SEASONLESS || MINI COLLECTION IS NOW FULLY AVAILABLE!

It's here! We're so excited to let you all know that SEASONLESS is now fully available! 

You can now easily buy the paper booklet of SEASONLESS through NNK Press (read more HERE)! The ebook and individual patterns are also still available too! We think the SEASONLESS booklet bundle would make a wonderful xmas pressie for that special knitter in your life or for a lovely treat for yourself!

We also have the booklet available for your favorite yarn shops to purchase for wholesale as well from NNK Press! So if you're looking for a copy at your fave LYS please feel free to let them know it's available to stock :)

You can purchase SEASONLESS || Mini Collection Volume One, and find & read more details HERE.

Jane and I want to extend a HUGE thank you to all of you for your generous love and support of all of our publications and for SEASONLESS! We've been so thrilled with how much you've all embraced our mini collection! And thank you to all the wonderful yarn shops that have already started carrying SEASONLESS! It means so much to us.

We've also been sooooo excited to see you all receiving your SEASONLESS booklets and that you've all been happily knitting! Make sure to tag your work on social media with hashtag #seasonlessknits so Jane and I can see all your lovelies!

Do you have a copy of SEASONLESS yet? What are you planning on casting on first? I can't wait to hear so let's chat!

READING || TEMPEST BOOK REVIEW

Tempest by Holli Yeoh for Sweet Georgia Yarns

I've got a lovely book to review on the blog for you all today - Tempest by Holli Yeoh for Sweet Georgia Yarns! 

This gorgeous collection of 11 patterns is sure to have you drooling! Felicia's (of Sweet Georgia Yarn) lovely fibers just shine in this pretty collaboration with the talented Holli. Tempest was inspired by the idea of just that - tempest.

I love how the designs stay trued to their inspiration and embodied both the shelter and the storm. I also enjoyed seeing the photography taken in both Steveston and Richmond. I lived in Vancouver, BC for quite some time and Steveston was one of my favorite places to go visit. The scenes paired up beautifully with the colors of the yarns that Holli chose.

Tempest is 84 pages filled with 11 gorgeous patterns ranging from garments, cowls, a blanket, hat, poncho and more! The photography is gorgeous and full color throughout. The book is inspiring, pleasant to read and the patterns are offered in a clean and easy to follow instructional format with both charts and written instructions along with diagrams, tips & techniques, yarn information and more! Tempest is available in both a print book as well as an eBook. You can read more about Tempest and see more images etc on the Tempest website HERE.

I highly recommend this dreamy book from 2 very talented fellow Canadian women. I'm a fan of both Felicia and Holli's work and Tempest does not disappoint! Tempest would make a great holiday gift for any fellow knitter or for a special treat just for you. So grab some Sweet Georgia Yarn and a copy of Tempest and get lost in Holli's designs. You can also join the Tempest community to learn (video tutorials), chat (discussion forums) and share (#tempestknit) Tempest projects via the Tempest website HERE.

Would you like a chance to win a copy of Tempest? Follow along with the rest of the Tempest Blog Tour for more reviews & giveaways.

>>> TEMPEST BLOG TOUR <<<

Friday, Oct 17 Hunter Hammersen, Violently Domestic

Monday, Oct 20 Megan Goodacre, Tricksy Knitter
Saturday, Oct 25  Kate Atherley, Wise Hilda Knits
Monday, Oct 27 Stephannie Tallent, Sunset Cat Designs
Saturday, Nov 1 Julie Matthews, Knitting at Large
Monday, Nov 3  Very Shannon
Saturday, Nov 8  Davina Choy, Sheep & Stitch
Monday, Nov 10  Heather Zoppetti Designs
Saturday, Nov15  Donna Druchunas, Sheep to Shawl
Monday, Nov 17  Shannon Okey, knitgrrl

Saturday, Nov 22 Anniken Allis, Confessions of a Yarn Addict
Monday, Nov 24 Lucy Neatby, Happy Stitches
Saturday, Nov 28 Knit Social Event Company
Monday, Dec 1 Miso Crafty Knits

Have you picked up a copy of Tempest yet? Which project would you love to make? Do you have a favorite Sweet Georgia Yarn? Let's chat ladies! Coffee's on....

SEASONLESS | PRINT BOOKLET AVAILABLE NOW - LIMITED TIME ONLY!

