November 2005 Newsletter - Everything knitting including yarn, needles, kits, sale yarn, free knitting patterns, and more! at Jimmy Beans Wool

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Jimmy Beans Wool November 2005 Newsletter! In this issue: Focus on: Worming November Kit of the Month! This just in... New yarns, Holiday Kits & more! SALE!! Further discounts on Rowan, GGH, Muench Reno Classes Looking Ahead... Click on any highlighted text to view the item in our online store! Tips for preventing worming Chenille is a wonderful and versatile yarn that produces soft and luxurious fabric when knit or crocheted. Unfortunately, working with chenille is not always a trouble-free enterprise. One of the most common problems associated with chenille is the tendency toward worming when knitted. Worming occurs when a loop of yarn pulls away from the knitted fabric and coils back on itself. We have encountered this problem every now and again with one of our favorite chenille yarns, Touch Me, and so we know how frustrating it can be. Fortunately, if we understand what it is about chenille that facilitates worming, we can take steps to prevent it from happening. Chenille yarns are constructed of short tufts of fibers anchored into a central coiled core yarn, and it's precisely this coiled nature of the core yarn that gives rise to worming. It's like when you hold both ends of a length of string and then twist and twist and twist... eventually, if there is any slack in the string, it will coil up on itself. Chenille starts with some twist built into it, and the more twist you introduce when knitting it, the greater the likelihood that you'll get some worming. So, here are a few things that you can try to reduce the likelihood of worming: Reduce your needle size -- a tighter gauge will hold your stitches in place and reduce the likelihood of worming. (Crocheting, which tends to produce a tighter gauge than knitting, is less likely to allow for worming.) Take steps to reduce the amount of twist that you are introducing. Every knit stitch introduces a small amount of twist to the yarn, and knit stitches twist in the opposite direction from purl stitches. This is why any piece knit entirely in stockinette stitch (knit stitches all on one side, purl stitches all on the other side) will roll at the edges. Balancing knit stitches with purl stitches, such as in garter stitch or seed stitch, can reduce the worming effect. Try knitting continental style. Continental-style knitting tends to introduce less twist to the yarn than English style (throwing the yarn). Knit from the other end of the yarn. If the twist that you are introducing is in the same direction as the twist of the core yarn, you'll be much more likely to have trouble with worming. Working from the other end of the yarn may balance the twisting of the core yarn and reduce worming. Remember that certain fibers have a higher tendency to worm. Slippery fibers such as rayon and microfiber and other synthetic fibers are more likely to worm than cotton. If your favorite chenille has a high percentage of slippery fiber, you may want to hold another yarn with it when knitting -- the other yarn may help to anchor your chenille in place. A little knowledge can go a long way. If you're having trouble with worming, try experimenting on some of the points listed above. Don't be afraid to work with a beautiful yarn like Touch Me, and don't give up!! Keep trying until you find what works for you. Your reward is the plush, velvety fabric of knitted chenille. If you have tips for working with chenille (or troubleshooting other yarns or techniques) we would love to hear from you. Send your tips via email to support@jimmybeanswool.com , and please let us know if we may use your tip in our newsletter! Kit of the month Every month we feature a new yarn + pattern combination at a special kit-of-the-month discount... This month's featured kit is the Colinette Absolutely Fabulous Throw Kit regularly $185... on sale for only $165!! This kit will be available at the sale price through the end of the month (sale ends November 30, 2005). THIS JUST IN... We're expecting a large shipment of new and discontinued yarns from Jaeger ANY DAY NOW!! We'll have Alpaca, Cashair, Chamonix, Extra Fine Merino, Luxury Tweed, Mohair Art, and Shetland yarns at fabulous sale prices!! And... Christmas Kits are here!! Now is the time to start these great projects... you'll be in the holiday spirit and ready to decorate faster than you can say "jingle bells." We've got some great stocking kits from Elegant Heirlooms as well as a fabulous new kit from Pick Up Sticks that has everything you need to make a Felted Poinsettia Wreath (psst... this kit is going to be featured on an upcoming episode of the show Knitty Gritty on the DIY network. Check your local cable listing for details or visit www.DIYnetwork.com for more information!!) SALE!!! HALF OFF!! Discontinued yarns from Muench, GGH and Rowan are now 50% off... and will remain at that price until we sell out! Because these yarns are discontinued, we're limited to stock on hand and once they're gone, they're gone. Please remember: no returns on sale merchandise (but you can't beat the prices!!) Check out Rowan's Rowanspun DK, a feltable DK-weight 100% wool. We love this stuff!! Sale prices as low as $3.95 per hank (reg $10.95)!! And, lots of discontinued yarns from GGH are now on sale. Gala, a super-soft synthetic (100% polyamide) with a furry texture and a subtle sparkle sells now for as low as $6.00 per ball (reg $11.98). Carneval, the popular cotton-blend textured tape is now $6.50 per ball (reg $12.95). Fuzzy, sparkly Fee, is on sale for $7.00 per ball (reg $14.00). Modena, is now just $4.90 per ball (reg $9.80), and Tiffany, the funky nylon ribbon yarn is now only $6.25 per ball (reg $12.50). Muench Yarns include Dynasty, a synthetic multi-colored slub yarn with metallic accent, on sale now for $5.50 (reg $10.99), and New Marabu, a fancy metallic eyelash, now $3.50 (reg $6.99). Shop now for the best selection. Quantities are limited!! For a complete listing of sale yarns, visit: www.JimmyBeansWool.com/secure-html/onlineec/saleHome.asp CLASSES We've got lots of classes going on now in the Reno store, and some helpful workshops planned for November and December! Knitting 101 This class is designed to take the beginning knitter through the basics: cast on, knit & purl stitches, bind off, increasing & decreasing, sweater assembly.... everything you need to know to follow simple sweater pattern! This class is perfect for the beginner knitter or for those of you who are ready to try your first larger project. So, if you're tired of knitting scarf after scarf and looking to try something new, Knitting 101 is for you! Knitting 102/Project Class This is the perfect class for knitters looking to expand their skills or complete a project! Daytime and evening classes are going on now! These classes are $60 for the four-week series, and we ask for a 50% ($30) non-refundable deposit to reserve your space. Call the Reno Store 775-827-YARN (775-827-9276)for more information or stop by to reserve your space today. As always space is limited! There will be more classes beginning at the conclusion of the current sessions... check the website by clicking here for up-to-the-minute details!! LOOKING AHEAD... The holidays are quickly approaching, and although we're all in the gift-giving spirit, it's not always easy to find that "perfect gift" for Aunt Sally or your best knit buddy, Susie. I (for one) am encouraging all my knitting pals to create a Jimmy Beans Wool Wish List. This new account feature allows friends and family (you know, all those folks who are happy to support your yarn habit in return for beautiful hand-knit scarves and hats...) to view and purchase from your list of desired yarns and accessories. And it's searchable by the recipient's email address, so everyone is easy to find! All you need to do to create your wish list is to create a user account and start wishing... click here to do it now!! Still haven't set up your user account? Visit our store, or click here to do it now! Also, watch for our upcoming Design Contest! Win fame and fabulous prizes with your original knit or crochet designs... watch our website for details! Thanks for reading and Happy Knitting! Please let us know what you think of our newsletter or if you have problems reading it! Questions? Comments? Suggestions? email support@jimmybeanswool.com We only send the newsletter to people who have requested they be added to the list. Feel free to update your notification options on our site.
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