Sew Red Spectacular!

We've had some really awesome feedback for the newest Stitch Red book, Sew Red!  The feedback we love best is when somebody sends us pictures of a project they created from a pattern in the book.  Recently, we've received quite a few really awesome ones, and I wanted to share those with you!

First up is Kirsten Aufderheide, a cosmetologist and quilting instructor from Santa Cruz, CA.  Funny story about how she came across her first copy of Sew Red: her mother, Annie Smith of the podcast and blog Annie's Quilting Stash (http://simplearts.com/blogs/) had a copy for review.  Kirsten saw it and liked it so much, she carried it home with her without realizing it was her mom's review copy!  She decided to make the  "You Are So Loved" quilt by Vanessa Christenson for a friend who recently had a baby, and it came out beautifully!  

Adorable!

She used Bears in the Woods fabric by David Walker to go along with the teddy bear nursery theme.  Cutest of all: her husband helped her cut out all the fabric!

Laurie of the House of 34 do-it-yourself website/blog made the Sonoma Purse by Patty Young.  She used gorgeous batik fabrics from her stash and did a wonderful job!

Gorgeous!

She even did a nice review of the book at the same time.  Thanks, Laurie!

Check back next time for more great Sew Red projects and happy sewing!

~Heather

Witness the Fitness, Part 2!

Welcome back, friends!

We're in full swing with our Jimmy Beans Wool Fitness Challenge, and I must say I am SO proud of all of the employees participating.  Whether they're walking, biking, swimming, or just moving around more, everybody has made a great effort and we're all keeping up with our goals.  In fact, after two weeks, we have a 92% completion rate for our fitness goals!

Many of the Beans chose walking as their fitness activity!

For several reasons, many of us chose to walk for exercise.  It's easy to do, can be done almost anywhere, and does not require special equipment or preparation other than comfortable shoes.  We have even started a lunchtime walking brigade: several of us walk twice around our block of warehouses together, which takes about 25 minutes and covers about a mile and a half!  It's a convenient way to get that daily exercise in and enjoy some sunshine at the same time.

Walking provides many health benefits, such as strengthening bones and muscles - including your heart! - burning calories, and improving your mood.  You don't have to walk for long periods to gain results; you can even split up your walking routine into segments of shorter duration (say, 3 different periods of 10 minutes each) and reap the same benefits as if you'd walked the total time all at once!  That means those short walks - taking the dog out in the morning, walking down to the mailbox, taking the stairs instead of the elevator at work - really add up!

We use a low-tech board at work to keep track of our progress.  It's not beautiful, but it's effective!  We keep it at the front of the warehouse where we hold our morning meetings each day so that we can all see it and be motivated by everybody's progress.  So far, it's really working and as you can see, almost all the boxes have been checked!

Way to go, Beans!  Keep up the good work!

~Heather

Craft to Save Your Life!

You all may remember when Stitch Red visited The Today Show to raise awareness about the campaign and spread the word about using crafting - knitting, sewing, crochet, macrame, whatever is your passion! - to reduce stress and lower blood pressure, which helps to keep your heart healthy.  It's a win-win!  Along with wearing everything we could find in the color red, we made a bunch of signs to hold up for the cameras to identify our group and get our slogans out there - messages like "Knit more, stress less!" and "Red wine is good for your heart - just ask Kathie Lee and Hoda!".  They made a fantastic impression, so since then, we have been taking them to trade shows with us to decorate the Stitch Red booth.

But one of those signs hit very close to home for one crafter we recently met.  Zoe Brown, who stopped by the Stitch Red booth last weekend at Vogue Knitting Live in Seattle, immediately grew excited when she saw the "Quit Smoking & Start Knitting" sign on the wall of our booth - you see, Zoe has done just that!

A smoker for 30 years, Zoe knew she needed a little help to kick the habit - more specifically, she needed something to keep her hands busy and take her mind off her cravings.  That's where knitting came in; she took up the craft and formed a brand-new habit: a creative one!  Zoe also started spinning her own fibers into yarn - she knit the shawl she's wearing in the photo with yarn she spun herself!  

