Hello everyone!

I am so excited to share these photos with you this week! It's been exhilarating to see all of the FOs (Finished Objects) popping up on the Ravelry forum all week and I am so glad so many of you offered to share them with me and all of the readers here. (Each of the FO pictures this week were used with the permission of the knitter and links to their Ravelry project are provided for more info.)

Without further ado, I give you some of the first FOs of the Downton Abbey MKAL 2014!

FO #1 by: cebaily who knit her shawlette in the Lorna's Laces Honor in the Bated Breath color. I see lots of the intermediate patterning in her shawl. Looks great!



FO #2 by: clmnj58 who also knit her shawl in the Honor in Bated Breath. She said that this photo makes her shawl look ethereal and I have to agree! I love how airy her version turned out!



FO #3 by: DebH188 has perhaps the most handsome model yet. :) Hers is also knit in Bated Breath. If you check out her Ravelry page, she shares several more creative ways to wear the shawlette.


FO #4 by: ellesie99 was knit in Shepherd Sport in the Bated Breath color with a pretty purple border! I love the look of the contrast on the edging!


FO #4 by fiberbug: She also used the Bated Breath in Honor, and after seeing how long the start of the shawl was, opted to rip back and begin with fewer pattern repeats which would work better on her petite frame. I am glad she did, because it shows a nice scale of the shawl for those wanting a shorter version!


FO #5 by: Holly NJ who used Madelinetosh Merino DK for the body and a Louisa Harding yarn for the borders. This is a gorgeous neutral version of the shawlette. It's fun to see it done in a variety of yarns!


FO #6 by: jjs who's shawlette in Malabrigo Arroyo is just stunning. I love the brightness of the English Rose color and the stitch pattern shows really well.


FO #7 by: lynnsch was knit in Malabrigo Silk Blends. The Wildflowers color is one of my all time favorites and this version of the shawlette is certainly bright and cheery!


FO #8 by: purpleknit is knit in Madelinetosh Pashmina in a color called Opaline which is really a pale variegated yarn even though you can't see the variegation in the picture. What is nice about this shawl is the overall neutral look you can get with a variegated yarn. Plus it's just lovely. :)


FO #9 by Sheltzer is shown blocking. It's knit in the Lorna's Laces Sportmate in last years KAL color, Christmas at Downton. Love seeing this color again! It matches my Gauntlets! :)


FO #10 by: Sigsmom, was knit in the Honor in Bated Breath. This version is shown unblocked and you can see how ruffly it looks. Once she blocks it out it will grow significantly and each of those ruffles will become a lovely rounded edge. I love seeing the various stages of shawls in the forums!


Lastly, I wanted to share some of the photos taken of my finished shawl. You may recognize Leanne, our purchaser, modeling. Isn't she cute? :)






You should also check out the JBW Ravelry Group Week #7 Thread for more awesome FOs! More keep popping up everyday!

I'll be releasing a fully formatted version of the pattern by mid-March, so if you are waiting for the pattern to be re-released to cast on, it will just be a few short weeks. In the meantime, the clues will remain on the blog indefinitely for those who need them. Of course, I will still be available to answer questions, so please do feel free to e-mail me on Ravelry or leave comments on the blog. I can't wait to see the rest of your beautiful FOs!

Happy knitting!
Kristen

Happy Downton Day everyone! Is everyone excited for the final clue or are you rationing like Lady Violet? Although this week's episode isn't the last as we still have next week's "Christmas Special" episode, this is the last week of clues. At this point it is pretty transparent what we are doing next, so I have omitted the clues and have instead given you the final instructions in their entirety. There will not be an episode guide tomorrow as it is not needed.

Both beginners and intermediates have 6 rows left of knitting, plus the bind off. I've grouped all six rows for each together to make it easier for you to knit from.

Beginners: Please take note that although the knitting this week looks similar to last week, it is in a different order, so be sure to reference this week's clue, not last week's to finish up.

Intermediates: You will not notice a difference at all in this weeks clue. It is the same as last week. This will make your border (what is actually called a Shell Lace pattern) a little wider and quite pretty. Some of you may have noticed that this Shell Lace pattern looks familiar. It is borrowed from last year's DA KAL pattern, Lady Violet's Dinner Gauntlets. I thought it would be nice tie-in this pattern to last year's pattern a bit.

Some of you have mentioned you have extra yarn so please feel free to knit an extra repeat of the pattern to lengthen your shawlette if you would like. Intermediates can simply do another 6-row Shell Lace repeat. Beginners wanting to do another 6 rows will need to repeat Week #6 after working Week #7.

Ok, let's get started, shall we?

Beginner:
Row 1: K4, *k2tog, yo; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4. (78 sts between markers)
Row 2: K4, p to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 4: K4, p to last 4 sts, K4.

