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It happens to us all. The moment you kick back and break out your latest WIP, and you realize the notions vital to your project are nowhere to be found... Or you forgot to pick them up on your last LYS visit. Don't let that stop you! We've put together a list of our favorite stand-ins to help you knit no matter what you have... Or don't. ;)
- Waste Yarn - Extra yarn from the tail of your project, waste yarn that somehow ends up in your sweatshirt pocket or the corner of your purse, or even that stray thread slowly unraveling along the hem of a t-shirt, can easily be re-purposed and crafted into makeshift stitch markers or used to hold live stitches.
- Bobby Pins - while they don't make the greatest stitch markers, if you need to mark something, catch a dropped stitch, or weave in some ends, these hairdo helpers come in pretty handy.
- Fingers - did you know that the length between your first and second knuckle of your pointer finger is about an inch? When your measuring tape is nowhere to be found, just use this bit of your digits to get an approximate measurement! Fingers also make great substitute crochet hooks when you need to crochet a chain for a provisional cast on.
- Pens and Pencils - In a pinch, either of these can be used as cable needles. Granted, they don't have the convenience of being double ended so you can knit off of them, but they get the job done!
- Box of Floss - Not only does that little metal floss cutter do a stellar job of cutting yarn, you can use floss for life lines, stitch markers, and for holding live stitches!
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We're celebrating 7 years of amazing hand-dyed Limited Edition colors from Lorna's Laces by bringing back the 7 most popular colors as voted by you! We know it was hard to pick just one color to vote for and that you're all dying to find out the winners. So here they are without any further ado! Runs With Horses was the runaway winner! Hot on its heels and coming in second place was He Who Must Not Be Named. Third place officially goes to December 2013's color The Shire. Sea Turtle Dream, Winter is Coming, The White Witch's Lure, and Royal Wedding rounded out the top 7.
The good folk at Lorna's Laces are busy dusting off the secret recipes for these colors and dyeing up a storm so that we'll have them to ship as soon as possible. In the meantime, all of these colors are now available for pre-order in Shepherd Sock, Shepherd Worsted and Honor, and we'll ship them out on September 1! Thanks so much to everyone who participated. We had a great time in the shop hotly debating our favorite colors, cheering the ones that were winning and bitterly cursing the defeat of the ones that were losing. We hope you all had fun!
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We are thrilled about the new Fall 2014 yarns from Berroco that recently arrived, and we can't wait to share them with you! Andean Mist is a heavenly blend of baby suri alpaca and mulberry silk. This luscious combination gives rise to an irresistible halo and texture that is soft, fuzzy and light as a feather - think Kidsilk Haze, but with suri alpaca instead of mohair. The mulberry silk imparts a lovely sheen and drape, while the alpaca lends luxurious warmth and luster. Andean Mist makes great lightweight accessories with a delicate feel, like the Collier Beret or the Woolner Mitts. Similarly sumptuous, but with more body, Cosma is a sportweight blend of baby alpaca, wool, and silk. |
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For those of you who have moved on to knitting projects for cooler weather, we have two new tweedy yarns you'll definitely want to check out: Mojo and Inca Tweed. Mojo is a super bulky, tweed-tastic wool blend that knits up quickly on size US 15 needles. Its vibrant color combinations make for eye-catching fabrics, while a touch of mohair creates a subtle halo. In addition to Mojo, Berroco has made tweedy magic with Inca Tweed, a tweedy yarn that is both rustic AND soft to the touch. Inca Tweed is a bulky weight blend of highland wool and alpaca, spun into a slightly thick-and-thin yarn with subtle flecks of color. A touch of acrylic and rayon add resilience and sheen, while the wool and alpaca lend warmth and structure. The Inca Tweed Pattern Book has you covered with amazing garments from the Wicklow Pullover to smaller accessories like the Davitt Mitts. The hardest part will be choosing which project to start with! |
