As some of you may know, Sandy and I are really good friends. We tend to see something the other one is doing and go "ooohhh I wanna do that too." Sandy has started a Trail Jacket by Knitbot, and I want to cast mine on too. Okay, so I admit I am the monkey who just has to get into the middle of things.

In the mist all the sewing, knitting and work, I am getting ready to give this fantastic pattern a go! Sandy is using Noro Kochoran from her stash, and I just can't say how lovely it is so far. As a matter of fact, I have six hanks of the very same color in my small yarn store and I think I will monkey on and maybe we can be twins! Ha Ha:) We just got some Kochoran in stock (on sale no less) and I am also considering color 75 for this project.

I really like the simple shape of this jacket and the potential for modifications. Sandy is adding some pockets to hers and is considering a slightly different collar.

Sorry for the short post, but I am off to look at other yarn for this pattern....hmmm...possibly the Taria Tweed, or Lana Grossa's Everybody...decisions, decisions...sigh...what a hard life I have, hee hee!

What would you use?

Ok, and now for the winners of the Jade Sapphire giveaway!  Our 3 winners (thanks to Random.org and only using the entries that made it in before midnight last night) were:

1) Autumn's Mom, who said, "I would wear it out to dinner to celebrate my 22nd wedding anniversary this year."

2) Sarah, who said, "The Ponchette would be a staple in my work wardrobe. My office is freezing year-round, and this would be great for days when an extra layer is needed!"

3)  Flossie Knits, who said, "I would wear it on my annual Montreal trip!  It would be perfect for the cooler weather!

Thanks to everyone who entered, and winners, don't forget to e-mail kristen@jimmybeanswool.com right away to claim your kits!  Be sure to let her know your 1st choice preference between Deep Plum and Hydrangea and she'll do her best to accommodate based on who responds the quickest!

As always, happy knitting, crocheting and sewing!!
Jeanne

PS Have you heard about our fabulous Stitch Red campaign? Heart disease is the #1 killer of women, so Stitch Red was created in an effort to help create more awareness. You will want to check out out Stitch Red blog for all kinds of great information and guest bloggers, healthy tips and even heart healthy recipes!!

Happy Wednesday everyone!  Hope you are all having a great week!  Before I take off for the weekend to be a part of my best friend's wedding, I thought I would share with you all some awesome new products!  This week we are featuring Frog Tree Pediboo, Noro Hitsuji and the new Spud and Chloe Patterns.  Enjoy!



Have a great rest of your week and happy knitting!
Kristen

Always one to paint (or dye) outside the lines, Noro offers a mesmerizing mix of classic fibers and original yarns for your knitting pleasure this spring, summer and beyond!

18 Purples, Green, Blues

My favorite fab fiber this season has to be Nobori by Noro. A creative combo of colorful single ply cotton twisted with a white nylon tape, this yarn may weigh in as a heavy worsted, but it feels as lightweight as a light worsted or DK! The breezy, breathable nature of cotton is mostly responsible for Nobori's lofty, cloud-like feel while the feathery nylon tape adds just the right amount of bulk (not to mention unique texture) for quick summer knitting on size US 10 needles.

Silk Garden Lite Ladies Jacket

If you're looking for something in the DK or sock weight department, Noro has you covered there too! Based on two of Noro's most popular fibers (Silk Garden and Taiyo), Silk Garden Lite and Taiyo Sock give you at least two more reasons to love Noro! Silk Garden Lite is a luxurious silk, mohair and lambswool blend ideal for lacy spring cardis, wraps and shawls. This scrumptious DK weight yarn is one that gets softer and silkier the more it is worn, and  no matter what you create with Silk Garden Lite, we're sure you'll be wearing it as often as possible! Available in several breathtaking artisan dyed colorways that self-stripe in unmatchable rainbows of eye-catching hues, you can't go wrong with any of the spectacular shades from Noro.

09 Greens, Purples, Pinks

Taiyo Sock is a superb choice for summertime socks that ward off the chill of air conditioning, bright featherweight shawls for picnics on the beach and so much more! With over 450 yards per skein, you have plenty of yardage to play with. Modeled after its worsted weight cousin, Taiyo, Taiyo Sock is an airy blend of cotton, nylon and wool with just a touch of silk. Speaking of Taiyo (the original), several new colors of this yummy yarn have been added to our line-up so be sure to take a peek!

