With so many wonderful yarn shops available your choices are endless. Jimmy Beans is a great yarn source along with kits, knitting needles and bags. Best of all they care about their community and making a difference.
*This post contains affiliate links. By clicking one of these links and making a purchase a small portion comes back to the blog. The price you pay will not change. Thank you for your support of the blog.*
Who is Jimmy?
Jimmy is actually Laura. Laura, and her husband Doug, started Jimmy Beans in May 2002.
The nickname ‘Jimmy’ came from a song by a singer named Todd Snider called ‘Doublewide Blues’. In the song, he talks about this neighbor Jimmy that’s so cool because he’s got a blue plastic pool on the deck in front of his house. We started saying ‘cool like Jimmy’ and that turned into her current nickname!
While trying to figure out a name for the store, her nickname came up and we added the ‘Beans’ since we originally had a coffee shop as well. Since then, the yarn has overrun the store and the coffee is gone, but the name sticks!
Learn about Jimmy Beans:
Laura and her husband, Doug, worked as software engineers during the dot-com era. When they saw the dot-com boom turning to a bust they decided to leave their jobs and start a new adventure.

Jimmy Beans has been named to the 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in the US list four times! They are a booming operation that doesn’t forget to take time to raise awareness for the things that matter most to them. Laura has created successful national campaigns such as Stitch Red, Stitch Mountain and Beans for Brains.
When you put your money behind Jimmy Beans you are supporting so much more than the yarn business itself.
Find Jimmy Beans online in the following locations:
Jimmy Beans Website
Follow Jimmy Beans on Facebook
Jimmy Beans on Pinterest
Learn with Jimmy Beans on YouTube
Be inspired by Jimmy Beans on Instagram
Shop Jimmy Beans:
Jimmy Beans offers so many wonderful products. Take some time to head over to their shop and browse around for your next perfect knit or crochet item.
- Jimmy Beans Yarn
- SmartStix at Jimmy Beans
- Patterns from Jimmy Beans
- Jimmy Beans Kits
- Namaste Project Bag Collection
- Subscription clubs from Jimmy Beans
LISTEN TO THE SHOW:
Want to watch live on YouTube? Be sure to tune in at 10am MST on the Marly Bird YouTube channel. If you can’t watch live that is okay, just catch the replay for your chance to win. Towards the end of the live show you will hear how to enter to win some amazing prizes from our guests.
Giveaway:
WINNER: Congratulations to our winner Diana (Zen Knitter). We have sent you an email so be sure to check and see if you got one! Please reply with your full mailing address and phone number so that we can get your prize sent out to you!
Be sure to watch the full episode to learn how you can enter to win a prize. You must comment on this blog post and use the keyword.
FINE PRINT: While we LOVE your comments on Facebook, Twitter, IG, Ravelry and everywhere else we will only count the comments made on this blog post as entries. Please only one comment per person. We will email the winner directly so please make sure that you enter your email address correctly. You will have 48 hours from when the email is sent to claim your prize or we will pick a new winner.
Yarn Thing Podcast Sponsors:
Without the help from our wonderful sponsors I wouldn’t be able to create this amazing show for you. Please show the sponsors some love and visit their website.
Jimmy
Awesome show today! Was great to get to hear from Laura from Jimmy Beans Wool. Great things coming up for us creative fiber folks. Thanks for all the work you both do.
Might have to get me a smart watch now! Great podcast, Marly! JIMMY!
JIMMY
Jimmy Beans!!! Love it!
Jimmy
jimmy
What a great show! Who knew that Jimmy was really a woman named Laura!? The Lake Tahoe/Reno area really is our preferred weekend getaway. Going to have to plan a visit to their store.
Jimmy
Loved the show.JIMMY
I have been wanting a Namaste bag for a long time. So happy I got to hear all the great things the Jimmy Beans Wool has been doing!
Jimmy
I love Jimmy!!! I do the crochet club, and it’s AWESOME! Would love to win the giveaway so that I can learn knitting too 🙂
Jimmy. What great ideas she has, great show.
I lovwd learning about Jimmy Beans today!
“Jimmy” some of that! Enjoyed listening today. Didn’t realize that Jimmy Beans Wool owned the other companies too. My heart goes out to you as mother’s regarding the big move, new school and camp for the first time. All the experiences of life. Hugs!
Enjoyed the podcast. Loved seeing you doing the best with what you had…Panera’s that is. Jimmy Beans Wool has a lovely, interesting story.
Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy some of those needles please!
I placed my first Jimmy Beans order not too long ago and I was beyond pleased with the customer service received and I will definitely order again! I loved seeing your Dobie. I have a Doberman too!
Thank you Jimmy for the gorgeous giveaway!
Love Jimmy Beans! Jimmy!
What a great interview. Loved meeting Laura and hearing her story. Jimmy Jimmy! Hang in there Marly and family!
It was so nice to meet Laura…thank you for persevering Marly! I am waiting for that fantastic watch and purchasing the Namaste bag…learned so much today
Jimmy.. I’ve subscribed to their news letter so it’s been nice to see this interview with the creator.
Jimmy. Would love to win the needles. How awesome!
Jimmy! WOW!!!!!
