Before we get to the juicy new products (and boy, are there some goooood ones!), let us ruminate on what you would like me to be writing about in a couple months :) If you receive our email newsletter you probably remember that we took an online survey earlier this month to learn more about your preferences and what you would like to see at Jimmy Beans Wool in the future. Thank you so much to all who participated! Not only did we learn that a large number of you are dog people and your popular guilty pleasures include chocolate and perusing the Jimmy Beans website during lunch breaks (I'm guilty of both -go figure), we discovered that an overwhelming majority of you dream of Dream In Color! Well, we do too! The next decision to be made is which Dream In Color yarns we should carry. To put in your two cents, please take the poll in the top right-hand corner of the blog and help us choose! You can pick more than one, so let us know any and all of your preferences. Voting begins now and goes through Sunday, the 20th at 5pm Pacific time. Not familiar with Dream In Color yarns? Check out their website at www.DreamInColorYarn.com! I have yet to knit with their scrumptious fibers, but I have had the pleasure of stroking a hank of Smooshy, their deliciously soft sock yarn, while admiring the spectacular veil-dyed colorways at my other LYS in Boise, Idaho!

Now, onto those new yarns you can check out while waiting for important yarn decisions to be made. This past week was overwhelming and exciting all at the same time. We received boxes of new Debbie Bliss yarns (Angel, Bella and Prima) along with the sumptuous Silky Flamme from Elsebeth Lavold... and those are just some highlights! Needless to say I had a Happy Yarn Grin plastered on my face for the entire week :)

Angel Pattern Book

A total of three yarns have been added to the Debbie Bliss line for this spring and summer. While they are all ideal for knitting or crocheting during those carefree, sunkissed months ahead, Angel has to be one of my favorites. Similar to the ever-popular Rowan Kidsilk Haze, Angel is a feathery blend of super kid mohair and silk. When double stranded with another yarn, Angel adds an exquisite ethereal glow to any fabric -perfect for cool weather sweaters and accessories.

Kristen's Annabella's Cowl

Now that it has arrived, I'm thinking of pairing Angel with Tosh DK for the Annabella's Cowl from Churchmouse Patterns. I've been dying to jump on the Annabella's Cowl bandwagon for some time, and Angel just might have sealed the deal! Of course you can also use this delicate fiber alone to produce a translucent, weightless fabric ideal for lacy, open knits or sheer pullovers and wraps.

11 Purple

Love the breezy feel of cotton? Try Bella! A DK weight cotton blend, Bella has just a touch of shimmery silk that really adds some pop to stitch patterns and lacy details. The simple color palette features essential solids in summertime shades for those comfy tanks and short sleeved cardis.

34 Sea Green

Similar to Bella, Prima features flawless drape that will compliment the loose-fitting fashion trends this spring and summer. Also a DK weight, Prima is a gorgeous blend of bamboo and silk that gives this soft fiber a luminous shine. If you're excited but drawing a blank on projects for these fabulous yarns, don't worry! Stylish pattern support for both Prima and Angel can be found in Beach Bells and Angel respectively. Or consider using Bella or Prima for the Victoria Cardigan that Jeanne loves from Dolce Handknits, or the Breezes vest from Ilga Leja!

20 Lavender

While we're on the subject of silky soft yarn that shines, let's not forget Elsebeth Lavold Silky Flamme! You may want to avoid it during the summer, but this luxurious Peruvian wool, alpaca and silk blend is a treat for your fingers and works up nicely into a cozy fabric. The uneven plys of this yarn give it a unique texture without creating overly thick or thin places in your fabric or getting in the way of cables and stitch patterns. Silky Flamme's rich solid colors are given extra depth by its satiny sheen making it perfect for cowls, sweaters, hats and more!

I could keep writing forever it seems, there is so much more to talk about (like Knitbot patterns from the ingeniously creative designer Hannag Fettig), but it'll just have to wait until next week!

Don't forget to make your dreams of Dream In Color come true and take our poll!

Happy crocheting and knitting!
Leanne :)


The clock is ticking! Remember that you can turn your fiber arts hobby into some cash for college! Any student who can knit or crochet and will be attending an accredited institution Fall 2011 is eligible for the Beans For Brains Scholarship! This award is made possible by Jimmy Beans Wool as well as many other contributor from the fiber arts industry. Submissions are due no later than April 1st, after which finalists will be chosen for five $3,000 scholarships based on merit. To learn more and apply visit the Beans For Brains Scholarship page. If you know any hardworking knitters and crocheters with dreams of going to college, be sure to share the Beans For Brains Scholarship with them via Ravelry or by posting a flyer at your LYS (flyers are available at the Beans For Brains Scholarship page)! Help us help the next generation of fiber artists achieve their goals of higher education!

You may have noticed I missed posting last week's latest products, but I assure you it was not due to a lack of new stuff... quite the opposite in fact! And now that you're (hopefully) done with your holiday knitting and crocheting, it is time to find new, exciting projects to keep those digits busy!

