Coastal Knits Book Review & Giveaway!


*this giveaway is now closed. thank you for all of your entries. good luck!"

 so excited for today's post ladies!  to say i was giddy when i was able to get my hands on a copy of the fabulous book "coastal knits: a collaboration between friends on opposite shores" by alana dakos of "never not knitting" and hannah fettig of "knitbot" is seriously an understatement.  the day they posted some of the projects in the book on ravelry i went nuts and pinned everything and faved everything and emailed hannah & alana begging them to let me join in on the book tour.  i knew i had to share this book with you all and to also give you fellow knitting addicts a chance to win what is now my most favorite knitting book evah!!!!  love it!
 

"coastal knits" is all about two friends who live on opposite shores sharing patterns that are dear to them that capture their style and aesthetic as well as the essence of the landscapes around them.  the book opens with q & a's with both authors allowing us to get to know them on a more personal level, a section on the yarn choices that they made that are local to their area and then all throughout the book there are pages showing which area where they live inspired the patterns they chose!  how fun is that!  i loved it!   i think a lot of artists are inspired by the regions they live in and it's so interesting to see where they live and what captured their creative eye.

 Rocky Coast Cardigan
and the sweaters....well....let me just say i love them all....and  i've said it here about ten times already and i'm gonna say it again - i am obsessed with the rocky coast cardigan!  LOVE IT! i cannot wait to get going on it. i just need to get my yarn and i'm casting on.  and the rest of the patterns....yummy!  the book doesn't disappoint!  wowsa!  i was drooling as soon as i opened it up.  i ended up in a knitting coma from the high of pattern excitement...haha.  too...much...good...stuff :)

1. Gnarled Oak Caradigan  2. Wildflower Cardigan
there is the soft, femininity with wonderful lines and thoughtful details that alana does so well...

1. Water's Edge Cardigan 2. Bayside Pullover
and the modern, classic twists that hannah is known for.

Cambrian Cowl
the book is broken down into two sections - sweaters and accessories.  each page another treasure to be found.  another tidbit to be learned about these two friends.  another new illustration, another addicting graphic detail or lovely landmark.  as someone who is a die hard book lover and one who relishes the little details people put into these kinds of books i was absolutely swooning over the job that coastal knits graphic designer - mary joy gumayagay did.  i think i have read this book at least 5-6 times now and i still keep finding details that i missed the time before.  it's truly addicting. 


neesha hudson's illustrations spoke right to me.  so stylish and modern i think they truly brought something special to alana and hannah's book.  i thoroughly enjoyed it along with the photography in the book by both authors as well as the lovely shots taken by carrie bostick hoge (madder made/quince & co. designer).  alana and hannah have truly written a book that i believe has brought something new and fresh to knitting publications.  it's something that i know i will be looking at for years to come.


would you like to have one for yourself?  here ya go ladies!







- one lucky winner will win their very own copy of coastal knits!  thanks alana and hannah!







- simply leave a comment below telling us which pattern you are dying to knit up from this fab book!







- all comments must include a valid email address or you will be disqualified.
- giveaway is open until november 20, 2011 midnight pacific standard time

Panoramic Stole
thank you sooooooooooo much for having me along on the tour ladies!  it was super exciting to be involved and i honestly adore every single page/pattern in this book.  love it! thanks for all the inspiration and a wonderful addition our knitting libraries and wardrobes :)

you can find all things coastal knits here on ravelry and their ravelry group (don't forget to join in there knit alongs!).  you can find more hannah fettig here on knitbot and more alana dakos on never not knitting.

p.s. congratulations to alana and her family on the newest addition to their family!  he's gorgeous alana!  sending lots of good sleep vibes your way :P


follow along with the coastal knits tour...

Saturday, October 15 – Never Not Knitting Podcast hosted by Alana and Hannah
Monday, October 17 – