Showing posts with label ysolda teague. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ysolda teague. Show all posts

Stitches West!

by : MarinadeDesigns
I know it’s been a little over a week since we returned from Stitches West, but whew it’s been busy!  I finally feel like things have calmed enough around here to catch you up on the fun time we had there.  Thanks so much to all of you who visited our Stitch Red booth at Stitches.  It was so fun to see all of your faces and meet you in person!





Our main goal for this booth was to get the word out about our Stitch Red campaign and wow, did we ever!  Our booth looked as if the color red had exploded everywhere—it was so great!  We arrived and unpacked and set up our booth in now time at all, and it went surprisingly smoothly.


 


 We were selling tons of great Stitch Red Products like the Shibui Silk Cloud, Artyarns Rhapsody Light Glitter, Lantern Moon Heart Stitch Markers, Jade Sapphire Silk Cashmere 2 ply, Classic Elite Magnolia, Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted, and so much more—all in the Stitch Red colors. 





We also brought with us whole bunch of the Mini Red Dress Kits which feature Classic Elite yarns, a pin to sew on, and the pattern which is bonus pattern from our Knit Red book that is due out in June.  They are so cute and fun to make too! In fact, Diana bought one and knit it while we were there.  It was such a fast knit!




Thanks to the Stitches event planners (XRX) who graciously donated the booth to us for the Stitch Red campaign.  It was so much fun to be able to go to the event and promote something we all care about so much.





It was my first time at Stitches and I definitely came away with some awesome new yarns to play with including: Bijou Basin Ranch’s Bliss yarn (a blend of Cormo and Yak fibers), A Verb for Keeping Warm’s Floating in "Magic Bean" and Even Tinier Annapurna in "The French Monks Finest", Ranch of the Oaks’ Icelandic Lamb, some gorgeous sparkly sock yarn from the Chicken Boots booth (I think the skein was hand dyed at a shop in Humboldt, CA called "Yarn- A Sweet Shop for Yarn Addicts", and Knitted Wit’s Bulkan in "Peacock."  I am flat out in LOVE with all of these skeins and am busy plotting projects. 






I bought a copy of “What Would Madame Defarge Knit?” after one of the designers, Erica Hernandez stopped by the booth and introduced herself.  She was just the nicest person and I was so inspired by the book (which comprised of knits based on characters from classic literature) that I had to get a copy for myself!  She is working on some other collections based on similar ideas including a Shakespearean themed one.  I am so excited to see what’s next from her!










I also bought Ysolda’s newest book: Whimsical Little Knits 3 (which I believe we should be getting in the shop very soon) and got to meet her and have her sign it for me!  It was so awesome to meet one of my long time knitting idols in person.  I’ve followed her blog for years…since she first started designing, and it’s true what everyone says, she really is one of the sweetest gals around!  I even got my picture taken with her in her little photo booth.  So much fun!

We all had such a great time-- thanks so much to Jimmy for letting us be a part of this year’s Stitches West!  Hope you all have a great rest of your week and happy knitting!

Kristen




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More about Hand Dyed Yarns...

by : Freaky Knitter
With so many colors, dyers and options out there, it's hard to know where to start with all of the beautiful hand dyed yarns on the market these days. And then, of course, there is the issue with keeping the 'lots' consistent.  Many hand dyed yarns do not have dye lots (Madeline Tosh, for instance, or Manos Del Uruguay yarns) so we have done a lot of work for all you about this great topic. You can find more information on how to work with hand dyed yarns and which companies we are currently carrying in our line-up right here on our very own Guide to Hand Dyed Yarns page!



Sandy's Dragon, alternating every 2 rows!
When I first started knitting and working with hand dyed yarns, I have to admit I was totally clueless about what yarns would do what, but after sometime now I think I am getting the hang of things. We have recently started a very small internal KAL with some great Madeline Tosh sock yarn in Filigree! The term KAL is used a bit loosely as we are all just using the same yarn but different patterns! There are four of us involved: Sandy, Sharon, Terry and yours truly! Two of us are working one pattern while the other two are working on something else.

Sharon's Dragon, just going for it...go Sharon!


However, due to some extreme color differences in this particular yarn, we decided to use this opportunity to mix it up a bit and show you how we are working through the differences to make the colors flow together for each project. Even though Sandy and Sharon have chosen the same project, they are approaching the issue of color differences in the same yarn a bit differently.

