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Kaity began working at Jimmy Beans as our Public Relations Director in December. With no previous knitting experience, we knew it was only a matter of time before she broke down and learned how to knit. Several months at JBW, free yarn (donated from our personal stashes) and a free set of Addi circulars later, we think we've got another knitter for life! Still mastering her knits and purls, we took a poll on Facebook to see what YOU thought she should keep in mind while learning. We tossed in a few of our own personal tips for good measure. Here's what we came up with:
 | 1. "If you cast on tightly, use a needle size bigger to cast on and then work with the correct needle from then on." - Jeanne (JBW)
2. "Continental vs. English? Hold the yarn however it's most comfortable for you! (But just so you know, Continental is the preferred way - turbo knitting!)"- Stephanie
3. "Stitch interrupted? Not to worry, keep a piece of paper and pencil in your project bag to quickly write down where you are." - Casey (JBW)
4. "The best thing about knitting is that you can unravel your work in a matter of seconds. The worst thing about knitting is that you can unravel your work in a matter of seconds..." - Lindsey
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5. "Did you drop a stitch? Don't fret! Put a locking stitch marker on it until you can get to it." - Sandy (JBW) (See how to pick up a dropped stitch here)
6. "When in doubt, there is probably a YouTube video (or six) that can show you how." - Maria (Or an instructional video on our website!)
7. "To create a clean edge along the side of a project, simply slip the first stitch of every row (instead of knitting or purling it)." - Jeanne (JBW)
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8. "Don't know how much yarn to leave for binding off? If you can stretch your leftover yarn across the width of your knitting 4 times, then you should have enough to bind off!" - Amber
9. "Learn to read your stitches. A knit stitch wears a scarf and a purl stitch wears a noose." - Amy (Great beginner tips like this one are also described in the Stitch 'N Bitch series!)
10. "Always knit with wine! Or is it, friends don't let friends drink and knit?" - Katherine There are plenty more tips where these came from. Some knitters suggest working with yarn you like so you enjoy the process, even if it's a bit challenging to start. Kaity, for example is using Blue Sky Alpaca's super soft Worsted Cotton in Periwinkle. Other knitters remind us to only work with carefully wound yarn and not to let it get away from us... or you might just end up with the knitter's nightmare pictured above. Ouch!
Stay tuned to see what comes next for this ambitious beginner and let us know what lessons you've learned on Facebook. Share your latest project or take part in the conversation!
Oh, and as it turns out, Kaity discovered her own tip for beginning knitters. Addi's smooth needles may be a little TOO smooth for beginners still working on their knitting coordination. She suggested going for some simpler wooden needles. Sorry, Kaity. :) To make it up to you, here are a few things we think you should add to your stash... |
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Newbie Knitter, Kaity actually brought up a great point about her knitting needles not being the right ones for the job. One knitter's prize needles can be another knitter's nightmare. So, at Kaity's request, we reviewed a number of different types of needles. Here's a brief run-down to help you find the right needle for you... 
Lantern Moon Rosewood Needles
Was $22.60
Now $16.95
(25% off!) | Many of us beans began our journeys into knitting with the classic long single point wooden needles. For many beginner knitters, budget knitters, and really just anyone who prefers the beauty and stability of wood, there's really no need to invent the wheel--or the knitting needles, as the case may be. Kaity, along with many of the rest of us, has finally found comfort in knitting with some classic Bamboo Single Points from Crystal Palace. The wood surface is lightly polished, but not too slick so they prevent dropped stitches, especially if you're a loose knitter. The tips aren't too sharp, so they're good for knitters still learning the basics, who don't want to go poking all over their yarn or themselves. Clover , Plymouth and Brittany also offer great basic wood needles. |
But wood needles aren't only good for beginner knitters and budget knitters. There's a real beauty and comfort in working with the warmth of wood. For wood enthusiasts who take the time to notice the differences between Rosewood, Blondewood, Ebony and others, you may consider the gorgeous, polished wood of Lantern Moon needles--some of which are on sale now! Then there are Bryspun and Pony Rosewood needles to consider. And we can't forget the fabulous Knitters Pride wooden needles that are color coded, so you know what size they are at a glance! | For some advanced knitters, speed is of the essence! If you are one of those knitters, you have probably already discovered the magic of metal. The sharp tips, super slick surface and strength of metal needles are worth the investment. For these knitters, we have long been fans of Addi needles, which exemplify what we look for in smooth, slick metal-needle knitting. We are also recent fans of the Nova needles from Knitters Pride which are reasonably priced and made from hollow brass pipes, plated with high quality nickel. Addi, Nova and other metal needles often come with sharper points, which are great for working with finer yarns and more detailed projects. If you've ever tried to use dull points on intricate lace work, you'll appreciate these sharper tips! | 
Knitter's Pride Nova Starter Interchangeable Needle Set
$26.99 |
Of course, there are plenty more options where these came from! A plastic needle set is a great, inexpensive option for lightweight, flexible needles. We've also been singing the praises recently of the new cubic needles, which are fabulous for ergonomic knitting and individuals who tend to knit tight.
