Jimmy's Knitting Hacks

by : Jimmy Beans Wool

It’s always nice when you find out a life hack that actually makes your life better! 
We thought to ourselves, “Hey! WE should do a knitting hacks blog!” So we set off on a journey to scour the grand land of the internet and we waded into the office waters, asking Team Beans for some of their BEST knitting hacks yet. We present to you: the top 5 knitting hacks from Team Beans! 

But we ask that you do one thing before you read this list. Imagine yourself in the middle of a really bad infomercial. Suddenly! A voice in the sky appears it’s a deep voice….it BOOMS out at you….

  1. Are YOU tired of CONSTANTLY having to unlock your phone to look at your pattern?? Sick of having to set down your project and LOSE COUNT of where you’re at to look at your pattern?? Well...have we got the solution FOR YOU! Make your pattern your phone background. Easy as pie, Now you just tap! and your pattern is right there. 

  1. Do you ever lose count of your stitches?? And you think...man I really wish I had a stitch marker. But you look around and there’s NONE in your house, just lots and lots of skeins of yarn, plenty of needles, but NO stitch markers. Man...what are you gonna do?! Well...have we got a solution for YOU. You’ve got P-L-E-N-T-Y of yarn. So just...use that! Cut 6-8" pieces of yarn, tie in an overhand knot, leaving a loop to act as the stitch marker. Trim the tails to about 1/2 an inch, and you're ready to go.

  1. Stuck in traff--...well...probably not anymore, but WHEN you’re stuck in traffic or on public transportation...and you think to yourself, I think I’m going to start on my project I’ve been putting off right now...but you look...and you have NO NEEDLES?!? The HORROR. But you might have...two pencils or pens right? WELL USE THOSE. There are no RULES. You can do what you want. It’s chaotic good. 

  1. Are YOU trying to be a little more eco-friendly...you tend to save the coffee cups that you get from your favorite coffee shop?? But you’re not quite sure what to do with it?! Well, think...a YARN BOWL...just pop off the top, put your yarn inside, feed the end through the hole in the lid, and - viola! - yarn bowl with yarn feeder! Easy peasy. 

  1. Alright, the last hack here we go, but we have a gift! Instead of ONE hack, we’re giving you a BUNCH all at ONCE. Some rapid-fire hacks coming at you fast. Get READY alright. Need a cable needle? Try a Toothpick for sock weight, pencil for chunky weight yarn. Need stitch markers? Get bulb pins super cheap bulk on amazon or go the super cheap option and keep an eye out for bulb pins as clothing pins for clothes. Need a place to stab your double pointed needles when you want to take a break? Well, look no further than a wine bottle...cork of courke--er course! 

End scene!

Thanks for playing along in our infomercial. Hopefully, some of these Bean Certified and Approved Knitting Hacks (trademark pending) actually do improve your life!

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April Pop-Up Shop! Vrinda Yarn!

by : Jimmy Beans Wool


We are very excited to announce our 2020 Pop-Up Shop series! Each month, we will be featuring an indie yarn dyer or company, showcasing their yarn, and highlighting perfect patterns to go with them! We'll also share an interview with the owners and designers here on the blog.


 For the month of April, our exclusive Jimmy Beans Pop-Up Shop is featuring Vrinda Yarn! Vrinda was started by Nikki and her husband Jay in 2018, and has been storming the fiber world ever since. Each of Vrinda Yarn's bases are named using Sanskrit, and so is the company itself. Vrinda means "virtue, strength, and without comparison" - values that Nikki and Jay hold true in every part of their lives. Read on for a short interview with Nikki!

 Find all our Pop-Up Shops here!

1. Why did you start dyeing yarn? 
Jay has always been an artist and an entrepreneur, always ready to try the next thing. He was in between projects and deciding what he wanted to do next when I suggested he try dyeing some yarn. He has since fell in love with dyeing and the myriad of ways color can be combined in yarn.

2. What inspires you when you develop colors? 
Color! We are fascinated by color, and we want to make sure we have a color that speaks to the heart of each of our customers. With this end in mind, we are always experimenting and trying to make a complete range of colors, so that everyone can find a color, or colors, they love.

3. Is there any particular colorway that has special meaning to you? 
Many of our colorways have special meanings, as we have named them after places or things that are very special to us. Off the Beaten Path is one colorway that is special, because it is one of those colors we just feel the love deep down in our guts every time we see it! Plus the name is reminiscent of our many adventures on family road trips, discovering hidden gems. For Nikki, the colors After All This Time and Always are very special, as most Harry Potter fans might be able to relate. 

4. When did you first learn knitting or crocheting? 
We both learned to knit when we were young, Nikki learned from her grandmother and Jay learned in school. Then we both picked it up again when our 2nd child was born. We only had one set of needles, so one of us would use chopsticks! We didn't stick with it until our 3rd child was born, when Nikki finally took time to sit down and really learn the craft. We haven't looked back since! Nikki as taught to crochet by her grandmother, but hasn't quite found the groove of it the way we have with knitting. We've taught all three of our children to knit as well - it has definitely become a huge part of our family. 

5. And just for fun: If you could design a parade float that was fiber themed, what would it look like? 
The float would pay homage to the various fiber arts traditions from around the world. Think It's a Small World, but with fiber animals and plants, spinning, dyeing, knitting, crochet, weaving - all of it! 


Vrinda Yarn will be specially available for online order through Jimmy Beans for the whole month of April!
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