Thank you to everyone who responded to my last blog questions! It seems that Knit/Crochet/other A-longs are a popular choice so we will begin planning more throughout the coming year. As we move forward into 2013 I will also be writing more instructional blogs and filming videos to go along with them.

So now that we've finished (or nearly finished in my case) our holiday gifts it's time for some selfish knitting/crocheting/sewing!  Do you have some things planned?

I'm still working on one Christmas gift, a couple of gifts for up coming birthdays, my Knit Red - A-line Hoodie and a very overdue pair of fingerless gloves for my younger son. Then I'll be all set to do my selfish knitting! (IF I don't get too side tracked with some sewing projects I'm working on and a couple of new ideas I have.) I'm wanting to knit more shawls/shawlettes for myself, I've been saying for the past year and a half that I need a blue shawl and a blue sweater, now I have both planned and the yarns purchased.

 For my blue shawl I've picked out these yarns for a single strand Truckee Shawlette.

Malabrigo Lace Superwash in Volcan and Tosh Prairie Short skein in Worn Denim

 I decided on these two different yarns because the colors work well together for me and the colors I wear.

 I've also purchased more Tosh for Romi Hill's Carson Shawl and I've started a Wingspan in Schoppel Wolle Crazy Zauberball that would be nice to finish. (I see now that there is a Lace Wingspan!  I may have to start over and do that one instead.) I also have several sweaters and Litchfield hat & mitts planned. Not to mention the Downton Abby KAL... Oh dear! There I go again getting way ahead of myself. I should never have written down what I want to start, I feel behind already! LOL!

How about a felted project? Who doesn't need another bag? There are some wonderful Bag and Tote patterns to choose from too. Ok, I need to STOP now before I plan myself too big of a hole to knit my way out of this year! How to decide what to do first? The yarns I've purchased are so pretty and I know the Downton Abby KAL won't take much time each week, so perhaps one of the shawls would be a good choice...

Then there are all thing things I want to learn this year, I haven't even really started that list yet!

Don't you just wish you could knit everything at once? How do you decide which project to make next?  Tell us about the projects you're planning! I've set up a Ravelry thread to plan and discuss your 2013 projects.

I'm looking forward to hearing about all of your upcoming projects!

Happy Knitting!
Terry

We are so excited about this new partnership and have barely been able to contain ourselves the past few weeks! A couple of months ago, Rosmary "Romi" Hill moved here to lovely Northern Nevada where Jimmy Beans Wool just happens to be located. Now, the high desert isn't for everyone, but she is one of the lucky ones who see's the amazing beauty beyond the brown fallen head over heels for her new home. We were so delighted when she stopped into Jimmy Beans and shared with us her big idea--basing her newest "7 Small Shawls Collection" on Northern Nevada and the Sierra! (Feel free to check out her blog post on the topic as well!)

"Home is Where the Heart Is" is a collection of seven gorgeous shawls and one set of accessories-- eight patterns in total. The patterns will be released gradually over the course of the year with corresponding KAL's and giveaways and all kinds of fun! "Home is Where the Heart Is" is Romi's third year of "7 Small Shawls", her first two being: "The Pleiades" and "The Muses". Both collections are simply stunning which is why we can't wait to see where year three takes us!

The e-book version of "Home is Where the Heart Is" is now available for pre-order on Ravelry and you would receive the patterns digitally as they debut. The cool thing about pre-ordering is that you get all eight designs at the $16 price through the month of July. The price goes up to $20 on August 1st. Be sure to check out Romi's Ravelry Group and join the buzz that is happening over there! We have a JBW Thread started as well!

If e-books aren't your thing, never fear! Jimmy Beans Wool will be carrying all of the patterns from "Home is Where the Heart Is" exclusively as they debut. What does that mean exactly? Well, we will have beautiful hard copies of each pattern available to purchase and they will be exclusive to Jimmy Beans Wool for three months after they debut! We've also worked with Romi to coordinate and stock the yarns she chooses so that you can even purchase the colors you need to knit the designs. We'll have kits available with or without the pattern to make your shopping as easy as possible!

We have some other fun things planned for this collaboration which we'll announce later on down the road, but we just HAD to share this exciting news with you! We hope you'll join us in celebrating Romi's beautiful designs and her new home with this coming series!

Hope you all have a great weekend and happy knitting!
Kristen

PS. Romi is the Featured Designer in the Fall 2012 Knitscene which you can now pre-order or check out the preview of all of the designs!