Showing posts with label blue sky alpaca. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blue sky alpaca. Show all posts

What's New Around the Shop?

by : Jimmy Beans Wool
If you've been in the shop lately you've probably noticed a few changes. I've been moving things around, giving things a fresh, new look. I've been working hard to get many of the newest yarns out for you to see. In the front of the store you'll find many of our newest DK and sport weight cottons and warm weather blends like Cascade Ultra Pima that is so shiny and comes is such vibrant colors. Then there's Berroco Pure Pima that also comes in fabulous colors, Debbie Bliss Amalfi, Rowan Purelife Revive, Blue Sky Alpaca Skinny Dyed Cotton, Debbie Bliss Eco Baby, Araucania Chaiten, Manos Del Uruguay Serena Multi and Solids, and Classic Elite Allegoro. They are all so fun, lovely and cool I'm having a hard time deciding which ones I'll use for knitting up some summer cardigans, camisoles, shells and tanks.

Scattered around the shop you'll also find other yummy yarns like the new Noro Shirakaba, Noro Aya, Debbie Bliss Eco Cotton, AraucaniaNature Cotton, Mission Falls 1824 Cotton and Trendsetter Free Spirit. All are fabulous for knitting up some lacy pullovers and summer cardigans and wraps.

If you want to knit up some summer fun try joining some of our classes to get a start.

Stay tuned to see what's new each week!

Terry








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Hats and scarves

by : Jimmy Beans Wool



As the holidays approach many of us are making gifts and I've noticed that many of our customers are planning hats and scarves. These are great gifts because they are often quick and easy and can put small amounts of luscious yarns to good use. One of the key things to remember when choosing yarns for hats and scarves is that very often they will be in contact with sensitive areas of skin like the throat and forehead. Sometimes a yarn that seems soft at first can become itchy or irritating once they absorb a little moisture. Because of this, I recommend holding a skein or ball of yarn to the throat for a minute or so to make sure it will stay soft and yummy and not become itchy. It's wise to use alpaca, silk, merino wool, synthetics or cotton for gift recipients who may be sensitive.

We have a lot of hat patterns to choose from and some really nice scarves too. Here are just a few of the many very soft yarns that we carry that should be suitable: Rowan Wool Cotton, Cascade Baby Alpaca Chunky, any Misti Alpaca or Blue Sky Alpaca, Rowan Silk Wool DK, Berroco Lustra, and Malabrigo Worsted.

For other quick gifts and more hats check out our Personal Accessory pages too.
Have fun and remember we are here for you if you need help choosing a yarn for your project.
Terry












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Back to work and new goodies

by : Jimmy Beans Wool
Well I missed my turn posting a blog last week while I was travelling. As usual I was over optimistic about what I could accomplish and only managed to finish the first ball of yarn on my Ann Norling Short Row Multi-directional scarf I have mentioned before. I was only able to work one row on my Henley Perfected. And all the driving I did allowed me time to plan some items to go with my scarf. More about those another time.

I had a nice trip and plenty of nice surprises this week at work with all the new stuff we're getting in the store. We now have some of the AslanTrends yarns in stock that are advertised in Vogue Holiday 2009. I just had a customer call over the weekend and ask about this yarn. Lo and behold it appeared in the shop just yesterday. So now we do have it! It looks like very lovely yarn and I can't wait to get it out on display for you all to see. Keep watching our website as we get pictures taken and descriptions written. Please be patient, we're working as fast as we can. We also have a couple of their pattern books, Season's Change Vol 1 and Season's Change Vol 2, which have some great patterns I can't wait to try out.

Vogue Holiday 2009 is also in the store. I skimmed through it today and immediately bought my copy. There are some great projects in it and I look forward to sitting down and going through it thoroughly. Pattern 18, Pam Grushkin's V neck lace pullover maybe just the thing I've been looking for to use the Blue Sky Alpaca Silk in some of the richer colors I've been drooling over.
I would have to say that this issue really and truly has something for every taste. There are some fabulous looking patterns in brilliant colors, unique cowls, updated classic sweaters, Lacy fingerless gloves any wild child would love to wear, elegant party wear, an absolutely gorgeous pair of socks and tons more!
Now to do a little work on a project I hope will turn out well so I can show you all soon.
Wishing you all fleet and nimble fingers so all those holiday projects are done on time.
Terry










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Travelling

by : Jimmy Beans Wool
I will be away from the shop for the next week on a short trip so I've been packing and cleaning the car today. As I wait for the last load of laundry to finish drying I'm contemplating what knitting projects to take with me. As tempted as I am to take something new to work on I've decided to only take wips (works in progress) because I have so many projects that I need to finish.

