for inspiration, instructions and project help. Headquartered in Reno, NV, the store was recently the subject of a small business profile in Fortune Small Business (July/August 2007) and has been cited in magazines from Vogue Australia to Family Circle.]]>Tue, 8 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMThttp://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=14 http://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=13Lorna's Laces Hand-Dyed Yarns and Laura Zander of Jimmy Beans Wool joined together to provide yarn enthusiasts with limited-run, exclusive hand-dyed colors. For each of the last eight months, a brand new, never-been-seen before (and never-to-be-seen again) color has been offered through the www.JimmyBeansWool.com website. Sold in 3 different forms (Shepherd Sock, Shepherd Worsted and Lion & Lamb), the color is always launched on the 20th of the month. Less than 500 hanks are dyed and sold... and those hanks go fast!

In the spirit of keeping the colors special, the two companies have committed to turning out only a small batch of each custom color. The amount of Shepherd Sock dyed, for instance, is barely enough for 3 pair of socks per U.S. state.

"We wanted to create something unique, something special for all of the devoted Lorna's Laces fans out there," says Zander, owner of Jimmy Beans Wool. "Limiting the number of hanks produced each month - and vowing to never re-create a color - seemed like the perfect way to accomplish our goal."

Apparently that approach is working. Knowing that this is a one-time opportunity, knitters often gobble up the batch in just a few days - and some even blog about it shortly afterwards. Knitters have started their own "Limited Edition Lorna's Laces" collections and some have gone so far as to call and place their order while they are on vacation - sometimes from out of the country!

"I knew the idea was a good one when Laura and I discussed it originally," says Beth Casey, owner of Lorna's Laces, "but I had no idea that it would take off like this. The response has been overwhelming." Zander echoes the sentiment, "On the 20th of each month, we have to call in additional staff to meet the surge of orders. We've even had to add more phone lines!"

With color names like "Candy Corn," "Autumn Leaves" and "Golden Holidays," it's easy to see why yarnoholics are so crazy for these colors... Each month's color becomes not only part of a knitter's stash, but also a piece of history. For more information on this topic (or just to see the colors), visit www.JimmyBeansWool.com/lornas.

Founded in 2002 by Laura, aka "Jimmy," and Doug Zander, Jimmy Beans Wool is both a bricks and mortar and Internet knitting superstore, offering knitters worldwide a comprehensive selection of the finest yarns and knitting supplies along with the latest fashion trends. With customers from Los Angeles to South Korea and all points in between, Jimmy Beans Wool has successfully created an international knitting community comparable to that of the local yarn store, and is the resource for knitters looking for inspiration, instructions and project help. Headquartered in Reno, NV, the store was recently the subject of a small business profile in Fortune Small Business (July/August 2007).]]>Thu, 6 Mar 2008 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=13 http://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=12
The tiniest heart patients in the world receive first-class treatment at UC-San Francisco's Pediatric Heart Ward. Many also receive hats, socks and blankets - hand made labors of love donated by volunteers hoping to ease the burden of the situation for both the young children and their parents. The volunteer charity knitting, crochet and sewing brigade known as Lilly Bugs (www.lilybellegreen.org) was borne of tragedy, but now offers parents and patients in a similar situation a ray of hope.

"We started Lilly Bugs after a friend lost her two-year-old to complications resulting from a congenital heart defect. We started by distributing the hand-made donations to the pediatric ward at UCSF, but we're now getting requests for our blankets, socks and booties from other units in the hospital," said Mary Horner Mattola of Lily Bugs.

In an effort to help Lily Bugs meet the growing demand for its hand-made treasures, Jimmy Beans Wool, a knitting store based in Reno, NV, has chosen the non-profit as its 2008 first and second quarter Knit for Charity program.

"Many of our customers just love knitting, and knitting for charity gives them the opportunity to put their talents to work for a great cause," said Laura Zander, owner, Jimmy Beans Wool.

Individuals who knit or crochet a project for Lily Bugs and send it to Jimmy Beans Wool will receive a 25% JBW credit for the yarn they used. Jimmy Beans Wool will be collecting the items through the end of June 2008, and will then send them on to Lily Bugs. Please visit www.JimmyBeansWool.com/charity for more information on the program or www.lilybellegreen.org for more information on Lily Bugs.

