Jimmy Beans Wool Buys Madelinetosh

Jimmy Beans Wool, which started as a coffeshop and yarn store in the early 2000s, has positioned itself as a major player in the online fiber world, selling yarn and notions as well as acquiring companies that produce quality goods for fiber lovers.

In years past they have purchased bag makers Namaste and Della Q, and they just announced the purchase of indie yarn giant Madelinetosh.

“Yarn is such an important part of Jimmy Beans’ DNA and with the addition of Madelinetosh, it feels like a match made in yarn heaven,” Jimmy Beans founder Laura Zander said in a press release. “We’ve been carrying Madelinetosh yarn for years, and to see what Amy and John have created is remarkable. Their eye for color and ability to take dyeing from their kitchen to becoming the largest hand-dyer in the country is just incredible.”

For now Madelinetosh will continue to operate in Fort Worth, Texas, while Jimmy Beans operations are based in Reno, Nevada. According to an FAQ on the Jimmy Beans site, individuals will still be able to order Madtosh yarn from either website, though inventory on the Jimmy Beans site will reflect what they actually have in stock in Reno while orders made through the Madtosh site will be made to order and will take longer.

It will be interesting to see how this partnership evolves. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

[Photo: Jimmy Beans Wool.]

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I hadn’t heard of Laura Sebastian’s fantasy series Castles in Their Bones until I stumbled upon Mary P. Hunt’s knitting patterns inspired by the series, but if you’re already a fan (of this series in particular or fantasy in general) you’re sure to enjoy these designs.

The book series, in case you’re curious, follows triplet princesses who each marry a prince on their 16th birthday as part of their mother’s master plan to take over the whole continent of Vesteria. (Thanks, GoodReads!)

I don’t know how I found the (all these links ahead are to Ravelry, FYI) Star-Touched Hat knitting pattern, but it was the first one I saw. There’s also a coordinating cowl and mittens if you want to complete the full set.

All of them prominently feature stars and have a sort of Art Deco feel. They call for DK weight yarn in two colors, so you could make them all to match or use different colors for each.

The hat comes in five sizes, ranging in circumference from 18.5 to 22.3 inches (or 47 to 57 cm). It can be worked with a short brim or a folded brim.

The mittens come in small and large adult sizes, with extended sizes for both (more length is included in the extended sizes). These feature a cool Latvian braid at the top of the cuff, which is a fun skill to learn.

And the cowl is one size, on the smaller side as cowls go, measuring about 13.5 inches/34.5 cm tall and 26 inches/66 cm around.

The designer suggests you can hold a bit of metallic thread along with your yarn to give it more of a sparkly, regal, celestial feel, but that’s totally up to you!

As mentioned above you can get all of these patterns on Ravelry. As of this writing there doesn’t seem to be a discount from buying all three, but maybe that will change.

[Photo: Mary P. Hunt]

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