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Knitting Instruction: How to Do a Russian Join
Whoa! This is sooooo cool! This is a really nice, slick way to join two yarns together. As Jeanne mentions in the video, this is a terrific way to join 2 yarns together when you're trying to salvage every last inch of yarn
(e.g., if you're worried you'll run out or if the yarn is preciously expensive). Give it a shot and then let us know what you think!
1. Take the tail end of your old working yarn and the beginning part of your new yarn and lay one over the other, so that they cross in the middle. You may want to work on your lap or on a table.
2. Thread the tail end of the old yarn with a tapestry needle and then insert the needle about one inch into the length of the old yarn.
3. Pull needle through until tail comes out, take tapestry needle out and pull it snug and you have joined the two together on one side.
4. Now we do the exact same thing with the new yarn that you are joining.
5. Take the needle and pinch yarn and thread it through the needle - so now you have the new yarn on the tapestry needle.
6. Thread the needle for one inch through the new yarn (threading back on itself down the length of the yarn for about an inch) and pull the needle through. Pull on the tail and snug it up.
7. Then snip the ends - maybe leave a tiny tail to after your item is washed you can finish the tail up.
You're going to love this join. Personally, I can't wait to try it out - it just looks fun! Now I just need to find something to join... haha.
P.S. As of last week, we now have almost 350 videos on our youtube channel!! Thanks to all of you for being so supportive and giving us such great feedback...
we hope that the videos have gotten more and more useful over time. And please email us if you have ideas - products that you'd like to see reviewed, or techniques you'd like to see...
it's as fun for us as it is for you!
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Silky Wool Hedda Bag
Silky Wool Felted Hedda Bag
Was from $55.65
Now from $44.52
(up to 20% off!)
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Ohhhh, Silky Wool! There has been a round robin of show-and-tell for this spectacular tweedy-textured silk/wool blend from Elsebeth Lavold here at the store.
We cannot seem to talk about it enough and everyone is impressed not only with the fantastically lightweight softness of this DK weight fiber
and wide array of colors, but the substantial yardage of nearly 200 yards per hank! My favorite color is currently the Lavender Purple (shown below, along with a few others),
though this preference has been changing on almost a daily basis! Since I'm using it for my next project, I need to make up my mind pronto! If you're looking for inspiration involving Silky Wool, make sure to take a look at the Elsebeth Lavold pattern books as they are chalk full of classic, beautiful designs!
(And, as you've surely noticed, we chose this summery bag as our kit of the month... the picture itself makes me want to ride my bike to the nearest park and knit one for myself!).
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An Electric Ball Winder?!
Electric Ball Winder :: $89.99
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Now we're talking! For years, I've been complaining that I need to be able to wind a ball of yarn AND drink a glass of wine at the same time.
It was too difficult before, but now with this electric ball winder from Boye, I can satisfy both passions simultaneously! How much better could life be?
This nifty new product takes the sweat out of performing one of knitting's most physical tasks: turning that hank of yarn into a beautiful ball.
We've really enjoyed using ours at the shop - and had fun putting this little video together. I hope that it is helpful and gives you
an idea of how the ball winder really works (and how loud it really is...).
Enjoy!
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Besides the fact that electric ball winders are almost as nifty as robots, they are also quite handy to have around! We just started carrying Boyle's Electric Yarn Ball Winder, and boy is it must have yarn gadget. Sturdy and compact, this ball winder can wind any weight of yarn neatly into a flat-bottomed, center-pull skein. This all-in-one contraption is perfect for expertly winding full hanks into manageable skeins and restoring messy half-used balls to their original tidy state. Complete with Rheostat, a mechanism that allows the turn rate to be adjusted as need be, the electric ball winder is super easy to use! Not to mention it is fully automatic which saves your hands and arms the stress of that repetitive winding motion and frees up those extremities so you can do what you love: knit or crochet!!
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Colinette is Back!
