Life can be hard. Like a rollercoaster, it's a series of highs and lows as we all figure out who we are and how we then strive to be the very best we can be. No one's journey is the exact same as another's, but there are bits and pieces that we can relate to in one way or another! Finding out who you are and walking down the path of self-discovery is a rewarding one, which is why we're so... proud to be making projects this year to celebrate those of us who have come out as their unapologetic selves!

Though, we can't say this without addressing the elephant in the room. We understand that many Pride events have been either canceled or rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the events themselves may or may not happen, that doesn't erase the history, struggles, and wins for this community and the progress we see for them every step of the way. Whether you are proudly out, still questioning, or just support those who are in the community - we see you and we love you.

Introducing the rainbow-rific Love is Love shawl, designed by Adrienne Anila! This project uses one cake of Scheepjes Whirl yarn, making it ideal for knitters who want to whip up an effortless rainbow gradient! The stitch pattern is easy to memorize, consisting of rows of stockinette and garter stitch, which are then accented by rows of easy lacework that come together to make sweet little heart designs! This triangular shawl finishes off with an easy picot bind off to bring it all together.

For crocheters, we have the Stitch Equality shawl designed by Amy Gunderson! This star-shaped shawl was made with Pride on the brain! Using one cake of Scheepjes Whirl yarn and 2 Scheepjes Whirlettes, you can relax and crochet as the colors change right before your eyes, making an effortless project just in time for Pride! Each spoke of the star ends with a fun tassel that alternates between brown and black to pay homage to the Philadelphia People of Color Inclusive Flag introduced in 2017.

Looking for a simple project to show your support? The Rainbows Reign hat and Inner Strength beanie, both designed by Amy Gunderson, are straightforward projects made out of stockinette stitch for a clean and uniform design! Both hats feature stripes in the colors representing the gay flag and trans flag respectively with a long edge of ribbing that's designed to be folded back. If you don't like the look of a folded brim, you can always shorten the amount of rows by half! Both projects use Marianated Yarns Practicality Sock and are suitable for new and experienced knitters alike!

We're literally dancing on rainbows with these stellar socks! Designed by Adrienne Anila come the Love Wins socks, which make the perfect gift or subtle way to show your support on the daily. These socks feature wide stripes of broken seed stitch on the leg before changing up the pattern to simple skinny stripes on the foot. Using Cascade Heritage and Marianated Yarns Practicality Sock yarn, each stripe is accented with white to make the colors truly pop and stand out!

Each kit contains the yarn and pattern you will need to complete your project as well as an exclusive Pride pin and sticker!

For each kit sold, we are donating 5% of the proceeds to further the fight for equality. Please note that this is not a sponsored partnership and all funds collected will be donated directly to the Human Rights Campaign.

On Earth Day, we teased a lil' somethin' on our Instagram, keeping it very hush-hush, but now, we can finally spill the beans on this new, exclusive shade from Madelinetosh!

This cool colorway was inspired by the Rescue Endangered by Design (R:E:D:) book and more specifically, the endangered green sea turtle. The turquoise base is reminiscent of the shallow, shimmering coastal waters of the sea while the deep olive and maroon speckles mirror the unique designs on the turtle's body and shell!

This colorway is aptly named R:E:D: to coincide with the book, marrying Tosh's passion for sustainability through their rich, vibrant colors with the message of conservation of endangered animals!

Available in our three favorite Madelinetosh bases, Tosh DK, Tosh Merino Light, and Tosh Vintage, you can mix and match R:E:D: with other colors and weights to make a palette completely unique to you! You could say there's an... ocean of possibilities!

Need some ideas on what to make? We've added two new, free patterns to the site to help! The Penguins Parade hat and Tuna Inspiration mitts are odes to the gorgeous sweaters featured in the R:E:D: book. Use the free patterns on their own or peruse the different pre-made colorways via our kits!

Knit Up Some Vrinda

"Vrinda" means virtue, strength, and without comparison, making it the perfect name for our April Pop Up shop! Starting your own company takes a lot of strength and motivation - taking that first step is always the hardest - but Vrinda Yarn Co. takes it all in stride, expertly folding in the need for self-care with the fabulous world of fiber arts!

For a lot of people, knitting and crocheting are not only a hobby but their personal way to wind down and relax! Nothing is better than being able to sit down after a stressful day and get a few rows worked out on your project! You can progress on your WIP while you breathe to a meditative stitch pattern - it's truly a win-win!

Vrinda Yarn took this idea to heart by funneling love into their ideas, yarn, and color stories! With a passion for sharing that love with the world, Vrinda Yarn prides themselves on their sustainability and environmentally friendly methods of sourcing their wool, right down to the standards they hold themselves to when the wool is treated! And with shades inspired by nature and pop culture, there's a color for everybody!

