Earth Day is quickly approaching, and we have to ask - what do you do to celebrate? As a business, Jimmy Beans Wool has taken some necessary steps to reduce our own waste, recycling every box that we receive, using biodegradable bags for our della Q products, and reusing plastic as filling to make sure your yarn and accessories don't get jostled around.

We want to pay homage to our planet this Earth Day by dreaming up our latest project - The Earth Day Kitchen! The kitchen is where a lot of our waste comes from - whether it be water waste, food waste, plastic, paper, you name it, we throw out tons of items in that room specifically. That's why we want to take the steps necessary to start reducing waste in the kitchen.

Making your own washcloths and dishcloths out of organic cotton is possibly the greenest option out there and we've taken that idea and run with it, making the cutest, eye catching dishcloths that are ready to be household staples!

Using Blue Sky Fibers Organic Cotton, this kit helps you make three darling dishcloths in your choice of Bakeware Brights or Country Kitchen, matching the vibe of your setup effortlessly and above all, cleanly!

You will receive the yarn and pattern necessary to complete three dishcloths, as well as three wooden hoops to hang them up as a display, three 1" buttons made from coconut shell (which is a sustainable resource), and one scented bar of vegan, multi-purpose kitchen soap with plastic-free packaging from Cassia Organics!

Please note that $2.00 from each kit will be donated to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.

If you've been with us for a while, you know we're pretty obsessed with stripes. They're always on-trend, easy to knit and crochet and give off a classic feel that can evolve with just about any outfit. They're like the jack-of-all-trades of the pattern world. We've already established that we're talking about the Earth in this newsletter, so what gives? Why stripes?

Well, we got new Urth Yarns products in, that's why! Urth Yarns Uneek Cotton is a DK-weight yarn, sporting a delicious 275 yards per skein. This self-striping masterpiece is great for any knitter or crocheter out there, with colors ranging from vibrant hues to muted shades that can fit in any maker's closet. Oh, and did we mention that it's made out of 100% Mercerized Cotton? Hellooo breathability!

Not a fan of self-striping and looking for something a little more solid? We've got ya covered! We've also picked up some Urth Yarns Monokrom Cotton, which is interchangeable with Urth Yarns Uneek Cotton right down to yardage, impeccable color palette, and type of cotton used.

Make something colorful or something a little pulled back, maybe make something using both yarns - the options are limitless!

It also helps to know that with every skein sold of Urth Yarns, they help plant a tree in Africa in partnership with Trees for the Future.

It goes without saying that we love the Earth - without it, well, we wouldn't be here enjoying all things yarn, right? The Earth permits us to feel emotions and do activities that feel good to us, and our love for it is overflowing.

So why is it so hard to find love for ourselves from time to time? Yep, this is totally an intervention. Our brains can be so cruel to us for seemingly no reason at all, and it's important to remember that love doesn't stop when it comes to ourselves. That's why Jacqueline Cieslak, the designer behind the book Embody, took to the pages to talk about why she loves the making community - the ENTIRE making community.

A hot topic over the past few years has been size-inclusivity and diversity in designs, and we don't just mean sprinkling it in here and there. With the book Embody, you will learn three core patterns and how to adapt them to fit your unique body perfectly and comfortably. Take these three patterns and expand them into 25 different garments graded for chest sizes up to 64 inches! Learning how to modify our garments is a huge step for a lot of makers out there, and it's a skill that can be used time and time again to carve your own spot in the making world.

Stay On-Trend(Setter)!

Part of caring for the earth is learning where your clothing comes from. Too often we rely on fast fashion to keep up with trends, and while it can be fun, the materials and labor used to craft the garments can be detrimental. That's why we're always so thrilled to find new patterns we can make ourselves, especially when they use yarn that is recycled or isn't treated with harsh chemicals.

Speaking of yarn that's good, no, great, Trendsetter Streaker is expertly crafted out of 50% Bio Cotton and 50% soy! This blend of materials lends itself well to a gorgeous drape and stunning sheen that plays off of the light, making you gleam and glow as much as your personality does!

Lightweight and breathable, this yarn is not only good for your wardrobe but the earth as well! Each cake of DK-weight yarn holds a generous 310 yards, brilliantly melting between colors with long shade changes.

Oh, and did we mention that these patterns are free with purchase of the kit?

Did you know today is National Unicorn Day!? We're pretty fond of unicorns 'round these parts, and having our sister company, Madelinetosh, who is like the master of all things unicorns as part of our team just made us more obsessed with them! We've celebrated by receiving a fresh shipment of Madelinetosh Unicorn Tails in the building! We can't wait to unpack those boxes and give 'em all a good SQUISH!

Madelinetosh Unicorn Tails are super-magical mini-skeins that contain 52 yards of single-ply, fingering weight superwash Merino wool - we like to think of them as the daughters of the ever-popular Tosh Merino Light. Each skein is hand-dyed to perfection by our color experts in Fort Worth, Texas, and we swear it's like they reach up after a nice rainstorm and pluck the colors right out of the rainbow to make such vibrant, unique shades!

But how ARE Unicorn Tails even made? Well, don't tell anyone this secret, but we actually have a stable of unicorns in Fort Worth! We clip their, well, tails (don't worry, no unicorns are harmed in the process!) to get a soft, fine fiber that has the sheen, drape, and halo only a unicorn could provide! ;)

Wow! You guys really blew us away with all of the positive feedback regarding our Jimmy Beans Wool Retreats, and we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts! From people celebrating being able to come to see us and be on a nice vay-cay, to returning guests who are excited to see how things have changed and evolved - we genuinely hope you all have a wonderful time and let us know how we can do even better in the future!

In fact, we received such a positive reaction to the return of retreats that we maaayyy have pulled a few strings (pun totally intended) backstage and opened up more spots to attend the Tahoe Untangled Retreat!

Tahoe Untangled (which takes place September 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 26th) is a makers paradise, with guest instructors for both knit and crochet-savvy individuals!

Taking place at the gorgeous, shimmering shores of Lake Tahoe, indulge in a vacation meant for yarn enthusiasts and fiber fans alike! Excited to learn more? Please check out our official Retreats page where you can find more in-depth info regarding location, teachers, and pricing.

Julia's Honey Hat

Everyone, please give a warm round of applause to our Bean, Julia! Being around so many advanced knitters making beautiful sweaters and socks, Julia felt inspired to start knitting on her own time, coming in with a huge grin on her face. Upon asking what she was so happy about, she did a spin, showing off her finished product! She had knit her very own hat!

Using the Honey Hat pattern by Madelinetosh, Julia immediately got to work when she got home one Friday night. The weekend was filled with knitting, frogging, and furiously striving to perfect this art by the time Monday rolled around so she could show how much she had learned.

We're so excited to have another knitter on board, especially with her fun color choices and excellent ideas - Julia is destined for knitting greatness!