5^th Block of the Sew Red Sew-a-long from Saremy Duffy

We are just bursting at the seams (hee hee) to show you the next block in the Mystery Sew Red Sew-a-long!  This inspired-by-Cathedral-Window quilt block was designed by the wildly talented Saremy Duffy of Chicken Boots. 

All about Saremy

Saremy Duffy is an extremely avid seamster with a business making and selling accessories for knitters, crocheters and others creative folks called Chicken Boots.  All Chicken Boots products are made right here in the USA in Chico, CA, and we proudly carry them at Jimmy Beans. Saremy is passionate about knowing where the things she buys come from and tries to buy Made in US and handmade first—within reason financially.  I bet what you really want to know, though, is why she chose the name “Chicken Boots” for her business.  The Duffys have raised a lot of chickens and after a 1.5 year hiatus while they found a new home, they hope this year they will have chickens again.  Saremy says she falls asleep dreaming about the Chicken Coop / Bunny Hutch she will build in the yard next to their pool once they're all settled in their new home.  During all that time of raising chickens, they’ve called their boots that are worn to take care of chicken chores their 'chicken boots'. Their daughter was five when she coined the term and it stuck!  

If you’re local to the Chico area, check out the public knitting group that Saremy hosts at the Chico Library each week.  You can also keep up with all of her adventures on her blog (http://www.chickenbootsusa.com/blogs) or by connecting with her on Facebook. Don't forget your boots!

Saremy and Sew Red

 Saremy picked up on heart-healthy eating and exercising habits from her mother’s example; her mom was a nurse who worked in a heart catheterization lab, which runs diagnostic tests to see if someone is at risk for heart disease.  Saremy is passionate about knowing where her food comes from and tries to eat organic, local foods as much as possible.  Saremy knits and sews a lot, which can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, but she’s very conscious of being as active as she can.  As an avid cyclist-turned-runner, Saremy makes it a point to get her morning run in before becoming consumed by work.  She has also challenged herself that she’ll get to knit for every hour she exercises this year.  We think that’s a great way to stay active!  Seeing firsthand how devastating heart disease can be made Saremy excited to be a part of the book.  You can find her amazingly practical and stylish Jewelry Case in Sew Red!

Saremy’s Block for the Mystery Sew Red Sew-a-long!

Saremy was inspired to re-interpret the traditional Cathedral Window quilt block.  She used fabrics from Luella Doss's Fowl Play collection - perfect for the creator of Chicken Boots! We love that her block can be assembled in many different ways, and can’t wait to see how you all choose to orient your own blocks!  Click over to the Chicken Boots blog to find instructions!

My Heart Belongs to Daddy: Stitch Red = Heart Health

I've always been my father's daughter.  We loved the same kinds of foods; had the same passion for life; were both Type-A personalities who started our own businesses. But one thing that I'm determined not to have in common with my father is heart disease.  When he died at 79 of congestive heart failure, I decided then and there that I was going to take very good care of my heart. He would have wanted me to.

So I lost 25 pounds, found an exercise routine that I truly loved (NIA and yoga), started eating more fruits and veggies (see one of my favorite root veggie bake recipes below) and am almost a vegetarian. I also dumped my addiction to cookies and chocolate and discovered that my acid reflux no longer exists!  One more thing: I take time for myself (hot baths, quarterly vacations to the beach so I can float mindlessly in the Gulf of Mexico, massage therapy and a struggling but growing meditation practice. Oh yes, and I laugh a lot!   

When Leanne Pressly from The Wool Wide Web, a social media marketing consultant to the yarn industry, first told me about Stitch Red (it was TNNA 2010), I knew that this campaign to promote women's heart health to the stitching community of knitters, crocheters, spinners and weavers was for me! My father would have been proud!

But the big question was: How was I going to do this?  Who could I reach and how? 

Cotton Clouds' website (www.cottonclouds.com) reaches over 2,000 readers a day, our newly updated and fastly growing Facebook page is approaching 3,000 friends, our monthly e-newsletter goes out to over 5,000 dedicated Cotton Clouds' customers.  I take personal interest in each of my customers and care not only about meeting their fiberarts needs, but in their general welfare as well.  Some customers have been a part of the Cotton Clouds' family for all 34 years we've been in business. They are friends. If I could wake up just one person to the warning signs of a heart attack and heart disease my mission would be a success.

Cotton Clouds launched our own online Stitch Red campaign. On January 10, 2012 our Stitch Red e-newsletter went out to over 5,000 readers.  Click Here to read a copy. If you do only one thing, please Click Here to watch the video “Just a Little Heart Attack” by Emmy winner Elizabeth Banks. It might save your (or a loved one’s) life! Do it now!

But we didn't stop there.  As a way to celebrate women's heart health, Cotton Clouds has designed five Stitch Red kits for:

Knitting (A Ruffle Scarf in TuTu)

 Crochet (A Market Tote in Cotton Classic)

  Weaving (A Red Chenille Scarf)

 Rigid heddle weaving (A Multi-Textured Scarf)

   Spinning (A Hand Dyed Red Sliver & Spindle)

Of course they're all in Red!  Each kit includes a Czech glass heart bead that can be sewn on the finished project.