Colinette Absolutely Fabulous Throws Kits are back! These spectacular kits include a melange of Colinette fibers that can be knit or crocheted into one-of-a-kind throws that not only add to the decor of any room, but are perfect for cuddling under The kits include patterns for four different knitted throws, a crochet throw as well as a knitted shawl. Each kit contains enough yarn for any one of these patterns is included in the kit and come in a variety of color combinations ranging from deep bold colors, to neutral and earthy tones, to an assortment of pastels. The yarns themselves differ greatly in texture and include wool, cotton, viscose and mohair fibers. The AbFab kits are perfect for those knitters who like multi-textural undertakings or prefer working on projects that encompass a large color spectrum!
In addition to the kits, we also received a shipment of our favorite Jitterbug colors... this sock yarn has been a staple and bestseller for years and still comes with a free pattern on the inside of the label!
You still need 1 hank for an average sized pair of socks. And don't hesitate to let us know if there's a color that you want that we don't have... it's coming to us directly from England, but we can still special order anything you need.
Introducing... Zauberball
One of the newest additions to our stock is Zauberball,
a fingering weight yarn that comes to us from Schoppel Wolle, German fiber artists who strive to create fashion-forward yarn!
This zany single-ply is three quarters merino wool and one-quarter nylon blend and comes in diverse assortment of fabulous colors.
If you are impressed with the stupendous fusion of colors, be sure to check out Zauberball's slightly deranged sibling,
Zauberball Crazy! While Crazy is cut from the same cloth as the original Zauberball, it has two strands of the main ply that have been dyed individually and then twisted together which allows for a wild self-striping effect when knitted! Either Zauberball makes for a funky pair of socks or trend-setting wrap!
Zitron Opus 1 Yarn
Talk about soft!! This 100 percent organic single ply Wool is infused with Aloe Vera and Jojoba oils.... and you can definitely tell.
At 4 sts/inch, your project will go quickly (which I need) and your hands will stay soft and supple. It's almost like knitting with lotion!
As a yarn store owner, I love the fact that it only comes in 5 different colors - that way I can stock every single color and not blow my budget. :)
And since this yarn is the same gauge as all of those other crocheted beanies I've been making for Huck, I can just use the same pattern - and 1 hank...
now I just have to decide if i'll use color 500 or 200... hmm...
All Colors of Cashmerino Baby and Aran
Just a quick note to let everyone know that we now stock ALL colors of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and Cashmerino Aran.
They are each $8.95 a ball and have quickly become some of most popular yarns in the shop.
So popular in fact, almost all of us at the shop have used them for at least 1 project... (here's the stroller blanket I made that
Huck uses almost every single day).
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Stock up for Mother's Day with these great Spring Savings! Been thinking about trying out the Knit Kit - or been wanting to get a few for friends and family? Now is the time! Save 25% when you purchase the Black version of the kit.
And why not pair up your knit kit with one of the Namaste Mini Clutches - all in stock colors are 25% off. If you haven't seen these clutches before, you're going to love them! Each one features a detachable shoulder strap for easy transport, 2 interior snap-top pockets (great for crochet hooks, scissors, pens, or other small items), storage for your credit cards and cell phone, and super strong magnets for fast closure.
This week's sale list spans all four seasons: Handpainted 100% Cotton for the Spring, a Classic 100% Cotton for Summer,
100% Silk for Fall (did you know that silk is warm?!), and a super versatile 100% Wool for Winter.
And by the way, if you haven't used the Ella Rae Classic Wool before, now is the perfect time... 220 yards for a measly $3.60 per ball.
And yes, it comes in a ball - no winding required! We have 9 different overstocked colors to choose from, so there's bound to be something that you like!
P.s. We have more colors of Kureyon Sock and Lana Grossa Sock on sale... when it comes to saving big, you've got more choices than ever.
And we've also marked down the Crystal Palace Aran Marl and
Sequoia to 1.99 per ball each. There's not much left, but I thought i'd let you know!
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Here's a sampling of our handiwork this month... !!
