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Sandy shows how to make a Magic Ball!
What's a Magic Ball you say? It's a brilliant use of odds 'n ends from previous projects
that almost always ends up in a beautiful one-of-a-kind ball of yarn. Depending on how many odds and ends you
have (or how adventurous you are), you could end up with a ball big enough to knit a sweater... or maybe just small
enough to create a hat or scarf. Whatever project you end up with,
you're bound to have a good time working on it.
So watch (and read!) as Sandy explains how to make your own Magic Ball.
- Begin with several balls (or odds 'n ends) of yarn of similar gauge.
They can be as similar or different in texture/color as you like, but we think the more varied, the better!
- Cut about 1 yard (hint: for most people, an arm's length away from your body is about a yard) from the first ball.
From the second ball, cut a piece that is slightly different in length. Your pieces can vary in length as much
as you want, but we recommend at least 6-12" variation in length to keep from
getting a completely uniform 'striping' pattern.
- Put the two pieces together and tie an overhand knot leaving approximately 2" on the tail end.
(When knitting with your Magic Ball, you'll want to knit in all of those 2"ends, rather than weaving them in later!)
- Begin making a center pull ball by wrapping the yarn in a figure-eight around your first and middle fingers a
few times. Slip the yarn off your fingers, lay the two sets of loops upon themselves, and begin
wrapping yarn around this 'base' layer.
(here is an article on creating a center pull ball)
- Cut another piece of yet another ball, slightly longer or shorter than the second piece.
- Hold the third piece with the long end of the second piece and tie an overhand knot, leaving about 2" on the short end.
- Repeat steps 5 and 6, continuing to wind the ball as you go, until you've reached the desired length (or until your scraps are gone!).
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Basket Lattice Fingerless Gloves
:: Now From $11.52 (Save 20%) ::
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Nice and warm, these fingerless gloves can be knit in no time.... to fit women's medium.
These are knit on straight needles and then seamed.
O-Wool Classic is cozy, easy on the hands in
warm weather and becomes softer with every washing. Spun from luxurious 100% Certified Organic
wool and processed in accordance with the Organic Trade Association's Fiber Processing standards.
O-Wool uses no harsh chemicals in processing making it durable, long lasting and a well-wearing fiber.
Note that the kit is sold with or without the pattern... you choose! (I'm thinking that i'll make a pair of these
for doug's mom... december is right around the corner, after all.)
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JBW on the News!
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Wow. This past week has been an exciting one. On Tuesday, we received word that we were ranked #3253 on
Inc. Magazine's list of the 5,000 fastest growing private small companies in the country. And given the fact that
there are over 27 MILLION small businesses in the U.S., we think that's pretty exciting!! Apparently, the
local news thought so too, because in the span of about 18 hours, all 3 local network stations came out
and filmed segments for the nightly news. We're famous! (ok, maybe only in our own minds - haha.)
Anyway, if you get a chance, we invite you to watch one of the segments here.
(Just cut me a bit of slack - i don't think that ALL knitters are harley riders, ocd, or workaholics...
i was just trying to think of something that describes the 3 of us: me, jeanne and amber :)).
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Eunie w/ our Breast Cancer Scarf
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Speaking of videos, have you had a chance to catch the
Knitting Daily TV episode that describes how to
get started on our Knit for a Cause Scarves? They did a great job!
We've uploaded the video to the
Jimmy Beans Wool YouTube channel
along with almost 50 new product reviews and instructional videos, so take a peek when you get time. The latest 50 videos means we now have 250 product & instructional videos available for you!
In addition to the video, we were also invited to be a guest blogger for Knitting Daily TV -
and we took the invitation as an opportunity to expand on the story behind the scarves...
Here's a link to the blog, if you're interested!
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Limited Edition Ab Fab Kits :: 25% Off!
The guys from Unique Kolours called a few weeks ago and asked if we'd be interested in a few
new, unseen colorways of the Ab Fab Throw Kits.
Why yes, of course!! Because they are new - and limited in quanitity - we don't have photos of them knit up,
but you can get a pretty good idea of how they'll look based on the photos of the yarn itself.
