Wool & Cottage

mYak Tibetan Wool 40% off!

Molly Grimm

MYak Tibetan Cloud is sport-weight, 100% Tibetan wool, ethically sourced from a heritage breed of sheep roaming the Tibetan Plateau. This oh-so-soft wool is wonderfully comfortable to wear and has excellent stitch definition. Each sheep is sheared by hand in the traditional way of nomadic Tibetan shepherds!

Until supply runs out this wool & colorway is 40%! Below are pattern recommendations for mYak Tibetan Wool:

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Simple and Elegant Knitting Patterns with Solid Color Yarns

Molly Grimm

“The Elisabeth Blouse is worked from the top down. First the collar is worked so that it has stockinette stitch with the RS facing out on both front and back. After this, the first section of the yoke is worked back and forth with raglan increases on a circular needle. Stitches are picked up and knitted along the edges of the yoke, and double knitted front edges are worked along these, before the rest of the yoke is joined in the round and completed in this way. The neckline is shaped using short rows.”

With the warmer months ahead, this tank top pattern is a great project option. For those wanting a cooler knit, but not having to sacrifice great yarn, the THEA top might be for you!

The Summer Commitment is the perfect bag for strolling around town, going to market, or a day at the beach! The bottom is knit flat and then stitches are picked up for knitting the main body in the round. Straps are then knit flat one at a time and are joined using Kitchener stitch. If you wish to knit a cross-body style bag then an extra skein of yarn will be required. This pattern is free on Ravelry!

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Smooshy Yak Yarn is the Perfect Choice for Making Hand Knit Socks

Molly Grimm

Smooshy Yak Yarn is the Perfect Choice for Making Hand Knit Socks! We’ve featured it’s cousin Smooshy Cashmere on the blog previously, but this yarn has all the similar benefits, just in a super-soft Yak blend option.

Meet Smooshy Yak, the YAK cousin to Dream In Color's top-selling Smooshy Cashmere. This easy-care yarn is beloved by knitters and crocheters alike. And for good reason - the moment you touch it, you'll understand why it's such a delight. Created for incredible stitch definition, its optimal twist brings out the best in your work! Its radiant sheen amplifies our jewel-tone colors, making them truly pop. With a luxurious blend of super-soft merino and yak, Smooshy Yak is the go-to choice for shawls, scarves, and any project you'd love to wear close to your skin!” -Jimmy Beans Wool

 

Meet the Lemonwood Mini Minder! A great companion to aid with keeping yarn untangled while you’re on the go. This minder has tons of 5-star reviews.. and look how pretty it is!

W&C Suggested Patterns

Sana socks

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Sustainable and Luxuriously Soft Yarn from Peru

Molly Grimm

“Every year mills end up with thousands of pounds of leftover, high quality ends from the yarn they spin and dye for their various exporters around the world. These otherwise luxurious leftovers could easily get bundled together and thrown away. In an effort to save them from landfills, and to close the gap between high quality yarn and accessible pricing, Jimmy rescued the wool and alpaca pieces, giving them a second life and creating what we know today as Yarn Citizen.”

Harmony Worsted, a true embodiment of sustainability and softness! Harmony Worsted is a perfect blend of 50% wool and 50% alpaca, non superwash (to reduce water waste!), and sourced from animals born and bred in the highlands of Peru.”

(-Jimmy Beans Wool)

Suggested Patterns:

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Soft and Durable Cotton Yarn in Gorgeous Color Ways

Molly Grimm

Blue Sky Fibers Organic Cotton offers an irresistibly soft cotton yarn in a worsted weight! Light yet durable, this yarn is perfect for those bulkier projects you love to whip up over the weekend. Blue Sky Fibers Organic Cotton comes in a gorgeous range of colors varying from rich darks to pastel lights and is made from 100% organic cotton, making it the perfect yarn you'll want to snuggle up in while remaining breathable!” - Jimmy Beans Wool

W&C Recommended Patterns

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Hand-Dyed Small Batch Worsted Yarn with Gorgeous Hues

Molly Grimm

“Introducing Malabrigo Worsted, the epitome of luxury yarn for your most cherished knitting and crocheting projects. Crafted from 100% merino wool of the finest quality, Malabrigo Worsted offers unparalleled softness and warmth, making it ideal for creating garments and accessories that you'll love to wear and cherish for years to come. Each skein of Malabrigo Worsted is hand-dyed in small batches, resulting in exquisite colorways with stunning depth and richness. Whether you're drawn to vibrant hues or subtle tonal variations, you'll find the perfect shade to inspire your creativity.” - Jimmy Beans Wool

W&C Suggested Knitting Patterns

Marnie Mittens

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Beautiful Speckled Tweed made from Falkland Merino and Recycled Wool

Molly Grimm

The yarn that’s great for the planet and our wardrobes! Hedgehog Fibers Tweedy Yarn is a special blend of Falkland Merino Wool, recycled wool, and colorful thread waste from HF.