© Shannon Cook / Very Shannon

We are so excited to offer the printed booklets of our latest collection SEASONLESS for a special release!

As with all of our books, SEASONLESS features stunning photography by Nicholas Kupiak, making these printed booklet a very special item to add to your collection. There are even a few shots by lil'ol me in the book!

The printed booklets will be available through our publishing website Marian Rae Publications, for ONE WEEK ONLY! So if you've had your heart set on owning a printed copy of the booklet make sure you order yours today.

And the best part is, you can pick up your very own printed copy of SEASONLESS for the very same price as the eBook alone! WOWSA! It truly is a lovely package and would also make a wonderful gift for that special knitter in your life for only $12.95!

© Shannon Cook / Very Shannon

PRINT BOOKLET BUNDLE INCLUDES:

BOOKLET

A stunning, high quality, 29 page printed booklet

+

eBOOK & Individual PDF Patterns

Every purchase includes the eBook, with 76 pages including the full photo shoot from Nicholas Kupiak, extra resources for knitting help, interactive PDF's for easy navigation between the pattern pages and website links, and reformatted, print friendly PDF's of all the patterns.

Print Booklet Bundle only $12.95

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW

You can also still purchase the eBook Bundle or any of the individual patterns:

eBOOK |  Laylow  |  Palladio  |  Schwimmen

DETAILS

// WHEN
Printed booklets are available for purchase as a special release only from October 15th to Wednesday, October 22nd.

// WHERE  
Purchase your booklet directly from our publishing company Marian Rae Publications.

// SHIPPING 
Printed booklets will be shipped the first week of November.

The sale will be open for one week only from October 15th -22nd. After purchase you will be emailed a confirmation with a link to access your FREE ebook & PDF's. All printed booklets will also contain a coupon code inside the back cover to link up your FREE copy of the eBook and individual PDF's to your Ravelry library.

Did you enter our giveaway last week?

We finally drew our winners! Thanks for your patience in waiting to find out who the lucky knitters are!

The winner of a copy of the SEASONLESS bundle is....

COMMENTER 48 - Crafty Effie

Congratulations!!!! We'll be in touch soon!

A huge thanks to all of your for your loving support! We're so glad you're all loving SEASONLESS! oxoxoxo

NEW PATTERNS || SEASONLESS: MINI COLLECTION VOLUME ONE eBOOK IS HERE!

I am so excited to finally reveal the latest collaboration between Jane Richmond and I - SEASONLESS | Mini Collection Volume One is here!!!! 

Modern minimalism was our style inspiration and pieces that were suited to any season was the end goal. An open work lace hat (Schwimmen), drop stitch crescent shawl (Laylow) designed by me and comfortable pullover (Palladio) designed by Jane Richmond make up the seasonless pieces of this gorgeous mini collection!

Over the weekend we had a booth at the 3rd annual Knit City where we launched our newest collection! We  had originally planned to sell a limited number of printed booklets as a special release at Knit City and then return home to make the digital versions available. But the response to the printed booklets has been overwhelming and we would love to give everyone an opportunity to buy their very own printed copy!

So today we are so excited to launch the lovely eBook (76 pages), because we just can't bear to keep you waiting any longer! But if you have your heart set on a hard copy (29 pages) of SEASONLESS we will be offering the printed booklets for a limited time, coming soon! So stay tuned for that on our blogs and on our website - www.marianraepublications.com! You can see photos, get info, read our blog and stay up to date on all things Marian Rae Publications there as well as follow us on twitter HERE. And don't forget to follow along and tag all your project pics with #seasonlessknits.

SEASONLESS: Mini Collection, Volume One 

Included with the eBook:

+ The 76 page eBook includes the entire photo shoot with gorgeous
photography from Nicholas Kupiak

+ Extra resources for knitting help

+ An interactive PDF for easy navigation between the pattern pages
and website links

+ Reformatted, print-friendly PDF versions of all of the patterns

eBook Only $12.95!

or purchase the individual patterns

SCHWIMMEN || LAYLOW || PALLADIO

THE NEW PATTERNS
I've been so excited to show you all the 2 patterns that I designed for SEASONLESS! I promise to feature them both on the blog and give you all the details and behind the scenes on my newest patterns soon but in the meantime here's some gorgeous shots & a bit of info! I can't stop wearing both and I'm so happy with them and hope you will all love them too!

