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Monday, March 26, 2012

Local Yarn Store Crafting Healthy Hearts With Monthly Stitch Red Knit Night Educational Series

Presenter to Talk Trends & Provide Risk Reduction Tips for Heart Disease   

Reno, Nev. (March 21, 2012) – University of Nevada, Reno Graduate Research Assistant, Heidi Lengdorfer, is joining Jimmy Beans Wool, local retailer of yarn and fabric, to educate women about cardiovascular disease and how they can protect their heart health. The free Stitch Red Knit Night event will take place on Tuesday, April 3rd at 6 pm and is part of an ongoing educational series focusing on heart health hosted monthly at Jimmy Beans Wool’s retail location at 1312 Capital Blvd. #103 in Southeast Reno.

Stitch Red Knit Night is part of a high-profile nationwide heart disease awareness campaign, Stitch Red, founded by Jimmy Beans Wool and supported by a majority of manufacturers and retailers in the Needlearts Industry. The campaign is driving efforts to draw attention to heart disease, help women understand the risk factors for the disease and encourage the adoption of healthier lifestyles so they can protect their heart health.

“Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States and the Needlearts industry is made up of 98% women, so we need to draw attention to this deadly illness and help make the fiber community and women everywhere aware of their risks and informed on how to lead healthier lives,” said Laura Zander, owner of Jimmy Beans Wool. 
Lengdorfer is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Public Health and is writing her thesis on the public health implications of heart disease for women in Nevada. She will discuss noteworthy heart disease and cardiovascular disease trends; showcase how Nevada and Washoe County stack up to the U.S. in heart disease trends; explain gender differences in cardiovascular disease; and draw attention to risk factors and provide tips on ways to reduce risk for heart disease.   
“As a knitter, a customer of Jimmy Beans Wool, as well as a public health graduate student, I was excited by the opportunity to speak about the threat of heart disease to other women who share my interests and bring awareness to my own community, said Lengdorfer. “I hope to encourage other women to protect their heart and vascular health for longer, happier lives."

Attendees of the Stitch Red Knit Night will be able to preview and purchase official Stitch Red products for which a percentage of gross profits will benefit the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) in support of The Heart Truth®, a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). For more information about the Stitch Red Knit Night and to reserve your spot, please call 775-827-9276 or email info@stitchred.com.

About Stitch Red
Stitch Red is supported by a majority of manufacturers and vendors in the Needlearts industry who are creating unique Stitch Red products for which a percentage of gross profits will benefit the FNIH in support of The Heart Truth®, a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease, sponsored by the NHLBI. Additionally, Jimmy Beans Wool has written a book, Knit Red, which features 30 celebrity designers sharing patterns and personal stories and will be released in June of 2012. Stitch Red Knit Nights are being hosted by Jimmy Beans Wool and other local yarn stores across the country. A percentage of gross profits from Knit Red and Stitch Red Knit Nights will also benefit FNIH in support of The Heart Truth®

About Jimmy Beans Wool
Jimmy Beans Wool is a yarn and fabric retailer offering knitters, crocheters and sewers worldwide a comprehensive selection of the finest yarns and fabrics along with the latest fashion trends. As a market leader in its multi-billion dollar industry, Jimmy Beans Wool takes an innovative, unparalleled approach to marketing. It is the first-ever official yarn, knitting and crochet supplier to U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing and is responsible for the national industry-wide Stitch Red campaign against heart disease in women. The store has been awarded an excellent rating from StellaService for its outstanding customer service reputation and has been named three times to the Inc. 5000, Inc. Magazine's List of Fastest Growing Private Companies in the U.S. It has also been featured on CNN, NPR, Forbes and in the New York Times.

About The Heart Truth® Campaign
The Heart Truth® is a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease and is sponsored by the NHLBI, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Through the campaign, the NHLBI leads the nation in a landmark heart health awareness movement that is being embraced by millions who share the common goal of better heart health for all women.

The centerpiece of The Heart Truth is the Red Dress, which was introduced as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness in 2002 by the NHLBI. The Red Dress® reminds women of the need to protect their heart health, and inspires them to take action.  To learn more, visit www.hearttruth.gov.
® The Heart Truth and The Red Dress are registered trademarks of HHS. Participation by Jimmy Beans Wool and Stitch Red partners does not imply endorsement by HHS/NIH/NHLBI.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Stitch Red Newsletter and NEW Partners


We are thrilled to announce that the Stitch Red newsletter is almost ready! If you signed up at Stitches or on the website, keep your eye on your inbox for the first issue that will be coming out next week. Thank you SO much to each of you for your support. We have some exciting updates to share with you and we are looking forward to all of your feedback. This campaign depends on grassroots support and we hope you'll help us make it the best it can be.

