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Rowan-mania recently hit many of us here at Jimmy Beans Wool, and as a result, we've flooded our Project Log with tons of knits using our favorite Rowan yarns. Of course we couldn't help but share! We hope you enjoy seeing our handiwork and find some knitspiration as well! Rachel's Rowan Fine Tweed Peerie Flooers Mitts | As part of our Rowan knit-stravaganza, Rachel knit these Peerie Flooers Mitts by Kate Davies. Aren't they ADORABLE??? She used Rowan Fine Tweed in 7 different colors for the Fair Isle, and a small amount of Rowan Fine Lace for the lining of the cuff. To make the mittens a bit shorter to fit her hands, Rachel omitted the last full flower repeat of the mitten body, meaning her decrease section started with blue flowers instead of red and there are two flowers at the top instead of just 1. Rachel had a ball knitting these mittens - she can't wait to cast on for the matching Peerie Flooers Hat! |
Bethany's Swift Dress for Penne | This cute little baby dress from Rowan Just Baby was a fun and easy project for Bethany! The Baby Merino Silk DK is really nice to work with and feels great against little ones' skin. Bethany knit this for her daughter Penne, who is just a little over a year old. She chose to omit the sleeves, making it more appropriate for the weather we have here in Nevada. She also chose a contrast color for the pocket and edging around the neck and armholes. This size is the 2 year size so that Penne can get tons of wear out of it over the next year! We think this turned out super cute! |
Shannon's Terra Shawl | Shannon just loves the Terra Shawl pattern from Brooklyn TBeansWool.com/knitting/yarn/Rowan/FeltedTweed.asp">Felted Tweed, she had to jump on it! Shannon chose the Phantom color, which is beautiful and perfectly neutral, making it easy to wear with just about anything! |
Kaylynn's Nezbit Baby Blanket | Kaylynn is expecting a little one soon, and couldn't help but make her first knitting project a blanket inspired by the Nesbit blanket from Rowan's Just Baby! This cute striped blanket is sure to keep baby warm and toasty. Kaylynn is a brand new knitter, and she had lots of help on this project from one of her knitting friends who just had to support her in creating something special to bring home her little bundle of joy in! To make this project a bit easier, she knit the entire pattern in K2, P2 rib for a soft and squishy blanket in Rowan's Baby Merino Silk DK. We think this is a beautiful first knitting project! Way to go Kaylynn! |
Emily's Jada Shrug | Emily knit this darling shrug with Rowan Creative Linen in the cheery Sunflower color. The pattern is from the Rowan Lenpur Linen Collection, which is now discontinued. The original pattern calls for Rowan Lenpur Linen (which is also discontinued), but the Creative Linen makes a great substitute if you happen to have the pattern! We think Emily's shrug turned out beautifully and can't wait to see her wear it around the shop this summer! |
Brooke's Snow Hat and Neckwarmer | When several of the gals here at JBW decided to knit this cute little convertible hat and neckwarmer from the Winter Warmers book with Rowan Lima, Brooke couldn't resist joining in the fun! This easy and fast project just takes 2 balls of Lima and can be worn as either a cowl as Brooke is wearing it here, or with the ribbons cinched as a slouchy hat. What a fun and versatile project to make for yourself or give as a gift! |
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In the fiber arts world, Rowan Yarns has a history that spans four decades; although they began as a weaving company in the 1970s, they soon branched out into a producer of fine yarns for hand-knitting with the help of a special pattern kit they developed with none other than Kaffe Fassett! The Super Triangles Coat kit was an instant hit and catapulted the company into the world of creating specialty yarns that are now sold across the globe. | |
Many superstar designers have gotten their start by designing for Rowan, including Debbie Bliss, Louisa Harding, Erika Knight, Martin Storey, Kim Hargreaves, Sarah Hatton, and Josh Bennett, to name just a few. With distinctive designs from these innovative minds, Rowan began producing their now-famous line of knitting magazines and firmly established themselves as industry standards in both quality and high fashion.