But Zoe gets much more from knitting and spinning than just something to do with her hands: she says it relaxes her, almost like a form of meditation.  That's something we've heard from other knitters and crafters as well - practicing a repetitive motion helps the mind relax into an almost Zen-like state. 

As one more added benefit, Zoe says the money she used to spend on cigarettes is now available to spend on spinning and knitting - her healthy habit :) .  With all of these great side-effects combined, Zoe has stayed away from cigarettes for five months!

Congratulations, Zoe - we are SO proud of you and your accomplishments and we hope your story inspires others to give up unhealthy habits for heart-healthy ones!

What habits do you have that you'd like to trade?

~Heather

National Wear Red Day and Sew Red!

Hi everyone!

I hope you are all wearing red today for National Wear Red Day and the kick off of American Heart Month! We certainly are! The crew at Jimmy Beans Wool wore red today and snapped this photo after our morning meeting. 

Also, I wanted to tell you all about a fun contest we are hosting for the kick off of our new book Sew Red! Sew Red is the follow up book to last year’s Knit Red and features sewing and quilting patterns from over 25 celebrity designers! Each copy purchased from Jimmy Beans Wool will be signed by the author herself, Laura Zander (aka. Jimmy)! Inside Sew Red, you’ll find pattern sheets, instructions, beautiful photography, heart healthy tips and recipes, and personal stories of heart disease shared by the designers themselves. Not only that, but we also had the honor of welcoming back Deborah Norville to write the forward for this very special book.

Some of the many designs from Sew Red include quilts from Kaffe Fassett, Valori Wells, Tula Pink, and Mark Cesarik as well as gorgeous accessories and garments by Brett Bara, Anna Maria Horner, Amy Butler, Ty Pennington and so many more! We feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with such an accomplished crew of designers and are sure that there is something for every type of sewist in this book!

As our contribution to the Stitch Red campaign, we have agreed to contribute a minimum of 5% of our gross profits from the sale of Sew Red to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) in support of The Heart Truth® and women's heart health education and research.

You'll be hearing much more about Sew Red in the coming month, and we hope you'll be adding it to your library soon. In fact, if you Pre-order your copy from Jimmy Beans Wool starting today, we'll add you into a drawing to win your copy for free! We’ll draw names on the day the books arrive to our warehouse, which is expected to be sometime next week! How fun is that?!?! 

We all hope you have a lovely, heart healthy weekend!

<3

Kristen, and the Stitch Red team!

Stitch Red on the Today Show!

I just realized that I never gave a full recap of how things went when we went to the Today Show on Jan. 18th! Boy has it been busy around here as we are gearing up for National Wear Red Day this Friday, American Heart Month, and the debut of Sew Red this month!

There are a few fun things that came out of that very chilly morning in New York, so I'll start there! Laura and Kaity from Jimmy Beans Wool were in NYC for VK Live to promote Stitch Red, and Kaity, being our PR person, thought it would be a great idea to try and get Stitch Red on the Today Show. So we got together and started to rally the troops. We knew this would be the perfect time since there would be tons of knitter's in town for VK Live. We made signs and asked people to meet us at 6:15am. We knew it was early, but this was THE Today Show! Totally worth it!

Designers and Stitch Red partners made red knitted items to gift to the hosts as well as brought Stitch Red products to share as well. Among those brave enough to join us in the chilly morning were Kersti and Taiu from Koigu, Andrea Jurgrau of Bad Cat Designs, Mary Beth Temple, Nicky Epstein, and so many more! What fun it was to see everyone in their red out to support our cause!

Kaity was able to speak briefly with Savannah Guthrie and give her a scarf and tell her a little bit about the Stitch Red campaign. She was also able to give one of the show's producers the other gifts to give to the hosts. We were told that they might be featured on a later show!

Since that morning, Kaity has heard from the Today Show and Kathie Lee and Hoda will be wearing some of the Red items and displaying some of the Stitch Red products on TODAY this Friday for National Wear Red Day! Be sure to watch the 4th hour of the Today Show on 2/1 to see Stitch Red in the limelight! So cool!