Personally, and not surprisingly, i fancy the Cocoa Beach best (of course, i should probably finish the other 2 throws i have first - sigh.).
We only have about 40 kits in stock, so grab one while you can - at 25% off (that's $46 less than usual), these are going to go fast.
Save BIG On Bags for Back to School
Back to school already? I coulda sworn that summer just started... i guess that's what happens when you have a baby -
times simply flies (and simultaneously moves slower than molasses. heck, i can barely remember getting dressed this morning
- seems like an eternity ago). Well, enough about me and my baby. Let's talk about our
Offhand Designs Back to School Bag Sale.
Save 25-45% off of select designs and fabrics (from last season and the season before)... if you've got a birthday, baby shower, or
other gift-giving event coming up, these bags are the perfect choice. And the recipient doesn't need to be a knitter or crocheter, obviously.
Personally, i use my
Zhivago Weekender for just that: weekends away (speaking of, we're leaving Huck with my parents
and are going to SF for Labor Day Weekend - you better believe that i'll have my bag with me... I'm soooo excited!!).
I also have the Sabrina in Aquavite
and use it as a diaper bag. The bag is separated into 2 different compartments, so i put my wallet, phone, and lip gloss
in that section - and all of Huck's essentials in the other compartment. It's worked perfectly. Below are a few other bag styles that are
on sale until the end of the month - or until we sell out. Enjoy!
Save up to 50% on Select Noro and Debbie Bliss
We received just a bit more of our favorite overstocked and/or discontinued yarns from Noro
and Debbie Bliss. If you missed the first batch of these sale yarns, now's your chance to stock up at
rock bottom prices. We even received a few new colors of
Kureyon Sock
(like the super popular olive and purple blend, 188)
Stock Up On Crystal Palace Star Needles :: 20% Off!
Fall and Winter are just around the corner and that means more knitting!
More knitting means more projects, which means that you all need more needles...
These Star Bamboo Needles
from Crystal Palace are the perfect needle-stash-filler. They are high quality bamboo, but aren't very expensive (they aren't as slick as the regular cpy bamboo needles)
, so they're a great choice when you just need a few extra sets of sizes.
And at 20% off until the end of the month (or until we sell out), they're an even better deal!
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Alsatian Soaps for Knitters
Verbena Soap :: $8
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I love consumables. Every year for my birthday, i ask for something consumable - food, wine, clothes... food ...
well, you get the picture. I like gifts that I will use and use and then will be gone
(either through my stomach or goodwill!). Soap definitely fits into that category for me. I think it's because
i like variety and shopping - and don't like to hold on to the same things forever... So that's why i love
these new soaps from Alsatian Soaps and Bath Products;
I buy them and then use them until they are gone - and then i buy more (in different colors/scents, of course).
And i love the fact that the
Vintage Soaps have a cute knitted basketweave pattern on the actual soap. Too cute!
The Guest Soaps shown below contain 3 little soaps - each one looks like a miniature yarn ball. At $8 a piece,
they make terrific housewarming or dinner party (or birthday!) gifts.
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Hand Maiden Sea Silk
Yarn from seaweed? You bet! (those darned Canadians think of everything, don't they? haha!).
We've had our eye on the Sea Silk
for years, but the timing just never worked out - either they weren't taking on
new customers or we weren't in a position to order it. Well, wait no longer my friends!
We not only ordered all 33 colors,
but have received, photographed, and even started knitting with some of it. If you're not familiar with this incredibly
luxurious yarn, we hope you will be soon. At $35.40 a hank, all 33 colors are hand-dyed in Canada; each hank is one of a kind
(i.e. there are no dye lots and although we took photos of the colors they sent, each hank might be slightly different
than the next). A fingering weight made with 70% Silk and 30% Seacell, it's perfect for lacy projects
and gives off a lustrous sheen and beautiful drape (thanks to the Silk and Seacell - a cellulose based fiber made from seaweed).
Love the yarn, but not sure what to do with it? Try one of these
lacy ideas!
