Lace Belt Tutorial with Guest Toni from Make It Perfect

ok....this post has had me seriously squealing with delight for a few days now. as soon as toni from make it perfect sent it to me i just started daydreaming about all the possibilities! i mean really....i just love the idea of anything with lace, doilies and fun fabric and then put it together onto an accessory and i am one happy lady!!!!


toni needs no introduction but i'm gonna do it anyways cause i can't help myself...haha. she's the mastermind behind the "make it perfect" line of patterns, blog and book!!! toni is pretty much amazing. if you haven't checked out her work before go check it out now. this australian momma has got skills ladies. i'm dying over that coastal dress. i need to make one yesterday :p


when toni said she would join in for this round of comfy sews VS cozy knits i was super excited! what a treat! her book "make it perfect: 21 easy patterns for sewing women's and children's clothes" is filled with lovely goodies! let's all hope the publishers decide to get it released over in the states and here in canada because i want a copy!


want a chance to win some make it perfect sewing patterns? check out the post below this one to enter into the "make it perfect sewing pattern giveaway"! woot woot!


you guys ready to hear from toni? here she is...

Hi guys! I'm in the Versus ring today - I don't think I need to tell you that I'm fighting for the sewers! I do love a quick sewing project - especially something that I can start AND finish when the kids have gone to bed all ready to wear the next morning.

As much as I do love sewing though, I have to admit that I am fond of a bit of knitting and crochet (I said fond of, not good at!) at the moment I am working on a super cute crocheted bag but it won't be finished any time soon!

If you are looking for a sewing project that you can finish quickly though - like in half an hour - then keep reading for my Lace Belt Tutorial...

wanna make one of your own? click here for the rest of the tutorial on versus!

don't forget to enter the "make it perfect sewing pattern" giveaway posted below!

Make It Perfect Sewing Pattern Giveaway!

i'm excited for you all to enter our first giveaway for comfy sews VS cozy knits! toni of make it perfect who's our guest blogger today has sweetly offered a fab prize for all you ladies!!! i only wish i could enter :P ) make sure to check out her lace belt tutorial today to whip one up of your own and to find out more about toni!

***this giveaway is now closed. thank you for all your entries!***

you ready to find out what the prize is?







- one lucky winner will get to choose 3 make it perfect sewing patterns of their choice! wowsa! thanks so much toni!!!!!!








- pop on over to make it perfect and check out toni's fab sewing patterns. come back & leave me a comment on what your fave 3 patterns are.
- follow luvinthemommyhood and/or versus with google friend connect (on the sidebars) then leave me another comment telling me you did that.
bonus entry:
- "like" luvinthemommyhood on facebook and come back and tell me you did that too!








- you must leave a valid email address with your entry or you will be disqualified.
- the giveaway is open until thursday, april 14th, 2011 at midnight (pacific standard time).
- giveaway is open worldwide.

good luck everyone!!!

on top of a giveaway today toni is also offering luvinthemommyhood & versus readers a special offer at her accessories shop - citrus pOp! yep, that's right, she has another business!!! a shop filled with lovely, fresh and lively goodies! you can find citrus pop on etsy here and on madeit here.


toni's offering a free pair of MINI earrings to anyone who purchases any 2 items from her Citrus Pop store. Just mention "MINILUV" to redeem! this special is good from april 7-14th! happy shopping & sewing!


make sure you check out toni's lace belt tutorial in the post above and get inspired and get sewing :)

you can find more of toni on her website make it perfect & her blog, you can follow her on facebook.

Empire Waist Dress Tutorial with Guest Lindsay from The Cottage Home

our next guest for comfy sews VS cozy knits is one of my fave bloggy pals - lindsay of the blog "the cottage home" and the fab shop "the cottage mama". this ladies got some skills folks. i love that she pairs vintage styling with modern fabrics! so fun and fresh! her tutorials are always lovely and she has some great ones on adding that extra special touch to your own sewn garments. nobody does piping, buttons and trim like lindsay! i can vouch for that as i have two of her handmade dresses for my girls and we get asked repeatedly whenever they wear them who made them and where we got them.

look at these......don't you just love all the little details?!! i'm so excited that lindsay's back to take part in comfy sews VS cozy knits again this year. i always look forward to her tutorials.


lindsay is a busy momma to 2 lovely girls and a new baby on the way! so she's here to share a great tutorial with us all today that is perfect for you moms to be and can still be worn by all the rest of us! i can't wait to try one!


get ready to get sewing! let's here from lindsay...

Hello, Mommyhood - I'm so thrilled to be here! I love Shannon and her blog so I'm thrilled she has chosen to include me again in her latest "Versus" series! You might remember my Shawl Collar Sweater tutorial that was included in the last round.

Empire Waist Dress

Maternity and Non-Maternity

For this challenge I decided to create an easy Empire Waist Dress. I am currently pregnant with baby #3 and I wanted to create something super-comfy to wear throughout the summer during this pregnancy. I made this dress from a shirt that was a little too boxy for my body and some additional jersey knit yardage. The dress will take you only about an hour to complete and is great practice for sewing with knits.

This dress could certainly be made the exact same way for a non-pregnant person and would be just as cute! So let's jump in the ring and let the battle begin..........

click here for the rest of the tutorial over on versus!

