Let's see if I can talk about these wonderful fibers and not bore you too much because they are so cool in a geeky, science-y sort of way!

Rayon is perhaps one of the least understood fibers worked with by hand crafters.  Rayon came into existence in the attempt for humans to duplicate what a silk worm does naturally.  That is, turn plant material into a fine, highly desirable fiber.  In essence, rayon is artificial silk.

Many people erroneously think that rayon is a synthetic fiber but it is not; it is a cellulose fiber. While it is man-made, the raw material is from plant material, most frequently wood pulp.  You may recall from high school science class that the cell walls of plants are made from cellulose. Using various chemical methods the cells are broken down and reconstructed then forced through spinnerets (tiny holes) to create rayon fibers which are then spun into threads and yarns. Because rayon is a cellulose fiber, it can be considered renewable.  It is also biodegradable, and it can be dyed in brilliant colors using the same kinds of dye used to dye cotton and linen or by incorporating dye into it during processing.  Some processes for making rayon can be fairly water intensive and can use varying quantities of chemicals but overall it is much more environmentally friendly than synthetics made from petroleum-based products.

There are several different kinds of rayon each using different variations of plant materials and chemical processes.

Viscose is probably the most common form of rayon; it's sometimes just called viscose or viscose rayon.  It is a very soft fiber that feels good next to the skin.  It has beautiful drape, very much like silk but not as elastic.  It is highly absorbent but does become weaker when wet so can lose resiliency if wet blocked too hard.  So only block hard if you want more drape and less "bounce" in your finished garment.  Rayon is washable.  Most garment labels will specify if you should wash or dry clean.  If the label says to dry clean you should do so, as some rayon is not as colorfast and the dye will run unevenly.  Ask me how I know!  I'll show you the lovely rayon scarves I purchased back in the 80's and how they look rather tie dyed now. If you should want to take the chance and wash a rayon item that specifies dry clean only, test an inconspicuous area to check for colorfastness.

We have many yarns that contain rayon/viscose.  My personal favorites are Classic Elite Firefly, Plymouth Linen Concerto, Crystal Palace Monaco (which is on sale!), Berroco Lago, and Rowan Panama.

I encourage you to use our Advanced yarn search  to find other rayon and viscose yarns and our Advanced Fabric search to find rayon fabric and ribbons!

Modal is a type of rayon made from European Beech trees which are grown specifically as a renewable resource. Modal is the registered trademark for Lenzing AG in Austria.  The process of making Modal reportedly uses less water and fewer chemicals than other types of rayon.  It is my understanding that all of the chemicals used to make Modal are completely recaptured and reused. Modal is very smooth, soft and about 50% more absorbent than mercerized cotton.  Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy is one yarn that contains Modal along with cotton and hemp.

Tencel is another trademarked name for another type of rayon, lyocell.  This fiber is extremely drapey, doesn't wrinkle easily, absorbs dye well and has a lovely sheen.  There are a quite a few lines of travel clothing made from Tencel.  At the moment we don't have any Tencel yarns but watch for new ones and know they are a delight to work with!

Soysilk, the registered trademark of South West Trading Company for a type of rayon made from soybean pulp that is left after pressing the beans to remove the oil. Unlike the other types of rayon which help you feel cool in warmer weather, soysilk feels warm but does wick moisture away from the skin as do other rayons.

Seacell, is the trademarked name of a type of lyocell that has about 5% seaweed added to the base materials. It is said that the natural minerals found in the seaweed are retained in the yarn and could possibly be imparted to the skin, contributing desirable minerals to help keep your skin healthy. Hand Maiden Sea Silk is the only yarn we have with seacell.

Bamboo is another rayon that is from a highly renewable resource and has the unusual property of being antibacterial even after many washings. Bamboo fiber is very soft and absorbs moisture very quickly then allows it to evaporate just as quickly so it helps you to remain very comfortable.  It makes excellent bath towels and sheets.  Yarn containing bamboo will have a nice soft drape, excellent wicking ability and dyes in beautifully vibrant colors.  It is an excellent fiber for making warm weather socks!  It's also great for shells, tops, coverups, evening wear, hand towels, baby clothes or any time you want a cooler fabric with drape, shine, durability and the added bonus of being renewable.  Some of my favorite bamboo yarns are: Be Sweet Bamboo & Bambino, Crystal Palace Panda Silk, Classic Elite Wool Bam Boo, Vail, Chalet, HiKoo CoBaSi, Frog Tree Pediboo Sock & Worsted, and Univeral Bamboo Pop.