| Along the way, the folks at Rowan have proven themselves to be pioneers in the field with initiatives like their substantial publishing program, including their twice-yearly magazine - currently at number 53; their association with the Campaign for Wool in the UK and annual participation in Wool Week, and their UK Design Consultancy program complete with representatives who visit stores, provided expert advice, teach classes and workshops, and host in-store events for crafters of all experience levels. Their partnerships with distributors around the globe has given them even further reach into the crafting world, and they remain a trusted source with a dedicated following of knitters, crocheters, weavers, and other fiber artists the world over. |
Thank you for joining us this month as we celebrate Rowan Yarns and their contribution to our craft! |
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We love functional items for the home, which is why we were so excited when Kristen came up with this gorgeous Ombre Tapis ("tapis" being French for "rug") using Rowan's new All Seasons Chunky yarn! This versatile 2x3' rug can be used in many areas of your home-as a kitchen rug, bath mat, entry rug, or in the bedroom. Best of all, it's colorful enough to match with a variety of color schemes, and easy to customize to fit your needs. | |
The pattern uses just eight balls of the Rowan All Seasons Chunky (which is super sturdy and machine washable) and the skeins are held double to create a lovely and subtle ombre - or shaded - effect. The rug is knit on US size 15 needles, making it a super speedy project as well! Kristen's inspiration for the project stems from a rag rug her mother made years ago. She remembers how many hours were spent braiding the strips of fabric together until there was enough length to sew together for a proper sized rug. It was used in her family's kitchen for years, and her mom still has it and uses it regularly. Kristen's colorful ombre rug was inspired by the colors of that original rug, but updated into a style that could be easily made by any knitter. The simple seed stitch pattern adds texture and loft, but makes it easy and accessible even for beginning knitters. Kits are available to make Kristen's version of the rug, or mix and match 8 colors of your own choosing to create your custom rug. We hope you'll enjoy using this lovely "Tapis" in your home! |
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You know the old saying "April showers bring May flowers"; well, even though we haven't had many spring showers here in Reno, we've certainly been inspired by flowers! We used them in our popular Mother's Day Bouquets, and now they're all over our Limited Edition Denise2Go sets for this month! The cheerful, brightly colored flowers on Jenean Morrison's In My Room fabric line are the perfect choice for the May Denise2Go Forget-Me-Not sets, and even the names of the prints are sweet and summery: Daydream and Hideaway! Pairing them with green cords reminded us of happy little flower stems. We hope they will remind you of all the fantastic projects you can complete on-the-go with this pint-sized but useful set!
The Denise2Go set is an essential, no-frills tool for any knitter who enjoys being able to knit anywhere, anytime. It comes with six pairs of needle tips in the most popular sizes, US 5 through US 10, three cords (14", 16", and 19" lengths), plus a cord extender. It also includes 2 cord end caps and a handy crochet hook! All of these knitting must-haves roll up into a charming little bundle that fits easily in a knitting bag, purse, or pocket.
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Knit One, Crochet Too is back at Jimmy Beans! We just couldn't resist picking up some of their delicious new yarns and patterns, and we knew you'd love them as much as we do! Crock-O-Dye might sound dangerous, but we promise it won't bite; this sumptuous, squishy, superwash blend of wool, nylon, and silk is kettle-dyed - resulting in gorgeous, one-of-a-kind skeins in a palette of beautiful, saturated hues. It's perfect for socks, like the Knit One, Crochet Too Texas Hold 'Em socks, a set of four designs that mimic playing card suits: hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades! We're sure they'll make your toes extra lucky. Crock-O-Dye is also great for light shawlettes, like the Sea Lettuce Shawl. The other amazing yarn we received is silky-soft Cozette. It's a fingering-weight blend of silk and cotton with wonderful drape and a beautiful sheen. We love how it feels in the hand - cool and comfortable, exactly the type of yarn you'd want to use for warm-weather knits. Try it for a summer top, like the On The Rocks tank, or a fluttery shawl like the Lacy Owls Shawl. Just try not to flutter away! |
