As the sun begins to set on summer, we've been desperately trying to get the most use out of our tank tops and shorts before it's too late! While we're sad to say goodbye to crafting in the backyard with lemonade to sip on, there IS one good thing that comes with the weather cooling down, and that's the fact that we can finally start counting down to CRAFTVENT (though you ARE allowed to start your countdown earlier, we don't judge!)! Consider this the OFFICIAL opening call for pre-orders for the 2019 Craftvent Calendar!

This year's calendar is chock-full of goodies lovingly put together by the elves here at JBW, Including over 900 yards of yarn from your favorite hand dyers like Madelinetosh, Spun Right Round, Fyberspates, and Hedgehog Fibres!

Your yarn and notions come secured in 24 magnetic metal tins that sit neatly on a metal hanging board, so even after your project is completed, you can use the board and tins again and again (hellooo new craft room organizer!).

To add some extra sugar to your cocoa, Amy Gunderson is this year's designer! "Spirits of the Season" is available in two colorways: Mulled Wine (Designer's Choice: teal and purple with pops of pink) and Hot Toddy (Jimmy's Choice: jewel tones and shades of gray).

Crocheters, stay tuned - Crochet Craftvent launches October 4th!

Our fourth annual Craftvent Calendar will be one you won't want to miss out on! We can't wait to have you craft with us this holiday season!!

Mulled Wine

Designer's Choice

Hot Toddy

Jimmy's Choice

Square One Starts Here!

The wait is finally over, and the newest rendition of Knitterati is here!! This awesome Afghan KAL kicked off yesterday with the first clue, but there's always time to jump in to solve this ongoing mystery! This year, Cascade paired with 25 (yeah, you read that right. TWENTY. FIVE.) designers to create 25 different squares for an especially unique 5 x 5 foot afghan using 27 skeins of Cascade 220 Superwash Merino (2 are used for a border). Featuring a gradient of shades in a diagonal design, the constantly-changing colors and designs make for a refreshing and interesting KAL!

Follow along with us as we walk through the different techniques used in this year's Knitterati Afghan with our Bean, Rachel Roden. Each instructional video will be released on our YouTube channel as the hints become available!

Feather Your Nest!

"Breath in, warm embrace.
Nest enfolds
I am still, I am safe."

A little birdy told us that Shibui Knits has been up to something special lately! And maybe this something is a little wooly, a little cozy, and available in a DK weight? That's not TOO much to hope for, right?!

Turns out - it isn't! With the changing of the seasons (we honestly can't believe it's September already!), comes this terrific transitional yarn! We're super excited to introduce the newest Shibui Knits yarn, Nest, to our collection! Made from a gorgeous blend of fine highland wool and alpaca wrapped up in a contrasting crisscrossed binder string, this yarn has an intricate depth and texture that's both fun and interesting to make with! With a delightfully springy nature, Nest works up easily whether used alone or in tandem with other yarns and is, of course, available in the signature Shibui Knits color palette.

Below are some kits for every skill level ready to take on the cooling weather with your trusty needles in hand!

Birds decorate their nests with pride, this can include things like bright pieces of plastic, leaves, or... Twigs! Our feathered friends do this for many reasons, and one of those reasons is to communicate with other birds! Similar to why we make our clothing from eye-catching colors and designs, birds take pride in their nests with intricate designs and materials!

Shibui Knits flew in with SIX NEW COLORS of Twig - a palette perfect for those of us who want a little autumn inspiration! It's safe to say we're OBSESSED, and definitely looking forward to using them in our next self-indulgent project!

Swooping Season? More Like Swooning Season!

Despite the shift in temperature, did you know that magpies don't typically fly the nest (get it?!) like other birds? These resourceful little fellas forego winter migrations and adapt to the climate they find themselves in, sort of like how we craft up some warmer clothing for when the temperature dips (though we wouldn't say no to a winter house in a warmer place!). To pay homage to these beautiful birds, we're putting Magpie Fibers Swanky Sock and Swanky DK up for 25% off (that's about $10 off per hank!!)! This sale is only going on until Monday, September 9th, so be sure to swoop in to grab yours before then!!