Great story! Love Jimmy beans too!
I love Jimmy Beans. Fortunate to live nearby. They are so helpful! Great video!
JIMMY
Jimmy, great show
Jimmy! I will definitely have to check them more often. That smart watch sounds perfect for me. Maybe Christmas gift idea? The smart stix is an amazing concept. Awesome!
Jimmy Bean’s has the best!
Jimmy
Enjoyed the chat with Laura. I want to check out the website of Jimmy Bean Wools! Go Jimmy!
Thank you for this great podcast. I love Jimmy and learning more about the company.
JIMMY. Great podcast despite the technical issues. 🙂
I really enjoyed my visit to Jimmy Beans Wool the last time I was in Reno!!!
Jimmy! I have heard of Jimmy Beans, but hadn’t had a chance to check out what they have yet. Now I’m so excited to see what they have and eagerly anticipating the release of the smart watch. Thank you ladies for sharing with us!!!
jean
JIMMY
Thanks Marly – I’ll watch you anywhere!! Jimmy
Thanks, Marly for a 2nd fun episode of The Yarn Thing Podcast direct from yourPanera Studio! I enjoyed “meeting” Laura Zander, creator-owner of Jimmy Beans Wool. I just realized that’s kinda like saying, “Cool Beans!”
I loved this podcast! This was so much fun! Definitely need to check out more things at JIMMY beans!
Jimmy! I loved learning about Jimmy Beans
JIMMY. These podcasts are fun, informative and educational. Thank you!
Omg! What a wonderful giveaway! Jimmy! Jimmy beans you’re wonderful! Love the Namaste makers train case. It’s on my wish list. Great prices. Great podcast Marly! Hang in there.
I love Jimmy! They are my LYS, my first trip was to the shop in Truckee, post coffee! Next was a day trip to the Reno warehouse, which we were able to tour as well as getting directions to Sushi Pier! Haven’t traveled to the new shop and warehouse, getting a little long in the tooth for that drive now. But my fingers do my shopping online. A forever fan.
What a great episode. I learned so much about Jimmy Beans that I didn’t know before. Loved it! JIMMY! 🙂
I love Jimmy Beans so much. This is a great prize.
I would love to win a set of smart sticks from Jimmy Beans Wool!!! #jimmy
Great podcast. Jimmy
I loved hearing your podcast!!! Thank you for getting Jimmy Beans on your show!!!! I would love to win Smart stix.
Jimmy….I would love to win the interchangeable set of Smart Stix. I love them. Have a couple pair from you in the fixed circulars and they are a favorite!!
Loved the podcast. Jimmy
I would love a set of Jimmy. I love their products and videos. It has been a dream of mine to own a st of J8mmy Interchangeable needles. Keep up the excellent work. That your employees and yourselves are doing. I have been knitting since I was 5 years. Just took a 1st Place and Best of Show Ribbon for my Shawl Collar Sweater at my local County Fair. Thank you.
What a smart idea for Smart Stix!! Jimmy
Jimmy. I have been getting their weekly newsletters for several years. their yarn looks wonderful!
I’m so glad Jimmy Beans brought back and updated Namaste!
Just watched the show today (Sunday ) how wonderful to see you push through in spite of your big move. I’m an ex-military spouse you are pushing through like one of us, the kids WILL adjust later .
My son and his family just moved to Reno, NV, I’m looking forward to visit them just to go shopping at Jimmy Beans. I live Las Vegas NV, so a visit may be coming up soon.
Thank you for your excellent videos. I have been crocheting for over 40 years , thanks to you and your mom i have been knitting for the past 8 months . My family will be receiving knitted items this holiday season .
Thanks so much for this wonderful note! I hope that you do get to go to Jimmy Beads sometimes soon!
JIMMY! This is such a generous gift. I would love to win this as a new knitter.
Jimmy Beans has such unique supplies for knitting and crocheting, I would love love love to win this prize!
Jimmy Beans! What a great store! One of my favorite places to shop online. Good job on working through the podcast Marly! I had no idea you had moved as I have been out of town for a month. Jimmy.
Jimmy Beans! I had no idea about all this! Thanks for the podcast!
This was an interesting podcast. Jimmy Beans is a great company!
I love Jimmy Beans!!!!
Jimmy Beans!!!
Very interesting, thanks for sharing! Jimmy Beans!
JIMMY! I’ve been admiring the smart sticks and namaste bags for a bit now and really wish I could buy them. I love perusing the jimmy beans site and wishing for everything!
Those needles sound great! Enjoyed hearing about your business start and growth. Jimmy! (Beans). Where did the name come from? Did I miss that?
I think I typed my email address wrong. Please use the one here.
I think the live show was cool like JIMMY….
“Jimmy” I would really like to try the new Jimmy Bean Smart Stix.
This is my first time visiting your Podcast. It was lovely, and I made my comment back a while ago. I don’t know of a way to reach out to you Marly other than this comment, so excuse me if I am out of place.
My question is: How long does the comments portion of your podcast last before a winner is selected?
Thank you so much and I love all that you do.
Typically we leave the comments open for at least 2 weeks. We will put a message in the giveaway section of the post when the winner has been selected so that everyone knows that the giveaway is then closed.