We don't want a lot for Craftvent
There is just one kit we need
Keep us warm with some homemade mitts
Something that 12 Days would permit

How about we make a wrap
Something month-long, it's a snap
No mistletoe kiss,
All we want for Craftvent is this!

No need to do a double-take because you read that right - Craftvent is back, and it's here to please! Every year we get more and more excited about how we can improve on the previous year's project, and with your feedback and support, we're able to put the pieces in place to make each year bigger and better than ever!

This year, we're unveiling not one but two different projects for both knitters and crocheters to make their hearts out in the coming holiday season! Perfect for making yourself or gifting to a loved one, our 2021 selection of Craftvent goodies is certainly gonna make this December one to remember!

The first project is a month-long make-along filled with delicious treats and enough yarn to keep your needles and hooks satiated (at least for a little while, hehe)! Featuring a blend of Madelinetosh, Moondrake Co., and Neighborhood Fiber Company, this wrap also doubles as a yarn sampler! We also want to highlight that the knit version of this shawl, affectionately called the Festive Wrap, was designed by Ambah O'Brien while the crochet version, aptly named the Tidings Wrap, was dreamed up by Jane Crowfoot! Both projects are available in two colorways:

Buttermint: The refreshing walks provided by winter mornings where the sky is gray and the snow crunches underfoot. This cool feeling has some warmth brought to it in the ways of deep plums and light yellows to mimic candlelight reflecting on the snow.

Ribbon Candy: Reminiscent of the warmer climate for our southern hemisphere friends, this shawl utilizes dusty pinks and a pop of yellow to bring it all together. We like to imagine the lavender and pink hues of the sky after a fresh sprinkling of snow!

The second project is sweet, short, and small, making the first 12 days of December memorable and chock-full of goodies (mostly in the ways of Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light, though)!

Amy Gunderson lent her making expertise to some marvelously designed mitts in both knit and crochet. Festively named the 'Tis the Season Mitts, this project is also available in two colorways:

Candy Canes: This colorway is reminiscent of pink rose petals and sugar-rimmed glasses, bringing a fun and flirty touch to your accessories! The pops of pink and salmon are fun to wear year-round, and we have to admit, we've just been pink fanatics around here lately!

Snow Cones: Brrr! Who wants to have something cold inside when it's already cold outside? ...Okay, we admit, we totally do. This colorway is as sweet as the syrup drizzled over our favorite chilly treat, bringing pops of rich blues offset by white.

Each option of this year's Craftvent project brings a little bit of joy to your needles and hooks during the holiday season, spreading warmth not only to your project bags, but your wardrobe as soon as you finish!

Inspiration comes from the wildest places. You could be walking with your dog and be inspired by the resilience of the plants growing through the cracks in the sidewalk, or maybe the iridescent shades of blue found in bird feathers! Whatever your inspiration may be, it's interesting to see the train of thought that joins inspiration and project.

That's why we're absolutely tickled over Joji Locatelli's newest creation - the Newspaper Pullover! In her notes, she mentions that reading the news on most days can be a draining experience, but there's just something about a newspaper that's very aesthetically pleasing.

Ranging from the fonts used to the carefully-thought-out layout, we can't say we disagree (plus, we can't forget newspaper smell. It's of a different breed to new book smell)!

Inspired by the contrast, texture, and layout of newspapers, Joji designed this brioche pullover that uses alternating blocks of vertical and horizontal stripes that flow and read similarly to newsprint. We were so excited to see this pullover that we may have gone a little overboard in casting on swatches of contrasting shades of Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light to get a feel for the project, hehe!

Good news(paper)! We have a kit available now featuring the beautiful colorways put together by the Beans!

Bundle Up, Baby!

One of our most favoritest things about the fiber space is that there are always new ideas and inspirations floating around, just begging to be discovered and knit or crocheted up! Whether it be innovative designs, new colorways, or maybe a combination of the two, there's always something fresh for our eyes (and needles and hooks) to feast on!