Founded in 2002 by Laura Zander, aka "Jimmy," Jimmy Beans Wool is both a bricks and mortar and Internet knitting superstore, offering knitters worldwide a comprehensive selection of the finest yarns and knitting supplies along with the latest fashion trends. With customers from Los Angeles to Uzbekistan and all points in between, Jimmy Beans Wool has successfully created an international knitting community comparable to that of the local yarn store, and is the resource for knitters looking for inspiration, instructions and project help. Headquartered in Reno, NV, the store was recently the subject of a small business profile in Fortune Small Business (July/August 2007) and recently supported the donation of more than 150 hand-crafted items to www.StitchesFromTheHeart.org.]]>Thu, 14 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=12 http://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=10
Ten days into the launch of their internet yarn business, Doug and Laura Zander began tallying the number of yards of yarn they were selling. They quickly realized that, if strung together, the yarn that they had sold so far would reach the center of nearby Reno, NV - a town 30 miles away. The message was clear: sell enough yarn to make it around the World.

More than 4 years and 44 million yards of yarn later, a single purchase on January 20th, 2008 marked the end of their quest to circumnavigate the Earth with pieces of yarn. The critical purchase was completed by a Virginia knitter and consisted of approximately 2700 yards of yarn (enough to knit 4 pair of socks and a baby blanket). The average ball of yarn contains between 100 and 200 yards.

"Without the help of knitters around the World, we could have never achieved this tremendous goal." said Laura Zander, co-owner, Jimmy Beans Wool. The Zanders currently sell yarn to yarn-enthusiasts in over 50 countries.

So what's next for these fiber-pushers? "Mars!" exclaims Zander, "We've set our sites on circling every planet in the solar system." And with more than 1 in 3 U.S. women able to knit or crochet (according to the Yarn Craft Council), the Zanders will be knitting their way around Mars in no time.

Founded in 2002 by Laura, aka "Jimmy," and Doug Zander, Jimmy Beans Wool is both a bricks and mortar and Internet knitting superstore, offering knitters worldwide a comprehensive selection of the finest yarns and knitting supplies along with the latest fashion trends. With customers from Los Angeles to Uzbekistan and all points in between, Jimmy Beans Wool has successfully created an international knitting community comparable to that of the local yarn store, and is the resource for knitters looking for inspiration, instructions and project help. Headquartered in Reno, NV, the store was recently the subject of a small business profile in Fortune Small Business (July/August 2007)]]>Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=10 http://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=11
On-line knitters around the world join Jimmy Beans Wool to knit red for heart disease.

Inspired by the enthusiastic response generated by the pink celebrity scarf kit for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Jimmy Beans Wool features a red shawl kit in honor of American Heart Month, February 2008.

"The response to these kits from the on-line knitting community has been amazing." said Laura Zander, owner, Jimmy Beans Wool.

$8 of each shawl proceeds will be donated to Go Red For Women program, a national movement founded by the American Heart Association to help fight back against the No. 1 killer of American women http://www.goredforwomen.org.

According to the AHA, 1 in 4 women will die of heart disease. Many women remain unaware of the potential risk factors of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The AHA has partnered with several national health organizations to raise heart disease awareness. National Wear Red Day started in 2002 encouraging people to wear red in support of women's heart disease awareness.

The shawl's materials reflect a global perspective including kettle dyed yarns from Uruguay and hand-dyed yarns from Montana. The distributors supplying the yarn range from a large manufacturer in Washington to a Pennsylvania co-op supporting working families in Uruguay. While designing the kit, Laura Zander, owner, persuaded all six yarn distributors to contribute a portion of their proceeds to The Heart Truth.

"I'm impressed that such a diverse group of businesses were so supportive of this project." said Zander.

Founded in 2002 by Laura Zander, Jimmy Beans Wool has been actively rallying the knitting community in support of charities including Stitches from the Heart and Young Women United Against Breast Cancer. Headquartered in Reno, NV, Jimmy Beans Wool maintains both a storefront and an Internet presence, providing knitters from Chicago to Uzbekistan fine yarn and project support.]]>Mon, 21 Jan 2008 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=11 http://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=9
Just in time for Falling into Winter, a cozy hand-knit sweater nicknamed the "Buster," created by Green Bay resident Ruth Homrighaus, is the winner of the November Pattern Contest sponsored by Reno knitting store, Jimmy Beans Wool. Knitters around the globe are invited to copy the pattern by visiting www.jimmybeanswool.com.

"The pattern is named after the character Buster from the late, great show Arrested Development," said Ruth Homrighaus, designer. "He often wore argyle sweaters on the show, and one of them got me thinking about making an argyle-on-only- one-side sweater," she continued.

Homrighaus, an editor in Green Bay, WI, uses knitting as her creative outlet. She estimates the Buster sweater would take a seasoned knitter a little over a month or two to knit, depending on how much time they had to devote to the project. She regularly blogs about her knitting projects at www.ruthlessknitting.ruthlessediting.com.