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 Blue Sky Alpacas Extra - 3515 North Atlantic $27.80 | Blue Sky Alpacas' new yarn, Extra, is a sumptuous, high-twist blend of baby alpaca and fine merino wool. Lofty and light, each worsted weight hank contains a generous 218 yards - perfect for a multitude of cozy one-skein projects. Recognizing the potential for great accessories made from Extra, Blue Sky Alpacas has created the Destination Collection of patterns using this yummy yarn. From the Sweet Sixteen Hat to the Cane Bay Wrap, there is most certainly a pattern that'll call your name in this classic collection. |  Interweave Crochet - Crochetscene - Special Issue 2014 $6.99 | Interweave's newest special edition magazine, Crochetscene, is making waves! Filled with crochet patterns for men, women and children with all the style and elegance you've come to expect from Interweave, Crochetscene is a must-have for newbies and masters alike. Of all the gorgeous modern patterns, we're particularly enthralled with the Swank Tank featured on the cover. Crocheted in the supreme squishiness of Madelinetosh's Tosh Sport, this openwork tank is great for layering and can even be modified into a dress! |  Adriafil Scozia - 33 Light Blue $7.50 | Adriafil's Scozia might just be the softest, squishiest tweed yarn you can buy! A chunky weight blend of wool, nylon and viscose, Scozia (Italian for "Scotland") features soft flecks of tweed-licious color, bringing to mind traditional Scottish wool. Scozia is a fantastic choice for cozy, long-lasting sweaters like the Bulky Asymmetric Cardigan from Knitting Pure and Simple, or the Sleeveless Pullover from Plymouth! On size 10.5 needles, it'll be one quick knit! Or, grab 3 skeins of your favorite color of Scozia for a tweedy take on the Shawl Collared Cowl from Never Not Knitting. |  5elementknitr Stitch Saver - USD3/3.25mm - Light Blue $7.50 | We're so excited about Stitch Savers from 5elementknitr! We all know how frustrating it can be to drop a stitch while working on a project, but you'll find this new accessory a life saver when knitting on the go. Each colorful handmade keychain comes with a crochet hook and bead embellishment, making the stitch saver both stylish and practical. Pick out the crochet hook size that's right for you and just attach it to your keys or favorite project bag. These little beauties also make great gifts! |  Malabrigo Nube - 416 Indiecita $14.95 | Malabrigo's Nube (Spanish for "cloud") is aptly named - each 4oz braid of pure merino roving is as soft and fluffy as the clouds in the sky. Available in a stunning range of hand-dyed colorways that Malabrigo is famous for, Nube is a wonderful choice for spinning and felting projects. No matter what weight or structure you choose to spin it into, you're sure to love the gorgeous texture of this new roving from Malabrigo. |
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Get ready for some finger-pleasing yarn from Tahki! This fall's line-up includes a range of scrumptious textures - both physical and visual. Mesa was an instant hit here at the shop with its self-striping colorways and uneven twist that gives this worsted weight yarn a hand spun look. Great for sweaters, like the Pleasure Top-Down Tunic
or the Delight Hoodie, as well as accessories such as Bliss Hat and Fingerless Gloves. Mesa is perfect for adding interest to any project!
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Not to be overlooked, Gemini and Zona are sure to inspire many a winter-wear knit. Bulky, but not too heavy (due to its chainette construction), Gemini knits up on big needles and works well for those last minute and instant gratification projects like the Contentment Vest or the Pembroke Shawl by Andrea Rengal. Also lighter than you'd expect, Zona is fun to work with, not only because of its fuzzy texture, but its unique coloration. Also a chainette construction, up close Zona has fine candy-cane-like stripes, but with a little distance; and knit up, the stripes blend together into soft neutral hues with a lot of depth. Use it for cozy sweaters like the Spirit and Confidence pullovers, or wrap up in the Serenity Cowl! |
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Sea Three onesies: 22% off!
We are overjoyed to have Sea Three onesies from Handmaiden! Sea Three is a gorgeous worsted weight yarn composed of 70% silk and 30% Seacell, which gives it lovely drape and sheen. It is perfect for luxurious and elegant accessories like Bandanity Cowl from OneLoopShy or Grace Akhrem's Staggered Ladders Scarf. These skeins are all "onesies", that is to say, one-of-a-kind colors that you won't be finding anywhere else. Be sure to grab your favorites before they disappear!
Lantern Moon accessories: 40% off!
Lantern Moon never ceases to impress us, so we're excited to have some of their wonderful accessories at 40% off! The metal shawl pins from designer Jim Knopf range from elegant double swirls to abstract metal designs. Each unique style would be sure to enhance any shawl or button-less cardigan in your closet. We've also got discontinued prints of the popular Swing Buckets on sale for 40% off as well. These roomy drawstring pouches are just the thing for toting around your favorite project, and with four outside pockets you'll have plenty of room for several other necessities!
Koigu Grab Bags: 25% Off!
