Showing posts with label tahki stacy charles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tahki stacy charles. Show all posts

Jimmy's Journey, Day 3 of 15: Tahki and Zara

by :
Welcome to Day 3 of Jimmy’s Journey to 15!

Have you heard about Jimmy’s Journey to 15?! It’s our 15th anniversary this year, and we will be sharing the story of JBW, year-by-year, here on our blog! Join us on the journey as we celebrate 15 years in business and highlight 15 partners in the yarn industry! Each day we’ll kick off our blog post with a short clip of Jimmy (a.k.a. Laura) recounting 1 year of our history, while telling the story of a vendor who came along for the ride!




In this video, Jimmy recounts the story of Doug’s transition to the business full-time, and opening the first JBW shop in Reno, NV!

 Zara - 50% OFF!!!

We just received a HUGE shipment from Tahki of Zara, Zara Chine, Zara Melange, Zara Color, Zara Baby, and Zara Print - all at 50% OFF! We’ve been bursting with excitement over all of the potential projects that we can make, and want to share some of our knitspiration with you! Share your knitspiration with us on social media by using the hashtag #jimmysjourney15!

 BONUS! To sweeten the pot, we'll also include a small free gift in every order placed during our 15 days of Jimmy’s Journey, as a token of our gratitude to all of our amazing customers out there! 

*click photos for links to projects*

Zara 
(All patterns shown in this category are FREE with purchase of kit!)






Zara Chine 
(All patterns shown in this category are FREE with purchase of kit!)



Zara Print



Baby Knitspiration:

If your fingers have been itching to knit a baby sweater (it is spring after all, right?!), then we have the perfect baby knitspiration for you! Knit in DK-weight yarn, Zara, Zara Chine, Zara Melange, Zara Color, Zara Baby, or Zara Print can be used for either pattern; however, we recommend the Zara or Zara Baby, as the color selections are magnificent! We couldn't resist how sweet and playful these two sweaters are - you can find these two patterns, by Kasa Amend, on Ravelry!

*click photos for links to projects*




WOOL WATCHER ALERT: Tahki, Tahki, Tahki!

If you can’t wait to get your hands on some Tahki yarn, keep an eye on our Wool Watcher page today – we will be offering several different bases & colors at deeply discounted prices!

 2004, Year 3 in Review!

Business was growing steadily in early 2004, and so was JBW’s inventory! Jimmy placed her first order with Tahki Stacy Charles, and quickly made a new friend out of Stacy Charles himself! Having admired Stacy from afar for several years, Jimmy looked up to him as an idol in the yarn industry: “He’s very fashionable, sharp, and has a great sense of humor – I was star-struck the first time I met him!” With over 30 years’ experience in the yarn industry, Stacy has been a great supporter of Jimmy & JBW over the years, and we are forever grateful for his support of our Stitch Red campaign, Eddie the Eagle campaign, and our Beans for Brains scholarship program.


The first TSC yarn that we carried was Cotton Classic, which we still carry to this day. This is one of Jimmy’s personal favorites, because it comes in such a wide variety of colors – a great stash staple! As a sport-weight yarn and 100% Mercerized Cotton, this yarn is great for summer knitting projects. Jimmy’s love for TSC yarn doesn’t end with Cotton Classic, she also has an affinity for Filatura di Crosa Zara yarn (a yarn that is distributed by TSC)! She loves Zara, because though it is also a stash staple, as a DK-weight, 100% Merino Wool yarn, the possibilities and variation for projects are endless! A favorite Zara project of ours is the Truss Pullover that Marilyn knit last summer – it would be the perfect tunic for a warm or cool day!

Thank you for joining us on Day 3 of Jimmy's Journey to 15! Be sure to join us again tomorrow for Day 4, where we'll highlight our 4th year in business along with a vendor that joined us along the way! And be sure to check out our Ravelry discussion thread and chime in with any comments you may have as we reminisce together about the last 15 years! You can also spread the word on social media using the hashtag #jimmysjourney15. 

XOXO,

Jimmy & the Beans
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Happy 25th Anniversary Zara!!!!!

by : Unknown
We would like to wish  Filatura Di Crosa's Zara Family of Yarns a happy happy 25th anniversary!!!! We got together with Tahki Stacy Charles in the Spring of 2014 to style and work with the uber talented Brad Swonetz to photograph Zara Classics with a West Coast feel, and had a brilliant time working with the stunning and versatile pieces!!!  