For a truly comprehensive guide on knitting needles of all kinds, check out the latest Interweave Knits, 2012 Summer issue, which includes (among many other lovely things) an article about all the needle options out there. And, as always, never hesitate to call us with questions, comments or concerns. We're happy to help in any way we can. |
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 | In an effort to provide more creative inspiration to go along with our yarns, we've enlisted one of our beans as our official in-house designer to come up with a new knitting or crochet design each month that we'll offer for free in our mid-month newsletter and on the Free Patterns page! Our inaugural pattern for this project features the Mountain Silk DK yarn by Sweet Grass Wools, a lovely boutique hand-dyer based in Montana. Here is what Kristen has to say about the design: "I just love Sweet Grass Wools' lofty, soft, and lightweight Mountain Silk DK yarn! It's precisely the texture and feel of this yarn that inspired my latest design. In the high desert, spring is often comprised of warm days and cold evenings, so this cowl fits the bill as the perfect shoulder-season neck warmer. This cowl features a simple garter stitch pattern, rapid increases, short-row shaping, and a border of Shell Lace that adds a little bit of elegance to the cowl.
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The name is inspired by the stunning sunsets that we are lucky to have in Reno on an almost daily basis. Just last week as I was relaxing after work by knitting in the backyard and looking out over the Sierra Nevada mountain range, I noticed that the sky was the exact shade of coral pink as this yarn! At that moment I knew the perfect name for this cowl would be the "Sierra Sunset Cowl" as the peaks of lace are reminiscent of mountains while the fluffy yarn is as lofty as the clouds that surround them. Whichever color you choose from Sweet Grass Wools' spring-like color palette, this cowl is sure to become a wardrobe favorite!"
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If you'd prefer a slightly different look with your cowl, see below for a few other yarns that Kristen recommends for this pattern. Or, if you are a newer knitter and need some simpler accessories to knit for spring, why not try out a few of our other free patterns, such as the Basic Neckie, Easy Slouch Hat, or the Kudo Slouchy Tam! |
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We love that there are so many types of knitters out there in the community and here at Jimmy Beans, our employees run the gamut of these knitting personalities. These are a few of the types of knitters that we identified with (and a few knitting supplies we enjoy!): | 1) Can't Wait to Cast-On: Do you love almost every new pattern you see? Or maybe you have so many favorite designers that every time they publish a new design you HAVE to cast on right away? In short, you are a knitter who loves to cast on projects and often has many projects on the needles. We know these knitters well! In fact, Kristen is one of them. She often has upwards of 20 projects on the needles and is always excited to start that new design she just saw on Ravelry! One thing that she swears by is having enough project bags on hand at any given time. Some of her favorites are the new UpCycled Project Bags from Spud and Chloe. Not only are these bags super handy, but since they are made out of vintage bed linens, they are also environmentally friendly, which makes them even more appealing to Kristen's green sensibilities. Each project bag is a little different, making it super easy for her to keep her projects sorted! | 
Spud & Chloe UpCycled Project Bags - Assorted Colors
$12.50 | | 2) The Focused Finisher: This knitter is the most disciplined knitter of them all. Known for starting projects and seeing them through to the end, this type of knitter is not only organized, but is also not one to allow herself to get too distracted by all of the tempting new patterns and yarns until they are finished with their current project. One of our purchasing beans, Rachel, is one of these knitters. She is always finishing project after project with admirable discipline and focus. She swears by her iPad to keep her in line, but her absolute must-have knitting accessory is her Knitter's Pride Nova Deluxe Interchangeable Needle Set! The Nova's are nickel plaited with smooth joins, making them the ideal needles for a multitude of projects. Not only that, she has every size she needs from US 4-11 so if she has to change needles in the middle of a project, she doesn't have to stop to find them or buy another size! Rachel finds this super helpful to maintain her momentum as well as keep her focused! | 