Row 5: K4, *k2tog, yo; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4. (78 sts between markers)
Row 6: K4, p to last 4 sts, k4.

*Bind off all sts loosely and block out points where increases are firmly for optimal length.
Intermediate: 
Row 1: K4, *k2tog, k9, ssk; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4. (66 sts between markers.)


Row 2: k4, p to last 4 sts, k4.

Row 3: K4, *k2tog, k7, ssk; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4. (54 sts between markers.)

Row 4: K4, p to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 5: K4, *k2tog, yo, (k1, yo) 5 times, ssk; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4. (78 sts between markers.)
Row 6: knit

*Bind off all stitches loosely and weave in ends. Wet block firmly, especially along points where increases are and gently pin out the shell lace points.

Alright folks! That is the end of the KAL knitting! Thanks to those of you who stuck it out. I am seeing so many beautiful FOs on Ravelry in the JBW Group! In fact, I would love to do a final post next week with a big reveal of as many FOs as possible. I'll be posting my FO pics as well but I would love to combine them with yours to have one big final hurrah! If you would allow me to use your photos (from Ravelry or you can send them to me) please feel free to let me know. You can either private message me at Jimmy Beans Wool on Ravelry or send me an e-mail at: kristen (at) jimmybeanswool (dot) com.

Once again, thanks to you all for participating. For those who would like it, the final version of the pattern will be released in mid-March, so if you are waiting for that to get started, be sure to check the Jimmy Beans Wool Free Patterns Page then or keep an eye out in our monthly newsletter.

Hope you enjoy tonight's episode and happy knitting!
Kristen

When I was asked to participate in the Stitch Mountain book I was so excited!! I have lived here in Reno my whole life and skied in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains for most of those years. Of course I love to knit and design with an emphasis on fun and unusual projects, so Brita Sigourney's vision for the Kitten Mittens was right up my alley.

When we decided to work with Skacel  to create the Voodoo Doll Kits for Valentine's Day, we had no idea that Bethany's mom, who is a lawyer that also writes novels, had also just released her latest book called Voodoo Dreams. What a fun coincidence this turned out to be!


We originally wanted to create these Voodoo Doll Kits as an alternative for those who prefer not to celebrate Valentine's Day with hearts and flowers. But as they developed, we realized what a fun and positive thing they could be. With the different colored pins that represent love, tranquility, friendship, passion, and more, your doll, rather could be a metaphor for the elements you want to manifest in your life. We love this concept, and it doesn't hurt that the dolls are pretty darn cute! Huck really likes his!


Bethany's mom, Barbara, is a laywer who also writes novels under a couple of different pen names, including "Alana Lorens." She is known for her Pittsburgh Lady Laywers series among others (you can read more about it on her website here.) She also happens to be a knitter and crocheter, so when we found out that she wrote a Voodoo-themed book, we couldn't help but give her a little shout out!


Here is a little info about Voodoo Dreams:


In October 2013, Alana Lorens debuted the third book in her Pittsburgh lady Lawyers series, VOODOO DREAMS, a romantic suspense novel set in New Orleans at Mardi Gras. When her big trial goes bad, corporate attorney Brianna Ward can't wait to get out of Pittsburgh. The Big Easy seems like the perfect place to rest, relax, and forget about the legal business. Too bad an obnoxious--but handsome--lawyer from a rival firm is checking into the same bed and breakfast. Attorney Evan Farrell has Mardi Gras vacation plans too. When he encounters fiery and attractive Brianna, however, he puts the Bourbon Street party on hold. He'd much rather devote himself to her--especially when a mysterious riddle appears in her bag, seeming to threaten danger. Strangely compelled to follow the riddle's clues, Brianna is pulled deeper into the twisted schemes of a voodoo priest bent on revenge. To escape his poisonous web, she must work with Evan to solve the curse. But is the growing love they feel for each other real? Or just a voodoo dream?

Barbara, baby Penne, and Bethany in 2012

Jeanne read Voodoo Dreams in about two days and thought it was fantastic. She downloaded the Kindle edition, but it's also available in paperback. Both versions can be found on Amazon.com, in case you are interested!

We just thought this fun coincidence would be a great tie-in with our Voodoo Doll Kits, and we hope you've enjoyed reading about Bethany's mom's (not-so) secret writing talents!

Happy knitting (and reading)!
Kristen

**Please note 2/10: Sorry this is a bit late this morning! I had this auto-scheduled but somehow Blogger malfunctioned and didn't post on time. Good thing I double checked it this morning!**

Hi everyone! Here is this week's episode guide for Downton Abbey! Also below is some of the important info you might need for this week's knitting, in case you missed it yesterday.