Terry's Martimonia Bolero, alternating every 2 rows
Sandy and Sharon are working up a beautiful scarf out of the most current Piecework magazine. Sandy is alternating 2 rows of one ball of Filigree and 2 rows of another while carrying the yarn up the side of the piece. Sharon has decided to just let the stitches fall where they may and will be working with each ball until it is finished and then adding the next one to the piece. I love this idea and can't wait to see her scarf completed!

Terry is working up the Matrimonio Bolero and is using her yarn in rows of two, just like Sandy. I have finished my first Veyla by Ysolda Teague from Whimsical Little Knits 2. Since it is a smallish project, I worked the cuff by alternating the 9 row repeat with 2 different shades of the Filigree. I worked the hand portion in only one shade, but it is completely different from the other 2.

I will of course work the second mitt in the same manner, for a similar result. I don't know about you, but I love the surprise that comes from working with hand dyed yarns and with some planning you can create a truly beautiful piece!

As always, happy knitting and crocheting! (remodel update in the 4th week at least 2 more weeks to go, sigh, stay tuned)

Jeanne

P.S.- Sometimes the only way I can keep up with what's going on around the shop is to read our twice monthly Newsletters (really so much to know:), so if you aren't getting it I hope you will sign up and remember we never share you information!!


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FO Friday and WIP Weekend...

by : MarinadeDesigns
Hello everyone!  I hope you all have had a really wonderful and productive week.  My week has been so jam packed I've hardly had any time to knit!  I was really hoping to have my Mara shawl to share with you all (I am only 3 rows away from the finish line), I'm trying to make it to the gym every evening to train for that run I signed up for this spring so my knitting has taken a bit of a backseat this week.  I am hoping to get caught up over the weekend...

In any case, I do have a couple of semi-recent FO's as well a few exciting WIP's to share this week.

Lovely Cables Galore!
First up, we have a Gretel Tam by Ysolda Teague that I knit last summer out of Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed.  It was such a fun pattern to knit that I couldn't put it down while I was working on it.  Even now, I am so tempted to make another one!  We just started to carry Ysolda's patterns and books in the shop but this one can be found in the new Debbie Stoller book "Superstar Knitting."  If you haven't seen her books Whimsical Little Knits 1&2, the designs are absolutely to die for!  I hope you will take a peek and knit some of the charming designs for yourself!

Babies! :)
I also have a darling little Presto Chango sweater that I made out of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran a bit back.  It turned out so cute and was a really fast knit.  This particular sweater was knit a couple years ago in hopes that one of my few friends who were having babies would have a girl!  To no avail! All boys!  Finally, some good friends in Wisconsin recently had an adorable little girl so I will be shipping this off to them next week!  This design is really so fun to make and quite easy so I'll most definitely be making it again and again.

Watch out for the Sandy Bandit!

On to some new WIP's!  We've had just a couple this week as folks are still working on many of the projects I've already shared in this space.  Sharon loved her 1st Springtime Bandit out of Berroco Remix (which is just a few rows away from finishing) that she decided to start another!  It was love at first sight for Sharon with the "Plaid Blanket" color of Tosh Merino DK so she snagged two hanks and is now using them to make this fun version of the Bandit.  Sandy saw Sharon's project sitting on the customer service desk yesterday and wanted her photo taken with it.  Silly Sandy!

Yummy.
Lastly, I've started a 2nd Potato Chip Scarf out of Lorna's Laces Green Line DK in Catalpa.  The jury is still out for me on the one I started a few weeks back.  I love that color of Lorna's Laces (Robin's Eggs- April 2009 Limited Edition) but I just don't love the way those colors are pooling in that particular pattern.  C'est la vie!  I'll just have to find something else to knit with that colorway!  This Catalpa color is so subtle in it's color changes that it is really knitting up beautifully.  I am absolutely loving the result this time around and I can't wait to have this scarf's ruffly goodness hugging my neck!  It's the perfect springtime scarf!

If you haven't tried the Lorna's Green Line yet, make sure to do before it's gone!  Lorna's has discontinued this line of their yarns and Jimmy Beans has bought the last of it.  Lorna's will be dyeing pre-requested colors over the next 6-8 months for us.  We get about 1 new color a week so keep checking the site for your favorites!  We don't know what colors we are going to get from week to week as it is based on their dyeing schedule, so each new shipment is a fun surprise!
  
Well, that is it for this weeks FO's and WIP's!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend filled with sunshine (or a warm cozy fire depending on what part of the country you reside in) and knitting!