I also had the privilege of asking three top designers John Brinegar, Irina Poludnenko, Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton why they love working with Zara!!!

John: For me, Zara is a knitter's/crocheter's best friend. It's a loyal yarn with amazing stitch definitions, tons of colors, and a slick, buttery feel as you're working with it. It's been on eof my staple yarns for years now, whether I'm swatching or designing. It's one of those things that should be in a roadside survival kit. Blanket, extra jugs of clean water, candles, flares, and Zara!

John Brinegar - Acros Collection for Tahki Stacy Charles








Irina: I have been using Zara Yarns for 20 years [...] and have made numerous designs in this yarn It is my favorite yarn to use because it is not only high quality, soft, pleasant to use, but also has a wide range of beautiful colors. Zara yarn can be used from anything from baby hats and blankets to elegant adult designs. After 25 years, it still remains the most popular yarn for knitters. 


Caterina Pullover by Irina Poludnenko

Cornelia: Zara showcases stitch patterns very well and has a great elasticity. A well-designed yarn and a delight to work with! 

Zara Cabled Tunic by Cornelia Tuttle-Hamilton

This has been an amazing experience working with Tahki Stacy Charles and the Filatura Di Crosa Zara Family of Yarns!!! We wish you 25 more years of success and beauty!!!

~Olivia 



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Stacy and Andi's Holiday Travel Traditions!

by : KristenJBW
We caught up with Stacy Charles (of Tahki Stacy Charles) and asked him to tell us all about his holiday travel traditions for the collection. His contribution this year is through two collaborations one with TSCArtyarns and the other with Andi Javori of Javori designs. We can't wait to show you their contribution to the holiday collection (coming out tomorrow in a special edition of our Newsletter) but in the meantime, here are Stacy (and Andi's) holiday travel tradition stories for you to enjoy! 

Stacy:

I am fortunate enough to live in two places. It is not that uncommon for residents of NYC. We have a hectic-paced city life during the week - and retreat to a second home, either in the mountains upstate or on the ocean, for a weekend or holiday escape.  My weekend home is in the seaside town of East Hampton on Long Island. It is a charming town, first established by English settlers in 1648, that is at once rustic and elegant. Though packed with seasonal visitors during the summer months, it is all the more enjoyable out of season, when the slanting rays of the setting sun light the ocean on the deserted shore. 

I have spent my winter holidays at my East Hampton home for the past 30 years. I usually do my gift shopping in the less-crowded boutiques in town. One of my gift-giving indulgences is to shop at Tiffany or London Jewelers.  Shopping these stores is an amazing experience. I try to keep my gifts to $100 or less, and though challenging, I always manage to find the perfect gifts. The rest of my time is spent enjoying quality time with family, cooking and enjoying the holiday meals. The highlight of my holidays is the annual formal-dress party we throw for friends and family on New Year’s Eve. Seeing everyone in their finery is the perfect way to send off the old year and welcome the new. 

This past year saw a new version of The Great Gatsby on film. This story also takes place on Long Island, its Gold Coast, and the film’s Flapper Era fashions have re-sparked an interest in vintage jewelry. There was a fabulous 1920’s piece that caught my eye in a local shop window, so I asked a frequent collaborator of mine, the talented Long Island-based knitwear and master jewelry designer Andi Javori, to combine her talents to create a necklace and bracelet inspired by this piece. And the happy results of her creativity are these jewelry kits that we are offering to you. I can envision all the women at my New Year’s Eve party wearing either the silver or gold version Andi has created (which will make my holiday shopping much easier this year). Andi and I hope you will appreciate the beauty and elegance of these pieces to dress up your own holiday season for years to come.

Andi:


In my home the holidays are all about putting everything aside, and getting together with the extended family and friends. Fortunately my husband’s and my family both live in New York, so we don’t have to travel far. I truly enjoy inviting everyone to my home, cooking a special dinner, and just enjoying everyone being together.

The holiday for us is not complete without a visit to Manhattan. My children love visiting Rockefeller Center, seeing the holiday window displays, and sampling the rich hot chocolate in Bryant Park. This has become our annual tradition. At the same time my personal self-indulgence is walking through the fashion district and looking for unique materials to knit into my designs.