Hi everyone and welcome to week 6 of the Downton Abbey Mystery KAL! Tonight we return to our regularly scheduled clues. That means that these clues are not in order so please watch carefully to make sure you do these prompts in order. I've made the clues pretty easy to spot in the show so even though they may seem vague now, I promise you they are not. 

Also, just a hint, if you are pretty adept at pattern reading, you can probably figure out the order they go in. Just a hint. If you do figure it out early, please keep it a secret for those who want to play the game.

A note to Beginners and/or those who are running short of yarn: The beginner border clues are set up so that you can bind off when you need to after finishing a row 2. Even though the border repeat is technically a 4-row repeat, you can easily decide at at any time that you are finished. If you are running short on yarn, you may opt to do this option to give yourself more control over the yarn usage. Also, this option is best for those who do not have 78 sts between markers, but do have an even number.

A note to Intermediates: You must have 78 (or in some cases 65) sts between markers. The stitch repeat is 13 sts so you will have either 6 (or 5) repeats of the pattern between markers. This is also a 6-row repeat, so tonight you will be doing 1 whole repeat of the border. In order to finish out the entire border as intended (this includes next week's knitting as well) you'll need approximately 140 yds of yarn. If you are running short, see the note for the beginner option above.

If anyone has questions about what option they should do for the border, please shoot me a Ravelry message letting me know your status and I am happy to give advice.

So now onto the clues. Remember, these are not in order (as this IS supposed to be a bit of a mystery after all!) so be sure to watch as you go or wait for tomorrow's episode guide for clarity!

Prompt #1 -When Mary saves her bacon, do the following:

Beginner:

Row 1: K4, *k2tog, yo; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4.

Row 2: K4, p to last 4 sts, k4.

*Knit these 2 rows just one time each.


Intermediate:



*Knit these 2 rows just one time each.



Prompt #2 - When Edith makes a big decision, do the following:

Beginner:

Row 1: K4, *yo, k2tog; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4.

Row 2: K4, p to last 4 sts, K4.

*Knit these 2 rows just one time each.


Intermediate:



*Knit these 2 rows just one time each.



Prompt #3 - When Thomas sets out on an adventure, do the following:

Beginner:

Row 1: K4, *yo, k2tog; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4.

Row 2: K4, p to last 4 sts, K4.

*Knit these 2 rows just one time each.

Intermediate: 




Ok folks, that is it for Week 6! Be sure to check in on Ravelry if you have any questions. I'll be there to help. Also, if you need it, be sure to check out tomorrow's episode guide for all the clues in order and clarified with stitch counts.

In the meantime, happy knitting!
Kristen

Some of you may already know that one of our yarn vendors, Imperial Yarns, provided the yarn to Ralph Lauren to create the opening ceremony sweaters for Team USA in this year's Olympics in Sochi! When Ralph Lauren set out to create this year's team uniform entirely in the USA with US made products, Imperial had no idea that they would possibly be selected to be a part of the collaboration. We were blown away when we heard so we just had to ask Jeanne Carver, one of the owners of Imperial Stock Ranch about their involvement. Here is what she had to say to our questions:

Jeanne & Dan Carver

1)      As a long-time rancher with so much family history in the ranching industry, what made you decide to get involved in the yarn industry?




3)      When you were approached by Ralph Lauren’s staff to provide the yarn for the Olympic team’s sweaters, what was the first thought that ran through your mind?


4)      Can you tell us a little bit about what went into your part of the process for the creation of the Olympic Sweaters? Such as shearing, processing, dyeing, etc.




5)      Since your Erin yarn was the yarn chosen for the sweaters and knitters can also knit with this same yarn, can you tell us a bit more about the development of this yarn, what makes it special, and projects it would be good for?

 This is a fabulous yarn!  It begins with our wool and goes through the combing and spinning in the worsted system, which gives it a beautiful hand.  It's versatile, showing great stitch definition, and is a worsted weight yarn making it perfect for a wide variety of projects.  From mittens to scarves to sweaters to shawls....this yarn will be a staple.  It's a great yarn for hand dyers; it's a great yarn for cloth diaper covers; it's growing in popularity among knitters.



6)      Lastly, how does it feel to be a part of something as huge as the Olympics? Would you ever do it again?

We are overwhelmed with emotion and so very grateful to have had the chance to partner with a company like Ralph Lauren.   Every single individual I've worked with in their company has been genuine, supportive, committed and excellent to work with.  It's been an amazing journey.  How does it really feel?  It's bigger than my dreams!  I don't know of an honor that could be greater for our yarn, than to be chosen by an iconic brand like Ralph Lauren, for the premier garment (Opening Ceremonies Parade of Nations) to clothe our U. S. Olympic Team.  It is very humbling.  I still won't know exactly how it feels until we watch on television on February 7th.  Would I do it again?  In a heartbeat!  We will always focus on the work in front of us, no matter what the opportunity or challenge.  And we will work to deliver a quality result.



