| Learn to Knit & Crochet, Shawl KAL & Farm Twist!
We think doing a KAL is essential all the time, but especially during this time? It's NEEDED. We're excited to share that Louis Boria aka Brooklyn Boy Knits is doing a virtual KAL on April 25th!
Louis Boria is a self-taught fiber artist who rose to internet fame in 2017 after being photographed knitting on an NYC subway. He decided to use his newfound fame to do something positive and began working with public schools in New York to teach children how to knit!
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He also promotes knitting as a therapeutic outlet and is one of the founding members of Soho Publishing's Diversity Advisory Council, which focuses on changing the lack of diversity and inclusion in the fiber arts industry. When he's not working to help better the fiber community, he designs in his free time - you've probably seen his designs! Louis is a knitwear designer who creates both custom pieces and knitting patterns that range in style from streetwear design to runway couture.
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Cast on with Louis for the Massallo Shawl in six shades of Madelinetosh Tosh DK! This project is great for beginners, as it features a simple repeating slip-stitch and stripe pattern. The KAL begins on April 25th on YouTube (a little birdy told us his birthday is April 26th!). He will also be hosting Q&As along with check-ins on his Instagram. And Louis will be posting video tutorials on his YouTube channel as well.
Louis said he wants to build-up the fiber arts community one stitch at a time and we can't help but agree!
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As the Queen Bean is away, in her stash we must play! We've been stocking up our own personal stashes to prepare for staying home and being productive in the coming months. Keeping our cool and staying safe and happy is our main goal and the best way for us to achieve that is by keeping busy with our favorite hobbies - knitting and crocheting!
But the worst feeling is when you've picked out that pattern, you're thinking about the weight you want, you're looking through your stash and..wait..it's not quite what you were looking for. Well, we have a solution to that problem! (And why wouldn't we? We're an LYS!). We're happy to share that we are positively swimming in Madelinetosh Farm Twist right now.
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We've restocked in all the Core 150 Colors (we have our eye on Piñata Pop, we need something festive in our lives!) and we've filled in the gaps with our LYS 12 Collection, so that LYS exclusive color (we're big fans of California Poppy and Cactus) you've been eyeing is finally back in stock!
And possibly the best part of this?!? You can special order any color - NO minimums! We repeat..no minimums! *cue air horn*
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Learn To Craft!
Studies show that knitting and crocheting help alleviate stress and anxiety - which is more important than ever as of late. With the current events going on in the world, staying happy and healthy is at the forefront of our minds, which leads us into learning new things like a recipe, a musical instrument, or even teaching our loved ones how to make things out of yarn so we can sit and create together!
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One of our Beans, Julia, recently learned how to knit with her boyfriend and came in happily announcing, "I can see how it's relaxing, now!" and we couldn't be more excited for her! She's even going to try her hand at the Madelinetosh Sweater Club!
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We realize that jumping into the world of fiber arts can be a little intimidating for some, so we are bringing back the Learn to Knit Kit and making it better than ever! Not only that, but we're also introducing the sister kit, the Learn to Crochet Kit! Nothing is better than being able to share a hobby with our loved ones, especially when they feel comfortable enough to ask for help or when they're flooded with pride and joy in completing their first project!
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The Jimmy Beans Wool Learn to Craft kits contain the following:
- 2 balls of Cascade 220 Superwash Merino
- 1 Jimmy's SmartStix Circular Needle OR 1 Jimmy's SmartStix Crochet Hook in the recommended size
- 1 Namaste Darning Needle - 1 link to the FREE beginner's scarf pattern complete with links to our YouTube videos that will teach you everything you need!
Each simple project is intended to help build your skills by having you master 5 different stitch patterns by the time you finish, beginning, of course, with the easiest stitch to pick up! Each stitch pattern builds onto the last so you can see your growth right before your eyes, which makes it perfect for learning how to make your stitches even, for jumping into the hobby, or just as a fun project to eat up some time!
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We Llove Llama Lace!
Spring is finally upon us! To celebrate the incoming warm weather, we picked up the new Cascade Llama Lace yarn!