The monthly pattern contest sponsored by Jimmy Beans Wool is open to knitting enthusiasts of all levels. Winners receive over $400 worth of knitting related goods, including a $50 gift certificate to Jimmy Beans Wool, yarn, patterns, and other knitting related accessories.

"We hope this pattern contest will inspire both beginning and advanced designers and that their designs will in turn encourage other knitters," says Laura Zander, owner, Jimmy Beans Wool.

Founded in 2002 by Laura Zander, aka "Jimmy," Jimmy Beans Wool is both a bricks and mortar and Internet knitting superstore, offering knitters worldwide a comprehensive selection of the finest yarns and knitting supplies along with the latest fashion trends. With customers from Los Angeles to Uzbekistan and all points in between, Jimmy Beans Wool has successfully created an international knitting community comparable to that of the local yarn store, and is the resource for knitters looking for inspiration, instructions and project help. Headquartered in Reno, NV, the store was recently the subject of a small business profile in Fortune Small Business (July/August 2007)]]>Thu, 1 Nov 2007 05:00:00 GMThttp://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=9 http://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=8
They drive hybrid cars and crusade for environmental causes. Now Hollywood A-listers are adding other "green" credentials to their resumes, knitting, with organic yarns. And it's not just the ladies - the guys are into it too.

"I was pleasantly surprised how many men were into knitting," says Laura Zander, owner, Jimmy Beans Wool.

Zander attended last months pre-Emmy Celebrity Swag Suite at the Sofitel Hotel in Beverly Hills, where she inspired the likes of Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Christian Clemenson (Boston Legal), Ernie Hudson (Desperate Housewives), Hal Sparks (Talk Soup), Judd Nelson (Suddenly Susan), Scott Baio (45 and Single) and Christopher McDonald (Happy Gilmore) to take time out to knit a row of an organic pink scarf project. The scarf is currently up for auction at www.clothesoffourback.org. The pattern is also for sale at www.JimmyBeansWool.com.

Here's what the guys had to say about knitting in general.

"My Grandmother taught me how to knit," said Anthony Anderson (K-ville, Transformers)

"I learned to knit in school," said Tim Daly. When asked if his wife knits he replied, "I'm the knitter in the family!"

"My Grandmother taught me how to knit...she used to make me sweaters. They were very itchy, but I wore them anyway because she made them for me. This is very cool," said Driton 'Tony' Dovantani of Dancing with the Stars.

"Are you knitting? That's HOT," said Sean Kanan of "The Bold and the Beautiful.

In addition, TV Stars snapped up over 100 of the featured knitting bags, which featured an embroidered silk taffeta bag with Lantern Moon straight needles, a Jimmy Beans Wool knitting pattern, a cotton/muslin screen printed accessory bag with various small knitting accessories including a sheep tape measure, bamboo crochet hook, or double pointed needles, Knitter's Little Helper, Soak Wash, Vogue Knitting, the Ultimate Knitting Book, and Knit1-Go Green.)

For more information and pictures of celebrities knitting, please call or visit www.JimmyBeansWool.com for about $200 each.

Founded in 2002 by Laura Zander, aka "Jimmy," Jimmy Beans Wool is both a bricks and mortar and Internet knitting superstore, offering knitters worldwide a comprehensive selection of the finest yarns and knitting supplies along with the latest fashion trends. With customers from Los Angeles to Uzbekistan and all points in between, Jimmy Beans Wool has successfully created an international knitting community comparable to that of the local yarn store, and is the resource for knitters looking for inspiration, instructions and project help. Headquartered in Reno, NV, the store was recently the subject of a small business profile in Fortune Small Business (July/August 2007)]]>Sun, 30 Sep 2007 05:00:00 GMThttp://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=8 http://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=6
Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Tim Daly (Wings, The Nine), Hal Sparks (Talk Soup), Christian Clemenson (Boston Legal), Ernie Hudson (Desperate Housewives), Scott Baio (45 and Single), Judd Nelson (Suddenly Susan), and Christopher McDonald (Happy Gilmore) - These are just a few of the noted celebrities who dropped by the pre-Emmy's Celebrity Swag Suite at the Sofitel Hotel in Los Angeles this weekend - and Laura Zander, owner of Reno's Jimmy Beans Wool, was there to encourage A-listers to knit for a cause. The TV stars were asked to work the needles on a pink scarf, in honor of the upcoming "Breast Cancer Awareness Month." The finished project will be auctioned off this week at www.ClothesOffOurBack.com (founded by actors and philanthropists Jane Kaczmarek ("Malcolm In The Middle") and Bradley Whitford ("The West Wing," "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip")). In further support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Jimmy Beans Wool is featuring a pink scarf kit for the month of October, inspired by the celebrity knitted one. $5 of every scarf sold will be donated to the Young Survival Coalition (Young Women United Against Breast Cancer - www.YoungSurvival.org).