So, after a chilly morning in Rockefeller Plaza, we were able to help spread the word about Stitch Red and heart disease to a wider audience! We couldn't be more thrilled! We hope you'll join us in wearing RED this Friday and continue to watch this blog throughout the month of February for some more awesome news, giveaways, and blog posts from Sew Red designers! We can't wait to share it all with YOU!

Wishing you a wonderful week and a healthy heart,
Kristen

Stitch Red Holiday Decorating!

I had grand plans of decorating my Christmas tree with homemade ornaments this year but, as so frequently happens, time got away from me and I found myself breaking out the red and green bulbs and glass ornaments I've collected over the years. Then Jeanne introduced her DIY ornaments on the Jimmy Beans Wool blog, which turned out extremely cute, and I was left wondering how the festive red of Stitch Red could be a part of the holiday cheer. It hit me (while watching Downton Abbey as that has sucked me in, too - have you seen the Christmas at Downton color?) that the Mini Red dress would be a wonderful way to deck the halls! 

Available in Classic Elite Alpaca Sox, one mini red dress knits up in an hour or two! The kit comes with one mini skein (enough for one dress), a pin (in case you'd like to don yours on your favorite winter coat), and a small amount of white yarn. To make more than one mini red dress we recommend buying one hank of CEY Alpaca Sox in Stitch Red to make nine mini dresses (roughly). To mix it up, you could even grab a hank of Watercress for red and green dresses! 

You'll need US 2 DPNs, stitch markers, a stitch holder (I would recommend a safety pin), and a copy of Knit Red for the pattern. 

Happy knitting!

Casey

Stitch Red Holiday Gift Guide

Whether you've decorated the Christmas tree or are getting ready to light the menorah, you might still have a short list of gifts to buy or, if you're like me, you're waiting until the very last minute to check off who've been naughty and nice. Stitch Red is not only a great way to support a wonderful cause near and dear to many hearts, but the color is just so festive! Here's a holiday list of some gifts for the knitter in your life...

Noni 6-8-10 Bag 

From Noni Patterns

This simple, yet elegant felted evening bag is a wonderful holiday accessory or night-on-the-town clutch. Dress it up or bring it along for a casual outing with the girls - it fits in in every setting. P.S. The merino wool included is made in the USA!

Stitch Red Nelkin Butin Collar - True Love

From Nelkin Designs

This beaded necklace is the ideal stocking stuffer. The kit comes with easy to follow instructions, beads, yarn and clasp for a simple, stunning holiday project. It really only takes a few hours!

Swans Island Bulky - Winterberry

The chain-like construction of Swans Island Bulky makes for a wonderful yarn that is sure to hold it's shape knit up in whatever project is calling for it. It makes for scrumptious hats and cowls. The stunning tonal red allows for a warm pop of color. 

These are just a few of our favorite things! For more Stitch Red gifts visit our website.

-Casey 

Good Health and Good Food - Happy Thanksgiving!

Personally, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love how my parents house smells with a turkey roasting in the oven and various side dishes baking. I love pumpkin pie. Most importantly, I love how Thanksgiving brings my family together - immediate and extended. I'm always thankful for my family and good health, but this Thanksgiving I find myself hyper-aware of the nutritional value of what's going to be on our Thanksgiving table. I blame it on managing the Stitch Red campaign - a blessing and a curse, but I'd say more of a blessing. 

I started to think "is there really anyway to lighten my favorite dishes and not lose any flavor?" According to the American Heart/American Stroke Association there is a way to not compromise the flavor of our favorites! Here are a few tips...

1. Go with mashed sweet potatoes instead of white. Sweet potatoes are a great source of Vitamin A, C, potassium, and fiber. I've always been a sweet potato gal, so that's an easy one right there (we'll pretend the almond, brown sugary goodness on top is healthy, too)! 