/// LAYLOW
LAYLOW is a fresh, modern and reversible shawl pattern that is knit up in fingering weight for a versatile, seasonless accessory. It's airy, lightweight and a relaxing knit with an easy to memorize stitch pattern.

RAVELRY |  SHOP |  ETSY 

/// SCHWIMMEN
SCHWIMMEN is a fun and enjoyable project with a flowing pattern repeat & addictive open work. It's an interesting and pleasant knit that is sure to be a staple in your year-round wardrobe.

RAVELRY |  SHOP  |  ETSY

Jane and I are so in love with this special collection! The Mini Collections are a new series we will be releasing in between our larger book publications. We truly hope you will enjoy knitting and wearing these as much as we do!

A huge thank you all of you for your endless support! You all mean so much to me and your support is truly the reason I am able to continue to do what I love. And another thank you to my fabulous testers - you guys rock, and to my family - I love you so much - thank you for putting up with me being a major stress case these last few weeks.

Happy knitting - seasonlessly.

SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT || SEASONLESS - MINI COLLECTION

I've got a special announcement to make today!!!!! Jane and I are so excited!

I have been counting down the days until this post you guys! It's been so hard to keep this all under wraps and not share anything over the last few months! Jane Richmond and I have been busy working on releasing our next project for our publishing company Marian Rae Publications! It's been tons of fun and lots of hard work and we cannot wait for you to see it all! It's very special to us and we hope you guys will love it too.  But that's all I can tell you for now...hehehe....you'll have to watch our sneak peek video below to find out a wee bit more.

When can you find out the rest?  On October 4th & 5th at Knit City in Vancouver, BC (see our EVENTS page for more info). We'll both be there with some new lovelies to surprise you with, our previous publications and lots of samples for you to try on! We can't wait! So make sure you stop by our booth (#40) to say a big hello! Don't be shy - we love getting a chance to chat and meet you all!

Don't forget to also follow along with our hashtag #seasonlessknits on social media as well for more special sneak peeks, info and to share your images of SEASONLESS | MINI COLLECTION.

After Knit City watch this space for more info on when and how our newest project will be available for sale to the public! We promise it won't take long and we have a special surprise for you all :) Thank you all in advance for your continued support of our publications - it means so very much to both of us.

READING || NEW AMERICAN KNITS BY AMY CHRISTOFFERS

New American Knits by Amy Christoffers Interweave/F+W; $24.99

I've so excited to review the knitting book New American Knits by fab designer Amy Christoffers on the blog today!

I'm a big fan of Amy Christoffers work and I was super excited when I first heard she had a knitting book coming out. You all know I can't resist a good knitting and sewing book! Amy's patterns feature clean lines and are effortlessly wearable. They are the kinds of items you just want in your wardrobe. The kind that are easily incorporated into your daily life.

Jasper Pullover

Her designs always feature simple-but-sophisticated construction and her sweaters are truly drool worthy. I mean look at the cover shot of the Nevelson Lace Pullover below! I heart this sweater! The fit, the stitch pattern - pure Amy. Some of my favorite pieces in the book feature those special details that make me swoon. For instance the Serra Turtleneck (shown top right below) has that showstopper neckline and faux seam lines. I'm just loving the silhouette of this piece!

1. Moses Hoodie 2. Serra Turtleneck 3. Sargent Pullover

Then don't get me started on my favorite pattern in the book - the Moses Hoodie (shown above left). Seriously. I'm dying to cast on for this. The sewer in me is loving that there is a zipper! Then pockets...hello....gotta have pockets and then there's a hood! Could it get better than that? But wait there's more....a surprise stitch detail along the upper back. So lovely.

The book also features some pretty patterns for accessories and more! There are hats, shawls, cowls, mitts and more! The book is filled with bright, full color photography, clean graphic design accompanied by the patterns which are easy to follow and read.

What I really found interesting and enjoyed a lot was the premise behind the book and the names of the patterns. I have to say this was my favorite part of this book. Amy has named each of the pieces after an American artist that she finds inspiring! At the beginning of each pattern she has included the story behind each inspiration and name. So fun!

Overall I really think New American Knits accomplished what it set out to do - applying traditional knitting skills & textile motifs to contemporary wearable knitting. 

I think this is a book that can be enjoyed for generations to come no matter what the trend. A great addition to any knitters library. Have you gotten a copy of New American Knits yet? Are you also a fan of Amy's work? Which pattern would you make first?

