May has finally arrived, which means it's time for us to wake up and smell the wool (literally!) with our fifth Pop-up shop of the year! For people like Rosy and Patrick of Rosy Green Wool, this is their reality every day! The creation of Rosy Green Wool was brought on by Rosy's want to better herself and understand the products she was using in her knitting. By knowing exactly what goes on behind the scenes, she was able to ensure healthy sheep and responsible making.

You know that saying, "When you want something done right, you do it yourself"? Well, Rosy Green Wool took this statement to heart, striving to be the best they could be from the color payoff in their scrumptious strings all the way down to how they get their wool.

Coming exclusively from controlled organic farming, Rosy Green Wool proudly shows their GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) label, ensuring that none of their fibers contain mulesing!

Want to learn more about what motivates the pair behind Rosy Green Wool? You can learn all about what inspires their color names, how they dove into the world of making their fabulous fibers, what they do to make sure the sheep are well taken care, and so much more on our blog!

- Cheeky Merino Joy stays true to its name by sparking joy in any crafter who's making with it! This sport-weight yarn is made from 100% organic merino wool and holds 350 yards per skein! Available in an array of neutral shades and jewel tones, this yarn is incredibly soft, so we have to warn you - it is addicting to squish!

- Ideal for fair isle knitting, Manx Merino Fine is a fingering weight yarn that is skillfully crafted by blending the supple fibers of the rare Manx Loaghtan sheep with fine merino wool. This results in a sophisticated melange appearance, making every project look and feel cozy! Each skein feels pleasant on the skin and has 218 yards to play with.

- Merino d'Arles, AKA the best of both worlds, brings lofty, voluminous textures to the land of lightweight fibers, making this feel like we're crafting with clouds! Available in a soft, neutral color palette, this yarn can easily find its way into anyone's project bag and, much like Manx Merino Fine, comes with 218 yards per skein!

Drawing inspiration from the region of Patagonia (where Rosy Green Wool sources their fibers), our famed speed-knitter, Amy, needed to get the pattern ideas floating in her head written down! She's personally been celebrating the warm weather by whipping up designs for a cardigan, a tee, and a shawl, all of which are perfect for building outfits with eye-catching motifs!

We've all been feeling a little stressed as of late, so turning more attention to our projects has been a no-brainer. We've been knitting and crocheting to keep our minds and hands busy with a little help from our friends (those friends, of course, being our bags and yarn). They say a clear space results in a clear mind and we have to agree! Keeping our projects organized keeps us from tangles, losing our place, and forgetting our materials, so it's no surprise that we splurge a little more on our bags from time to time!

Back by popular demand comes the Namaste Maker's Heart Zip Mini Set! Previously, these sweet treats came in the shades petal, plum, and raspberry, but we figured we all needed a little pep in our step (er.. stitch?) with some new, exclusive springtime colors! Seriously, we're drooling over these fruity shades which remind us of those poolside days with popsicles and fruit bowls. Featuring the same keywords for makers, (LOVE, STITCH, and MAKE), these hearts will spark a little joy in your day as you get ready to relax and do what you love most - make!

Each Maker's Heart Zip Mini Set comes with three bite-sized pouches that are the perfect size for holding your notions like stitch markers, tapestry needles, and even some chapstick or a packet of Soak! The interior is magnetic, so you don't have to look too long to find that ONE stitch marker you were looking for. Each heart also has a small clasp on the outside to easily hook onto your project bag, backpack, or purse to keep your project on you at all times!

Last-Minute Gift Ideas!

Time has been a little weird for all of us, but we wouldn't be lying if we said Mother's Day really snuck up on us this year! This begs the question - have you gotten something for your mother yet!? Or, maybe you are the mother and have been mulling over the idea of treating yourself? Having a child (or children) is a feat in itself and more than deserving of a satisfying knit project to relax with!

Last week, we opened up the Jimmy Beans flower fields to any and all mothers looking to make a lil' somethin' for their special day. Our no wilt, no guilt bouquets of yarn feature some stunning shawl patterns this year: The Free Your Fade shawl by Andrea Mowry, the Girl From the Grocery Store wrap from Joji Locatelli, and the Teroldego wrap designed by Caitlin Hunter! Each option contains three artfully arranged skeins of Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light yarn suitable for these springtime shawls!

Are you a crocheter? Have no fear! We also have the option of the Waroo shawl by Deanne Ramsay to sink your hooks into!

Venturing further into the garden, you'll come across a tree - it towers overhead, acting as a statement to the world in how hardy and strong it is! This tree is what inspired our Bean, Amy, to create the beginner-friendly Growth Rings Cowl! This project is made out of fabulously fuzzy fibers from the likes of Madelinetosh, Hedgehog Fibres, and various indie yarns, featuring a scalloped stripes motif with a sprinkle of lacework for interest! This project is available in two colorways to set your spring in action!