Let see... I have 3 ravelry KAL projects... a Gail Shawl (which is a free ravelry download pattern) in a dk weight rayon from my stash that I just have the border chart left to do. Then there is an Apres Surf Hoodie by Connie Chang Chinchio from Interweave Knits Summer 2008 in a fingering weight in an old gold, colored wool. I'm working it in the round instead of flat and I'm up to the separation for the neck opening. And my newest KAL cast on, a Henley Perfected also by Connie Chang Chinchio (she is one of my favorite designers, can you tell?) from Interweave Knits Winter 2007 that I'm working in Blue Sky Alpacas Silk #131 Kiwi. I am also still working on the Ann Norling Short row Multi-directional scarf I talked about in my post last Wednesday. Do you think these will be enough to work on? Hmmmm, maybe I should take my lace book and start that shawl design with the Helen's Lace in Purple Mojito I've been contemplating... as usual hopelessly over committed!!! At least I'm not over packing clothes this time... I hope. By next Wednesday I hope to have some progress pictures to share with you.

So, some of you are probably wondering what Ravelry is and what KALs are. Ravelry is a great free networking site for knitters and crocheters. You can do all sorts of things like keep a project log, an inventory of your stash, lists of favorite patterns, a queue of projects to do and you can chat with other fiber enthusiasts from all over the world! I just checked and I see that there are now over 450,000 members! I would have to say it is the single greatest resource for finding patterns from almost any source and it has a great search engine to help sort through them all. If you aren't already a member I highly recommend joining. When you do join you can join our JBW chat group called The Beaners. If you can't tell I just love Ravelry and have made friends in Europe, Australia, Central and South America in addition to ones I've made in the US and Canada. There are chat groups for many languages too, not just English.

One of the things you can do on Ravelry as well as with any other group of knitters or crocheters is to form a KAL (Knit Alongs) or CAL (Crochet Alongs). These are projects that a group of people are all interested in working on and then they arrange a time frame when everyone who can, works on them at the same time. I really like KALs because they help to keep me on track to get things finished, maybe not always in the allotted time but much sooner than I might otherwise. A great benefit of an Along is that you get lots of moral support by having other people to talk to about the project and help you sort out problems or make modifications. People share their frustrations at working on something they find difficult and their joy of triumph when they accomplish a goal. All this helps keep enthusiasm for the project fresh.

I would love to do some KAL and CAL both in person and online. What kind of projects are you interested in working on? Let us know in the comments or when you stop by the store and we'll see what we can put together.

Also, do check out our October class list, just out this week. You can find the schedule by following the link or finding Classes near the bottom of any page on the website under the How To section. We've added new classes and times. Please let us know if there is a class you would like to take but don't see listed.


I'll leave you with a bit of fall color from last year.

The best of success in your projects this week!
(The handsome fellow in the top picture is my dog whose been staying with a family member and I'm going to get to see him again!)

Terry


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Great new projects!

by :
Hi all! I'm chiming in and saying hello. My name is Terry and I'm also one of the new JBW team members. I have been thoroughly enjoying getting to know the staff and all our regular retail customers as well as meeting all the internet customers who have been stopping by on their visits to Reno. You all are such great people and make everyday a pleasure. I don't think I've ever had such a fun job before! What could be better than talking about knitting, crochet, yarn and fibers all day long! Except maybe getting to touch all the pretty yarns all day and plan a gazillion projects. Thank you so much Laura, Jeanne and the rest of the staff for inviting me to join the team!

Speaking of a gazillion projects, I think I have about that many on my needles...ok well not exactly a gazillion... maybe a dozen. My newest project is an Ann Norling Short row Multi-directional Scarf using Crystal Palace Mini Mochi in color 107 Autumn Rainbow. I just started it this morning and it's going very quickly. I love this yarn! It's so soft and the colors are very vibrant. I've been itching to try out this yarn with this pattern since the yarn came in a few weeks ago and I'm not disappointed!


The pattern is super easy and so cool how it comes together with no fancy tricks. This is a great cruising project for travel or when you just need something uncomplicated and fast to knit and have it come out looking fabulous.

Best of all, we can put it all together for you in a kit!
Here's my progress so far.


I love how the color progresses in smooth gradations of color. I'm already thinking how lovely it will look in a top down lace shawl. I love knitting lace and hope to be working on more soon.

Did I mention that this is a sock yarn? It's 80% superwash merino and 20% nylon so not only will it look fantastic it will be easy to care for. Hmmm.... maybe I should make socks with it sometime too. More ideas...

The other new project I'm working on is a Henley Perfected by Connie Chang Chinchio from Interweave Knits Winter 2007. I'm using the recommended yarn, Blue Sky Alpacas - Alpaca & Silk in color 131 Kiwi. More about this in our up coming newsletter in the What's on our needles section.

I hear that scarf calling to me to come work on it some more and we all know how insistent some of our projects can be so I'll sign off for now.

Wishing you well on whatever you are working on!

Terry


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