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

Knitters Going Wild on TODAY to Raise Heart Disease Awareness!

Knitters and crocheters from the U.S. and beyond will “plaza-bomb” TODAY on Friday, January 18th, 2013, to call attention to the #1 killer of women: heart disease. Adorned in red knitted/crocheted items from head to toe, the group will wave signs with tips for preventing heart disease and present anchors Matt Lauer, Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie, Natalie Morales, Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb and others with their very own red handmade garments and products from the Needlearts industry’s Stitch Red campaign that was started to bring awareness and education about heart disease to women everywhere. The group will hand out other items like Stitch Red tattoos, red yarn and educational materials to other audience members in the plaza as well to further spread the message about the importance of heart health.

The goal on Friday is to educate viewers of the Today Show to take charge of their heart health! Heart disease is the #1 killer of women in the U.S and the Needlearts industry (comprised of 98% women who spend most of their time sedentary while knitting/crocheting) decided they needed to step up and do something to change this statistic. They started the Stitch Red campaign (www.StitchRed.com) where they’re taking their knitting/crocheting needles and sticking it to heart disease, one stitch at a time.  

If you are in New York City or will be there this coming Friday, the 18th for Vogue Knitting LIVE or any other reason, we hope you'll join us on the Plaza and wear your best "Reds" in support of this amazing cause! Here are all of the details:

When/Where:

-Meet in lobby of New York Marriott Marquis (1535 Broadway) at 6am for a 6:15am walk to Rockefeller Plaza (Look for Laura and Kaity from Jimmy Beans Wool! They will be wearing red and carrying signs!)

OR

-Meet AT Rockefeller Plaza at 6:30am (45 Rockefeller Plaza)

*NOTE: It’s important we get there as early as possible to hold our spot and get a front row spot for getting on camera and getting the anchors to come over for an interview. The more people that get there early, the more we can spread out and PAINT THE PLAZA RED!!

Who:

Anyone who’d like to join! The more the merrier.

Dress:

Wear as much knitted red gear as possible.

What else:

-We will be making some signs that say Stitch Red; StichRed.com; Stitch Red for Heart Health, etc. to share. If you’d like to make any of your own signs that promote the campaign, please do! 

RSVP:

We would love to get an idea of how many people will be joining us, so if you will definitely come or think you’ll come please email info@stitchred.com ASAP!    

Thank you so much! We look forward to seeing you in NYC!

Happy knitting!

Kristen

PS. Be sure to "like" Stitch Red on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest updates:
www.facebook.com/StitchRed  -or-  @gostitchred

Help us Get Stitch Red on The Today Show!

Happy New Year! We are super excited to invite you to join us for an exciting event! We are trying to get Stitch Red on The Today Show. There are two opportunities we’d love for you to be part of if you’re interested below – let us know if you’d like to join! 

We are trying to get as many knitters/crocheters as possible to wear as much red as possible and meet up at Rockefeller Plaza for the Friday, January 18^th taping of The Today Show in order to show them how much pride we have in the Stitch Red campaign and what we’re doing to STICK IT TO HEART DISEASE!!! We want to PAINT THE PLAZA RED, literally! J If you are going to be in NYC for VK Live or are already in the NYC area, we would LOVE for you to join us in spreading the word in front of the massive audience reached every morning by the show! We know it’s early (there’s a coffee shop right in the Plaza to get caffeinated), but can you imagine how amazing it would be to have an army of knitters/crocheters supporting heart health picked up on camera!?!

Details

When/Where:

-Meet in lobby of New York Marriott Marquis (1535 Broadway) at 6am for a 6:15am walk to Rockefeller Plaza

OR

-Meet AT Rockefeller Plaza at 6:30am (45 Rockefeller Plaza)

*NOTE: It’s important we get there as early as possible to hold our spot and get a front row spot for getting on camera and getting the anchors to come over for an interview. The more people that get there early, the more we can spread out and PAINT THE PLAZA RED!!

Who:

Anyone who’d like to join! The more the merrier.

Dress:

Wear as much knitted red gear as possible.

What else:

-We will be making some signs that say Stitch Red; StichRed.com; Stitch Red for Heart Health, etc. to share. If you’d like to make any of your own signs that promote the campaign, please do!  

-Email me NO LATER THAN NOON THIS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9^TH  if you’d like to make a knitted/crocheted item for an anchor.

RSVP:

I would love to get an idea of how many people will be joining us, so if you will definitely come or think you’ll come please email info@stitchred.com and let us know ASAP!   

Thank you so much! We look forward to seeing you in NYC.

Best,

The Stitch Red Team

Sew Red is Now Availble for Pre-order!

We couldn't resist creating a follow-up to the wildly popular "Knit Red" book so we took all of that excitement and combined it with our love of sewing to create "Sew Red!" Tons more info and inside looks will be released about Sew Red in the coming months, but we wanted to let you all know that Jimmy Beans Wool has added Sew Red to their site for pre-order, just in time for the holidays! If you love to sew you'll love all of the fun projects in Sew Red!

Remember, all copies purchased from Jimmy Beans Wool will be signed by the author!

Happy stitching this holiday season!
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