- Brights: An ode to the 80s, filled to the brim with punchy, neon shades of fuschia, electric yellow, and violet between bands of black to make them truly pop! This option is wonderful to get a hint of nostalgia and make a statement in your day!

- Pastels: A love letter to the gentle spring breeze. This colorway revels in light notes of pinks, blues, and neutrals, which pair well with any outfit! Reminiscent of soft-serve ice cream, this option is just as sweet as it looks!

Mother's Day is just around the corner! By ordering a Yarn Bouquet or the Growth Rings Cowl, you can give the gift of making to that special someone this holiday! These petals are getting plucked up fast, so be sure to get yours as soon as possible before they're gone for good! And remember - if you would like to send a personalized message with the project, just leave a note in the extra comments field upon checkout and we'll take care of the rest!

Sock it to Me!

Okay, so two weeks ago, we talked about how sassy our project bags get when we don't feed them, but what happens when we can't decide what kind of socks to make? There are so many patterns out there - do we have to resort to closing our eyes and picking at random?! Why can't we just have one place to keep those patterns for a rainy day?

Boy, do we have a book that will knock your socks off! From Laine comes the extra-special page-turner, 52 Weeks of Socks! This book is a hefty one (around 2.5lbs), just chock full of patterns to make 52 different pairs of socks and slippers (which we could always use more of). Why wait for the holidays to be gifted any when you could just knit them yourself? It saves time AND you can personalize them for yourself! A Fan of stripes? Colorwork? Cables, perchance? We've got ya covered!

52 Weeks of Socks features different techniques and textures so anyone (whether you're a new knitter or seasoned professional) can find that ONE pair (or several!) that speaks to you (and also feels super cozy on your toesies). All of the patterns listed in the book are available in two different sizes from designers like Andrea Mowry, Joji Locatelli, and Caitlin Hunter, giving you the perfect amount of designs to choose from for yourself and as gifts for others! Attached to the book, you also get a ribbon place marker so you'll never lose your place again!

Shibui for Brains!

Alright, we seriously need to let the cat out of the bag. We've spoken to the council and through much deliberation, it seems - ahem - that we will be extending the deadline for Beans for Brains applicants! The new deadline to turn in your application to scholarships@JimmyBeansWool.com is May 31st! Is this your first time hearing about the BfB Scholarship? Feel free to visit our official Beans for Brains Scholarship page to learn about the program and how you can enter!

We're honored to highlight Shibui Knits, one of the sponsors backing the Beans for Brains Scholarship and helping to make this dream possible!

Shibui's clean, modern take on the world of fiber arts offers the building blocks for crafters to be able to mix and match colors and textures with ease by diving into their sophisticated palette and love for thinking out of the box (seriously, paper yarn? How cool is that!?).

We have to admit - the classic neutrals and stripped-back jewel tones are gorgeous, but what if we want something a little bit brighter? It is spring after all, we need a little touch of fun for our next project! Shibui must've heard this thought, stealing away to make something to scratch that itch! They returned with the bright, sunshiney shades of Crete and Paloma - like a refreshing slice of fruit on a hot day, these colors have come to quench our thirst!

And the best part? These two shades are now available in the following beloved Shibui bases: Cima, Koan, Lunar, Pebble, Reed, Silk Cloud, Tweed Silk Cloud, Twig, and Vine!

Paloma

Crete

This past Wednesday was World Wish Day, a day marking the anniversary of the first wish ever granted (and the wish that sparked the creation of the Make-A-Wish^® Foundation)! Now, we recognize this day for all of the incredible work the people of Make-A-Wish^® do.

Today, we're traveling back in time to late last year when YOU all helped us with our first-ever partnership with Make-A-Wish^® and The Crochet Crowd! We aimed to grant one wish in one month and that goal was met in LESS THAN A WEEK! You all absolutely crushed it and warmed our hearts with your kind comments and generosity! With your help, we picked up two more wishes and met those goals as well, successfully granting three wishes in a month!

Interested in learning about the journey? Visit our official Make-A-Wish^® page to learn all about Junior, Ronnie, and Ayanni and their wishes!

Laura's Massallo Shawl

The weather in Reno has been beautiful for the past two weeks - sunny, warm, and a little breezy! It's inspired us all to start incorporating happy, springtime shades in our projects! Well, that's what the Queen Bean, Laura (AKA Jimmy) has been up to, at least!

Falling in love with the slip-stitch design of the Massallo Shawl pattern by Louis Boria (AKA Brooklyn Boy Knits), she stepped (or rather, leaped) out of her comfort zone by picking bright shades of green, yellow, and orange to reflect changing weather! This project used six skeins of Madelinetosh Tosh DK yarn.

Brooklyn Boy Knits began his virtual KAL (Knit Along) featuring this pattern on April 25th with the second part coming out on May 3rd! Have you picked your yarn up yet? The Madelinetosh Massallo Shawl is available as a kit on our website with 3 beautiful colorways to choose from!