It was love at first sight when we first received Never Not Knitting patterns by Alana Dakos several years ago!  Her thoughtfully designed, classic styles for women & children are elegant and universally appealing. The printed patterns are lovely to look at and well written.  We've had Coastal knits trunk shows in the past but this is the first time we've had a Never Not Knitting trunk show!

 Stop by the shop if you can and take a look!  And yes, they are as soft to touch as they look!

 Katlyn looks so sunny and warm in this Cedar Leaf Shawlette!  This one is knit up in Malabrigo Silky Merino in color 405 - Sand.







Erika & JenA are snug and warm in these lofty hats, Winter Trails in Malabrigo Worsted and Cloudy Days in Blue Sky Alpaca Sportweight!

Jenny just loves the Cream & Sugar Cowl in Malabrigo Sock and the Plum Tree Slouch hat.  She will stay plenty warm out in the warehouse in this pair!


Terry has had the Shawl Collared Cowl pattern and the Misti Alpaca Chunky in her stash for a while now and thinks she needs to get on the ball and get it worked up!

This adorable little girl's sweater is called Sheepish! Wouldn't it make a wonderful gift for that special little someone?


Last but not least is this adorable little shrug called Chloe knit up in Spud & Chloe Sweater


The other trunk show currently in the shop is Kelbourne Woolens Baby Collection. We have so many wonderful garments in the shop you're sure to find lots of ideas for all those babies that have been cropping up everywhere! The sizes range from newborn to 24 months.



 The entire Kelbourne Baby Collections is knit up in yarns from The Fibre Company!  So soft!!!

These adorable vests are Harold (on the left) knit up in Tundra and Mildred (on the right) worked in Terra

This is Colette knit up in Road to China Light!

 Clarence are fun little hand warmers and Florence is a pretty set of hat and booties both knit up in Canopy (which we don't currently carry).

Cecile knit up in Terra & Beatrix in Acadia are two of the most adorable sweaters!

That lovely blanket in the back ground is Basil in Canopy.  The diaper covers are called Darling and the onesie is Nellie.

We hope to see you in the shop but if you can't make it in just let us know any questions you have.

The Retail Team - Gus, JenA, Jill, & Terry




 

Coastal Knits by Alana Dakos and Hanna Fettig has become a perennial favorite. Not to be be too cliche, these classic styles really are timeless!  We once again are privileged to have these lovely garments in the store for your fondling pleasure!



Jessica looks smashing in the Bayside Pullover knit in Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine in the Potting Soil colorway # 1279!

 The Branching Out Mitts are an instant favorite knit up in two shades of  Blue Sky Alpaca Melange sportweight alpaca.

Terry loves the simple rounded yoke of the Gnarled Oak cardigan she thinks she would like to work it up in MadelineTosh Tosh DK Oak.  She also loved the fit of the Rustling Leaves beret in Tosh Sock.



Jen A & Katelyn each gravitated to very different styles. Jen is in the Waters Edge Cardigan worked up in Tosh DK in Cove. And Katelyn is wearing the  Rocky Coast Cardigan which would look lovely in Fyberspates Scrumptious DK or Malabrigo Worsted Merino.

Jenny is looking as lovely as ever in the Wildflower Cardigan worked up in MadelineTosh Pashmina. And look!  There's a mini version too!

 In fact, there are mini me versions of all four cardigans so that your little one can be as stylin' as mom!

The Retail Team - Gus, JenA, Jill, Matt, & Terry



 

I thought writing about mink yarn would be a breeze! Mink have been raised on farms since the late 1800s so there should be a ton of good solid factual info out there. Right? Wrong! Mink is such a new fiber to the yarn world that little has been written on the subject.

How did the subject of mink yarn come up? Because we carry an absolutely lovely 100% mink yarn - Mimi, from Lotus Yarns! I mentioned Lotus yarns in my last Fiber Feature post about Yak. Lotus is a high quality spinning mill that produces custom natural and luxury fiber yarns for some very familiar labels. Now Lotus Yarns is producing luxury fiber yarns under their own label and Trendsetter is the US distributor for them.