When Stacy Charles contacted me to collaborate with him on a special project for the holidays, his vision for this new collection was prolific. We spoke about his find of a beautiful piece of vintage jewelry in a shop window. Inspired by the look and glamour of the Gatsby era, the Jacqueline necklaces and bracelets represent the union of Stacy’s well-known fashion sense coupled with my love of design.

What’s more, when completed, these pieces make a special gift for this holiday season. We hope you enjoy the timeless beauty of the Jacqueline knitted necklace and bracelet kits, and that they add sparkle to your holidays and to all of your joyous occasions!



Be sure to stay tuned for tomorrow when we reveal the entire 2013 Holiday Collection!!! We are SOOOOO excited!


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Adventures in Knitting- Interweave Knitting Lab Edition!

by : MarinadeDesigns
Hurray!






In early November, as the first of our winter storms capped the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains with white powder, Amber, Shevawn and I headed for a slightly warmer climate and attended the Interweave Knitting Lab in San Mateo, CA.  We joined forces with Kirstin from Muench Yarns and Knitters Pride Needles to create an awesome super-booth in the Knitting Lab’s Marketplace.  What a fun event it was!








Shevawn and Amber
on the rocking horses

Shevawn rode the Rabbit
while I rode the Camel! :)
We journeyed out early Thursday morning in our rented mini-van, hauling all of our fancy booth-building supplies.  I really enjoyed driving the mini-van-- it was such a comfy ride!  As we stopped for a much-needed coffee break at the “Nut Tree” in Vacaville, we noticed the tiniest theme park ever with a carousel, choo-choo train and other fun amusements.  Of course we had to pose for some pics. :)    














Ringing people up for their
yarn and needles!
We finally arrived in San Mateo with just a few hours to spare before the Knitter’s Market opened.  Luckily the three of us are expert display-cube builders and we managed to get our booth ready with a tiny bit of time to spare.  We also had the help of our good friend Cliff from Skacel.  He was imperative to the booth building process!  


Our awesome booth!
It was busy!  Really busy.  So busy in fact, that we actually forgot to take some decent photos of our booth!  Everyone who stopped by was so excited about the new Knitter’s Pride needles and the Lana Grossa Lace Lux yarn.  By the end of the weekend, our bodies were exhausted but our hearts and minds were full of fun memories of all of the wonderful people we met, customers and industry folks alike.  



Cat and I!






For example--we met Cat Bordhi and I had my picture taken with her!  She stopped by our booth for a few minutes to film a video interview with me and talk about her books.  Thanks for stopping by Cat!  It was so nice to meet you.  Your video will be up on the website soon. :)   


Thank you to all of the awesome designers and yarn company experts who stopped by to film some videos with us.  We didn’t have time to do too many videos, but we definitely had fun when we did.  Thanks to Sandra McIver (author of Knit Swirl!), Diane from Tahki Stacy Charles Yarns, Jan Horowitz from Tahki and Jade Sapphire yarns, and Kirstin Muench from Muench Yarns and Knitter’s Pride.  All of your videos will be up on our site soon!


Yarn shot!
Thank you also to Courtney and Kate from the Fibre Company, Nancy Marchant (author of Knitting Brioche and who's shawl I am still totally in love with), Stefanie Japel (from Craftsy.com and also a phenomenal designer), and Cookie A (author of Sock Innovation and Knit.Sock.Love.) for stopping by the booth and being willing to film.  Sorry we weren’t ready for you-- it was just so busy!


Lastly, an extra special big thank you to Cliff from Skacel for helping us build our booth, hauling around our equipment, bringing us In-and-Out burger sustenance in our time of need, and being our all around manly-man and comic relief.  You were a huge help to us Dr. Skacel! :) 
Hopefully some of you made it out to say hello at the Knitting Lab and if not, we hope to see you there next year!
Happy knitting everyone!
Kristen


P.S.  Have you seen our latest catalog yet? It’s 48 pages of pure, 100% Rowan.  Visit www.jimmybeanswool.com/catalog to sign up for your free copy!


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Beans for Brains!

by : Bethany
Hello knitters and crocheters!

Last year we had over 3,000 applicants for 2010-2011 awards. There were so many amazing applicants we couldn't wait to get started with our 2012-2013 Beans for Brains Scholarship program. And we can't do it without you!!