Get more information and purchase a copy of New American Knits below:

New American Knits

by Amy Christoffers

Interweave/F+W

$24.99

http://bit.ly/1jjllAg

GIVEAWAY || SEW A MODERN HOME BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY

Photo Credit || Brent Kane and Martingale

I'm so excited for the release of the new book "Sew a Modern Home" from my lovely friend Melissa Lunden!!!

I love when a new sewing book comes along that gets me really itching to pull an all day sewing marathon.  The kind of book that has me already daydreaming about fabric choices, colors and more. Sew a Modern Home: Quilts and More For Every Room is filled with inspiring projects that easily fit into my home and yours. The book covers most rooms in your home and is broken down as such in the book. I really liked that detail. Here's the rooms broken down....

LIVING ROOM | 1 Quilt and 2 Pillows

DINING ROOM | Placemats, Table Runner and Napkins

MAIN BEDROOM | 1 Quilt and 1 Pillow

GUEST BEDROOM | 1 Quilt and 1 Pillow

GIRL'S ROOM & BOY'S ROOM | Each have 1 Quilt

NURSERY | 1 Quilt, 1 Crib Skirt, 1 Crib Sheet and 1 Crib Bumper

OUT & ABOUT | 1 Quilt and 1 Tote

Photo Credit || Brent Kane and Martingale

I am particularly in love with a pattern for the Main Bedroom called the Desert Morning Quilt shown above. I need to add that one to my "must sew" list asap!I love it's subtle tones and clean palette. I just adore how it was quilted. It's hard to see in this shot but it's stunning! It would fit into my home just perfectly!


Sew a Modern Home's quilt patterns are true to Melissa's signature style. I've been a long time fan of Melissa quilt patterns (Lunden Designs) since we met over our shared love for Cynthia Mann's Birch Fabrics. I've written about Melissa's patterns before and truly do love them and highly recommend them. She writes patterns that are fun to sew and when done offer that wow factor! The book carries on her clean pattern writing style and pattern design. The patterns offered are useful and ones that could easily be added to your home or gifted to a loved one for their home. Each pattern could easily be transformed based on fabric choice and color easily lending the reader a chance to express their creativity as well.

Photo Credit || Brent Kane and Martingale

The book also offers up some basic instructions at the start of the book that are quite helpful. Melissa covers supplies, terms, techniques and more. Sew a Modern Home is laid out cleanly and neatly and the photographs are clear and bright. The pattern diagrams are also very easy to follow allowing a beginner to jump right in. Melissa has written a book that would be a nice addition to any sewers home library and one that would be well loved and used throughout the years.

Would you like to win a copy of the e-book Sew a Modern Home? 

THE PRIZE
- One lucky winner will win an e-copy of the new book Sew a Modern Home by Melissa Lunden, published by Martingale.

HOW TO ENTER
- Simply leave me a comment letting me know why you love modern sewing projects.

THE RULES
-You must leave a valid email address or you will be disqualified. Giveaway open until Monday, August 18th, 2014, midnight, PST.

I'm so thrilled to be included in this blog book tour with so many other fabulous bloggers! Don't miss checking them all out and entering to win an e-copy at each stop on the tour!

Congratulations again Melissa! I'm so excited for you! It's such a lovely book!!! Big hugs your way!

8/13 – Lunden Designs
8/14 – Very Shannon
8/15 – West Coast Crafty
8/16 – Boston Sewer
8/17 – One Shabby Chick
8/18 – Cactus Needle
8/19 – Fabricworm
8/20 – Generation Q Magazine
8/21 – Martingale
8/22 – Prudent Baby
8/23 – Stitchery Dickory Dock
8/24 – Fave Quilts – Seams and Scissors

*All images courtesy of Martingale and Brent Kane.

READING || BASIC BLACK BY SATO WATANABE

Basic Black by Sato Watanabe | Tuttle Publishing

I'm so excited to add Basic Black, another lovely Japanese sewing book by Sato Watanabe, to my collection! 

