Reno, NV, April 8, 2008: Combining luxury, creativity, and a noble cause, knitters from Portland to Paris have joined together to Knit for the Cure. Featuring five beautiful yarns and an easy-to-follow pattern, the kit is appealing to knitters of all experience levels. Jimmy Beans Wool introduced the Breast Cancer Support Scarf Kit in October of 2007, pledging to donate $5 from each kit sold to the Susan G Komen Foundation. To date, Jimmy Beans Wool has raised almost $1000, with no advertising and very little publicity. The kit retails for about $55.
"We wanted to create something that could be knit and worn (or given away) as a show of support," says Jimmy Beans Wool owner Laura Zander. "Chances are we all know someone who has been affected by breast cancer. Though the kits were planned to be sold only during October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the brick-and-mortar and online retailer has continued to sell kits on a daily basis - with no end in sight. "The response has been great! Based on the numbers so far - and our commitment to get the word out - we're optimistic that we'll be able to hit the $5,000 mark by this time next year," says Zander. "We'll just keep sending checks!"
Zander originally created the beautiful, yet delightfully simple scarf for the 2007 pre-Emmy Celebrity Swag Suite. TV celebrities Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Ernie Hudson (Desperate Housewives) and others knit a few rows on the original scarf, which was later auctioned off on www.ClothesOffMyBack.org.
The kit and free pattern are available online at Jimmy Beans Wool Breast Cancer Support Scarf page.
Founded in 2002 by Laura Zander, aka "Jimmy," Jimmy Beans Wool is both a bricks and mortar and Internet knitting superstore, offering knitters worldwide a comprehensive selection of the finest yarns and knitting supplies along with the latest fashion trends. With customers from Los Angeles to Uzbekistan and all points in between, Jimmy Beans Wool has successfully created an international knitting community comparable to that of the local yarn store, and is the resource for knitters looking for inspiration, instructions and project help. Headquartered in Reno, NV, the store was recently the subject of a small business profile in Fortune Small Business (July/August 2007) and has been cited in magazines from Vogue Australia to Family Circle.