2. Load up on veggies. This is more of an every day note, but toss in more celery, onions or carrots to the stuffing. Maybe make a fresh cranberry relish (something my mom does really well!).

3. Cut down on some of the bread or opt for whole wheat.

4. Sacrifice fat, not flavor. Low-fat Buttermilk or Low-Sodium Chicken Broth is a great way to get the same deliciousness with less calories.

5. Limit the amount of salt you use - toss a little over the shoulder for good luck, instead of into the stuffing.

Hopefully these tips will help with your Thanksgiving preparations. 

From all of us at Jimmy Beans Wool, we wish you a happy, healthy Thanksgiving!

What's getting our hearts racing...

Besides the Thanksgiving feasts that await each of us next Thursday, we have quite a few things we're thrilled to share!

In just over two and a half months we'll see the release of our second Stitch Red book, Sew Red. Much like Knit Red, Sew Red is a compilation of 27 sewn, quilted and embroidered patterns from some of the fabric industries most well-known designers. With patterns from Amy Butler, Anna Maria Horner, Ty Pennington, Tula Pink, Deborah Norville (she wrote the forward for this one, too!), Anna Griffin, Denyse Schmidt, Suede, and so many more, we're just bursting at the seems for this February 2013 release!

Stay tuned for a Sew Red blog tour with a book giveaway starting February 1st. The schedule will be posted right here, so start checking back in January!

Also, we have another Stitch Red book in the works! It's still in its infancy, but we thought we'd ask you what sort of crochet designs are your favorites? We love Dora Ohrenstein's Little Red Fingerless Gloves, but what what other patterns would you like to see? Let us know and we'll see if we can make it a reality in our next Stitch Red adventure...

Happy Friday!
Casey

Heart-Healthy Foods you Might Not Have Known Of...

I say, enough about what we shouldn't be eating in order to stay heart health! What can we eat that could help us lower blood pressure and take a step towards fending off this number #1 killer? Thanks to Forbes, we found a great list of heart-healthy foods:

1. Non-fat Yogurt

Dairy products, on the whole, get a bad rap for being high in saturated fat, but non-fat yogurt is actually a great heart-healthy start to the day. The American Heart Association found that those who ate more non-fat yogurt were 31% less likely to develop high blood pressure. Plain, non-fat yogurt may not sound all that appealing, but here's how you can spice it up: drizzle with a tablespoon of Agave Nectar, add some blueberries or raspberries (any berry!) and toss in a bit of heart-healthy All Bran. Delicious and nutritious!

2. Sunflower Seeds

I was surprised by this one, but these little fellas do fall into the nuts and legumes category - a generally heart-healthy bunch of goodies. However, these unsuspecting seeds are extremely high in Vitamin E, putting them above the rest of the nut and legume family. With just one handful you can consume 75% of your daily intake of Vitamin E!

3. Bananas

As a runner, bananas are a must in my diet. This popular fruit is potassium rich, which can help to relax artery walls and boost kidney function. This might seem like a lot, but 1.5 to 2 bananas a day could drop blood pressure 2-3 points, keeping the cardiologist at bay. I know plenty of people who aren't fans of this potassium packer, so if you're included in that bunch raisins, prunes and watermelon are also good sources of potassium.

4. Purple Potatoes

This specific potato contains antioxidants that help to reduce inflammation - a symptom of heart disease.

5. Spinach

All the credit is in the nitrates of these green leaves!

6. Oats

We've known for quite some time that high-fiber oats are heart-healthy.

7. Beets

The phytochemicals in beets not only give them their red color, but also help to lower blood pressure.

Know your heart

Know your heart!

With the holiday season fast approaching - there's snow in Reno and I think that makes the holiday season official - I find myself preparing for my family's Thanksgiving feast, but ever since I started working on the Stitch Red campaign I seem to be hyper-sensitive to thinking about the food I eat and making sure I'm getting the right exercise. That said, I had no trick-or-treaters this Halloween and am now stuck with two bags of my chocolate-y favorites. After munching on one too many fun size snacks I decided to cleverly hide the goods at the top of my above sink cabinet that is only accessible with the use of a step ladder. I digress, 'tis the season for comfort food and the gals of Jimmy Beans are not opposed to the feasts awaiting each of us; however, Shape magazine did remind us of the typical - and not so typical - signs of a heart attack.