Some of you may know I used to be a hairdresser. While what you didn't know was that all I used to wear was the color black. The salons I worked for at the time encouraged the stylists to all wear black.  It was considered moody and stylish. All the color I so embrace now was in my nails and hair. I have to admit that after leaving the industry it took me a long time to "break the black" and start adding color to my wardrobe. I'm happy to say that now black has a home in my closet amongst tons of color and prints. I've come a long way :)

Even though I fought to add color to my clothes I still love black. It's slimming, classic, sexy, stylish and just cool. I always feel good when I wear black so I was excited to hear about Basic Black: 26 Edgy Essentials for the Modern Wardrobe. I wasn't disappointed. True to Sato's style there is a pattern in here for everything - 26 in fact! Yep, that's right - 26! Tops, dresses, jackets and more. The fabrics are interesting and the designs are more body flattering than most of the other Japanese sewing books you see on the shelves. Basic Black is another great English edition of a Japanese sewing book.

The patterns in the book are lovely. I really loved the Lace Shirred Blouse, Blocked Quilting Zip-Up Jacket, Zip-Up Vest with High Neck, Frilled Shirt in Charcoal, Tunic Blouse with Lace-Trimmed Armholes, and Flannel Short Coat. I could honestly see myself wearing and sewing all of these. I consider a book a win/win if I want to make at least 3-4 patterns out of it. So this one is on a roll considering I trimmed down my list to write on here...haha. There is a nice variety of styles and fits in this book that give the reader lots of style options for their wardrobe.

Basic Black features bright, modern photography for the first half of the book and the second half is the written patterns accompanied by clear, easy to follow diagrams. I don't know about you but I just swoon over these kinds of diagrams. So pretty! The pattern pieces themselves are tucked neatly away in the back flap of the book. Sato also covers some basic sewing tools and how to use the patterns in the book. For a book filled with black clothing Basic Black still feels lively, bright and energetic.

The only con I have to the book is the sizing. This is very common though for Japanese sewing books. The larger sizes don't go up very high so I usually fall on the last size or not in the range at all. The books sizing is broken down into 3 categories - "loose", "garments with darts & shaping seams" and then finally "fitted" which was nice to see. These are listed all on one page and it definitely makes it easier to see what will fit and what won't. It was a nice addition.

BASIC BLACK

AUTHOR | Sato Watanabe

PUBLISHER | Tuttle Publishing

PROS | 26 patterns! Huge variety of styles and fits. Even though all black garments the book still feels lively and nice to read. Great diagrams.

CONS |  Sizing doesn't go high enough.

Overall I give this book 2 thumbs up. I have a soft spot for Japanese sewing books and their aesthetic and styling. This one will have a lovely place on my bookshelf. If you are a fan of Japanese sewing books I think you will find this one a fresh surprise amongst the more traditional loose fitting styling of the more common ones out there.

Are you a fan of Japanese sewing books? Have you read this one? What was your favorite pattern from it? Let's chat!

*This post contains affiliate links. All opinions expressed are my own.

READING || MERCHANT & MILLS SEWING BOOK REVIEW

Oh my! I could hardly contain my excitement when the new Merchant & Mills Sewing Book by Carolyn N. K. Denham showed up in my mailbox!!!

I am a HUGE fan of Merchant & Mills and their new sewing book does not disappoint! Beautifully bound and designed, this lovely addition to any sewers collection stays true to the Merchant & Mills brand. Their notions, scissors, pins & needles are coveted and some of my absolute faves! You can't miss spotting a fab Merchant & Mills product or pattern and I was so happy to see all that gorgeous styling put into one book published by Chronicle Books.

 

The Merchant & Mills Sewing Book is filled with techniques, helpful information, tips and more! I honestly know I'll be reading and re-reading this book for many years. My absolute favorite part of the book is the Foundations section. So much amazing info in this section of the book! I wanted to photograph all of it but then realized I'd be showing you the whole book! And let's not forget the patterns! 15 of them! All fabulous and very handy! I'm dying to sew up the Duffel Bag and the Tote Bag asap!

All the sections include signature styled Merchant & Mills photographs and diagrams and all the patterns are accompanied by great illustrations along with easy to follow instructions.

Here's a quick run down of what's included in this must have book!

MERCHANT & MILLS SEWING BOOK

INTRODUCTION

// Keep it Simple and Do It Well

PART I: THE FOUNDATIONS

// Sewing Tools: Furnishing Your Toolbox

// Haberdashery: A Panoply of Small Things

// Basic Sewing Techniques: The Inside Information on Construction

// Patterns: Your Template for Making

// Cloth: The Beautiful Raw Material

// Pressing Matters: A User's Guide to Good Flattening

PART II: THE PROJECTS

// The Calico Bag

// The Tailor's Ham and Sleeve Roll

// The Ironing Board Cover

// The Hussif

// The Maker's Apron

 // The Bolster Cushion

// The Pillow Cushion

// The Button Cushion

// The Throw

 // The Document Bag

// The Flight Bag

// The Duffel Bag

// The Tote Bag

// The Tailored Shawl

// The Fisherman's Top

Overall I give The Merchant & Mills Sewing Book two thumbs up! I would recommend this to any sewer looking for a stylish addition to their library. It will be well loved and read in my home for years to come!