Round One - Comfy Sews VS Cozy Knits Tops & Frocks Roundup (Part 1)

1. isolde 2. diy pleated dress

yippee ladies! it's time for us all to get back in the ring for our first round of friendly boxing! for our first bout we've got tops & frocks! i've compiled some of my fave pretty knitting & sewing patterns/tutorials for spring & summer! my list was so big that i've actually had to split it up into two posts! so this is part 1. today you will be voting for your fave dresses! who's it gonna be.....comfy sews or cozy knits? let the match begin....

ding...ding...ding.....

click here to get in the ring!!!

Picnic Blanket Tutorial with Guest Katy from No Big Dill

i'm so excited to welcome our first guest - katy from one of my favorite blogs "no big dill", to kick off comfy sews VS cozy knits this month. i could not resist asking her to come back again and join in for our spring/summer edition. this lovely, sweet, caring and oh, so talented momma constantly amazes me with her attention to detail, impeccable seamstress skills and whimsical & imaginative designs. she never ceases to inspire me to always want to learn more about the art of sewing and to really push myself to do more than just a straight stitch.


when it comes down to my inner battle between knitting & sewing, katy sure does one heck of a job luring me over to the sewing side. i mean really...how can you not want to sew looking at these?


ahhhhmazing!!!!!!!!


i only hope to one day be able to sew like katy. so let's all get inspired. let's hear from katy!

Hello Luvinthemommyhood readers!! I am excited and happy to get back in the ring this year for the Sews!

When I was thinking of what I wanted to make for Versus this year, I wanted to make something that I actually needed, not just make something to make something. We were out on a picnic a few weeks ago and I noticed there wasn't any room for the food once we all got on the blanket! The problem is, fabric only comes so wide, so I decided to piece some fabric together lengthwise to create a picnic blanket big enough for our family of 7!

click here for the rest of the tutorial over on versus!

warm up those machines, needles & hooks!

billy cardi

comfy sews VS cozy knits is starting on monday!!!!!! woot woot! i thought it would be fun to do a little peek back at all the lovelies that were part of the fun last season. remember katy from no big dill's fantabulous "billy cardi tutorial"? looooove it!!!!!!!! how pretty is that cardi! the uber talented seamstress will be kicking off versus on monday! i can't wait!!!

1. ruched leggings 2. fleece neck warmers
3. infinity & beyond 4. shawl collar sweater

last season we had scarves, a sweater, cowls, a cup cozy, leggings a hat and more! it was so inspiring to see all the knit and sewn goodies take part!

cup cozy

i'm excited to say that almost all of last season's contributors are back again this year to try to get all you sewers knitting and knitters sewing along with some new ones too!

1. frosted glow cowl 2 & 3. city cowl vs country cowl

and kelly from sewing in no man's land said it right in her post last season......

fun, funky fleece hat

are you all ready to join in? do you have our "versus" button up (find the code on versus on the sidebar) and machines, needles and hooks ready to go? i promise you are going to be inspired by all the goodies we've got planned for you for the spring/summer edition of comfy sews VS cozy knits!!!!!

what are you feeling inspired to make this spring? what would you like to see "rounded up" the most this season for versus? don't forget to join in and add your pics to our flickr group! we all want to see what you're making!

It's Announcement Time!!!!!!!!!

COMING THIS APRIL!!!!


that's right ladies!!! comfy sews VS cozy knits is back for a spring/summer edition! a month filled with talented & inspiring guest tutorials & patterns, and fun and fiesty roundups where sewing & knitting battle it out in a virtual boxing match that you vote on! don't worry, crochet will be making appearances throughout the month as well!

and our second announcement that i've been dying to tell you is.........that you can find all the goodies mentioned above on our newest addition to luvinthemommyhood - versus! yep...a new blog! all pretty and ready for you all to show your love! grab our button! tell your friends! follow along! all the content for comfy sews VS cozy knits will be on versus as well as the archives. it's our new sporting arena!!! i've been working hard late at night to get this all ready for us to have a lot of fun and to bring in spring with a bang!!! so come say hi! and check out...

we've got lots of crafty goodness coming your way! stay tuned for knitting and sewing patterns/tutorials and giant roundups all geared for that fresh spring/summer weather! join in and make your favorite ones! we love to link up our reader faves in the roundups and at the end of the month as well so feel free to join right on in! make sure to vote and support your craft of choice in the boxing ring each week during our roundups! you can find the tutorials and roundups from the last edition of comfy sews VS cozy knits here and the entire listing here.

then...if all goes as planned (i'm crossing my fingers here)...i will be launching an e-mag of the spring/summer edition for easy downloading of all the patterns/tutorials that were included in this month's comfy sews VS cozy knits! the bonus part is it's free!!! yippee!

so which corner of the ring will you be in?

what do you all think? you excited? i am!!! what was your favorite part of the last edition? did you join in? what are you looking forward to the most out of the spring/summer edition?

a big thank you to jill zielinski from jill zielinski designs (go check her out!) and knitterella for designing the logo, header and sidebar pics. you're the best hun! thanks for making what was in my head a reality! i couldn't have done it without you!