If you haven't signed up for the newsletter yet because you're wary of excessive e-mails, we understand. That's why we're keeping our newsletter short, sweet and monthly. In each issue we'll give you tips on how to keep your ticker happy and healthy. We'll also include the latest  news on the campaign (including updates on the upcoming Knit Red book) and a few of our favorite Stitch Red products and partners.

Lizzie Hat by Bellsisterdebbie
Speaking of products and partners, the campaign is still growing as more designers and local yarn stores join the cause! Check out some of our newest Stitch Red products, like the Lizzie Hat by Bellsisterdebbie on Ravelry. You can also visit the Partners page for an updated list of official Stitch Red partners, including independent designers like Susan Glenfield and Knit Girl in Idaho. These lovely ladies, along with our other partners, have pledged to donate 5% of their profits from their Stitch Red products to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health in support of The Heart Truth®. Thanks ladies! Also be sure to keep an eye on our growing LYS list for shops near you!

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Heart disease and hand knitting, not the usual combination


Plymouth Yarn Company was approached by Laura Zander about joining Jimmy Beans Wool and The Heart Truth Campaign,  in June 2011.  We were very interested in the project and the need to spread the word about the #1 killer of women in America, heart disease.  Knitters are very passionate people.  Knitters care, and share.  Knitting is about community and charity.  

Stitch Red is such an awesome way to spread the word about the disease, and offer knitters a way to get involved in the program.   

We have dedicated 2 new products to the campaign:

Encore Worsted, 75 Acrylic 25 Wool, and new color 475, to the project.  You can purchase the color here.  You can see the entire Encore Worsted colors selection here.  America’s Best Selling yarn for decades, this yarn is Machine Wash and Dry.  Encore Worsted is an easy care for knitters of all calibers.   It is a prefect yarn to knit for gifting projects.   Our design teams has developed a new pattern (2193), this will be available for purchase real soon.
One of the best of the best, Eros II was the top selling novelty yarns of all times.  You can create beautiful Scarves, Shawls, Tops, and even Jewelry.  We have developed this free pattern (F418) for your use.  Click here to Free Pattern.

We were unable to attend the The Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection Fashion Show, on February.  But you can see great images from the event here, courtesy of Jill Seiman, GLAMAMOM.com.  The fashion show was a huge success.  You can also see excerpt the fashion show on You Tube.

Plymouth Yarn Company was one of the first to join with Jimmy Beans Wool to help promote this important campaign.  We are pleased to be involved with this very high profile cause. 

Please join us and help spread the word about Heart Disease.




Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Artyarns Founder and Head Designer, Iris Schreier, Talks Stitch Red


Why did you choose to get involved with the Stitch Red campaign and what does Stitch Red mean to you?

I am a firm believer in preventative care, and exercise and good nutrition are part of my lifestyle.  There are several members of my family and my husband's family who have had close calls with heart attacks, and I want to ensure that we take all the steps we can to avoid this deadly killer.

What product have you created for the Stitch Red campaign and what was your inspiration behind it?  

I created the heart-shaped cape with the diamond clasp (that uses Artyans Rhapsody Glitter Light yarn), to identify with the heart-healthy focus of the book.

What is your heart healthy tip? 

Eat plenty of lean protein throughout the day (I try to eat 4-5 portions), and that will prevent cravings for unhealthy processed foods and snacks that are harmful to your health.

What gets your heart racing?  

I love coming up with new creations, and combining unlikely designs, yarns, colors, etc. to startle and amaze others.  It is my passion in life, and I think I always love to challenge myself to take it to the next level.  I am a social media junkie, and I post photos on Pinterest of projects on my needles, some of which are just swatches that I'm playing with to get a reaction.  My favorite thing of all is to inspiring others to knit along with me, and it is such a great feeling when some design I have created ends up being improved upon by one of my students.  I run knitalongs on Ravelry that have had many participants, and it is always a race to the finish to stay ahead of some and make sure that I complete the pattern before they are ready to move on. 

Examples of these are the Dangling Leaves Knitalong (current) and the Undulating Leaves knitalong, which is now a free pattern with yarn purchase.   
If you follow me on Facebook.com/Artyarns you'll see that I post things, mostly photos, nearly every single day.





I also have a new book out, One + One: Scarves, Shawls& Shrugs, which is a great way for people to discover Artyarns yarn, by combining 2 skeins of their choosing in any of these 29 projects.  I'm excited about my newest pattern in Vogue Knitting Spring 2012, which combines a cable with lace pattern, and is such a fun knit.

- Iris Schreier, Artyarns