In this issue:
- Focus on: Instructional Articles & Edge Stitch
- Free Pattern: Baby Sweater Set
- April Kit of the Month: Crocheted Suede Shopping Bag!
- This just in... Tahki Cotton Classic, Tahoe Knots!
- Jaeger 50% Off & Yorkshire Tweed DK Discontinued!!
- A few more weeks :: Free Shipping On Orders Over $75
- Looking Ahead... Lantern Moon Circulars, Tahki Cotton Classic and New Rowan Yarns
Click on any highlighted text to view the item in our online store!
Instructional Areas ... Edge Stitch
Over the last few years, we've noticed the need for a unified source of knitting help online.
As such, we've added an
instructional area to
www.JimmyBeansWool.com.
The ultimate goal is to provide all of you with one place that you can visit when you have problems with your knitting. To achieve this goal, however, we're going to need your help. To date, we have
written 7 articles targeting common knitting questions & we have a list of about 10 other topics to address
(such as "Picking Up Stitches" and "Knitting in the Round") over the next month or two.
So what do we need from you? IDEAS!! Send us your thoughts, comments, criticisms... anything that will make the
instructional area more valuable for knitters. Below is our article on the "Edge Stitch."
Edge Stitch Article
One of the first sweaters I ever made required that I begin each row with an "edge stitch."
Well, suffice it to say that I searched high and low, all over the internet and in books,
and couldn't figure out what they were talking about. Had I known what I know now, I would
have just bought a copy of the
Vogue Ultimate Knitting Book & looked up my answer, but that
was before they were being reprinted and the only copies you could find were selling for $200!!
Anyway, to make matters more confusing, I kept seeing 'edge stitch' and 'selvedge' used interchangeably in other patterns. Sadly, I couldn't figure out selvedge either. After talking with every knitter I knew (which, at the time, wasn't many), I learned that an edge (or selvedge) stitch is simply a stitch at both ends of each row whose purpose is to make sewing the seams easier. Furthermore, in cases where there is to be no sewing, the edge stitch creates a clean and distinct line along the border of the garment.
Ok, but how do I get that stitch? The simplest (and easiest to remember) method requires you to slip the first stitch of every row (slipping a stitch is defined as moving the stitch from the left needle onto the right needle, without knitting or purling it). That's it. You'll find that by slipping the first stitch of every row, you are only knitting (or purling) that stitch every other row, thereby forcing that stitch to cover a 2 row span. And, since you are slipping the stitch at the beginning of every row, you cover both ends of the project. Try it! You'll see how easy it is. And we promise that you'll be pleased with your results.
The first swatch was knit without an edge stitch. The second swatch shows an edge stitch.
Both views are of the purl side of a swatch knit in stockinette stitch. These swatches were
knit using
Karabella Aurora Bulky, a favorite machine washable yarn of ours. I slipped the first
stitch of the knit rows as if to knit. For purl rows, I slipped the first stitch as if to purl.
Free Pattern - Baby Sweater Set
If you're like the rest of us, one of your favorite words is
free. And because of that, one of the focuses
on the Jimmy Beans website is to provide you with plenty of knitting resources that are light on the wallet.
The way we figure it, if you can get the pattern for free, that leaves more $ in the yarn
budget -- and we all love to have more funds in the budget! In fact, you might have noticed that many of our kits
include the pattern for free.
This month, we've decided to add the directions for a
baby's sweater set to our catalog of complimentary patterns.
To create the set as shown, you'll need 2 hanks of
Lornas Laces Shepherd Worsted Yarn - a machine washable
wool that has dominated the top of our sales list for 4 years strong. Not only is Shepherd Worsted available
in over 100 colors, but the solids are created from the same dyes as the variegated - enabling you to get creative
in mixing and matching colors. Check it out - and let us know what you think!
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
Crocheted Berroco Suede Shopping Bag Kit
regularly $119.40 ... on sale for $95.52!! Consider this as a gift for the new crocheter in your
life. Since it's crocheted using a B hook, you'll definitely get a lot of crocheting done for your money....More
than the average golfer would get for $95!! This kit comes with
12 balls of the famous Berroco Suede: 4 balls each of 3 different colors. In addition to the colors shown, we
put together a few other combinations that might be of interest.
This kit will be available at the sale price through the end of the month (sale ends April 30, 2006).
THIS JUST IN... TAHOE KNOTS, TAHKI COTTON CLASSIC
Tahki Stacy Charles Cotton Classic
Springtime has arrived - and what better way to celebrate than with Cotton Classic! A great addition to Jimmy Beans Wool, this yarn
has a crepe-like texture, complimented by a smooth mercerized finish.
The even texture, combined with
a slight sheen, adds to its attractiveness. And, although you'll want to knit Cotton Classic
on a US 6 needle, it's well worth the work (and the affordable price).
It is also the perfect yarn to add in with other yarns.
And one of the best things about Cotton Classic is the huge variety of colors it comes in & that the
projects
range from kids outfits to gorgeous sweaters for women.
Tahoe Knots
A longtime Truckee resident, Angela Sharp began the
Tahoe Knots pattern line in hopes of meeting the demand for single hat and beanie patterns
(i.e., for those of us that aren't interested in investing in a single book). And, as a teacher of a 3-4 classes per
week, she was searching for something that her students could use to learn multiple techniques in one sitting.
As such, we're finding that people are responding to the simplistic format (which is exactly what she was trying to achieve)
and love the integration of more difficult skills in the different patterns.
She began the line with an earflap hat (very popular in the Tahoe area) and a couple of classically designed cabled hats.
This spring, she added a basic baby beanie to the collection. This beanie features an adorable knot on the top
and is best knit with a DK weight yarn (Angela used the
Rowan Cashsoft Baby DK, one of her favorites).
So check out
Tahoe Knots on the website and let us know what you think!
TEAM JIMMY BEANS...MEET DOT
Employee of the Month :: Dot
My malaysian friend Dot mans the counter in our Truckee store quite a few days a week.
And, i'm sure you'll agree, you'd be hard pressed to find a happier person in the world.
Always a smile on her face, she's been known to bring cookies, curry, and other treats to the
rest of us on her days off. And talk about a knitter... I think she's our #1 customer!
Please stop by and say hello the next time you visit Lake Tahoe.
!!! JAEGER IS 50% OFF & ROWAN YORKSHIRE TWEED DK SALE !!!
Order now and get 50% off of the following Jaeger yarns:
Shetland was $10.95 and is now $5.50.
Mohair Art was $12.95 and is now $6.50.
Alpaca was $9.95 and is now $5.00.
Luxury Tweed was $8.50 and is now $4.25.
Yorkshire Tweed DK has been discontinued and we have a few balls left in stock. At $7.95 a ball, you
can't go wrong & if you purchase 10 balls, you automatically get Free Shipping (through the month of April)!
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
LOOKING AHEAD...
May 17th marks the Truckee Store's 4 year anniversary. Keep an eye out for party details!
Free Shipping On Orders Over $75
Don't forget... from now until the end of April, we are still offering free shipping within the United States
for ALL orders over $75! If you are shipping internationally, we will deduct the regular $4
shipping price off of your orders over $75. All orders under $75 will still have our standard $4
U.S. shipping costs applied.
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
And please don't forget to support your LYS. In addition to being an online outlet, we also have
2 retail locations and therefore understand how important it is to be supported by our locals.
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