I'm thankful for good health and the good health of all my loved ones, but my heart-healthy goal is to be more aware and listen to my body. Surprisingly, the Heart Foundation reported that 435,000 women experience heart attacks each year. While women are more aware than ever, we'd like to see that number drop, so we figured (as did Shape magazine) that now is as good a time as any for a refresher. You know you're having a heart attack when you experience...

1. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.

2. Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

3. Toothache (this one took us by surprise!)

4. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

5. Cold sweat

6. Nausea

7. Lightheadedness

8. Overwhelming, sudden fatigue 

Be aware, but enjoy your Thanksgiving feast and be thankful for all the beauty in your life. 

-Casey

High Blood Pressure - Danger to People as Young as 40

With a majority of the Jimmy Beans Wool staff under the age of 40, our eyes were caught by this article from Time: High Blood Pressure a Danger for People as Young as 40. Not only are we huge proponents of being aware and taking care of ourselves, so is The Heart Truth. While The Heart Truth's campaign is especially aimed at women ages 40-60 - that's when a woman's heart disease risk starts to rise - the campaign is also sending a message to women who are younger. Heart disease develops gradually, so it's crucial that women of all ages are aware - even us twenty and thirty-somethings.

I must admit, I studied English and Communications in school, so a lot of the scientific lingo in this article flies right over the top of my head; however, the main message is that the brains of people with hypertension (aka high blood pressure) can look up to 7.2 years older than the brains of people with normal blood pressure. The scariest bit of research was that "the team saw changes in brain structure among people with normal blood-pressure readings or systolic readings just slightly over normal." Being aware of your numbers and seeking treatment could shave 7.2 years off your brains health.

Now, what exactly does that mean for our brains? Can games of Sudoku at lunch help?

Brain games may not help the influence of hypertension on brain age, but the underlining message is clear. If we spread awareness, know the signs and symptoms, and take action by visiting our physician we can influence our late-life brain health by starting to treat high blood pressure at an early age (Sudoku games are still encouraged.)

We're hosting a Charity Knit/Crochet/Sew Night with a Special Surprise!

Jimmy Beans Wool and Stitch Red are joining forces with Random House and the Red Scarf Project to hold a Knit For Charity Night on Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 6-8 pm. Come join us to knit, crochet or sew a project for charity!

Random House has put together a nationwide knit night event where fiberists across the country will knit (crochet, sew) for charity and support Stitch Red. This knit night will present Nicky Epstein's new book, Knitting in Circles, a free red scarf pattern from Nicky's new book, and exclusive knitting tips from Nicky herself for attendees. The evening will culminate in an exciting drawing for all participants of the knit night events around the country!

You can knit for the Red Scarf Project sponsored by Foster Care for Success which gives red scarves on Valentines Day to college students that have grown up in the foster care system. We are offering to collect and send in the scarves - knit or crocheted - before December 15th. Or, choose your own favorite charity and project to support a cause near and dear to your heart!

Here are the guidelines for the Red Scarf Project:

1. Size: approximately 60" long and 5" to 8" wide. Scarves should be long enough to be wrapped around the neck, with tails long enough to be tied in the front.
2. Style: Think unisex collegiate. Fringes are optional. Your scarf should drape and tie easily. Soft scarves are a must, too!
3. Color: Red! However, this could mean burgundy, cherry, russet, red stripes with other colors, or multi-color hues including red.
4. Finished & tagged: Yarn ends should be securely sewing in. For a personal touch, attach a tag saying "Handmade for you" with your first name, city, and group affiliation, if any. Donors have also included washing instructions, messages of encouragement, gift cards, and more.

Double your charity giving this season by purchasing Knit Red (the first installment to the Stitch Red trilogy) and by using Stitch Red products in your charity knitting to support The Heart Truth and raise awareness of heart disease in women! To see all the available Stitch Red products, visit the Stitch Red website.