Corn and other high starch agricultural products like sugar & wheat are also being broken down through chemical processes to form polymers, which are then spun into fibers!  We are currently out of any yarns that contain corn but do watch for Araucania Ruca which is 100% sugar viscose. We'll be getting more in a few weeks!

Acetate is a slightly different type of fiber that starts with wood pulp but goes through a different chemical process.  It has been around for decades, and most of us are familiar with the shiny fabric that melts when ironed too hot.

Last, but far from least, is one of the newer technologies, Outlast viscose!  According to the Outlast website (in geek speak): it is a phase change material that can be incorporated into or coated on a fiber and adapts to the temperature of your body.  It pulls excess warmth away or radiates warmth back depending on what is needed.  I recommend visiting the website, Outlast.com, to find out the more technical aspects, which are really cool if, like me, you love geeky science stuff but I fear will put many people to sleep. So far, the only yarns I know of that incorporate this high tech fiber are Lorna's Laces Sportmate & Solemate!

Are you still with me?  I didn't put you to sleep with too many facts?  Good! Rayon is one of my very favorite fibers to wear.  I have several knitting project planned with these awesome yarns like Paseo in Lorna's Laces Solemate and Cocoknits Belle in Classic Elite Firefly.  I'm very much looking forward to learning to sew better so I can try some fabrics too!

I hope this helps clear up some confusions about these wonderful fibers!  There is lots more to read about each of them if you're interested.  Check out The Knitter's Book of Yarn  which has been very helpful to me in preparing this post for you and then don't forget to search the web!

If I can help further please drop me an email: askTerry (at) jimmybeanswool (dot) com.

Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Sewing!

Terry

I have been having a hard time finishing some of my WIP's (works in progress) and well I have some patterns that I have deadlines on, ummm come on Jeanne!! I finally sat down and did a basic list of my WIP's and came up with 15 so far and I say so far because I remembered one that I had left off the list, so I am pretty sure that as I get more and more honest with myself I will have to add to the list.

1 & 2. I have 2 TOP SECRET projects that are at the top of the list, so if I tell you about them I will have to kill you, ha ha!

3. I have my Shoal Water Shawl which if I would just suck it up and move along is really close. Blush the project log isn't up to date (that's my job) in this picture as I am a bit further.

4. My China Vest from Folk Vests...again really great progress! This one isn't even on the project log ugh!

5. A pair of my Bubble Socks out of Lorna's Laces sport weight for my daughter. This one isn't on the log yet, but in my defense I have modified the pattern, so have been reluctant to put it up. I know, I know that's a weak defense, but it's the best I've got!

6. My Knitting Pure and Simple sweater #294...which is even further along than in this project log post.

7. I have started (well am really on the second half of) the Dawn shawl from the book by Grace Ann Farrow, The fine Line, out of Isager Wool 1. This one isn't on the log yet and I shall have to remedy that ASAP!!!

8. I am making the Court House Steps blanket/throw from Mason Dixon Knitting out of some discontinued stash yarn by Rowan. This one isn't on the log because I am using a discontinued yarn, but I will put it on for you anyway.

9. My Rowan Shetland Cardigan out of Rowan Felted Tweed Aran.

10. My Fiddlehead Mittens which really haven't moved too far since I posted them.

11. Another Cosette Wrap out of Amber's First Kitchen in the Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted (not on the project log sheesh!)

12. Another 2 Askew Designs pattern that I can't talk about yet...

13. Repeat line 12 here ha ha!

14. Three Sister Scarf #3 out of Hand Maiden Sea Silk. Phew this one is up to date on the log, b ig sigh of relief!!

15. My Lace Ribbon Scarf which is (thankfully up to date on the project log) and I am using Amber's 1st Kitchen in the Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport weight.

So I guess I am using this forum as an WIP intervention for Jeanne HELP!! I am a great starter, but need to finish some of this stuff!

As you may know, Sandy and I are great pals and she has encouraged me with her WIP list to get a little more organized, but what is a knitter to do when there are so many great projects to work on? I do eventually finish some stuff, but have a lot that is unfinished as you can see by my overwhelming list! When I talk to you most of you are in a similar boat (maybe not quite so much water sinking your boat), but so many of you only work on one project at a time. HOW DO YOU DO IT?? I am so easily distracted by all the ideas that I feel like a Magpie chasing all the shinny things for my nest. I chase all the beautiful yarns and patterns for my knitting nest.