"This was a really fun weekend," said Laura Zander, owner, Jimmy Beans Wool. "I was amazed at how many (male) actors already knew how to knit and impressed that they would take time out of their busy schedules to knit for our charity project. Tim Daly was a really fast knitter; Scott Baio picked it up very quickly and was really happy to give it a shot, as was Hal Sparks. Judd Nelson knit a few stitches and said that he's now determined to learn how to knit - he said he has to conquer everything he tries," Zander continued.

In exchange, the A-listers were given a Jimmy Beans Wool Celebrity Swag Bag featuring a knitting project made from organic yarns (either organic dishcloths or an organic market bag), as well as a Palm Leaf Tote from Lantern Moon, an embroidered silk taffeta bag with Lantern Moon straight needles, a Jimmy Beans Wool knitting pattern, and various small knitting accessories including a sheep tape measure, a Crystal Palace bamboo crochet hook, Knitter's Little Helper, Soak Wash, Vogue Knitting the Ultimate Knitting Book, and Knit1 magazine - Go Green Issue.

The Swag Bags are also available for purchase at www.JimmyBeansWool.com for about $200 each. Pictures of celebrities knitting are also posted on the site.

Founded in 2002 by Laura Zander, aka "Jimmy," Jimmy Beans Wool is both a bricks and mortar and Internet knitting superstore, offering knitters worldwide a comprehensive selection of the finest yarns and knitting supplies along with the latest fashion trends. With customers from Los Angeles to Uzbekistan and all points in between, Jimmy Beans Wool has successfully created an international knitting community comparable to that of the local yarn store, and is the resource for knitters looking for inspiration, instructions and project help. Headquartered in Reno, NV, the store was recently the subject of a small business profile in Fortune Small Business (July/August 2007).]]>Mon, 17 Sep 2007 05:00:00 GMThttp://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=6 http://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=5

Iris currently lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but is always on the move. Iris explains, "Knitting is a creative outlet for me, and most of my designs are inspired by historical, cultural, and artistic resources. Check out my blog (irisgknits.blogspot.com) for designs, stories, sketches, techniques, and free patterns!"



The Storm Scarf pattern is available free from the Jimmy Beans Wool website. "We're really excited about this month's winning pattern. It is simple, yet stylish, and just in time for fall!," says Laura Zander, owner of Jimmy Beans Wool.

The contest is ongoing; submissions will be accepted for this month's contest through September 30th. Each month's prizes include a $50 gift certificate to Jimmy Beans Wool as well as yarn, patterns and accessories valued at more than $400.

If you'd like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Laura Zander, please call (775)827-9276.]]>Sat, 8 Sep 2007 05:00:00 GMThttp://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=5 http://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=4

Melissa is an obsessive knitter currently living in Olympia Washington, working as a youth-at-risk counselor and attending school full time with the intent of becoming a teacher. She will be leaving the country in September to do some teaching (and knitting) in South America, learning the techniques of Peruvian tejadoras, but you can keep an eye on her current projects at her weblog, procrastaknitter.blogspot.com.



The Slant Pocket Bag pattern is available free from the Jimmy Beans Wool website. "Our pattern contest continues to grow every month in the number of submissions. It is so inspiring to see all the knitting creativity happening all around us!," says Laura Zander, owner of Jimmy Beans Wool.

The contest is ongoing; submissions will be accepted for this month's contest through August 31st. Each month's prizes include a $50 gift certificate to Jimmy Beans Wool as well as yarn, patterns and accessories valued at more than $400.

If you'd like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Laura Zander, please call (775)827-9276.]]>Sun, 5 Aug 2007 05:00:00 GMThttp://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=4 http://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=3

Hannah lives in Reno, NV and has been knitting for over 3 years. She has been teaching both knitting and crochet for the last 2 years. You can catch up with her current projects on her blog at handmadebyhannah.blogspot.com. She also spins a lot of her own yarn, and dabbles in weaving.



The Lace Wannabe Shawl pattern is available free from the Jimmy Beans Wool website. "We hope the pattern contest will inspire all designers, and their designs will in turn encourage other knitters to invent something of their own, or just pick up the needles and start knitting," says Laura Zander, owner of Jimmy Beans Wool.