Also, as an extra bonus - when you buy one of these skeins of Tweedy at Jimmy Beans Wool, you will receive a FREE pattern book with four designs to choose from when you email support@jimmybeanswool.com! How cool is that!

W&C Recommended Patterns for Tweedy Yarn

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How to Choose a Knitting Needle

Molly Grimm

When it comes to knitting needles, how do you know which is the best choice for your project? As you walk through the craft stores, there’s hundreds to choose from - several brands, sizes, and types (circular, straight, double-pointed, jumbo, etc.)

As an avid knitter for over 15 years, I’ve tried almost every needle you can imagine. I’m pairing down my favorites below to share with you the truth about all these needle options. The be honest, there are some needles worth investing in for certain types of projects, and there’s others that you can skip the name brand to save some money.

What I’ve found most important is if you’re creating larger projects, or knitting for long amounts of time - it’s best to get needles that will support your hands (i.e. that won’t wear your hands out and puts you at risk any damage from the constant repetitive motions.)

Below are my recommendations depending on what situation you might find yourself in as a knitter.

For the Beginner:

As a beginner, it’s typically recommended that you start with wood or bamboo needles. Wood or bamboo is easier on the hands than plastic or craft store aluminum/metals, and not too slippery when working with. They are also a cost effective way to try out knitting, without the commitment of a more expensive needle option.

My favorite beginner needle (and also the brand I use for in-person classes) is Clover bamboo needles. This applies to all types of needles - including straight, circular and double pointed. If you’re just getting started this brand is consistently great for beginners.

For the avid knitter:

If you have been knitting for a bit, but would not consider yourself a beginner, I would recommend investing in these ChiaoGoo RED needles. The circular needles are my favorite, and the ones I use for almost all of my projects. I love how quickly these needles work to stitch up my projects. The cable is more durable than the craft store brands in my opinion, and I haven’t had any issues with the cables breaking on me.

For the knitting addicted:

If things have gotten pretty serious with your knits, it’s definitely time to invest in an interchangeable kit. This set features featuring 14 pairs of stainless steel 5" tips ranging from US 2 to 15. The set also includes 6 silver memory-free, multi-strand steel SWIV360 cables, and 3 red TWIST, memory-free, multi-strand steel cables. This would definitely be considered a dream knitting needle set!

For any knitting level:

Regardless of your knitting level, keeping your needles organized is important, too. Tangled cables, lost needles, and breakage is never fun to deal with when you’re trying to cast on a new WIP (work-in-progress). Della Q makes the simplest, most beautiful needle storage cases. There are a ton to choose from, all at different price points, but I’ve selected a couple below that would be ideal for getting started.

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The Perfect Mohair: Light, Airy Blend of Mohair, Silk and Wool

Molly Grimm

Positively divine alone or combined with other yarns to add depth of color and a beautiful halo! Soft and luxurious, Tynn Silk Mohair knits up beautifully into wraps, scarves, cowls, and hats. We paired this yarn with ChiaoGoo RED knitting needles for an ideal experience.

Suggested Patterns:

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Foldover Poncho Made with Felted Tweed

Molly GrimmComment

My latest knit is this Foldover Poncho Pattern from Churchmouse Yarns. I used Rowan Felted Tweed in the color Eden.

The yarn is a 10/10 to work with, and I can’t wait to cast on another project with it. The colorways are gorgeous, and there are so many to choose from!

The pattern was also easy to work with - it’s entirely Stockinette Stitch. I added a seed stitch hem to help keep my yarn from curling under after casting on. Once this yarn is blocked, it blooms beautifully.

This project would be great for a beginner, or even an advanced knitter. This was my “on-the-go” project - I could pick it up just about anywhere without having to think too much about what the next step would be.

Let me know in the comments if you decide to cast on this project - I would love to see what color you choose!

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