During the event we'll be drawing for three free raffles! The winner of each raffle will win a copy of Knit Red by Laura Zander or Knitting in Circles by Nicky Epstein.

The third drawing, sponsored by Random House, will be randomly drawn after December 15th from all entries received from all shops hosting a charity knit night. There will be two grand prizes and two runner up prizes given away!

The Grand Prize will include a Potter Craft Tote Bag stuffed with:
- A signed copy of Nicky Epstein's Knitting Block by Block
- An exclusive project knitted by Nicky herself!
- A skein of red yarn, compliments of Cascade Yarns
- 2 Potter Craft knitting books
- A sock knitting "deck"
- Chocolate!

The Runner Up Prize will include a Potter Craft Tote Bag stuffed with:
- A signed copy of Nicky Epstein's Knitting Block by Block
- A skein of red yarn, compliments of Cascade Yarns
- 2 surprise Potter Craft knitting books
- Chocolate!

And as if all this isn't enough! Everyone who attends this Charity Knit Night will get a special preview of our Friday Before Black Friday surprise - AKA "Operation Turkey Trot!"

Tours will be given to those who haven't had one and refreshments will be served.

This is going to be a fun night and we hope you join us!

Terry

Happy Halloween...and High Blood Pressure Basics

First, Happy Halloween from the ladies of Jimmy Beans Wool! We hope you have a safe, happy, healthy Halloween (try not to eat all the candy like I've been doing...).

Kristen and I are back from VK Live and are still floored from the response of mid-westerners to our Stitch Red campaign. So, what was the hot ticket item this past weekend?

The Kollage Square Needles! 

Ergonomic (for hours upon hours of knitting), sharp tips (seriously) and they come in a snazzy red metallic color - what's not to love? I even got myself a pair of the Kollage Stitch Red double points to cast on my Turkish Bed Socks. I know I have more needles than I need, but I'm a knitter! I just never know when I might need an extra set...

I've been trying to catch up on the heart-healthy news I missed over the past weekend. I stumbled upon this adorable, animated video from The Heart Truth explaining what's really happening when our hearts are working overtime due to high blood pressure. It must be the kid in me who really enjoyed this short video...take a look!

Happy Halloween!

Casey

Club Red

Every so often we hear from a local yarn shop who caught wind of Stitch Red and was moved to start taking a stand against heart disease. What's even more exciting is when these lys' send us emails with pictures! I'm sure you all know this already, but we love show and tell - really!

Club Red!

On Monday I heard from Lesley who owns Wool & Co. in St. Charles, IL. She sent me a sweet little note about her knitting group and they don't just knit! These ladies are part of Club Red and they meet every week for some yoga or a brisk walk followed by some Knit Red knitting and healthy snacks! I don't know about you, but when I have a huge goal ahead of me (like running my first marathon!) I need a support system - a group of people aiming for the same goal. The camaraderie is what gets me through long runs and keeps me motivated. Now, I'm not saying everyone should go out and run a marathon. No way. I do think what Lesley and her knitting yogi's have is truly special and key in the battle against heart disease.

Lesley ordered copies of Knit Red for her store and as she flipped through the pattern pages she couldn't help but love so many of the designs. With so many of the projects going straight into her knitting queue she thought it would be fun to start a club - Club Red. Together they would work their way through the book while inspiring heart-healthy change!

The first meeting had great promise! Fourteen ladies showed up ready to pledge to some lofty knitting and general health goals. For the next six months Club Red will work through projects and listen to motivational guest speakers. The group includes one woman who just underwent open heart surgery and someone who has lost 80 pounds (you go girl!). The main goal is to take baby steps towards eating healthier and moving more. Take a look at what they've been working on...

This looks like Tanis Gray's Lace Infinity Scarf...

The mini dress! We just love the sequins! 

Is that Ysolda's Slip Stitch Beret?