Hugs!
Kristen

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Bazillions of New Patterns and More!

by : Leanne
Simmer Dim
Another day, another shipment of new yarn, patterns and/or accessories received. This past week has been quite exciting with new yarn up the wazoo and a bazillion new-to-us patterns! That's right, a bazillion. We've just added Ysolda Teague, The Shetland Trader, Stephen West and Winged Knits to our already extensive pattern library. Being the one who enters all of these tantalizing designs into our system, I am now suffering from an acute case of "I MUST KNIT THIS NOW!" No joke, I am so overwhelmed with possibilities I am nearly paralyzed trying to decide what to knit next. The Shetland Trader Simmer Dim shawl? I do so love shawls, and this one would look great in the subtly variegated solids of Araucania Itata (now on sale!) or my favorite color of Tosh Merino Light, Bungalow.
Bethany's future cardi!
But then there is the Goodale cardi from Cecily Glowick MacDonald of Winged Knits. Bethany is trying to get me to knit this one for her, and I'm inclined to oblige, it looks like so much fun! A sweet little number with a wide, open neck and short sleeves, this simple sweater features unique yet functional pockets created by folding the front edges back. The pattern suggests Madalinetosh Pashmina, but would also look stunning in Shepherd Sport (perhaps in the March Limited Edition Color, Symphony?), or Cascade 220 Sport which is both super soft and affordable!
Of course I can't ignore Ysolda and her Damson shawl or Veyla Mitts... not to mention her book, Whimsical Little Knits! All of her gorgeous designs have that special combination of trendy fashion without the attitude making them perfect for the everyday fashionista's eclectic wardrobe.
And let's not forget the indescribable genius of Stephen West! Sharon was practically bouncing off the walls when his patterns and books arrived. As Kristen mentioned in her post last week, Sharon has already cast on the Colonnade Shawl in the sumptuous shade of Nebula in Tosh Merino DK and is knitting her fingers off so she can wear her FO pronto! While his designs are truly one-of-a-kind, I am most impressed by Stephen West's ability to create shawls, scarves and hats that look striking on both men and women as well as his talent for producing simple and artistic designs that showcase the natural beauty of the yarn used to knit them. If one or two patterns isn't enough to satiate your Stephen West cravings, consider Westknits Book 1 and Book 2, both stellar collections of his modern styles that will never cease to inspire you.
Colonnade Shawl
Whew! Can you see my dilemma? And that is just a smattering of my favorite favorites! Do you have a favorite or two? Are you dying to cast on one (or more) of these new patterns? Please share by leaving a comment on this post! I want to know what you are excited about too!    

Eros II Color 3263
Of course you're going to need some yarn to go with all those patterns, and as always, we've got your back ;) New Silky Merino from Malabrigo is settling in on our shelves, as are 50 colors of Plymouth Galway in a wide ranging palette of rustic heathers and vibrant solids. A versatile yarn for family knits and felting, Galway is 100% worsted weight wool and comes with 210 yards per skein. At $6 a ball, that is quite a deal! Also new to our Plymouth lineup, Eros II is quickly becoming a go-to yarn for those texturrific trendy projects. Similar to Trendsetter's Binario (now discontinued), Eros II is a shiny multicolor ribbon yarn ideal for adding fashion-forward style to any garment of accessory!
436 Atardecer
Since I'd hate just gloss over it, let's backtrack for a moment to the Silky Merino. A 50/50 blend of silk and merino wool, this exquisite yarn from Malabrigo is like Seventh Heaven for your fingers and your eyes. The single ply fiber holds the kettle-dyed colorways with intensity resulting in vivid, splendiferous hues. A DK weight yarn, Silky Merino come with 150 yards per 50g skein and works up beautifully on size US 6 needles. Shevawn has already grabbed two hanks in Atardecer and is planning to cast on Seedling, one of the new hat patterns from Never Not Knitting!
Wild Stuff in Nevada
Ok, I've got to squeeze this last one in before signing off, it is just that amazing. Cool Stuff and Wild Stuff from Prism Yarns! Cool and Wild are understatements to say the least... these yarns are over the moon stupendous wondtastical fantabulous! Varying lengths of extraordinary and marvelously textured novelty yarns from sparkling metallics to fluttery eyelash acrylics are hand tied end to end for a one-of-a-kind and truly unique ball of yarn. Each hank (300 yards) or half hank (150 yards) is an uncommon composition of razzle-dazzle colors and eye-catching fibers you will hardly be able look away from. Use it for shawls and scarves or an artistic shug or cardi that is sure to turn heads!
Love working with self-striping and multi-texture yarns? Let us know which one is your favorite by taking the poll located in the top right-hand corner of this blog :)

Have a lovely week and happy knitting and crocheting!
Leanne :)




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FO Friday/ WIP Weekend!

by : MarinadeDesigns
Hi everyone! I'm back this week with an exciting FO Friday and WIP Weekend! It's been a few weeks since I've shared projects with you all, and it seems that this week we have a ton of FO's and WIP's! So it's time to sit back, relax and prepare to be inspired!