That's why we're ultra-excited to announce that our friends over at Cascade have officially announced a new MKAL (Mystery Knit-Along), which starts on Wednesday, September 29th, 2021! This MKAL, affectionately named The Blanket of Many Stitches, was designed by Kathy Tamer and features four coordinating colors of Cascade 220 Superwash yarn, making your finished project simple to care for!

Cascade 220 Superwash is a light worsted/DK-weight yarn crafted from 100% Superwash Peruvian Highland Wool and is available in every shade of the rainbow you could imagine - including heathered shades! Named accordingly, this yarn carries 220 yards to a ball and is machine washable, suitable for all sorts of projects ranging from cardigans to hats and gloves!

This MKAL will give you instructions for your next section in 10 bi-weekly installments via the Cascade Yarns newsletter, so make sure you're subscribed to get your hints! The finished measurements of this blanket are 36" x 52" to keep you cozy and comfortable in the coming cold season!

Hashtag Squish!

Okay, we have to confess something. No one at Jimmy Beans has a stress ball - do you wanna know why? Because squishing yarn has always been the best kind of stress reliever! Walking down an aisle, picking up a skein of yarn out of a box, and giving it a good squish give us a boost in our mood and pep in our step for the rest of the day (especially if it's a particularly squishy skein, we just can't help ourselves)!

Though, we can't talk about squishy yarn without bringing possibly one of the squishiest we've ever felt into the spotlight - Anzula Squishy! Soft, springy, and, of course, squishy, this yarn is here to please!

Each fingering-weight skein is crafted from a blend of 80% Superwash Merino, 10% cashmere, and 10% nylon, making it not only squishy but strong to boot! Anzula's beautiful array of soft neutrals and rich earth shades lend themselves well to all sorts of projects, from socks to shawls and cardigans!

Make Your Projects EZ PZ!

We've talked about making swatches briefly in this newsletter, but no one talks about how much anxiety we get trying to make sure our gauge is correct and what to do to fix it (or prevent it) when it's off. Making sure your gauge is correct can be a feat in itself, especially when you know you're a tight knitter (totally NOT speaking from experience here).

Counting stitches can get dizzying at times and be a little hard on the eyes, especially when you delve into using darker yarns such as navy or black. So, what can we do to remedy this? That's where the EZ PZ Gauge Ruler by Crazy Cat Designs comes in! This awesome accessory is clear with a marking at every inch to easily identify exactly what you need out of your next swatch! It also features a 2x magnification, which doubles the size of your stitches so you can count them without fear of losing your place! All you gotta do is place your EZ PZ Gauge Ruler on top of your swatch and let the magnification do the heavy lifting while you count - talk about easy peasy!

Bathed in shades of desert flowers, rose gold, and warm grays comes the wondrous selection of Sierra Nevada Yarn Crawl swag we have to offer this year! We gotta say, we think our design team really knocked it out of the park this time, making a cohesive collection that will look beautiful on display, in project bags, and used for various projects! The sun and mountain motif mixed with imagery of our beautiful Lake Tahoe has a certain dreamy quality to it that we've fallen in love with!

This week, we want to feature the della Q Sierra Nevada Yarn Crawl Canvas Tote. We've been all about canvas lately, and tote bags lend themselves so well to this material! Easy to keep clean and showcasing a gorgeous graphic of a yarny sun, Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and native flowers to our region, we've been drooling over this piece!

But the best part? This bag also comes with a pin that holds your various stitch markers! Mirroring the newest line of della Q Maker's Bags, never lose your stitch markers again with this clever, eye catching pin!

Each bag measures 16" x 16" and is exclusive to this event! Once we run out, we're out for good!

Rowan's Meggi Pullover

Designed by Martin Storey using Rowan Softyak DK, the Meggi Pullover takes a classic design and makes it even cozier (seriously, HOW does he do it?)! The allover quilt-like motif wraps us up in warmth and comfort effortlessly, reminding us of our household heirlooms of handmade quilts and knitted garments alike! Crafted out of stockinette and garter stitch with a wide neck and raglan sleeves, this project is great for the adventurous beginner and beyond.