This year, we have 10 major sponsors that will be matching public donations to the Beans for Brains scholarship fund. For the month of November, Jimmy Beans Wool will be accepting donations online and in our retail store with the targeted goal of raising $10,000 from all of YOU! Each of our sponsors will match the amount raised up to $1,000 for a grand total of $20,000 combined.
So from now through November 30th, be sure to send your family and friends to our website to donate to Beans for Brains (a 501c3 non-profit organization). If every one of our customers gave $1, we'd be well over our goal in no time!! And remember, the more we can raise this month, the more we can give this spring!
Want to apply for a scholarship? Make sure to check back March 1st when we will announce the call for applications for our 2012-2013 awards!!
Please be sure to thank all of the Beans for Brains sponsors! We couldn't do it without them!!




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Zara giveaway winners!

by : Bethany
Thanks everyone for leaving your comments! There were too many good ones to choose from, so I used a random number generator! Here are the winners:


Patty W: 

I'm really into making scarves, shawls, and cowls right now. I would probably make a yummy cowl.


Holly:
If I were to win the 5 balls of Zara, I think I would be completely selfish for once and make myself a lovely cowl. I have made so many beautiful scarves, cowls, blankets, shawls....the list goes on...but I make something and give it as a gift. If I win....this one is for ME!

Congratulations Patty and Holly! Please email your mailing address and color selection to Giveaway@jimmybeanswool.com by Monday November 14th to claim your prize!

Thanks again to Stacy and the entire Filatura di Crosa and Tahki team (you too, Jan!)  We are so fortunate to work with such lovely people! 

Happy Knitting!
Bethany



P.S. Beans for Brains 2012 Scholarship Program! Don't just apply- Donate!
JBW and 9 other sponsors will be matching YOUR donations dollar for dollar during the month of November (each sponsor will be matching up to $1,000 each, for a total of $10,000) to the Beans for Brains Scholarship fund. We will be accepting donations here and in our retail store with the targeted goal of raising $10,000 from all of YOU for a total of $20,000 in awards!! Together, we can help Craft a Higher Education! Track your donations on our Beans for Brains Facebook page!!

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Why Zara? Win some and fall in love!

by : Bethany
If you get our newsletter, then you've already heard the really exciting news! We just received brand new colors of our go-to yarn, Zara, from Tahki Stacy Charles' brand Filatura di Crosa! This incredibly soft DK weight yarn is made of 100% extra fine merino wool and has great yardage (137 yards per ball!) 

As we've found here at the store, knitters hooked on Zara come back to this tried and true classic, project after project. But where does this amazing fiber come from? I chatted with Stacy Charles, co-owner of Tahki Stacy Charles, about Zara and was intrigued to learn about the history of the company and the yarn line. 


Stacy has been a part of the yarn industry his entire life. Just out of college, he started working for his Uncle Sam and Aunt Irma, who imported European yarns to the hand-knitting market. (They were the first importers of Annie Blatt products here in the U.S.) Stacy started out pulling and shipping orders and eventually worked his way up to managing accounts and helping with the business operations. A few years later, Irma and Sam decided to sell the company and Stacy headed to Italy! His love of European fashion and knitting inspired him to start his own importing company which would bring the prestigious Filatura di Crosa line to the American market, along with countless designer labels, most notably MISSONI.



Meanwhile, long time friend and fellow New Yorker Diane Friedman (founder of Tahki Yarns) was looking for a change in direction. They decided to merge the two companies and voila! Tahki Stacy Charles debuted in January of 2000.  Since then, the company has continued to grow and flourish. The company now offers 4 different brands of yarn to it's loyal customers- Tahki Yarns, Loop-d-Loop, S. Charles Collezione and of course, Filatura di Crosa.



Stacy says that hands down his favorite part after all of his years in the industry is still creating yarn. His favorite is (of course!) 100% cashmere, but his second love is extra fine merino. He told me that he thinks Zara is the best basic merino out there, and we can see why.


Here's why we love Zara:
  • Highest quality 100% extrafine Merino wool.
  • Superwash- need we say more?! (We do recommend that if you would like to throw your Zara knits into the wash, be sure to wet-block your swatch!)
  • It does not pill and keeps its shape.
  • Terrific for family knits (think wearability, washability and still looking great!)
  • Fabulous stitch definition!
  • An already great color palette which now includes 8 new colors for fall/winter!