The contest is ongoing; submissions will be accepted for this month's contest through July 31st. Each month's prizes include a $50 gift certificate to Jimmy Beans Wool as well as yarn, patterns and accessories valued at more than $400.

If you'd like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Laura Zander, please call (775)827-9276.]]>Sat, 7 Jul 2007 05:00:00 GMThttp://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=3 http://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=7
Charity knitting has long been a common activity among individual knitters and knitting circles, but this month it has taken a new form: online charity knitting has begun! Online yarn store Jimmy Beans Wool will collect knitted items for charity and provide knitters with discounts on materials used, effectively donating its profits to the charity of the season.

Charity knitting is a widespread phenomenon, with many of the estimated 53 million knitters in the United States involved in charity knitting. Charities range from international causes like the Dulaan Project, which has knitters creating warm clothing for children in Mongolia, to domestic concerns like knitting caps for chemotherapy patients, warm clothing for the homeless, and sweaters for soldiers in Iraq.

For the first four months of the Jimmy Beans Knit for Charity program, items will be donated to Stitches from the Heart, an organization that donates hand knit and crocheted clothing for newborn and premature babies to hospitals around the country. The hospitals send the clothes home with needy newborn and premature babies. Stitches from the Heart's volunteers number over 6000, and the organization has distributed more than 220,000 items to over 432 hospitals and charities around the country. The store will be donating to a different charity every few months.

"We have been looking for ways to give back to the community, which in our case includes people from all over the country" says Jimmy Beans Wool owner Laura Zander, "and since we try to encourage knitters to learn and make new connections, knitting for charity seemed like a great way to do that." The store will give customers a 25% credit for yarn they use for donated charity projects and provide free patterns and help for knitters. "We hope that this kind of organization and support will inspire people to come together and knit for charity," says Zander. "Knitters have always had a philanthropic outlook, and we're excited to be able to encourage and support them."

Jimmy Beans Wool was founded in 2002 with the goal of providing online knitters with a community comparable to that of a local yarn store. The site includes instructional articles, project ideas, and many other resources for knitters.]]>Thu, 5 Jul 2007 05:00:00 GMThttp://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=7 http://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=2

Jen Small is a designer who loves the challenge of creating stories in knitwear. She began knitting 3 years ago, and immediately began creating her own designs as she made hats for her friends' babies. She is the author of the Pink Bunny Hat in Stitch n Bitch Nation, and is excited to be creating clothes for her own son now. To read more about her adventures in knitting and other arts and crafts, visit her blog at bluecanary.typepad.com.



The Pondemonium child's sweater pattern is available free from the Jimmy Beans Wool website. "We hope the pattern contest will inspire both beginning and advanced designers, and their designs will in turn encourage other knitters," says Laura Zander, owner of Jimmy Beans Wool.

The contest is ongoing; submissions will be accepted for this month's contest through June 30th. Each month's prizes include a $50 gift certificate to Jimmy Beans Wool as well as yarn, patterns and accessories valued at more than $400.

If you'd like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Laura Zander, please call (775)827-9276.]]>Mon, 4 Jun 2007 05:00:00 GMThttp://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=2 http://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=1
An innovative, practical baby sweater design has garnered the first win in the monthly Jimmy Beans Wool pattern contest.


Valerie Wallis, of Logan, UT, will receive over $400 in knitting-related prizes for her Presto Chango baby sweater pattern, which uses a unique detachable front panel "to accommodate holidays, whims, or disastrous stains," Wallis said. "Late one night when I was up feeding my baby (and she had just spit up) the idea of a baby garment with an interchangeable front panel seemed to be the answer to all life's problems."

Asked about her design process, she said, "I'm full of ideas, but with my house full of little kids, they don't often get past my sketchbook. The Jimmy Beans Wool contest was just the incentive I needed to get going." Like many knitters, Wallis, a stay-at-home mother of five, blogs about her knitting at shoelessval.blogspot.com. She is also working on a website featuring her designs for children, www.sproutknit.com.



The Presto Chango baby sweater pattern is available free from the Jimmy Beans Wool website. "We hope the pattern contest will inspire both beginning and advanced designers, and their designs will in turn encourage other knitters," says Laura Zander, owner of Jimmy Beans Wool.

The contest is ongoing; submissions will be accepted for this month's contest through May 31. Each month's prizes include a $50 gift certificate to Jimmy Beans Wool as well as yarn, patterns and accessories valued at more than $400.

If you'd like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Laura Zander, please call (775)827-9276.]]>Mon, 23 Apr 2007 05:00:00 GMThttp://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/pressRelease.asp?prID=1