Still full of positive energy, these ladies are stitching (and walking!) for heart health! I highly suggest joining Club Red if you're in the St. Charles, IL area - it looks like a fun group and it never hurts to start fighting back against the #1 killer of women!

A Recap of Stitches East!

We know you've heard quite a bit about Stitches East from those of us left behind ;), but what was it really like for the lucky gals who got to go? Here's a wrap-up from Kristen!

Yowzer! Stitches East in five days...what a journey! Sandy, Jeanne, Rachel and I arrived back in Reno last Monday, completely exhausted (mostly from the air travel) but full of memories of new friends made and new yarns to covet.

Not only did we have tons of fun meeting some of our lovely east coast customers, but we met lots of lovely new companies that we'll be adding to the wish list, better known as the "Spreadsheet of Dreams." This is our list of products that we'd love to add to your lineup someday when we have room in the budget. Here were our favorites from Stitches East:

1) Harrisville Yarns

Not only are their yarns beautiful, but they are family owned for several generations and they create the most lovely colors! They also make Jared Flood's Brooklyn Tweed yarns Loft and Shelter so of course we drooled a little bit (ok, a lot) in their booth. All four of us bought skeins of Loft to make Jared's mittens from the Knit Red book. We even cast on while at the show! 

Their AMAZING color display!

Loft!

2) The Nantucket Diddy Bagg Co.

These little multi-use bags are SO cool! All four of us also bought bags from their booth. We each bought the "Iddy" size which can be zipped up with the pockets on the inside or outside and carries notions, needles and your knitting project. It has a long strap that can be worn across your body like a sling, making it easy to walk and knit at the same time. Also, you can unzip the entire thing and wear it as a tool belt. So cool!

Super handy bags!

3) String Theory

Rachel and I both went a little nuts in this booth. Not only are the yarns totally amazing, but their depth of color is simply to die for! We each bought a skein of Caper Sock and Rachel also bought a skein of Alpaca Silk (which isn't on their website, but is definitely gorgeous). I restrained myself a bit as I am technically supposed to be in de-stash mode right now, although I did make a few exceptions for yarns I can't get out west. I am totally head over heels for my skein of Caper Sock though, so much so in fact that one night at the show as we were in bed about to turn out the lights, I was holding the skein and gazing at it trying to decide what I would make with it. I actually fell asleep clutching my yarn! I woke up the next morning and the poor skein was tangled in the sheets, still intact, thankfully.  Unfortunately, no pictures were captured of this moment of knitter to yarn twitterpation, but we did have a good laugh over it. 

4) The Mother Bear Project

Sandy and Jeanne came back to our booth excited about the Mother Bear Project! The Mother Bear Project makes and sends hand knit stuffed teddy bears to children in Africa affected by HIV/AIDS. The project is so lovely and heart warming that we just had to support it! We'll probably be getting more involved in this campaign in the near future, but in the meantime, feel free to see how you can get involved on their website. (Sorry I missed getting a picture of their booth. Jeanne and Sandy assure me it was darling!) 

I was also fascinated by this booth with beautiful hand-crafted boxes. The company is owned by a super nice couple from Tennessee. Their display was stunning and dramatic to say the least, with this gorgeous tower of boxes. I failed to grab their card so I don't remember their name at the moment, however, they will be at Stitches West in February, so I fully intend to post about them then! In the meantime, here are some of their lovely boxes:

Loved the stacks in this booth - such a neat display!

Lastly, I had to show off my recent knitted item. I made this cowl from Malabrigo Book 3 in the Malabrigo Rasta yarn (color "Stitch Red") just in time to wear at Stitches East. It kept me cozy in the chilly convention hall all weekend, plus it was a super fast knit - perfect for holiday gifts. In truth, I made three of these last Christmas to give to my sisters-in-law and never bothered to make one for myself. As you can tell, I am happy I finally did! We sell this as a kit on our site so here is the link if you'd like to check it out.

Roasty, toasty and oh so soft!

I hope you all have a lovely week! My weekend was relaxing and now I'll be heading to Chicago Thursday for VK Live! Hope to see you there!