We really wanted to make a difference, so we are donating the requested 5% of sales and another 5% on top of that to The Heart Truth from sales of these kits. 

If my Stitch Red campaign saves just one life by alerting my customer to good heart health, I’ll consider my efforts a huge success. Together within the fiberarts community we can support each other and live long, happy and productive lives.

What gets my heart racing? I love that feeling of hiking up a really steep hill and upon reaching the top, looking out over a beautiful vista and feeling my heart furiously pumping in my chest. It's the combination of "I did it", the physical sensation of blood pulsing through my body and the beauty of nature that surrounds me. I guess you can say what get's my heart racing is mind, body and spirit wrapped up into one!  It's great to be alive! 

- Irene Schmoller

My favorite heart healthy recipe: To the Root of It Veggie Bake

2@ large carrots

1@ large rutabaga

2@ medium turnips

1@ medium sweet yellow onion

1@ medium sized yam

1@ tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1@ tbs garlic powder

1@ tsp sea salt

1@ tbs fennel seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Peel and dice vegetables to approximately 1” cubes.

Mix vegetables together with olive oil, garlic powder, salt.

Add fennel seed.

Line a baking pan with tin foil or parchment paper.  Spread vegetable mixture evenly on pan.

Bake for 15 minutes.  Stir. Bake another 15 minutes until vegetable are soft.

Serve hot as a side dish, or add cold to salads.

Berroco Backs Stitch Red!

Berroco is participating in Stitch Red by designating our most popular shade of red as a Stitch Red product. 

Shade #5150, Berries is a gorgeous, inviting shade of red, in one of our best selling yarns, Berroco Vintage™. This machine washable blend features a wide color range, an incredibly soft feel and yardage that goes on and on. Its unique fiber blend makes laundering a breeze and perfectly suited for easy care garments for both children and adults. The yarn and shade are featured in the upcoming Stitch Red book, Knit Red.

I thought you might enjoy a few few patterns to warm your heart:

These felted hearts were made from another yarn , Berroco Peruvia, but it would be fun to make slighter larger (non-felted) versions in the Stitch Red color of Vintage.

http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/heartfelt/heartfelt.html

http://blog.berroco.com//?s=heartfelt

Are you inspiRED to knit?

Are you inspiRED to knit? Do your part to fight heart disease and knit something RED!

Interweave is teaming up with Jimmy Beans Wool for their Stitch Red initiative, sticking it to heart disease. With each red pattern sold on InterweaveStore.com, Interweave will donate 5% of the profits to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) in support of The Heart Truth®, a National Awareness Campaign for Women about Heart Disease.

Show your support and shop Interweave’s inspiRED to knit red patterns today!

Everyone looks good in RED!
Whether you’re ready to go head-to-toe red this season to fight heart disease, or prefer to show your support for the cause in more subtle ways, Interweave has an abundance of patterns that fit all personalities and knitting skill levels.


Shirley Paden Bernstein’s Almost Serious Suit is a great ensemble for work and play. This sophisticated, sleek jacket and tapered skirt combo has a fun fur flair at the collar and cuffs.  We think this suit would be perfect for anyone who wants to make a bold statement about fighting heart disease while looking sensational. Plus, each piece could be worn separately for more wardrobe options for the “Lady in Red.”





Fighting heart disease is a heartwarming effort, which is why a warm, cozy jacket is a great way to show off your red stitches. Choose from various coat and jacket patterns, such as the Hedgerow Coat (left) by Deborah Newton or the New Pea Coat (right) by Teva Durham. Both these knitted jackets have a classic shape, fun collars, and stitch detail that will delight. Plus, these red, timeless jackets would look great on anyone!  

Heart disease should be fought every day, and it’s easy to show your fighting stance with knitted accessories that can be worked into your existing wardrobe and worn with everything. Knit up Kristin Omdahl’s Sweet Lily Shawl to decorate your favorite dress, or throw on a pair of Daring Red Boot Socks designed by Cecily Glowik MacDonald for fancy feet. Knitted accessories are always useful, and red ones are especially noticeable.

You can also show support for fighting heart disease in your home. Interweave offers fun home décor patterns, such as afghans and throws, table runners and placemats, and more. The Cathedral Afghan by Kathleen Power Johnson is a beautiful piece that would also make a great gift for friends and family. If you know anyone who suffers from heart disease, you can show your love and support for her battle by bestowing her an afghan such as this and give her hope to bravely fight.

Let’s build awareness! We hope you’re inspiRED to join the cause and fight against heart disease and build awareness with Interweave and Jimmy Beans Wool and the Stitch Red Initiative. Shop more instantly downloadable RED ePatterns for more inspirational patterns and Interweave will donate 5% of our profits to also help the cause. With our yarn and needles we can stick it to heart disease! 

Want to join the campaign? Be sure to check out the Stitch Red "Get Involved" page today!