Lace Ribbon Scarf | Amber's First Kitchen inspired Jeanne to cast this great pattern by Veronik Avery in the sport weight. She has adjusted for the heavier gauge of the yarn by going up a needle size. She decided to go ahead and follow the pattern exactly and not cut her stitch count down, which would make a narrower scarf. You can find the pattern on Knitty and Jeanne knows you will have fun working it up. We have it marked as an intermediate pattern, but could be for an adventurous beginner. |
Huck's Organico Crocheted Hat | I'm on a roll! The only fiber fixes I can get these days are by way of crocheted beanies. I don't have to concentrate and/or worry if a few stitches get ripped out, so these little beanies are the perfect projects for me. Plus, they go quickly and give me a chance to work with different yarns on a frequent basis! And... i know Huck will wear the finished product - come rain or shine. For the hat in the photo, I alternated between the solid Organico and the Organico Print... Both yarns are machine washable AND 100% organic. I love it! |
Eventide | How about working up this beautiful beaded scarf and stretching your skills just a little bit. While it looks challenging it's much easier than you may think and as long as you follow the pattern carefully you will be just fine! It is knit in 2 separate pieces and then grafted together in the middle, so the ends are uniform. The beautiful bead work really adds to the look of this piece and it will work with both jeans, or as a night on the town scarf. |
Jeanne's Cosette Wrap | Jeanne is in love with the Never Not Knitting patterns and when we got the Cosette Wrap into the shop she just dropped everything else and cast on! This pattern is a great lesson in wraps and turns which is how this shawl is shaped. It is worked from the cast on edge down to the bottom and the picot/eyelet edging is very simple, so go for it! |
Serena Lacy Baktus | Sara is in love with this free pattern for the Manos Serena yarn! She dove right in needles first and chose the color Mermaid and is almost done with this really great scarf/shawlette. There are 2 versions included in the pattern and one is a simple lace style, so Sara decided to get some basic lace knitting under her belt. |
Hydrangea Socks | Sandy inspired Jeanne to cast on the Hydrangea socks from Janel Laidman's book The Eclectic Sole and she chose the Fleur colorway in Hand Maiden Merino 2/6! Wow is this a neat pattern and the yarn just makes it come together, with the beautiful hand painted hues of pinks, tans, and steel gray it is perfect for spring socks! Sandy is a new sock knitter and so when she jumped on board Jeanne just had to get in on the fun and hence a sock race has begun. Stay tuned to see who wins this one! |
Marilyn's Deirdre | One of our regular customers, Marilyn, fell in love with Rowan's Lima yarn and worked up the Deirdre in a size medium 36-38. She decided to use binding tape around the waist and the collar to make the piece a little firmer and I think it is a real keeper! The hand of the Lima yarn is super smooth and of course it's Alpaca, so it's soft! I think that Marilyn will be wearing her sweater for years to come and thanks Marilyn for letting us feature it on our project log |
Bambino Taffy Crochet Hat | New Photos!! This has become Huck's go-to hat for the spring because his new sunglasses fit over it perfectly (and he needs sunglasses when the sun is reflecting off of the snow).
It is super soft and of course I chose the Coco for my project. I am using the Blue Sky Alpacas crocheted beanie pattern and just stopped a few rows early on my increases. |
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Join us for our open knit night on the 4th Thursday of every month from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm. We keep the shop open for any little odds and ends you may need during the evening and we are happy to help you with your knitting questions too. It is a great time to meet other knitters share ideas, tips and techniques. There is a $5.00 cover charge and everyone's money goes into a Gift Certificate for a drawing about half way through the night. Tell all your friends, family, co-workers and you could win the biggest gift certificate ever! See you there!
Did you know that we're on Twitter? We've been slowly ramping up our tweets - and trying to get a feel for the whole twitter phenomenon...
and are finally getting the hang of it! Jeanne is our main twitterer, but all of us have been throwing our 2 cents into the mix. Follow us now - and find out what we're up to, what's new in the shop, and when we're having great sales!
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A quick reminder... the 1st quarter of 2010 Jimmy Beans Bucks have been issued! If you earned a reward, your reward and free shipping coupon are both currently in your account. Many of you have already used them, but if you haven't, the free shipping coupon expires on April 30th, 2010. The rewards will still be available through May 31st, 2010, but didn't want you to miss out on the free shipping offer! Make sure to log into your account while ordering and you will see both.
If you didn't earn a reward or aren't familiar with this incredible FREE YARN program take a look now! In a nutshell, if you have a JBW account and made purchases last quarter (January 1st - March 31st), you received an account credit equal to 5% of those purchases (with a few rules, of course). We were very excited to issue far more rewards during this round compared to the previous four rounds -- we really hope everyone enjoys this program!! :)
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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.
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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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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