Well I guess I better get my needles clicking on one of these things, so for now as always happy knitting and crocheting!

Jeanne

With spring comes my desire to wear comfortable light clothing, but my knitting does not get put away. I am one of those who can't not knit, so I just change the weight of what is laying in my lap. Of course I am ALWAYS knitting socks because they are easy to carry along and don't make me hot while knitting them. I am about to finish up my Hydrangea socks from Janel Laidman's book The Eclectic Sole, so I have to get going on another pair.

I am using the Handmaiden Merino 2/6 yarn in Fleur, but I think I will do my next pair in Panda Cotton yarn for a lighter spring/summer pair. I love the Panda Cotton because it wears like iron, but is so nice and soft to wear. Bamboo has one of the best wicking properties, so all of my Panda Cotton socks keep my feet dry and comfy all day! Of course now I need to decide on the color for my socks and what pattern to use?? Decisions, decisions!! How about Blueberry Pancakes?

Of course we just got the most amazing book into the shop yesterday (I bought it imagine?) The Haapsalu Shawl and I had been wanting to get it, so voila it appeared and I browsed through it last night while (see below) Huck was sleeping. FABULOUS!! This book makes me proud to be a knitter and humbled by the knitters that have come before me.

So I was going to finish this post yesterday, but it was a bit hectic in the shop AND I got to sit with our little Huck last night for a couple of hours and darn he's a sweetie! He fell asleep in my arms hugging his little sheep 'Chopper' and I had a hard time laying him in his crib. So alas, this post will get posted this morning and remember babies don't keep, so enjoy those special little moments. Ahhhh I am in baby heaven! When can I watch him again, please, please!!! :)

At any rate I could go on and on, but I need to get going to work and as always I wish you happy knitting and crocheting! Jeanne :)

We have had some more snow down here in our little valley nestled below the Sierra Nevada mountains. My son measured it Sunday morning and it topped off at 18 inches and the schools here were delayed 2 hours on Monday.

Of course it is always funny that Incline Village (lake tahoe) is never closed due to snow, so it just makes me think we are a bunch of sissies down here in the valley, ha ha! At any rate this was the nicest weekend here at my house and it included the snow, the Olympics, knitting and family! How much better can it get??

Sandy and I have started the Hydrangea socks from Janel Laidman's book The Eclectic Sole, but it took me a little bit to find the right yarn for this one. I finally settled on the new Hand Maiden Merino 2/6 yarn and WOW is what I have to say about this yarn! It is so beautiful and I chose the color Fleur for my sock, which is making me giddy as I work it up.

I have also finally gotten the pattern together for the Let's Cha Cha scarf that you have all been asking me for, sorry to have taken so long, blush, blush!

I made it a free pattern from 2 Askew Designs and hope you all enjoy it! We also filmed a how to video on the Cha Cha by Trendsetter in case you need a little bit of help.

Of course the count down for our final push to leave for Stitches West starts today, but I think we will have a great show with all the planning that has been put into it. We are getting excited to get moving and hope to see you all there! We will have new products, samples, kits, yarn, bags, and of course fun waiting for you!!

As always happy knitting and crocheting! Jeanne

I talked recently about the 'knitter's spirit' and I have just have such great friends who are so generous with their knowledge, time, hugs, WOW! I had such a fabulous day yesterday learning to warp my little gifted loom (thanks Fran) and getting an actual weaving lesson from my friend Sharon. Thanks so much Sharon for all of your time yesterday and it was so great to spend time at your house out in Red Rock which is a beautiful area that is remote, but well worth the trip. Your Llamas, Sheep, Dogs, and of course Charlie the Cat were a pleasure to have help with the weaving. Ok the Llamas and Sheep stayed outside, but everyone else had something to say about what we were doing. Here is Charlie supervising the whole business with a cavalier air about him.

Here Sharon is helping me tie up my treadles and then we warped, warped, warped and finally got to weaving.

The little twill sample below has lots of mistakes, but I still did it and am stoked to learn this new art.



However, just like when I learned to knit boy do I have a lot to learn. I can see that just like knitting I will never know everything and that's what keeps me doing it, the promise of something new and exciting right around the corner.

