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August 2015 Lorna's Laces Limited Edition Release
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It's no secret that our Sandy is in love with all things Scottish; whether she's sporting a Fair Isle tam, singing Scottish ballads around the warehouse, or showing off her cutout of handsome Jamie in his kilt, it's clear this lady has a special love for the Land of Lochs!
She and her "jo" (that's Scottish for BFF), Jeanne, have been planning a wool-centric tour of Shetland for years, and last month, they finally realized their dream! (Read more about their adventures at the end of this newsletter.)
 | Sandy, Jeanne, and Laura headed off for the Shetland Isles, and we headed to Lorna's with a request: create a color to commemorate their awesome journey! Sandy Goes to Scotland is a gorgeous mix of mossy greens and heathery purples inspired by the colors of the Scottish thistle, and we have it in Helen's Lace, Honor, Masham Worsted, Shepherd Worsted, Solemate, Shepherd Sock, Sportmate, and Shepherd Sport! |
To make this month's color extra-memorable, Rachel and Kristen each designed something special and Sandy-inspired: Rachel created the Arisaid Shawl, a beautiful broken-cable shawl in warm and cozy Masham, and Kristen knit up the soft and sporty eyelet Sandy's Scotland Hat in Sportmate! We've made kits for each of the designs that include the yarn and a Ravelry download code for the pattern; 100% of the profits from these kits will go to Cast Off Chemo, an organization that raises money for cancer research through the SD Ireland Fund. |  |
 | You may remember that this is the fund to which we've been donating all profits from the sale of our special Lorna's colorway, Go, Sandy, Go (pictured left in the Sandy's Scotland Hat ), in all the bases we carry, as a tribute to Sandy's ongoing treatment for recurring endometrial cancer. On top of that, Rachel and Kristen have pledged to donate 50% of their Ravelry pattern sales as well! |
As another special treat, Leticia at Spark has created coordinating, snag-free stitch markers to match the beautiful Sandy Goes to Scotland colorway! In solidarity with this month's donation efforts, she's also agreed to contribute a generous portion of her profits to the Cast Off Chemo project. Awesome! |  |
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 | We're halfway through our Make it Laceweight event on Ravelry - have you joined in on the fun yet? Ravelers are filling up the project page with their gorgeous creations in laceweight yarn: Some are knitting, some crocheting, some are striping, others stranding... However you choose to work your laceweight yarn, join the group and tag your project with the "GoAheadMakeLaceweight" tag, and you'll be entered in our drawing for some great prizes! If you're looking for ideas, we have a few! |
Heather loves the look of long and loopy cowls, so she created the Blueshift Loop! It's a quick knit on size US 8 needles; alternating single and double-stranded sections create a subtle striped effect, and the pattern includes instructions for 2 widths and optional lace elements! It's lightweight enough for warm-weather wear, it uses just one skein of yarn for either version (or two skeins to make one of each to wear as pictured), and best of all, the pattern is free with purchase of one hank of Madelinetosh Prairie Short Skeins through the End of August! If you've already got some yarn in mind, you can also purchase the pattern on Ravelry for $4. |  |
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 | With all our talk about lace this summer, and since we're right in the middle of our Make it Laceweight event on Ravelry, we'd be remiss if we didn't talk about blocking! Blocking is a funny word for a fantastic practice: dampening your knitting, then shaping it while it dries to bring out an intricate pattern, achieve proper dimensions, or accentuate the natural beauty of the fibers. |
Wetting and drying your yarn fibers can greatly change the feel of a garment: scratchy wools soften, natural fibers bloom, and stiff plant fibers become flexible.
You really don't know your yarn until you block it - so, here's how! First, you'll want to wet your knitted item; delicate fibers like angora, silk, or cashmere might need just a light spritzing from a spray bottle, but sturdier wools do best with a good soak in some tepid water and a little no-rinse wool wash, like Soak or Eucalan. Gently squeeze out the water, roll in a towel to soak up excess, and then you're ready to block! |
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 | Start your blocking adventure with a set of Blocking Mats! Sure, you can pin your project out on the bed (and we've all done it!), but these foam interlocking blocks can be combined in a variety of ways to fit any project, and they hold onto rust-proof T-Pins with ease, meaning no more pins lost in the mattress! For simple projects, space your pins evenly along the perimeter of the item. |
For projects that require more aggressive blocking, or where you want nice, straight edges, Lace Blocking Wires are the answer:
Simply slip them through the edges of your project and hold in place with pins, as Kristen did for the Kidsilk Haze Color Block Wrap in this photo.