And if that wasn't enough, what is great yarn without great pattern support? Here are just some of the FREE patterns available on the TSC website:


All Over Cable Cardigan
Bow-Tie Pullover
Plum Pullover
Zara Cabled Tunic
Diagonal Slit Pullover









My favorite is the Mantova Lacy Top, which is a free pattern available for download from the TSC website. This new garment is just perfect for fall/winter. I mean, look at the great stitch definition in the rib, cable and lace patterns, and the yarn creates a sweater with wonderful 'memory' and depth of texture. And it's just challenging enough for me that it will keep me interested! 





But enough about my knitting, I want to hear about yours! We decided to give 2 lucky winners the chance to score some Zara of their very own. Warning, once you try it you will not be able to resist it in the future- be ready to fall in love!

Here's the deal. Leave a comment on our blog (only one per person, please!) and tell us what you would make with 5 balls of the lovely Zara if you were a winner. The contest will close on Wednesday, November 9th at 6pm PST. We will pick and announce our 2 winners on Thursday.

Until then, if you'd like to find out more about Zara, Stacy or Tahki Stacy Charles, be sure to check them out here:

Facebook
Twitter
Newsletter- This is a monthly e-newsletter packed with the latest fashion news from the European runways.  Subscribers will receive at least one free pattern (sometimes more) in each issue - great designs with Italian flair.

I can't wait to hear your ideas! Happy Knitting everyone!

Bethany

PS- Did you hear that Beans for Brains is at it again? But we need your help!!
Beans for Brains 2012 Scholarship Program! Don't just apply- Donate!
JBW and 9 other sponsors will be matching YOUR donations dollar for dollar during the month of November (each sponsor will be matching up to $1,000 each, for a total of $10,000) to the Beans for Brains Scholarship fund. We will be accepting donations here and in our retail store with the targeted goal of raising $10,000 from all of YOU for a total of $20,000 in awards!! Together, we can help Craft a Higher Education! Track your donations on our Beans for Brains Facebook page!! 

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Today is a Gift...

by : Freaky Knitter
Well, in my last post I talked about my trip to the coast and riding with my brother-in-law but when I came back little did I know that I was to see him again right away here in Reno. I debated about what to write about in this blog but since you are all so much a part of our JBW family, I decided to share what has been going on here in my life...even though it is a bit sad.

We got back on a Friday night. On Saturday, we cleaned up, unpacked, and just generally settled in...ahhh.... home! That afternoon, my husband called his mother to let her know we would be there Sunday to have breakfast with her, to take her shopping and what not. Boy, was she excited to hear that! Well, the next day, we got moving and called her on the way out to her place with no luck. We assumed she was in the shower but, alas, that wasn't the case. She had passed very peacefully the night before at 87 and will be missed by our family very much.
Gloria and Chris Mother's Day 2011
I can't tell you how amazing my JBW family is and how much I adore each and every one of them!!! I let Terry know right away that it was clear I would need some time off (sheesh...I had just come back from a week off) and they ALL pitched in to make sure I had the entire week off to take care of my family!!

My husband's brothers and their fantastic wives came into town and we cried, laughed, and just generally celebrated Gloria and enjoyed each others company. We don't get to see each other very often since the middle brother, George, lives in Nashville and Chris (the youngest) lives in San Juan Capistrano. Because of this, the wives have never had too much time together to get to know each other. Now our husbands may not be so excited that we got to share so many notes. However, some real bonding occurred and I think we all found it a great experience, even though the circumstances were sad. I say often that today is a gift - that's why it's called the present, so I wish you all the best present you can have today!!

As always, happy knitting and crocheting!



Jeanne


P.S. There was knitting, of course, and as Elizabeth Zimmerman used to say 'knitting through all crises'!! I finished my Liesl and continuously knit a pair of simple socks as we chatted. My sister-in-law, Katherine, knits, too and she finished a Traveling Women shawl and then worked on my Saroyan (I am using Tahki Tara Tweed) since she didn't have anything left to knit with her. I think Cathy was watching and we may have set the seed for learning to knit in her mind/fingers, so I will keep you posted on that front!
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