This year, we've been seeing some pretty tasty trends making their rounds on the internet as well as in our day-to-day lives.

A good GRADIENT is always a satisfying thing to look at: watching each color melt into another tone, tint, or totally different hue is therapeutic! Gradients and fades exist just about everywhere, both appearing organically and being made by hand, so it was only a matter of time for them to come and bask in the spotlight.

As the seasons have been changing, so has the yarn on our hooks and needles. While chunky wool and bulky merino blends are widely loved, COTTON and LINEN have taken charge with an explosion of summery patterns and kits! With each fiber having a natural beauty combined with a balanced structure, it would be hard to keep these yarns out of our projects this season!

CROCHET has made its way back into the public eye with celebrities and models sporting this craft on the stage and catwalk as well as getting a modern love from designers on Ravelry. While crafters have been crocheting for a long time, the art of crochet has come into a renaissance of sorts with oodles of fresh, eye-catching patterns!

Down below, we've broken down each trend for you in an easy to follow way; this includes patterns and yarn suggestions to help keep your wardrobe fun, fresh, and fabulous!

The biggest trend we've seen is the resurgence of fades and gradients that make quite the spectacle of a project! One of the most popular ways of creating a fade is to use multiple skeins of hand dyed yarn such as Madelinetosh or Hedgehog Fibres to make it blend in just the way YOU want it to. No two hanks of hand dyed yarn are identical (like a fingerprint for your needles and hooks), which adds to the individuality of the piece you are creating!

Now, we can't mention fades without talking about Drea Renee Knits by Andrea Mowry. Taking the crafting world by storm, Andrea Mowry came out with a scrumptious selection of fabulous fades back in late 2016 and mid-2017 that we just can't get enough of (seriously, we're STILL drooling over them)! Since then, we've seen quite a few fade kits like the Koigu Gradient Family Pack as well as the Malabrigo Worsted Merino Gradient Set, making your workload easier for a gorgeous, hand-painted gradient!

Sometimes matching colors can be an exhausting and challenging task (unless, of course, you like the challenge, then props to you!). Luckily, yarns such as the Freia Yarn Bomb and Scheepjes Whirl have got you covered by having a spiraling, swirling gradient in each cake ready to use right away. Cakes such as these were made with uniform gradients in mind and won't color pool, making the fade in your project seamless (literally)!

Summer Blendin'!

It's no surprise that lightweight, breezy yarns are currently at the forefront of every crafter's stash. The sweltering summer months call for breathable blends that feel nice to wear and won't weigh us down.

Cotton is the first material a lot of people think of when we say lightweight, as it feels nice against the skin while still being positively perfect for warm weather wear. Cotton yarn is also pretty dang durable without losing its super soft charm, it's almost like magic!

Linen is a close second when it comes to notable summer yarns. This fiber is another highly-breathable and strong material, so its versatility is limitless. Linen is also a naturally hypoallergenic and structurally sound fiber (fun fact: it's stronger when wet!); it can result in divine drape while also softening with each wash!

Did you know that bamboo is naturally antibacterial? It inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria (bambooya!) which is always a plus in the summer. This strong yarn is flexible and has a glossy sheen, making it a stunning addition to anyone's project!

Lookin' for something a little bit more delicate? Want even more drape in your project? Silk is a fantastic natural fiber with an elegant shine and surprising strength! While it can feel a little slippery, silk is ideal for creating dreamy open lace designs.

We're Hooked on Modern Crochet!

Crochet has been around for hundreds of years, however, this craft has recently begun to take a modern turn with more works of art being crocheted than ever before! With complex colorwork, innovative patterns, and the most recent surge of mosaic work in crocheted afghans has made this hobby more widespread and easier to access! We've been obsessed with all of the intricate designs, colorful kits, and cool CALs (Crochet Alongs) that have been making the rounds. With fibers like Scheepjes and Sugar Bush, this contemporary crochet trend is off the chain!

Summer school is an excellent way to get all of your credits in (or extra credits for all of you overachievers out there) and prepare you for a fun, fiber-filled future! Learning about all of the yarns, dyes, and techniques we use can be a little overwhelming, so we have split them apart in easy and fun classes for you starting next week! Think of this as the inception of Jimmy Beans Wool University. To begin, we have assembled the first four weeks of your syllabus to make your learning experience as easy to follow as possible! We will be updating you as the summer progresses with more fun classes and lessons.

• Week One: History.
• Week Two: Chemistry.
• Week Three: Social Studies.
• Week Four: Classes are on break, so we've scheduled a field trip.

• Namaste Maker's Train Case
• Namaste Maker's Backpack
• Namaste Dot Journal

• SmartStix Needles
• Highlighter Tape
• Turtle Crocheted Tape Measure

On top of learning all about the origins of the art of knitting and crocheting, we will also be assigning a quiz at the end of every class to review what you have learned (no pressure, though!). Each quiz's deadline will be due by the next class period if you would like to participate!

Looking to enroll? You're in luck! Being a subscriber to the newsletter gives you an automatic entry into our summer school classes for the entire season!

Brandi's Hotel of Bees Shawl

This funky shawl is the bee's knees! This project is crocheted sideways while decreases are made on one side by skipping stitches. Featuring gorgeous honeycomb patterns as well as elegant wing designs, this shawl is perfect for anyone interested in an intermediate-level crochet project. This shawl uses the acrylic/cotton blends of Scheepjes Stone Washed and Scheepjes River Washed to give it a nice drape without feeling too heavy, making it perfect for summer! We'll definitely be buzzing about this one for a while. Way to go, Brandi!