You must touch Mimi to get a true appreciation for how soft it is. It is every bit as soft as Yak down but doesn't have that smooth cool butter sensation. The feel is warmer, much like cashmere, which it is often blended with.

Mimi is a thin yarn, and looking at it I would classify it as a light fingering weight. I have noticed that based on Trendsetter's information some sites are listing it as a sport weight and others a lace weight. The label doesn't give a stitch count but does recommend a US 3-4 needle, suggesting to me something lighter than sport but not as light as lace. Mimi comes in solid colors and now Trendsetter has teamed up with Alchemy to create beautifully hand-dyed colors - Mimi Hand-dyed. The hanks are 330 yds per 50 grams so you get enough yardage in one hank to work a nice sized cowl, scarf or small lace shawl.

Mink have a dual coat consisting of a soft undercoat and long outer guard hairs. The guard hairs are stiffer and slightly prickly feeling. But the undercoat is soft and helps to insulate the animal from the cold. This undercoat is the fiber that is spun into yarn, after processing to remove the guard hairs. I couldn't find any information on micron count but it's inferred that it is in the same range as cashmere and angora. The fibers can be as long as 1 1/2 inches but are often shorter. American mink have the longest coat so are the species most cultivated for fibers. Because of how short and fine the fibers are, you will often find mink blended with other fibers. When I've removed a few fibers from a strand, Mimi seems to have a staple length on the longer side of the range and is comprised of 3 plies. Each of the 3 singles is tightly spun, the tight twist helps to make a strong yarn.

Now for the question I know you all are asking, because I asked it too. Are the mink harmed obtaining this fiber? The answer is no! Yes, they are farmed and the fibers are shaved or combed from the animal about 3 times a year, when they would normally shed their undercoat. This process is very similar to how we get angora from rabbits and wool from sheep. Well treated animals provide the best quality fibers which are worth the highest prices so it is in the mink farmer's best interest to have healthy, happy animals. An animals coat is the first place signs of stress appear so fiber producers are highly motivated to take the best care of their animals. Their livelihoods depend on it!

I hope this has been informative, the yarn is yummy to the touch and would make lovely, delicate, lacy projects such as cowls, shawls & scarves as special gifts for the holidays. Here are some patterns that this yarn would be lovely in:

Asterope by Rosemary "Romi" Hill:

Asterope

Cilantro by Indiegirl:

Cilantro

Clarus by Laura Nelkin:

Clarus

The Guernsey Triangle by Brooklyn Tweed:

Guernsey Triangle

Or Buttonwillow which is also by Romi Hill:

Buttonwillow

If a scarf or cowl is more your style, try the Cream and Sugar Cowl from Never Not Knitting:

Cream & Sugar Cowl

Or, the Churchmouse Diagonal Scarf and Wrap:

Diagonal Scarf & Wrap

Have fun and enjoy!
Terry

For months we've waited with needles at the ready for the release of Alana Dakos' latest book, Botanical Knits, and now the printed copies are finally here! Botanical Knits is a collection of 12 knitting patterns inspired by nature. Each design very much embodies Alana's personal style, and is uniquely beautiful with various leaf and floral motifs. 

Alana, of Never Not Knitting blog and podcast fame, has been creating beautiful designs for years and is most known for her independently released patterns in her Never Not Knitting line, as well as  the book Coastal Knits which she released in 2011 with Hannah Fettig.

Botanical Knits, her first self-published collection entirely her own, is a true testament to her talent and knack for beautiful design. Each pattern is photographed beautifully and is complete with both written and charted directions. What is nice is that Alana also recommends alternative yarns for each of her patterns, making it easy to find a substitute and give you more options.

Here are some of my personal favorites from the book:

Pressed Leaves Beret

Twigs and Willows Cardigan

Wrapped in Leaves Shawlette

Forest Floor Tam

Autumn's Ends Pullover

This is only a small sampling of the lovely designs in the book--there are so many that I want to make! At Jimmy Beans, we loved each and every design so much, that we made kits for each one. Check them out if you are thinking about making something. Botanical Knits is also available as an e-book directly from Alana, so if you prefer to download it instead, feel free to check out that option. I kinda love how a book feels in the hand so I'll be taking a copy home with me today! 