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 | If you really want to make it easy on yourself, pick up a set of Knit Blockers! These ingenious little devices feature sturdy plastic pieces attached to a number of pins, so you can pin larger sections of your project at a time. They even have anchor holes so you can attach a string to two blockers and use it as a blocking wire by threading it through the edge of your project! |
Heather used this technique when blocking her Blueshift Loop to keep the long edges nice and straight. Sweet! For even more info on blocking, check out the handy Blocking Videos on our Instructional page! |
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Small shawls are still all the rage this year - we don't see this trend ending anytime soon! But have you tried knitting a Curl? Hunter Hammersen's book, Curls, will teach you how to build one of your very own! Each Curl is knit section by section to create an elongated triangle (with many variations), resulting in a beautiful, wearable small scarf-shawl hybrid that curls gently around the neck and hugs the shoulders without needing pins, sticks, or acrobatics to keep it in place!
All 14 gorgeous patterns in Curls can be knit up at any gauge and in any yarn, so you can customize them and even use up those "special" single skeins in your stash!
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 | Here are some of our favorites to get you inspired! The Filemot Curl (pictured top right) features an all-over fishtail lace pattern in soft, springy, silky Spud and Chloe Fine - we love it! The Cerise Curl (top left) is as simple as can be in a garter-stitch variation pattern, just perfect for showing off a gorgeous yarn like Road to China Light! DK-weight Baah Yarn Sonoma gives the Gridelin Curl (bottom right) extra warmth and coziness, and the cabled Icterine Curl (bottom left) is absolutely luxurious in Madelinetosh Pashmina! |
Leanne has started on an open-work Infuscate Curl in Fable Fibers Novel, and she can't wait to get it around her neck! Which one will you try? |
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 | Are you still looking for inspiration for our Make it Laceweight event on Ravelry this month? Carol Sulcoski's new book, Lace Yarn Studio, is full of ideas! The brains behind Black Bunny Fibers leaves no stone unturned in her lace explorations, and we can't wait to join her! From lacy tops and shawls to home décor items, she's got patterns small and large for any taste and any amount of yarn: |
Not many things are cozier than a knitted scarf or cowl in a soft, lofty boucle yarn - ready to start on yours? Pick up some Crystal Palace Inca Clouds! This bulky-weight yarn is a warm and squishy blend of alpaca, merino, nylon, and acrylic with a pleasantly nubbly, boucle texture. It's also available in gorgeous, color-changing shades: check out Inca Clouds Self Striping! Just 2 balls will knit up into a lovely, chevron-patterned Clouds and Fog Scarf! |  |
 | We first heard of Fiber Dreams Patterns when a customer brought in a Birdsfoot Fern scarf she was working on, and it was love at first sight! Designer Laura Patterson has a great eye for attractive design elements, and she puts texture and lace to good work in her delightful patterns. The In The Woods is another shop favorite, and it would look absolutely stunning in hand-dyed Madelinetosh Tosh Lace! |
We also love the Ione Shawlette; it's a long and lacy crescent designed to be wrapped around your neck in soft folds, and the simple but striking leaf-lace patterning will show off your favorite hand-dyed yarn beautifully! We already love HiKoo CoBaSi for stretchy, lightweight, soft, and durable knits, but now there's a bigger brother to love: CoBaSi DK! It's the same great blend of Cotton, Bamboo, and Silk with just a touch of Nylon for amazing spring to make sure those sweaters keep their shape, wash after wash! |  |
It's perfect for kids' garments and accessories - just imagine how adorable that little guy would look in the Gramps Cardigan from Tot Toppers! Or, for the grownups, check out the Sporty Summer Pullover for both men and women - a free pattern from the latest Skacel Magalog!  | Squeeeee! Have you seen Plymouth Yarnimals? Don't look - they're just too cute to handle! These ingenious kits include enough yarn to knit or crochet a child-size ear-flap hat, plus the pre-crocheted face details and braids with tassels for the earflaps. It couldn't be easier, and they're just $10! Choose from either a Monkey or an Owl hat in various colors to suit whatever little animal you're making it for! |
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Light and lacy crochet projects are in this summer, and Nazli Gelin's got the goods to get you outfitted in a gorgeous top or dress in no time! Original Garden 10 makes the lightest garments, and this laceweight cotton crochet thread is available in over 50 colors to suit any fancy. Use it for a Leaf Lace Cardigan to wear over your favorite sundress all season long! For even more inspiration, check out the Nazli Garden Books!
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Garden 5 is one step heavier; it's comparable to a fingering weight thread, perfect for a summery top! How about the Inspired Dolman, a free pattern from Universal Yarns that combines Garden 5 and Rozetti Cotton Gold for a bit of sparkle? |
Last but not least, Garden 3 is the quickest one of all at a sport weight: Crochet the gorgeous Bodrum Beach Cover-Up and get out to the beach or pool in no time! Choosing your favorites from the 25 colors available is the really hard part! |  |
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 | August's Kit of the Month is all about color, so you know we thought of Noro yarns first! The Midori Top from the Kibou Book by Claudia Wersing is as bright and refreshing as a sweet summer popsicle, and just as colorful knit up in long-striping Noro Kibou! The light, well-balanced blend of cotton, wool, and silk in this DK-weight delight will make sure you stay cool, and the relaxed, tunic-style shape is perfect for wearing over shorts or summer skirts alike. |
Choose any of the 10-plus eye-pleasing colorways and create your new favorite summer garment - the Midori Top kit is 20% off all August long! |
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Tosh Speckled Onesies - 15% off!