You can find all things Merchant & Mills on their website HERE.

Are you a Merchant & Mills fan? Would you like to win a copy? Stay tuned for some seriously fun prizes tomorrow on the blog!

READING || BOOKS ON THE TABLE

I've got some fun new books to show you all today! You ready to get making?

I love books and I love adding new ones to my collection. I also enjoy sharing them here and reviewing some of my faves for you all! I've decided it would be fun to keep a new series running on the blog called "books on the table". I've done a few now and have enjoyed them as I hope you all do too.

Today I've got some good ones! Not all sewing either which I think is fun! The current books on my table are:

MAKE YOUR MARK by Lark Books

NEVER BEEN STITCHED by Amanda Carestio

SEW QUICK SEW CUTE by Fiona Goble

FABRIC BLOOMS by Megan Hunt

For the reviews & to see more pics keep reading!

Make Your Mark: Creative Ideas using Markers, Paint Pens, Bleach Pens & More is so fun! Seriously! I adore this book! And it comes with a pen!!!! The projects in it are all great fun! My favorite ones are the modern and geometric ones for dishware and more! I can't wait to try this out! It's right up my alley and something I've been wanting to try for a long time!

The book has clear pictures, great instructions and includes 50+ templates as well! If this is something you've been wanting to try I highly recommend Make Your Mark!

Next up is Never Been Stitched: 45 No-Sew & Lo-Sew Projects by Amanda Carestio! This book is filled with projects that are easy to make, involve little or no sewing and range from accessories to clothing & toys! If you are new to sewing or looking to try your hand at it you may find some fun projects in Never Been Stitched!

Sew Quick Sew Cute by Fiona Goble is filled with projects just perfect for any project you're craving! They are all quick sews and like the book says - cute! I really love the wide range of projects included in this book and can see myself sewing up more than a few of them! How cute are those underwear drawer sachets below! Adorable!

Also, don't forget to check out Fabric Blooms: 42 Flowers to Make, Wear & Adorn Your Life by Megan Hunt! A pretty book filled with instructions on how to make blooms with lovely fabrics, felt and using stitched embellishments.

Which books are you currently reading? Do you have any new faves you added to your collection? I'd love to hear about them!

READING || HAPPY HOMEMADE SEW CHIC & SEW CHIC FOR KIDS BOOK REVIEW!

I have a serious crush on Japanese sewing & knitting books. An "I will pore over every image and diagram a gazillion times" sort of crush. 

The aesthetic, the vibe, the layout - I love it all. I'm heavily influenced by the clean lines and the fresh feel of Japanese books. They just get me all creatively inspired and, of course, dying to make everything in the books!

I was so excited to get my hands on two of the popular Happy Homemade series "Sew Chic" by Yoshiko Tsukiori and "Sew Chic for Kids", by the talented Ruriko Yamadaboth, translated and published in English by Tuttle Publishing.  And yes, you read that right - they are in English! I have to say that when they started releasing this line in English I was over the moon. I'm a visual and a technical learner. I like to read and see the instructions so I love that I can now read the instructions as well as see them. Their diagrams are gorgeous and very well done but I longed to read the words in the book as well.

Keep reading below to see my review & more pics!

// SEW CHIC FOR KIDS

The best thing about Sew Chic for Kids is that I love pretty much every pattern in it.  

Ohhhh....the clothes, such lovely clothes...and for both boys and girls!!!! Can I hear a yay?!The book is filled with 20 wonderful essentials for any child's wardrobe. Plus they are the type of clothes that are the ones that you enjoy sewing as much as your children love to wear! The book includes patterns in the back, and lots of gorgeous images in the front. Instructions are given in written and diagram form. The pattern pieces are in the back of the book and head's up - they don't include seam allowances. But don't fret - the book has a section showing you how to add them, how to sew, and more tips, techniques and instructions.