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Dusk Into Twilight Shawl $7.50 | The newest installment in Romi Hill's Shawl Series, Home is Where the Heart Is, has arrived! Dusk Into Twilight is perhaps her most impressive yet in the series. Using three colors of Lorna's Laces Solemate (shown in Bigger On The Inside, Dobson and Kerfuffle), the design features large, swooping bands of color in varying widths that draw the eye upward and outward - just as the fading evening light draws the eye toward the sky. The light and dark purples and blues are reminiscent of a peaceful summer evening with the day's last light dappling the grass, or banks of clouds skimming the night sky. We hope you will be as inspired by this striking shawl as we are! | Rowan Fine Art - 303 Waxwing $29.95 | Rowan is a trendsetter in the yarn world, so it's no surprise that they've created a new yarn that's sure to turn heads everywhere! Rowan Fine Art is a yummy blend of 45% Merino Wool, 25% Polyamide, 20% Kid Mohair, and 10% Mulberry Silk in a fingering weight. Along with a lightweight but warm feel, it has just a hint of shimmer that sets it apart from other sock yarns. It'll make your toes glimmer, but it's also great for little shawls or scarves - try it for the Churchmouse Classics Crocheted Moebius Cowl! | All For Love Of Yarn Opulence Fingering - Spring Meadow $28.00 | We all fell in love with All For Love of Yarn's Opulence Fingering yarn when Romi Hill used it for her Coyote Trail Shawl, but now there's even more reason to love it: new colors! Bright, beautiful, super-saturated hues make this merino wool, cashmere, and nylon blend pop; they're so vivid and delicious-looking, they almost make your mouth water! (Of course, maybe that's just a yarn addict like me!) We think Lighthouse and Symphony would be fun together - how about in another Romi shawl like Taygete? | 101 Crochet One Skein Wonders $18.95 | Judith Durant's One-Skein Wonders series is enduringly popular, and for good reason: who doesn't love over a hundred wonderful projects that use just one skein? It's the perfect way to use up all that stash yarn you bought without a set project in mind which now languishes in your closet. A new addition to the series makes it easy for crocheters to get in on the game: 101 Crochet One-Skein Wonders ! Adorable projects like beanies, bags, and stuffed animals are sure to delight and make wonderful gifts. Let's pick up that hook and get going! |
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| The MKAL of Ice and Fire has already come to an end, but now you can have access to the fully edited version of the KAL pattern- Arya's Water Dancer Cowl! Kristen designed this cowl with one of her favorite characters from the Song of Ice and Fire series in mind-Arya Stark-the feisty and not-so-ladylike daughter of Eddard Stark, the Lord of Winterfell. Instead of learning to sew and stitch like a proper lady, her favorite type of "needle" is her sword, gifted to her by a beloved sibling as a parting gift. |
Soon enough, Arya convinces her father to let her take "dancing" lessons to learn to wield her "needle" with skill and grace. This hooded cowl is inspired by a garment that Arya might have worn while sneaking around Flea Bottom (the not-so-nice part of the capital city) or while on the road home to Winterfell. The long cowl is shaped with short rows that give the tube a natural curve to fit your head a bit more snugly. The bottom portion splits and can either be worn fully buttoned or open over the shoulders. The bottom edges feature a Birds-Eye Lace pattern that almost looks like chain mail, something that Arya would wear someday if she ever could possiblecome a knight. The cowl uses just two skeins of the deliciously soft single ply Lorna's Laces Haymarket , and although the special "Winter is Coming" color is no longer available, there are plenty of other lovely colors to choose from. Be sure to check out our kits for Arya's Water Dancer Cowl! |