Knitter's Pride Nova Deluxe Interchangeable Needle Set
$68.99 | | 3) The Sometimes Knitter: Are you the type of knitter who only picks up the needles a few times a year, when you feel especially inspired? Are you super busy but occasionally need to make something just to keep those creative juices flowing? Or maybe you have many hobbies and knitting is just the icing on the crafty cake! In any case, this type of knitter doesn't want to be bogged down with too many knitting books or tools. What they really need is go-to accessories that work even when they aren't in the middle of a knitting project! Tiffany is our resident "Sometimes Knitter," often knitting up a storm around the holidays and then taking extended breaks and only knitting here and there at other points during the year. She recently acquired a Namaste Bitty bag (currently on sale for over 50% off) which is perfect for use as an everyday purse year-round but also accommodates small projects during one of her knitting bursts. She also loves to have a few go-to yarns hanging around for when the moment strikes. One of her current favorites is Berroco Comfort in all weights because of its softness, color range and affordability. | 
Namaste Bitty Bag Accessories - Peacock
Was $69.00
Now $29.95
(57% off!) | | 4) The Newbie Knitter: Are you a new knitter? Just learning to knit and purl, or maybe you've gone a little beyond that? Well first, welcome to this fabulously fun community! We are so glad to have you! Hopefully by now you've discovered some yarns you love, or maybe even started building a queue on Ravelry. The next step is to begin building a collection of go-to items that you'll need for almost every project! Piet, one of our newest knitters here at JBW has three items that she swears by at the moment: her Yarn-Pop project bag to carry everything in, Clover Stitch Markers, and a Chibi Darning Needles. She's found all of these items to be absolutely necessary for her first few projects! | 
Clover Jumbo Darning Needle Set Chibi - Silver Bent Tip With Case
$4.50 | | 5) The Selfless Knitter: We all know this type of knitter. It's the knitter that the rest of us all admire for her ability to selflessly give away everything she knits! Perhaps you knit for charity or maybe you have a never-ending list of family and friends that you love to knit for. In any case, we know it can be exhausting to always be knitting for everyone but yourself, so that's why it's extra important to surround yourself with items to make the knitting process that much more enjoyable for you! Nicole from the shipping team is our resident selfless knitter. She rarely wears any of her own hand knits because she is always giving them away! That's why she treats herself to really nice knitting accessories like the new Addi Lace Click Long Tipped Needles, which are amazingly slick and smooth to knit with. Recently she's really been loving the Bar Maids Lo Lo Bars and LoLo Lip Balms that we just started carrying. They are perfect for moisturizing dry hands, feet and lips! | 
Bar-Maids Lo-Lo Body Bar - Hookah Girl
$11.90 |
Although these are just a few examples, and maybe you identify with more than one of these categories, we by no means intend to create knitting stereotypes. We just thought we would highlight some of the diverse habits of knitters in our growing community, because we are certainly a diverse and interesting bunch! We also know that there are many more types of knitters out there that we didn't mention and we'd like to hear what they are from you, so feel free to e-mail us your suggestions! |
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Shevawn's Guernsey Wrap | When a discontinued color of the super-soft Rowan Lima yarn went on sale, Shevawn snatched it up and went to town on this project. This wrap is not just the softest, warmest, coziest wrap a person could ask for, it's also a great beginner knit! All you need to know to knit this beauty are the basic skills: casting on, knitting, purling and casting off! This pattern by Jared Flood really showcases all you can do simply by knitting and purling. Though Shevawn is keeping her wrap, this would also make a fabulous gift for both men and women in your life. |