The pattern pieces are included in the back of the book and there are 2 double sided pattern sheets, giving you a total of 4 pattern sheets. Pieces are spread out throughout the pattern sheets so I highly recommend you check the contents list on each sheet to make sure you aren't missing any pieces for the garment you are making before you start sewing. It sounds harder than it is. Once you start using them you'll see what I mean.

I definitely recommend Sew Chic for Kids and can't wait to sew something up for my girlies and my nephew. But first I have to choose my favorite one to start! This is proving to be much harder than I thought! I love them all!

// SEW CHIC

Sew Chic just oozes relaxation. The pictures depict the kind of girl I so wish I could be. The clothes are comfortable, effortlessly chic and so lovely. 

Now I've got me some curves so I can't pull off all of the looks but there are definitely some I could wear! The book includes 20 patterns ranging from tunics, pants, skirts, dresses and more! My fave piece to try is that lovely jacket shown in the middle shot below. It's something missing from my closet and think it would be a flattering piece for many body shapes. Just like Sew Chic for Kids, Sew Chic has inspiring and clean images in the front, patterns in the back. Patterns contain written instructions as well as diagrams. No seam allowances on the pattern pieces but instructions written in the book on how to add them making it not seem so overwhelming.

The pattern pieces are included in the back of the book and there are 2 double sided pattern sheets, giving you a total of 4 pattern sheets. Pieces are spread out throughout the pattern sheets so I highly recommend you check the contents list on each sheet to make sure you aren't missing any pieces for the garment you are making before you start sewing. It sounds harder than it is. Once you start using them you'll see what I mean. 

It also includes a section on tips for sewing, how to make bias strips & v-neckline facing, attach facing & binding and how to sew pockets. As well as how to trace patterns onto paper, add seam allowances, straighten fabric, pattern placement and how to take your measurements. It's all done so tidy and neat all of that literally only takes a few pages!

Women with curves take note though - the book does only go up to a certain size level and I know a majority of us are bigger than their largest size. If you have some alteration experience I'm sure you could grade up a bit to make them work but I wanted to include this in my review as I'm someone who has a hard time myself finding patterns that are mainstream that fit my curvy shape. The largest bust size is 40 1/4" and the largest hip size is 43 3/4". This isn't a direct con to this book though. Most Japanese sewing books have sizes in the smaller ranges so it's to be expected when you purchase them.

I still love Sew Chic. I still hope to sew some things from it and even aside from that, I just love looking at it! As someone who has published 2 books I get a real joy out of seeing how these are put together and I know they will be a well loved addition to my book library.

Both Sew Chic and Sew Chic for Kids are published by Tuttle Publishing and can be found at your local bookshop, sewing store and on Amazon. If you have a love for Japanese sewing patterns and books I highly recommend giving the English publications a try. The Happy Homemade series is amazing and always drool worthy. They make a lovely set of books to add to your sewing pattern collection.

Do you love Japanese sewing patterns and books?  Which book is your favorite? Have you made any of the patterns from Sew Chic and Sew Chic Kids?

P.s. Have a wonderful long holiday weekend! My oldest is turning 7 on Easter! Can you believe it! It feels like only yesterday that she was a baby! See you all on Tuesday! 

EVENTS || TOLT YARN & WOOL SHOP AND VOGUE KNITTING LIVE!!!

We are so excited to announce that we will be at the amazing new shop - Tolt Yarn and Wool on March 13th, from 6-8pm for a book signing & trunk show!!!!! YAY! The items from JOURNEY will be on display and Jane and I will be there to chat, sign books and knit!

That's right, it's their weekly free Stitch Circle so if you stop by - bring your knitting! It's sure to be a great time! I've been following along on social media anxiously awaiting the opening of Tolt Yarn and Wool and I can't wait to see this gorgeous shop in person!

You can find Tolt Yarn and Wool below:

Book Signing/Trunk Show - March 13th 6:00pm - 8:00pm

4509 Tolt Avenue, Carnation, WA 98014 | (425) 333-4066

We can't wait to see you there!!!

And the fun doesn't stop there! After visiting Tolt Yarn & Wool Shop we are headed to Seattle, WA to Vogue Knitting Live the same weekend!!!! We are super duper excited to have the lovely and awesome shop Stash Local hosting our trunk show while there!