Allison, our amazing store organizer who returned to us recently after a 3 year hiatus, just finished the beautiful Orchid Theif Shawlette from Julie Turjoman's Brave New Knits. She's the 3rd person in the shop to finish one of these and we all just love it! Allie used 1 skein of Tosh Merino Light in the Terrarium Color (however in the picture due to the lighting it definitely looks more like Moss).


This pattern is just beautiful! I am currently working away on mine in a lovely shade of Shamrock Green for a certain Madre of mine who's birthday is on March 17th... I'll be lucky to finish in time, but she'll love it, late or not. The pattern is by Ysolda Teague, whose pattern collection and books we'll be carrying very soon. Keep your eyes peeled on the website for that! I am so excited as Ysolda has long been one of my favorite designers!

Leanne, who recently moved back to Reno because she missed us all so much (yay!), just finished a beautiful Traveling Woman Shawl in Plymouth's Mushishi Yarn. This yarn is incredible and boasts a generous 491 yards per hank! Leanne's version of the shawl on size 10 needles used just 1 skein of this yarn! What a deal!

Always the productive knitter, Leanne also recently finished this Pretty in Misti Shrug--one of the free Landscape Collection Patterns on our website! She chose the Big Whiskey color which I think is stunning in this quick knit!


Marilyn never ceases to amaze me with how quickly she finishes projects! She has made so many darling knits over the years that she's been part of the Jimmy Beans family, both as a customer and an employee, and this Loop of Luxury Cowl is no exception! Marilyn used 2 skeins of Baby Me Boo in the February color Festival of Love. The pattern is from the book Cowl Girls by Cathy Carron and features so many unique and fun cowls! For those of you who love this color, you are in luck! We still have some available! This quick knit was done over the course of just a couple of days--the perfect weekend project!

And that is it for finished projects this week! Now onto WIP's for the Weekend!

Sharon is working on a Collanade Shawl by Stephen West (whose books we will be carrying very soon!) She's using what else but Madelinetosh Merino DK in Nebula! Lovely! Sharon has been obsessed with Stephen West's designs lately! To the point where she is having yarn-filled dreams and waking in the middle of the night to plan colors for all of the projects she wants to do when his books finally arrive. Let's hope they do soon so that Sharon can get a good nights sleep!


For those of you ruffle lovers out there, Jeanne is working on a beautiful scarf out of one of our newest novelty yarns, Flounce. Isn't it fun?! You'll notice that we are out of Flounce at the moment but we have plenty more on the way!


Leanne is working on an Annabella's Cowl in Tosh DK in the Edison Bulb Colorway, mixed with the new Debbie Bliss Angel yarn. Bold color choice I know, but it certainly fits her bright personality!


Leanne also just started her Effortless Cardigan by Hannah Fettig. She's using the Lorna's Laces Green Line DK in the Baltic Sea color. Although we are now out of this color, there is much more Green Line (Lorna's Laces' beautiful organic line that is now discontinued) on it's way to us so keep checking the website for new colors as it's only with us for a little while longer!

Lastly, I've just started working on a Potato Chip Scarf (among other things) out of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport yarn. This color is an older Limited Edition Color called Robin's Eggs, but any of their gorgeous colors will do! This is such a fun and easy pattern!


So that is it for my great big project post this week! I hope you've enjoyed seeing what we've been working on! What's on your needles (or hooks)?

Happy knitting!
Kristen

Attention Knitters and Crocheters in school:
Six $3,000 scholarships are now available to hardworking students who can knit or crochet (that’s $18,000 total)! Jimmy Beans Wool has teamed up with many people in the fiber arts industry to provide the Beans For Brains Scholarship for deserving knitters and crocheters! This merit-based award is for students who will be attending an accredited institution in the Fall of 2011. You can get more information and an application by visiting the Beans For Brains Scholarship page (the deadline for submissions is April 1st). Not attending college but know someone who is or will be? Share the Beans For Brains Scholarship via Ravelry or print out a flyer for your LYS (flyers available at the Beans For Brains Scholarship page). Spread the word and help the next generation of fiber artists fund their dreams of higher education!
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