(or here's another idea: Jeanne just bought 4 hanks and is about to start the
Shipwreck Knitty shawl.)
A few of my favorite colors are below:
Crystal Palace Mochi Plus
Mini Mochi's
cousin is here and has come to play! If you didn't get a chance to knit with our most popular yarn of the
season last winter (Mini Mochi) - or were too scared to knit with it because it was so thin -
never fear, Mochi Plus is here! Like Mini Mochi,
Mochi Plus is a self-striping (read, fun!) single ply
machine washable merino blend that keeps things interesting. Unline Mini Mochi, I might actually
finish a project with the Mochi Plus because it's aran weight and knits up nicely on US 9-10 needles.
I'm thinking that i might knit a
cute little pullover
for Huck to wear this winter...maybe with a few cables thrown in?
Violets Rainbow |
Fern Rainbow |
Baby Face |
Tropica Ginger |
Spud and Chloe
Spud and Chloe. Need i say more?
This ingenious line of yarns and patterns hit our shelves a couple of months ago and has been the absolute hit of the summer.
From the brains behind Blue Sky Alpacas, 3 different machine washable yarns
make up the line, dyed in scrumptious and fashionable colors. As has always been the case with Blue Sky's patterns,
the designs from Spud and Chloe are simply inspiring. They make me want to knit (more than usual!) for both me AND my little kid.
And their marketing genius shines through as usual: each pattern($7) comes as an envelope, like the old sewing patterns
(i thought the envelope was there so you could store your swatches and pieces of yarn?).
Anyway, if you end up loving the patterns and want a safe place to store them all,
grab one of their old fashioned Pattern Boxes ($18)...
It comes complete with tabbed dividers and stick-on labels. I'll share some of my favorite adult patterns with you soon,
but below are my favorites for kids...
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We're gearing up for heftier winter and fall projects around here - i'm just about to begin a pullover
for Huck out of the Noro Kureyon (after actually having a kid, i'm realizing that it's easy to handwash
his stuff - it's so small i can just wash it in the sink when i do dishes). But before we get too far into
heavier garments, we've still got a few summer projects on the needles to finish...
Huck's O-Wool Blanket
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Marin from Vermont Organic Fiber Company created this ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE blanket out of a few of her favorite
O-Wool yarns...
She even rinsed and blocked the blanket in the local river... she said that a bit of Vermont has to go into everything she does. She made up the pattern, and it was based on the baby shower invitation that she saw... Though the colors weren't her first thought for a baby, she accepted the challenge to make something match and was super happy with the results - and so is Huck!
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Jeanne's Hoot Hat
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Jeanne love all things cute and the
Hoot Hat by Spud and Chloe certainly qualifies!
She knit it up in about 5 hours and used their yarn,
Outer - yummy! She knit the 1-2 year old
size for Victoria's daughter Alice and the next one will be for Huck in size 6 months to 1 year.
On a US 11 needle it just flies and she is getting ready to knit the second one in the next couple of days.
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Kristen's Ishbel Shawl
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Kristen knitted this shawl for her mother out of 2 hanks of
Kureyon Sock in color 220.
When it is done it will be a late Mother's Day gift.
Her mom LOVES bright colors so this is perfect for her (and kristen said that she just loves the way this yarn is striping.)!
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Jeanne's Oasis Cardigan Project
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I just couldn't stand it when we got the new
Knitting Pure and Simple Pattern #294
in. I am working it up in the
Southwest Trading Company Oasis yarn, on US 10 needle, in size 42. As usual the pattern is super easy to follow and the yarn is fantastic to work with!
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Hat and Booties
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This adorable set was knit by Renie who works at Knitting Pure and Simple!
She used 1 hank of
Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Montrose...and still had some leftover for the next project :)
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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 a retail location and therefore understand how important it is to be supported by our locals.
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Feel free to update your notification options on our site.
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Jimmy Beans Wool
891 Trademark Drive
Reno, NV 89521
Toll Free in U.S. and Canada (877)529-5648
Phone (775)827-9276
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