Want to learn more about owners Nikki and Jay and their journey in creating Vrinda Yarn? On our blog, we have a written interview that goes over how they came to be, the inspiration behind their names and colors, and even how they would decorate a parade float!

Gotta Collect 'em All!

We gotta say that the weather has been lovely as of late! Over here, we're basking in sunny days hovering around the mid-70s with a WIP in our project bags and a gentle breeze pushing the clouds along! We know it's usually bad luck to say stuff like this, but we think we may finally be in the clear of any winter storm stragglers! And what better way to celebrate than with a little Koigu?

They say April showers bring May flowers, but what about May... fibers? This artfully hand-painted shade of KPPPM yarn is a mixture of vibrant and pastel colors that will add some spring in your step and some fun in your project! Oh, yeah, we're talkin' teal, pink, and brown, to name a few!

Refuge reminds us of clear spring days and eating chocolate by an open window, smelling the sweet scent of blooming flowers!

Fantasie is a delectable work of art that really gets us in the mood for some warm-weather crafting! Reminiscent of crisp fruit, kicking your feet up, and smelling fresh-cut grass, this color is how it feels to wake up already in a good mood! Speckles of green are peppered between warm pink and orange shades.

Like all Koigu Collector's Club colors, these two are limited edition, meaning once they're gone, they're gone for good!

We've Gone Mad (For Tosh)!

Over at Madelinetosh HQ, it's officially the Year of the LYS. It's more important than ever to show our support for local yarn stores, independent designers, and smaller dyers. By giving each other a voice and a shoulder to lean on, we strengthen the bond between maker and craft! With everyone's passion for yarn, we've cultivated a garden where we all bloom to our own tune, hehe!

We're celebrating the achievements and love for the fiber arts of LYSs across the globe with three exclusive colors from Madelinetosh named "Tosh Loves...", "LYS...", and "2020!"! They can cleverly be used alone or together as a complete fade! This dreamy color palette is inspired by the sunshiney days that await us, mingled in with the sweet smiles of our favorite LYS owners!

Okay, we have to admit, it's been a while since we've gotten our blood pumping and seen some good, competitive spirit, which is why we're super excited to see the return of Mad May as Mad May Light! Is this your first time hearing about it? Well, Mad May Light is a competition for knitters, crocheters, and weavers in three different categories: Sweaters, WIPs, and AllTheOtherThings in the Ravelry group Madelinetosh Lovers.

To celebrate the return of this month-long holiday of sorts, we've come up with a custom colorway called "Cotton Candy Daydreams" which, we feel, is pretty darn sweet!

Sound up your alley? Looking for some stellar prizes and some bragging rights (all in good fun, of course!)? Head on over to the official Ravelry thread to read up on the rules and how to get started!

Ready? Set! CRAFT!

It's no secret that we've got some pretty cool mothers here at Jimmy Beans, after all, the Head Bean herself is a mom! Each one of them cares for us and offers us advice on how to be the best possible versions of ourselves - it's a treat to be able to work with them!

We want to thank them for always being on top of their game, balancing orders and phones on top of their already hectic schedules. For always being open to listening to our problems and handling things with grace and fairness, we appreciate you. For those of us who may not have a strong relationship with our own parents or have experienced loss, we've found a family at Jimmy Beans. You could say we're pretty tight-knit!

To honor our mothers, we asked around the warehouse for them to share what they received for their special day from their own children, and it warmed our hearts so much we just had to share!

Our fiber florist, Sam, received a beautiful work of art from her son, who used charcoal and sharpies to make a grayscale picture of an elephant. We're blown away by his attention to detail and eye-catching use of selective color!

Lauren, one of our purchasers, got a painting from her daughter, who cleverly used her hands to make tree leaves, complete with a message of love AND a mini tapestry woven out of yarn - which is truly the way to a fiber-enthusiast's heart, hehe!

Our resident sheep herder, Mindy, was given a beautiful handmade card to commemorate Mother's Day. Art seems to run in the family, as the crisp calligraphy and floral design must have been crafted by an expert!

Shannon was surprised with a handmade vase just in time to house the oodles of flowers she's about to get! Glazed to perfection in her son's ceramics class, we can't help but give this project an A+!

And last but not least, our customer service queen, Alex, was given a collection of necklaces crafted by her young boys. The beadwork and color stories are exquisite, giving a taste of summer in her new accessories!

Adrienne's Smooth Sailing Shawl

Sometimes, a good knit is just what you need to unwind and relax! Our bean, Adrienne, took this to heart when she dreamed up the Smooth Sailing Shawl! This boomerang wrap curves gracefully, making it super easy to style once it's finished! Using the Marianated Yarns Twisted Trio of sea shades, Adrienne felt the nostalgia of the seaside as she knit this beauty up. The colors melt into one another without the use of purl stitches, resulting in a breezy, airy shawl to complement any outfit!

The Marianated Yarns Smooth Sailing Shawl is available as a kit on our site!