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More Tosh Onesies: 15% Off! If you haven't snapped up any of the Madelinetosh Onesies yet, you are certainly missing out! These little gems are dyed in Madelinetosh's regular amazing yarn bases, but were not quite perfect when they came out of the dye vats - which means everyone saves a little dough! Don't let the dye job fool you, though; these skeins are some of the most beautiful and unique that we've ever seen! Our most recent shipment of Onesies contained just about every base of Tosh you could imagine, including Tosh Chunky, Pashmina Worsted, Tosh Merino and Tosh Merino DK, Tosh Vintage, Tosh DK, Tosh Sport, Tosh Sock, and of course Tosh Merino Light - our best-selling yarn. These won't last long - so be sure to grab your favorite colors before they disappear! Araucania Ruca: Now 48% Off! Soft and silk-like, Auraucania Ruca is perfect for those drapey summer knits! In a mix of tonal and variegated colors, Ruca has a subtle sheen that adds a little bit of elegance to whatever you create. What makes this yarn so unique is that it's made of 100% sugar viscose-a natural fiber made from sugar cane! It would be wonderful for some sweet (pun intended) summer tops like Knitting Pure and Simple's Top-Down V-Neck Pullover or Grace Akhrem's Aviva Tank. If accessories are more your "thing", how about Indigirl's Asking for Roses Shawl or Laura Nelkin's Aventina Scarf? Any way you knit it, Ruca is sure to be a new favorite! Lorna's Laces Black Sheep: 50% Off! This hard-wearing wool and viscose blend is a Jimmy Beans exclusive, dyed especially for us by Lorna's Laces in some of your favorite colorways. This unique yarn has a subtle thick-thin texture and features 2 plies, one solid black, the other colorfully dyed for a sharp contrast of colors that works up into a one-of-a-kind fabric of depth and distinction. Use Black Sheep for hats, cardigans, mitts or a simple cowl! We love it for Knitting Pure and Simple's Top Down Drape Front Cardi, or the Brooklyn Tweed Eternity Scarf. Twilight Was $19.90 Now $9.95 (50% off!) | Chocolate Was $19.90 Now $9.95 (50% off!) | Tahoe Was $19.90 Now $9.95 (50% off!) | Tuscany Was $19.90 Now $9.95 (50% off!) |
Euro Baby Cuddly Cotton: 48% Off! As soft as baby's skin, Euro Baby Cuddly Cotton is as nice as can be! This 100% cotton DK weight yarn is machine-washable and perfect for all kinds of baby and adult items. Each skein contains a generous amount of yardage, enough for a small sweater or a hat and booties. Five skeins make a baby blanket. Available in a range of traditional pastels and a selection of variegated hues, there is a little something for everyone with Cuddly Cotton! Classic Elite closeouts: Starting at 43% off! We are always so thrilled to receive Classic Elite yarn closeouts. High quality, a range of fibers, and gorgeous color palettes make CEY some of the best in the business. This time around we have Avenue (a merino blend tweed), Katydid (100% organic cotton ribbon), Wool Bhref="https://www.JimmyBeansWool.com/knitting/yarn/ClassicElite/Pebbles.asp">Pebbles (a soft textured cotton blend) at 43% (or more) off! Not only that, but we have a selection of some corresponding CEY Pattern Booklets on sale too! You'll find plenty of knit and crochet inspiration with these new sale yarns from Classic Elite! |
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I find choosing colors the most difficult part of any project I do. I've been in the midst of choosing interior paint colors, and it has occurred to me that I've been using similar criteria that I often suggest to customers when they have trouble choosing colors.
Color experts tend to divide color as follows:
Pure, bold colors - winter
Pure, clear colors - summer
Pastels which are pure colors diluted with white - spring
Muted colors which are pure colors with a touch of black added - autumn
White - clean, fresh, new
Black - depending on what it's paired with, it can be basic, formal, dramatic, business like, bold
These aren't hard and fast categories, as colors fade from one category to another with many shades in between just as the colors in a rainbow fade from one color to the next.
What feelings or emotions do you want to evoke? Think of which colors you associate with those feelings. Different people will have different ideas about which colors evoke which feelings. Ask yourself the following questions:
Will this be a winter garment or a summer garment?
Will this be the main color or an accent color?
What other colors will likely be worn with it?
What colors do you like?
Finally, ask the opinion of several people, make sure you ask people who don't know you and those who do know you. Which colors make your skin tone perk up and your eyes the first thing someone looks at? Don't be afraid to try new colors. Sometimes that color you would never wear is the perfect accent color in a project to punch it up and take it from pretty to spectacular!
Happy coloring your world!!!
Terry
For more help, you can send an email to askTerry@JimmyBeansWool.com. |
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Jimmy Beans Wool
4850 Joule St. Ste A1
Reno, NV 89502
Toll Free (877)JBW-KNIT (529-5648)
Phone (775)827-9276
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