Happy knitting,

Kristen

Happy National Health Education Week!

With so much talk about the Presidential election, we're relieved to know that this week is one in which we don't have to be up on all the hot button issues (now that they debate is over). This week, October 15th through the 19th, marks National Health Education Week (NHEW), so let's brush up on public health issues- and heart-healthy awareness in the younger generations. Since 1995 NHEW has been celebrated to help focus national attention on major public health issues, like heart health. This year's theme was inspired by the youth our our country: "Adolescent Health: Planting Seeds for a Healthier Generation." With doubled obesity rates in people 12-19, it's important that people of all ages are educated on the risk factors of heart disease.

To play our part in NHEW, we found this cute little quiz in Glamour's Health & Diet section - quiz your knowledge about heart health with eleven questions and answers! We're sure you know more than you think! If something surprises you - for example, the percent at which the risk of heart disease drops if you stop smoking (it's amazing!) - let us know in a comment. We'd love to share all of your feedback with others!

What will YOU do to spread heart health awareness this week? 

Rolling Out the Red Needles at Stitches East!

As you all know Kristen, Sandy, Rachel, and Jeanne are in Hartford, CT at Stitches East this weekend. On their first night working the show, the wonderful folks of Kollage Yarns hand-delivered a new Stitch Red product (one we've been really, really, REALLY excited for!). Without further ado, we welcome the Stitch Red Kollage Square Needles to the campaign! Here's a photo of Sandy knitting a Mini Red Dress with a pair of the new square needles! 

Sandy (right), the amazing Kollage crew and Benjamin from XRX!

I must warn you, these pretty needles aren't yet available for sale (unless you're attending Stitches East), so stay tuned! They'll be added into our system soon enough! In other news, we welcomed another Stitch Red surprise to our Stitches East line-up. Drum roll, please! The Stitch Red Denise2Go set was especially designed for Stitches East. If you're around the show, I highly suggest you stop by and take a look at these adorable red sets and grab one while you can! These are a Stitches East one-time deal, but don't worry! We have a Halloween inspired set for everyone to have the chance to purchase in just a few days! 

Denise2Go Stitch Red Sets - aren't they adorable?!

Stayed tuned for more Stitches East updates! 

What's Making OUR Hearts Race?

Stitches East! 

Four of our beans left today for Hartford, CT to start setting up our Stitch Red booth, and last I heard Rachel, Kristen, Jeanne, and Sandy were chomping at the bit to get the trip started! 

We'll have everything from Knit Red to all your favorite Stitch Red yarns and patterns. If you're one of those super organized Stitches-goers (whom I envy greatly!) and you prepare your list of booths to hit and product to look for, take a look at our Stitch Red Products to get an idea of what you're looking for! Psst! I even heard we'll have some non-Stitch Red related goodies...Tosh Onesies, maybe! 

Stop by booth 1007 to meet two of the Knit Red designers and chat with the wonderful gals from JBW!

Here are some hot-sellers you should keep an eye on!

(they went like hotcakes at Stitches Midwest)

Johnny's Socks were the events most popular pattern - I think. We were out  faster than you can say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

There's no question, Knit Red is our biggest seller! Flip through and see for yourself!

This Lantern Moon Felted Keychain Clutch is just too adorable to pass up!

Classic Elite Magnolia is a crowd pleaser! Don't forget to ask for Kristen's free heart lace hat pattern to go with it!

This mini red dress can be a pin or an ornament! There's something about mini things that we knitters can't pass up! 

Laura Nelkin's True Love Butin Collar is the perfect handmade red accessory - beautiful!

These Lantern Moon heart shaped stitch markers brought quite the chorus of "ooh's and awe's" at Stitches Midwest!

 We hope to see you there!

Happy Anniversary to The Heart Truth!

Check out the Jimmy Beans Wool tribute to The Heart Truth. We're hoping to inspire change in women nationwide with our Stitch Red campaign! We're humbled and oh so proud to be your partners in fighting this silent killer.