True to its name, Cascade Llama Lace is a lace-weight yarn made entirely out of baby llama fibers, resulting in pillowy-soft strings that we can't wait to sink our needles and hooks into. Perfect for making your next lacy shawl or breezy sleeveless top, it's hard to imagine our project bags missing out on these scrumptious shades this season!
Each color in the palette makes us want to lounge by the pool with a bowl of fresh fruit sitting next to us as we knit (one can dream, right!?). Ah, the wind in our hair, the sun on our skin, and a project in our hands? That's truly living the life! This yarn also comes with a generous 601 yards to play with, which makes for no work and all play for us lace-lovers, hehe!
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C'mon, Vogue!
Don't you just hate it when you're out, walking down the street to get some fresh air or check the mail and suddenly paparazzi come out of nowhere to snap pictures of you?! You aren't even wearing your newest project - how rude and embarrassing! We've got a magazine to help with that very problem! How can a magazine help, you ask? Well, it's filled to the brim with knit projects that are new, fresh, and fashionable, so you'll never be caught off guard by those sneaky cameras ever again - so strike a pose and vogue!
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The Vogue Knitting International Magazine - '20 Late Winter edition features new, fashionable designs for knitters of all levels! Perfect for the change in temperature, whether you're experiencing belated snowstorms or the beginnings of sunny spring skies, there's a little something to prepare you to brave the weather outside and look great doing it!
It must be Flashback Friday because we're obsessed with the 80s throwback in this issue! The ode to the coolest decade ever is shown perfectly by our love for neon colors and graphic designs.
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Not your flavor? No problem! This issue also has plenty of designs for those of us who just want something comfortable to lounge around in for the early spring weather with gorgeous natural shades, some classic sweaters for men that knit (or for those of us who gift our friends and family a nice knitted top), and a look through the story of Koigu!
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Stock Your Stash For Spring!
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Beans for Brains: the scholarship for brainy fiber artists! We've mentioned it...oh maybe...just a few times these past months, but what can we say? We're SUPER excited to be able to help artistic students who are pursuing or already in the process of attending post-secondary education!
It's pretty simple, you need to know your fiber (this is open to knitters, crocheters, and weavers!), have a 3.0 GPA, outline your extracurricular activities, and financial need. Easy right?! This year, we're opening up the program to include SIX scholarships based on the four geographic regions of the US, one local Reno maker, and one community service award. Each scholarship covers $2,500.
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We couldn't do this by ourselves! We had sponsors from Knitter's Pride, Shibui, Madelinetosh, Vogue Knitting, and STITCHES Events! In fact, one of our board members, Jewell Washington from Our Maker Life, wrote a blog post about how she navigated her college experience. She discussed mental health awareness, handling the pressures of college life, and of course her support for Beans for Brains (side note: you might want to grab some tissues!). We're so lucky to have someone like her on our board!
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You can start emailing your finished applications to scholarship@JimmyBeansWool.com starting on April 1st (Eek! Where did the time go!?), but worry not, you still have the rest of April to send them in, as application acceptance closes on April 30th.
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Project On Our Needles!
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Adrienne's Seven Sisters Top
You know that feeling when you just get so excited about a new project that you can't stop thinking about it? It's like falling in love for the first time! That's how Adrienne felt about the Seven Sister's Top. After seeing it, it was like every moment of every day was filled with "What color do I choose?", "What needles do I need?", "Am I making this for myself or for a loved one?" until it was just too much to handle!
Adrienne picked up some Blue Sky Printed Organic Cotton in the shade 2203 Dusty Miller and immediately got to work, knitting up a storm and completing it in five days!! It looks like the title for speed knitter here is in danger, hehe!
The Blue Sky Fibers Seven Sisters Top is now available as a kit on our site! Participating KAL members can get this pattern for free! The pattern can be added to your cart now for $6.00. But if you purchase yarn for the project, just email support@JimmyBeansWool.com and we can either email you the pattern or provide a download code for Ravelry, both options for free, as of April 1, 2020.
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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 Local Yarn Shop. 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. You can update your notification options at any time. Jimmy Beans Wool 4850 Joule St. Ste A1 Reno, NV 89502 Phone (775) 827-9276 Toll Free in U.S. and Canada (877) 529-5648 | | | | |
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