In any case, Botanical Knits is definitely worth checking out for yourself. It's a beautifully done book that makes a wonderful addition to your knitting library (and mine too!)

Happy knitting!
Kristen 

First there is my A-line Hoodie from our recent Knit Red Knit-A-Long.  The pattern is by Diane Soucy and can be found in Knit Red by Laura Zander.  I'm using Berroco Vintage in color 5150 Berries.

I'm using my new favorite needles, Knitter's Pride  Cubic circulars size US #8.

I'm knitting on this project just as fast as I can so I can wear it now the weather is getting cold!








 When I first saw the Wingspan Shawl by Maylin Tri'coterie Designs on Raverly I knew I had to make it.  I love the way bold, self striping yarns look in this pattern. I've chosen Schoppel Wolle Crazy Zauberball in color 1507 Herbstwind and Addi Lace circular needles.  This is a wonderfully soft yarn and the colors are so vibrant!


I have been trying to knit socks for myself for the past couple of years.  I have about five different pairs in different techniques started.  My problem is, they keep getting preempted by gifts for family and other projects.  I'm promising myself that I will finish them this winter so I have warm and toasty toes!

This pair is Never Not Knitting's Amelie Socks.  I'm working this pair according to the Magic Loop instructions. I love this pattern and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn each of the three main methods for knitting sock because the pattern has instructions for double points, 2 circulars and Magic Loop.

The yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Tuscany on Addi Lace circular needle.

I often like to have several projects going of different skill levels.  Seems like I've been mostly needing mindless, cruising knitting lately so these wonderful socks have take a back seat.  This is quite a challenging pattern. It can be found for free on Ravelry at Neko Knits.  The pattern is Seriously Southwestern Socks.  Mary, the designer is a local customer and a great sock designer! She designed this sock specifically to use one of our Lorna's Laces Limited Edition colors.  Since that color was no longer available when I started my socks I chose Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Gold Hill and Charcoal.  To further complicate this mosaic knitting pattern I'm working them two at a time on two Addi Lace circular needles!  So this most definitely is a "need to concentrate" project.

 I've been working on this little sweater for my now 10 month old granddaughter.  It's Knitting Pure & Simple New Born Layette Pattern #121.  I'm knitting the 12 month size and I'm getting nervous that she'll have outgrown it before I finish!  The yarn is again Lorna's Laces Sock in one of our Limited Editions colors - Wonderstone.  I've been knitting this project on Knitter's Pride Cubics too.







This is lonely project is my Knitbots Featherweight Cardigan in MadelineTosh Prairie.  The color is Earl Grey.  I started this one last year and it has been laying around looking forlorn so I will get back to it after my holiday knitting so it will be done for next spring.
Now for my holiday knitting!  I'm working on a throw for my very special someone.  I'm making the Cabled Afghan, pattern #30 from the Holiday 2012 issue of KnitSimple Magazine. I'm using Cascade Baby Alpaca Chunky in the discontinued color of 621 and again the Knitter's Pride Cubics US #11.

Hi everyone! I just wanted to pop in for a quick second and let everyone know that the Coastal Knits trunk show is here at Jimmy Beans Wool! It will be on display in our shop until December 21st. If you are a local customer or will be in the area, please stop by and check it out!

Coastal Knits is a beautiful book featuring designs by Hannah Fettig of Knitbot and Alana Dakos of Never Not Knitting! This collection is inspired by their different coastal homes: Portland, ME and Atascadero, CA. To see some of the stunning designs from the book in person, be sure to swing by the shop while it is here! Here is a little sneak peek:

"Wildflower Cardigan"

"Gnarled Oak Cardigan" and "Branching Out Mitts"

"Sand and Sea Shawlette"

"Rocky Coast Cardigan"

"Panoramic Stole"

Hope to see you all in the shop soon!

Happy Knitting!
Kristen

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