Just Keep Knitting!

Like the ever-changing seasons, so too, does the sea shift and flow. Whether it shows itself as choppy and frigid or dreamy and inviting, the sea has its fair share of mystery and brilliance!

X marks the spot for this treasure! Inspired by the ocean's constant movement through captivating textures and shapes, Pom Pom Quarterly - Issue 30 - Autumn 2019 is taking you on a memorable trip to the coast! With each project touching on a fascinating facet of the ocean and surrounding areas, relax in the soft shades of the sand and shells or jump into the water headfirst with the perfect pullover (not literally, of course!)! With a little something for everyone, this issue comes packed to the brim with four jumpers, two wraps, a tee, and a hat, rounding itself out with designs for every level of knitter (including fair isle, slip-stitch textures, cables, brioche, and motifs of scallops and waves). Pom Pom has even lovingly sprinkled pieces of lore, history, and poetry throughout the pages to really get a taste of the briny sea, including an easy and tasty recipe for pickling!

DEAR JIMMY:
My stash is starting to get a little out of hand and my husband is just about at his wits' end. I can't bring myself to get rid of a single skein, but I can't bear the thought of how disappointed he will be to see the second half of my stash I have hidden beneath the bed! What do I do!?
- Trouble in Twine-sel Town

DEAR TROUBLE:
A second stash under the bed is quite impressive! I've had this trouble my whole life, so I can absolutely sympathize with your situation. My stash started as a small box in the closet but soon grew, and grew, and now... I have a whole warehouse full of the stuff! At that point, my husband just silently relented. He knew he could never come between me and my love for yarn. He tried, but time and.. twine again, he failed, dejected by the thought of me choosing my wool over him some nights. Deep down, he knew, "Just one more row!" was never just one more row.

Luckily, the cooler months are sneaking upon us! This makes for the perfect time to trim down that stash! Chunkier yarns always take up more space in your closet, but in turn, they craft up very quickly. You may find that making a few hats and a sweater (or two) will result in the desired outcome (that of course, being a smaller stash and happy hubby with the added plus of your new favorite accessory for the season). Just pick out a few patterns for your bulky yarn, spend a few hours focused on your projects and BOOM, you're already out half of your stash!!

Sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself is to travel and find the place that truly makes you feel at peace. For the talented designer, Mieka John, this place was Amsterdam. No matter where she traveled or how long she was away, the route back home always led back to Amsterdam. With the help of knitting, the change of pace from New York City to Amsterdam was welcomed in making this city truly feel like home.

We've teamed up with the wonderfully artistic Mieka John (@saltandstoneknits) to coordinate kits for her upcoming Mokum Cowl KAL (named after the city's nickname "Mokum" which means "place" or "safe haven" in Yiddish!). This worsted-weight colorwork cowl was designed as part of Urth Yarns Knitters of the World project and is available as a kit at 10% off using two skeins of Urth Yarns Harvest Worsted yarn. This project begins on September 13th and features geometric motifs that were inspired by the patterns found in Amsterdam from the canals to the walls of Amsterdam Centraal! Perfect for the cooling weather, the Mokum Cowl keeps the warmth in and the chill of the wind out!

Cathy's GENEie - The Next Generation Hat

Okay, we absolutely HAD to share this D.N.AWESOME set that another one of our star pupils knit up over the summer (science has always been one of our fave subjects, so this was a real treat!)! We guess you could say that this brings a whole new meaning to "put your thinkin' cap on!", and we are into it! Using Universal Yarn Uptown Worsted in the main color 356 - Bright Blue and the contrasting color of 327 - Bright Yellow was a match made in colorwork heaven! Ex-cell-ent work, Cathy!