7)      Is there anything else you would like to add or have us share on your behalf?


 There were many companies and thousands of hands involved in the entire effort to provide the uniforms and apparel for this Winter Olympics.  I respect and congratulate Ralph Lauren for the decision and committment to this Made in America effort.  They have touched so many people with this, and helped grow a strong pride across this country and a swelling feeling of support for our athletes going into the games.  I think we have an even closer spirit with Team USA because of this.  We're connected.....

Winter Games Pullover

Thank you to Jeanne for taking the time to respond to our questions! We are so excited to see your yarn on our athletes during the opening ceremonies! Be sure to watch tomorrow tonight on your local NBC station to see these sweaters in action!

Also, in honor of Imperial's involvement with the Olympics, Tanis Gray has designed a beautiful cabled sweater -- The Winter Games Pullover-- with Erin and is hosting a KAL during the Olympics for anyone wanting to knit this gorgeous piece! The pattern is free on the Imperial Yarns website, and of course you can find the Erin yarn here.   

Happy knitting,
Kristen

PS. Imperial is having a "Name this Lamb" Contest on their Facebook page right now so if you need a daily dose of cuteness, be sure to head over to enter! The winner will receive some free Imperial Yarn!

**All photos in this post are from the Imperial Yarns website and Facebook pages.**

5^th Block of the Sew Red Sew-a-long from Saremy Duffy

Hello everyone!

I hope you have all had a fabulous week. Mine was busy (deadlines galore) but overall good. :)

So this week is an extremely light knitting week. I am doing this for three reasons:

1) I want to give as many people as possible the chance to catch up so we can all finish together over the next couple of weeks.

2) The most natural stopping point in this section is after 4 rows, so before we begin the final border patterning, I wanted to give you all a nice easy week to relax and enjoy some simple knitting.

3) Although I don't want to assume that any of you are football fans, I am sure some people will be busy preparing for and watching the Super Bowl tomorrow, so I didn't want to overload anyone.

For those of you who have already stopped increasing, please do not to the increases in this week's pattern. For those of you worried about running out of yarn, don't worry, this week is the last 4 increases in each section that will be done. I've mentioned before that we are aiming to get to 78 stitches between markers. This week we will complete all of the increases. If you are a few weeks behind and would like to slow your increases, I've posted some alternate instructions for that in weeks 3 & 4 of the Ravelry forums. The posts are as follows:



Also, these directions are for both beginner and intermediate. Everyone is doing the same exact thing this week. Sorry to be so boring, but it had to be done. Because of this, the knitting this week is really not a mystery at all. So, that said, I have incorporated a few clues later in the post to give you something to watch for in tonight's episode. I recommend you brew yourself a cup of tea (which I will be doing) or a glass of wine or your drink of choice (cheers to you, and enjoy on my behalf) and follow along with the fun clues anyway just for kicks. Since the knitting this week is the same for everyone and is very simple, feel free to knit ahead today if you'd like so you can relax and enjoy tonight's episode. You deserve it!

Week 5 Knitting (both Beginners & Intermediates):

Row 1: k4, *k1f&b, k to 1 st before next marker, k1f&b; repeat from * to last 4 sts, k4.

Row 2: knit

*repeat rows 1 & 2 once more. (78 sts between markers)

And that's all for this week's knitting folks!

Some of you may be wondering how much more knitting there is. Here is the short answer: Intermediates will have 8-16 (or possibly more if desired) rows of knitting. The intermediate border pattern is an 8-row repeat and we will be doing it twice. The beginner's border pattern is a two row repeat and we will be doing it the same number of rows in theory, however, there is more flexibility in the beginner pattern to do fewer rows if needed. If you think you are running too short of yarn, the beginner pattern will be a good choice since it's easier to customize. Just something to keep in mind for next week.


Now, here are the fun clues for Episode 5 to drink your tea or (ahem) other beverage of choice this evening:

Prompt #1: When Violet and Isobel have a disagreement, demurely take a sip and proclaim, "Indeed!"

Prompt #2: Anytime Thomas pressures Baxter to collude with him, take a drink with raised eyebrows.

Prompt #3: When Edith receives some upsetting news, take a gulp and say, "Poor Edith!"

Prompt #4: When Anna and Bates have a nice night out, take a sip and say, "Good for them!"

Prompt #5: When Rose debuts her birthday surprise for Lord Crawley, take a drink with your pinky in the air.

Prompt #6: When Rose is caught by Mary doing something unladylike, demurely take a sip and exclaim, "Kids these days!"


These are just for fun of course and not required, I hope you enjoy the episode. :)

Because there is no mystery in this week's knitting, I will not be posting an episode guide tomorrow. If you have questions about the knitting, please let me know!

Happy knitting everyone!
Kristen