Here at JBW, we can't resist Koigu in any form. We were delighted to receive some one-of-a-kind skeins of KPM and KPPPM at a great price. We've sorted the skeins by color family and assembled them into grab bags so you can snag your favorite color and go! While you might not know exactly what colors you'll get in your bag, you can be sure to get skeins in colorways that suit your tastes. These grab bags are great for stocking your stash or adding variety to your Beekeeper's Quilt. Or, since each bag contains 3 skeins, you've got the perfect amount to make the Koigu Koigu Linen Stitch Scarf from Churchmouse!
Erin McMorris Fabric: 50ish% off!
We've still got some great collections in stock from Erin McMorris, so take advantage while you can. Known for her whimsical prints and bold use of color, Erin McMorris's fabrics add a bit of cheerful whimsy to any sewing project. Her Astrid Collection features high-contrast geometrics that were inspired by a visit to Scandinavia, known for its crisp, linear designs and minimalist simplicity. Moxie is filled with bright prints full of all the pop and sparkle you've come to expect from Erin McMorris.
Be Sweet Whipped Cream: 50% off!
Be Sweet Whipped Cream is a heavenly aran-weight yarn composed of kid mohair, wool, and silk. This mixture of fibers gives Whipped Cream strength, durability, and a heavenly halo, making it perfect for sophisticated accessories like the Keystone Hat. You'd only need 2 skeins for the Knit Red Cabled Mitts! Whipped Cream isn't just great for accessories, though. It's also perfect for layering garments like the Enchanted Pullover with its luscious, lacy yoke! At 50% off, now is the perfect time to splurge on this gorgeous yarn for a larger project.
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 Jenn's Broome Cowl | Jenn couldn't resist making this quick-knit cowl on chunky needles out of Malabrigo Rasta. While she usually avoids working with single-ply yarns (she's really hard on her projects!!), she liked the fluffy way the Rasta knit up on the US 17 and 19 needles. Taken from Malabrigo Book 5, the Broome Cowl is a stylish super chunky accessory that's made for Malabrigo's wild colors! Best of all, it only takes 2 skeins so it's great for a last-minute gift. |
 Leanne's Stormborn Shawl | Leanne couldn't wait to cast on the for 2014 Game of Thrones KAL, and the lovely result was her Stormborn Shawl. She used 2 skeins of the limited edition colorway 'Fire and Blood' in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, but you could use any color that strikes your fancy. The Stormborn Shawl pattern is available on Ravelry and was designed by Marinade Designs, also known as our very own Kristen! |
 Erika's Zelda Wrap | Erika just had to knit the gorgeous Zelda Wrap from Blue Sky Alpacas. Although the pattern originally calls for Metalico, she chose to substitute with 5 balls of Juniper Moon Farm's Tenzing in color 11 and she couldn't be happier with the results. This squishy, textured wrap is fast becoming a favorite around the shop because it makes such a stylish wardrobe addition. Erika says the texture did take a bit of concentration to keep her place in the pattern while knitting, but we think the finished result is completely worth it! |
 Leanne's Augusta Shawl | Leanne found the pattern for the Augusta Shawl on Ravelry for free and decided that it was just the thing to crochet while she was sick. Don't worry, she's all better now! Leanne grabbed some yarn that she had in her stash, and finished this gorgeous shawl over a weekend. The pattern originally calls for 5 solid colors of Manos del Uruguay Serena, but Leanne cheated a bit and used one skein of Mushishi in color #11 - Sea, which is gorgeously variegated on its own!
Since Mushishi is slightly thicker than what the pattern calls for, she went up several hook sizes (I instead of D) so the finished product wouldn't be too stiff. Great job, Leanne! |
 Jenn's Owlie Sleep Sack | Jenn is expecting her first child and couldn't resist making this adorable sleep sack! The Owlie Sleep Sack is a free pattern on Ravelry that features adorable owl cables and a simple stockinette body. Since Jenn wanted it to be easily washable, she grabbed some Cascade 220 Superwash and got busy! She says that it was great TV knitting since the body is done in stockinette in the round. It only takes one skein so it's perfect for gifts! In fact, Jenn is currently knitting another one as a gift for a friend whose due date is the same day as hers!
We just want to pass along the designer's warning that the baby should not sleep in the sleep sack unattended! |
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Can you believe Jimmy Beans Wool has been in Reno for 10 years now? We had a great time celebrating with talks from Susan Gibbs of Juniper Moon Farms, tours of the JBW warehouse, photos in the yarn garden, yummy refreshments, spinning and weaving demonstrations, and Terry's free class on the Courtland Fingerless Mitts. Thanks so much to everyone who turned out to help us celebrate! Here's to another 10 years in Reno!
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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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