After our celebration of all things hand-dyed this summer, we were thrilled to receive a special shipment of Madelinetosh Onesies in stunning speckled shades: These skeins came out a little differently than they dyers expected, but they're no less beautiful - they're just less expensive! We love that each speckled onesie is like its own small work of art, and you'll love turning them into works of knitted art for yourself! Go ahead, inspect the speckles: Holi Festival, Cosmic Wonder Dust, Modern Fair Isle, and Optic!
Sublime Sale Yarns - from 40% off!
Our Sublime sale shipment is burning up the shelves, but there's still some left so you can stock up! Sublime Extra Fine Merino Lace is as lovely as it sounds - 100% deliciously-soft merino wool in a weightless laceweight perfect for shawls, cowls, and accessories - and you won't find it at this price again!
Wool, cotton, and baby llama come together in Luxurious Aran Tweed to create a gorgeously textured and soft yarn perfect for winter sweaters - and select colors are priced to sell in sweater quantity! And Lustrous Extra Fine Merino DK is ready and waiting to add a subtle shimmer to your next shawl - choose as simple a pattern as you want, because this beautiful yarn does all the heavy lifting!
Crystal Palace Sale - 50% off!
Crystal Palace just inundated us with a great shipment of delicious sale yarns! Merino 5
is our new favorite for warm sweaters, hats, and scarves: it's squishy, soft, and machine-washable! With our love of everything sparkly, you know we can't get enough Moonshine - this great mohair blend has the sparkles spun right in... it would look great in your Swirl Jacket! And select colors of sale Sausalito have all the right stuff for your next long-striping color-change shawl or cowl. Gorgeous!
Swans Island Onesies - 35% off!
You know we love our onesies here at Jimmy Beans - stunning yarns that weren't colored to the dyer's standards, but are beautiful by our book! And now, we have the rare opportunity to stock up on some gorgeous skeins from one of our favorite natural dyers: Swans Island! These one-of-a-kind wonders in naturally dyed, organic merino wool are available in Bulky, Worsted, Fingering, and Lace, and we even have some skeins of machine-washable EcoWash Aran and EcoWash DK as well! Grab some before they're gone!
Muench String of Pearls - 60% off!
Muench doesn't mess around when it comes to novelty yarns - they've got the best in the business! And we've got a great stash of over a dozen colors of String of Pearls on sale! This cotton blend has subtle sheen and an interesting texture: tubular cotton is spun with shiny polyester and rayon strands to create a delicate shimmer in the fabric. Use it for summer tops like the Basic Shell from Knitting Pure and Simple, or the crocheted Sage and Beige Wrap from Francine TouKou.
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Many of you know that Sandy and Jeanne had to put off their trip to Scotland and Shetland last fall so that Sandy could begin chemotherapy. Once her treatments were completed, they began discussing their trip again... and this time Laura joined in!
The three of them had a fabulous time on their journey to the far-flung windy isles of Shetland, and we wanted to share a couple of the highlights with you!
 | Upon arrival in Scotland, our trio of travelers hit the town in Edinburgh for some sightseeing with none other than the lovely Ysolda! She gave a great tour of her favorite parts of the city, and Sandy and Jeanne were thrilled to get to meet her in person.
Next, they headed to the Shetland Isles for a 6-day Shetland Wool Holiday tour. They learned all about the history and tradition of Shetland Wool, Fair Isle knitting, and they even took classes with the amazing Hazel Tindall and Donna Smith!
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At the Shetland Wool museum, Laura became fascinated by the woven Taatit rugs and bedcovers that were symbolic of the ancient belief systems in Shetland. Not only are they beautiful, but they served a purpose in warding off evils during the night. Sandy's favorite part of the trip was the visit to Jamieson and Smith, THE place to get all of your traditional Shetland wool yarn. Of course she came home with some delightful goodies, including some amazing Shetland Supreme Laceweight yarn and a couple of Shetland Lace knitting patterns that she can't wait to cast on! They also got to tour Jamieson's spinning mill and factory (not to be confused with Jamieson & Smith), where they saw amazing Fair Isle designs being knit on huge machines! So cool! |  |
Did we mention that she finished her Sacred Circle in a gorgeous Fyberspates Cashmere just in time for her trip? Jeanne was able to snap some stunning photos of her modeling it while in Shetland. What a way to commemorate her journey! (On a hilarious note, she spent a good deal of her trip searching for her "Jaime," she says there were a few contenders for sure!)
All in all, these ladies had a truly amazing adventure and can't wait to go back! To schedule your own Wool Holiday, check out the Shetland Wool Week website for upcoming dates!
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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
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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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