Gina May's Romance Shawl | Gina May really enjoyed working with Wolf Creek Bliss yarn! The variegation with the hand dyed in this particular yarn is amazing! She also highly recommends the Romance Shawl pattern by Susanna IC (available for purchase on Ravelry). According to Gina, it was really quick and a fabulous project for intermediate level knitters looking to try out lace patterns. This is also one of those projects that really benefits from a good set of metal needles, like the Addi Click set Gina used. |
Jeanne's Sun Catcher Shawl | Jeanne got a kick out of working with the new Artyarns Ensemble Light! Stitch markers, highlighter tape and sticky notes really helped keep her organized. Since the yarn is barely plied it can split, but as long as you are watching for that, all will be well. Jeanne knit her shawl as part of a KAL and the pattern will be published in an E-book real soon! This shawl is certainly an advanced piece, but my oh my is the finished product worth the effort! |
Kristen's Tea Leaves Cardigan | Kristen loved this Tea Leaves Cardigan since we first got the pattern in stock. She chose the Tosh Vintage in Tart and was so thrilled with the end result that she is already planning a second one! The first came out a bit larger than she would have liked (a good reason to knit swatches and measure carefully!), but she'll know what size to make for next time! All in all, she's extremely happy with the result! The yarn is gorgeous and the fit is flattering (even if a little large). Kristen would definitely recommend this pattern to others, especially those who are looking to advance their intermediate skills into the world of cardigans! |
Kristen's Manic Pixie Hat | Kristen came up with this fun, spring-inspired green design recently and we think it's perfect for all our fellow wacky knitters out there. We just received the Knit Collage yarns in and Kristen was taken in by the unique story behind the yarns and the cool, different blend of fibers. She grabbed one skein of Gypsy Garden and set out to make this aptly named 'Manic Pixie Hat' because it makes her feel a little bit wild and crazy. She will be self publishing this pattern soon, so stay tuned! |
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As usual, we have lots of great yarns on sale for the knitter on a budget! Here's just a few...
One of our favorite sale yarns is the Tosh Vintage Short Skeins (or Shortys as we so affectionately call them). Just ten yards shorter than the regular Tosh Vintage hanks, these skeins are perfect for the beginner or the seasoned knitter. Worsted weight and perfect for a first-timers ribbed hat or a sweater, this yarn comes in the gorgeous hand-dye colors Madelinetosh is known for, but for 15% off! For you "hurry-up-and-finish-this-gift" knitters, we have the perfect thick and thin yarn for your stash! Euro Yarns Quick & Thick is a bulky weight yarn perfect for the last minute gifts you need to turbo knit. Looking for a quick knit from an organic yarn your fingers are sure to love? We have limited edition colors from Swans Island for 10% off! This natural, bulky weight yarn is sure to knit up in a beautiful tonal mix that will look great on any wearer! Do you like a little funky pizazz in your knitted pieces? The GGH Gracia is just the stuff for you! Soft, squishy and with just the right amount of colorful eyelash fibers, this yarn is sure to brighten up any pattern. Hold this yarn with a heavier weight and you'll add a twist to plain-Jane yarns. Also from GGH, Cappella is the perfect funky yarn for a quick last minute gift. The silky smooth ribbon and fuzzy fur is ideal for a fun scarves! For the budget knitter looking for summertime projects, Loop-d-Loop is perfect for you! One of our newest sale yarns, this line comes with fantastic pattern support! Even better, the pattern books are on sale, too! Moss is a DK weight, extra-fine merino wool blend with a great range of colors! You can make a lightweight summer sweater from Loop-d-Loop Volume 4 or heavy cabled cardigan from Volume 5. Our personal favorite is the River; a cotton and cashmere worsted weight yarn, this would look great knit up as a striped summer tee! The possibilities are endless with Loop-d-Loop - so many wonderful summertime yarns with pattern support to boot. All on sale! |
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There are many ways to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings at Jimmy Beans Wool!
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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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Jimmy Beans Wool
891 Trademark Drive
Reno, NV 89521
Toll Free in U.S. and Canada (877)JBW-KNIT (529-5648)
Phone (775)827-9276
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