You can see all the items from JOURNEY on Friday and Saturday as well as meet Jane and I during a BOOK SIGNING from 12pm - 2pm on Saturday, March 15th! YAY! We had so much fun at VKL last year and I'm honestly counting down the days to this one!!!! We will be sure to instagram our trip and if you are attending VKL please don't be shy - come say hello!!!! We love seeing all of you!!!

You can find info on Stash Local here and find out more on Vogue Knitting Live here.

Vogue Knitting Live - Stash Local Booth Signing & Trunk Show

Trunk Show - March 14th-15th

Book Signing - March 15th 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Will you be attending Vogue Knitting Live this year? Do you live in the Seattle area? Are you planning to come to either of the events above? We can't wait to see you!

SEWING || 110 CREATIONS: A SEWIST'S NOTEBOOK REVIEW

2014 is the year that I really want to focus on sewing more garments for myself.

I quickly realized though that I need to find a better way to organize my adult clothing patterns, fabrics, notes and pattern pieces. There is only so much room in my condo to fit my sewing goodies so I have to be creative when organizing my sewing things.

When I spotted the review for 110 Creations: A Sewist's Notebook by Beth Byrge over on the Sewaholic blog I bought it on the spot. Yesssss......was all I kept saying to myself. It was like the blogging world read my mind that day. I had just purchased a pattern and was thinking to myself that I needed to find a better way to store these things when I popped over to Sewaholic and read Tasia's review. It was like bells were ringing and stars were shining...lol. A bit dramatic? Nope. If you saw how I store things now you would be doing the same thing.

 

What is 110 Creations? While it's a handy coil bound notebook that you can keep track of all your sewing projects, fabric choices, measurements, notes, adjustments, wish lists and more!

Here is what 110 Creations features!

// PROJECT PAGES
You get 110 of these and they are awesome! Each has a figure for you to draw your outfit on (only con is the figure is dark ink so it will most likely show when you sketch/color on top of it) and color, as well as the following sections to fill out...

pattern / fabric / interfacing / notions / accents / planning notes / sizing & alterations 
seams & finishes / hem / notes for next time 

With lines for you to fill out and of course to name your project! So fun!!!!! This takes up the majority of the book but wait...there's more! 

// MEASUREMENT CHART

A handy page to put all your measurements on with a drawing so you can't forget the weird ones :)

// PROJECT LIST

A place for you to simply write in the names of the 110 projects you would like to make.

// PATTERN CATALOGUE

YES!!!! I love this part. Love it, love it! This section is divided into Tops, Pants, Skirts, Dresses, Outerwear, Children's, Men's  & Bags!!!! Can we see heck yeah people!!! I am always forgetting which patterns I own and then have to go dig them all out or scroll through on my computer. I love that I can document them all here. There are spaces to write in the name of the pattern, company, if you cut it or not yet and the price paid!

// WISH LIST

This section allows you to write down the lovelies you are dreaming of owning! You can add yours in the areas for fabric, patterns, notions & tools.

// NEEDLE CHANGE RECORD

Ummm...so I need this. I am a bad girl and always forget. Nuff said.

// NOTES

A 2 page lined section for writing notes. 

You can also purchase this book in a new format too! There is the larger side coil bound (which I have) and now a smaller version too! You can find them both for sale here.

Time to get myself organized and get sewing!!!! Who's with me? How do you store/organize your patterns? 

MAKING || HANDMADE WINTER VIDEO

~ video by the talented Dave Cooper ~

Handmade Winter features over 50 craft and sewing projects, recipes, ideas for entertaining, stories, poetry and more, your winter will be full of love and connection, even after the holidays have come and gone! Comprised of works from some of the best creative lifestyle bloggers and project designers from around the web, Handmade Winter is like having all of your favorite blogs all in one place!

Christmas is over but that doesn't mean you have to stop enjoying making and living a creative lifestyle throughout the whole winter season! Read more about Handmade Winter: A Season to Gather, Make & Share & see what project I contributed in the eBook in my review here. You can also read more on the Handmade Winter website and also in our flipboard magazine here.

I hope you all enjoy a Handmade Winter as much as we did putting it together. It's such a special collaboration and I'm so excited for you all to see it!!! Find out more details and purchase your own copy of Handmade Winter here for just $15! Enjoy!!!

You can always keep track and join in with us and the other creative mamas on social media using hashtag #creativemamas and #handmadewinter on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook & more!

Have you got a copy of Handmade Winter yet? What have you made from it? What would you make first? Let's all get making together!