Tosh Merino DK in Oxblood

Toshaholics beware, we have added two new Madelinetosh yarns to the website: Pashmina and Tosh Merino DK. If you haven't had a chance to feel Pashmina, an ultra silky soft merino, silk and cashmere blend, indulge in a hank (or two!) -you won't be disappointed! On top of its luxurious hand, Pashmina comes in over 40 gorgeous hand dyed colorways that work up all-to-easily into elegant scarves and shawls. Of course the Toshmania continues with Tosh Merino DK! This sumptuous machine washable single ply yarn is new to Madelinetosh and scheduled to be released in 2011... but you can get it right now exclusively from Jimmy Beans! This super-soft yarn comes with over 200 yards per 100g hank and is available in dozens of your favorite Tosh colorways.

Need something to knit with Tosh Merino DK or Pashmina? Consider the Autumn Vines Beret, Never Not Knitting's latest design. Just one hank of either Tosh-tastic yarn is enough to knit this charming cap that is sure to become a staple in your winter wardrobe. The cabled stitch pattern is engaging to knit and creates an intricate intertwining vine detail that looks stunning in any hand dyed colorway.

Speaking of patterns, I am in love with the Midnight Sun Legwarmers from Ilga Leja! Extra-long and lightweight, these legwarmers can be worn over the knee or scrunched down without creating unnecessary bulk. My favorite part of this pattern is the multi-color polka dots which can be created using a variegated yarn that contrasts the background color, or by using up those leftover yarn bits that have been sitting in a plastic bag for years. Midnight Sun is great way to fullfil your resolution to slim down your stash with stylish results!

Of course Madelinetosh isn't the only one introducing new yarns for the new year and we've also got a smashing new fiber from Trendsetter! Flamenco, the latest in ruffle-rific knitting, features a unique, net-like construction. Knitting along the edge, Flamenco works up into flouncy, open ruffles that make for a stunning scarf or wrap. Check out the Flamenco Pattern Booklet for some fabulous fashion-forward designs!

If you're looking for post-holidy project inspiration we've got plenty of new books covering the latest styles, yarns and techniques! Be sure to take a peek at Knit Kimono Too from best-selling author Vicki Square, especially if you're hoping to work on your mad knitting skills in 2011! Brimming with classic and modern knits inspired by traditional Asian elements, this book also includes a helpful instructional DVD covering many advanced techniques. For all those knitting fashionistas out there we have two new Kim Hargreaves books hot off the presses! Both Cherished and Touching Elegance are stunning collections of chic, wearable knits featuring your favorite Rowan yarns.

With all this delicious new yarn and must-knit patterns comes the potential for clutter. Stay organized with the Travel Case from della Q! Compact and functional with plenty of pockets and sleeves for keeping essential needles, hooks and notions close at hand, I love the Travel Case for its versatility and portability. Whether you're traveling from the living room to the bedroom, home to work, or Chicago to Seattle, this case makes it easy to bring your knitting with you no matter where you are!

Enjoy the holidays and happy knitting and crocheting!
Leanne :)

There is so much excitement around the shop right now with all the new yarns and patterns that have arrived I don't know how to describe it. All this coupled with the the Wool Watcher the word frenzy comes to mind. I'm personally excited because I finally get to start my first shop knit and I got my yarn for it last night! I'm going to make a Fine Shawl on Diagonal using Be Sweet Extra Fine Mohair in Shakespeare colors. I just adore this yarn but then I'm a nut for mohair. Despite the thin filmy nature of this finished shawl it is quite warm and will be perfect to drape around me on days when air conditioning indoors is a little too cool. It is also light and thin enough to wear it as a scarf when the weather turns colder in the fall. This is also a perfect project to try out the Russian Join that Jeanne showed us last month in the featured video in the April Newsletter. I'm also contemplating a light cardigan using this yarn, I love it so much. More on that later.

Sandy is excited about Ilga Leja's new shawl pattern Flight of Fancy which is a lovely trapezoidal summer shawl worked in two simple lace patterns and 2 colors. The pattern calls for silk & linen yarn. Sandy will be making it with Fleece Artist yarn. She just showed me last night which colors and would you believe I can't remember if it was Sea Wool or Merino 2/6s or which colors. Mind like a steel sieve! LOL!!! But they are lovely colors!

Sharon has snatched up some Ella Rae Classic (or was it Nashua Creative Focus Superwash? I need to write this stuff down to remember what everyone is doing!) to make a warm car blanket with a Berroco pattern.

Jeanne is just so happy to be back she was busy fondling all the new yarns and looking at the new books, especially Lily Chin's Power Cables which is a really cool book with lots fabulous cabling ideas and projects.

For all you sock knitters I hope you've checked out all the fabulous deals on sock yarn we have on sale now. Although I have four pairs of socks on needles at the moment I couldn't resist picking up a couple of skeins of Regia 4ply in City Boston color which I just love. I have also fallen in love with Crazy Zauberball which I may have an interesting idea for. More on that later too.

Happy Knitting!

Terry