Now that I've got you drooling over the delicious of Noro, you're probably looking for some inspiration ;). Check out the latest Noro Magazine - Volume 9 for a nearly endless supply of fabulous designs using these new yarns as well as your old school favorites! We took the liberty of creating kits for some of our favorites such as the Ladies Slippers using Taiyo Sock, Nobori Sleeveless Vest and Silk Garden Lite Ladies Jacket among many others!

Have a beautiful day and happy knitting and crocheting!
Leanne :)

Well, the rumors are flying and my stomach is growing, so i figured it was time to face the music and finally admit that i'm "expecting" a kid in a few months. 87 days, to be exact!

If you've known me for very long - or even just stoppped by the shop during one of my "noisy kid" rants - you know that i've never really thought of myself as the type to have children. Doug and I have really enjoyed our [quiet] lives together for the past 11 years... but, sometimes fate just takes over! That said, we are just 12 weeks away from becoming parents - and are both terrified and ... well, terrified. Haha.



All jokes and dry humor aside, we are getting more excited each day, thanks in large part to the support from the girls at the store - and all of the other women that pass through the physical and figurative JBW doors. Heck, it's hard for us to NOT be excited when we open a package and pull out a teensy weensy sweater (like the one above knit by Beth at Lorna's Laces) or a pair of handknit socks... (like the ones to the left- knit by Jeanne in shepherd sport/chocolate - she's promised me that she'll write the pattern so that i can also knit a pair for the kid).


And yes, even I have started to knit stuff for the little bugger. I have to say - knitting stuff for a little kid is pretty amazing... it doesn't take very long or very much yarn... and I can be sure that he will wear it!!

What have i made so far? Well... there's the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran intarsia blanket (pictured), the Artyarns Supermerino baby socks, the Mission Falls 1824 Cotton Bob Blanket, and the Manos cardigan (in which i'm going to sew a zipper... and rip out the buttons). Wow - when i type it all out, it looks like i've sure gotten a lot of knitting done!



Even Buddy and Wiley have gotten into the spirit, making sure that everything we receive/buy meets with their approval. In this photo, I think Buddy is jockeying for rights to wear Beth's sweater, once the kid grows out of it!! I have to say - working in a yarn store while pregnant (and dying to knit) has been a bit of a struggle... especially since we just received all of those great new Noro and Debbie Bliss yarns. Since I've chosen blues and browns (cause i LOVE brown) as our "colors", it's been killing me to walk into the shop and sift through all of the gorgeous shades of blue and brown ... i want to knit them all!! Life is rough, eh?

So, that's my news. And the news of the shop, i guess :) If, for some reason, you'd like to see pics of the kid so far (and of how we've progressed), I've set up a basic blog at http://babyzander.blogspot.com/. And I figured i'd go ahead and answer some frequently asked questions, just in case you were wondering... :)

1. Is it a boy or girl? It's a BOY!
2. Where are you going to deliver? Truckee only has 1 hospital, so i guess i'll be delivering there!
3. Are you going to have an epidural? I have no idea! I've never done this before, so am not sure what it's going to be like... i guess i'll just have to decide on labor day :)
4. Are you going to nurse? I'm planning on it.
5. Can I touch your stomach when I come into the shop next time? Only if you don't mind if I touch yours - haha!
6. How do you feel? I feel great so far - all things considered, of course. I did have slight morning sickness for the first 5 months, but that is mostly gone (tho i do get car sick now - and never used to). I'm still able to exercise every day, so i think that has helped me feel better than i might otherwise.
7. Have you picked out a name yet? Yes! Doug and I both picked out the same name (independently and at different times) a few months ago. We'll announce his name at birth. For now, the girls at the store call him "The Rock" - and we've given him a temporary middle name of "Rambo."
8. How have Buddy and Wiley reacted to the news? Buddy is oblivious but Wiley has started to sit a bit closer to me at night... we're not sure, but it seems like he's starting to get a bit more protective of me. It's pretty sweet... and I certainly can't complain about him resting his head on my lap some evenings :)
   

So that's it! Wish me luck these next few months... and if you notice that i suddenly disappear from the blog or the shop, you'll know why. :)