Of course I knit yesterday too (good heaven's I am obsessed!!) and I am currently working on some mittens out of the Lorna's Laces Swirl DK yarn in Maple Grove and hat will be next to match. Now I know they look like socks (I am using the magic loop), but I wanted to play with a custom fit from the finger tips down and am going to do an after thought thumb, so stay tuned on that one.

I finally finished my Hand Maiden Yarns Casbah socks (in Morgana and sorry that color is sold out) and am back on my Shetland sweater from Rowan Magazine #46. You may notice my odd chart keeper and it may look like an old cookie sheet to you, well you are correct that is exactly what it is. I got some of those cut to fit magnets and enlarged my chart to keep track. I use the magnets to move up my rows on the chart as I go and with my row counter I am usually right on the money.

So my life is filled with fiber, fiber and more fiber, phew!! Of course there is family, work, animals and somewhere in there I probably should sleep, NOT!! I can sacrifice a bit of sleep to take in all this fabulous learning, oh yeah and the other stuff too!

As always happy knitting!

Jeanne

Boy, are we getting some cool new stuff in the store!

We had rain yesterday and here in the desert it is a cause to celebrate. I took my dogs to their pen this morning and this is what I saw on my Iris leaves, WOW! Here it is October and my grass is green, the leaves are beautiful, red, yellow, rust and water drops on leaves, it can't get a lot better than that!

Well of course there could be knitting all day and all of the above!! That is my idea of perfection, but it really doesn't take much to make me content.

With all of that in mind we got a special box from Hand Maiden yarns yesterday and the contents drove me WILD....Casbah yarn from Hand Maiden yarns is the most amazing thing to hit my sock world yet. It is 81% Merino, 9% Cashmere, 10% Nylon, Machine Washable and the colors are fabulous! I can't wait to dig in to this one and make some fair isle socks with the yardage (325mm) approximately 355 yards, I think I will get 2 pairs with alternating colors.

Of course that is not counting all the amazing sock books that are out there, like Cat Bordhi's Personal Footprints (which I am currently knitting my first footprint from) and Wendy Johnson's Sock's From the Toe Up , or Cookie A. Sock Innovation, or The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook, and so on, and so on....well you get the idea. This list is a big one and then of course there are individual patterns for socks too and I guess what I am getting at is that I have gotten my sock groove back on and am knitting socks again! WAHOO! I had some hand issues and couldn't go much smaller than a US 4 needle for a while, so I am stoked!!


There are also a couple of news type things going on around here, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Amber!! We have a surprise later for you, hee, hee!!

AND Laura is leaving for Munich on Friday with Kristen of Muench yarns and will be going to see where Lana Grossa yarns are made. She will also get to attend a special event put on by Lana Grossa that I am sure she will have lots to tell about all of that! I think it will be good for her to get away and she says that Germany is a favorite of hers, so have fun Laura!!

As always happy knitting!

Jeanne :)

Well, it's getting to be that time again (what time is it??) it's quarterly rewards time! October 1st begins the new quarter and you all will get to spend those well deserved rewards on well whatever you want. I know it's coming because all of a sudden we get kind of quiet for a few days and then the insanity hits, spend those Jimmy Beans Bucks. How about something just for yourself this time, maybe some Hand Maiden Sea Silk yarn for a luxurious scarf or shawl for the holidays (to the left is our most recent Sea Silk sale shipment)? I just had a great customer point out a fantastic scarf on Ravelry called Three Sisters Scarf#three and it is done in Sea Silk.


Oh wait I know a few balls of the new Trendsetter Tonalita Nightlife yarn for a little bit of fun in a hat, gloves, or scarf set. It has a fabulous feel and beautiful colors in a self striping look. No, no how about the new Misti Alpaca Tanos yarn, which is a beautiful blend of Baby Alpaca and Merino wool! Yummmmmyyyy!!! It also comes in a great bulky weight too, darn it! As usual I am getting dizzy, so I better sit down, phew!!

Of course it's also the 1st for our wonderful Lorna's Laces Limited Edition yarn and I happen to know the color this month is particularly beautiful. This will be an exciting and hectic week at the beginning of the fall season around here and I personally can't wait!! It is so neat to be busy and thinking about all these fun projects coming up.

Ok so I have to stop now and put my head between my knees before I fall down. LOL! I am also looking at my Rowan Siena wash cloth and my Artyarns Cashmere Sock that I am knitting for the shop...quick Sandy catch me I am falling!!

As always happy knitting!

Jeanne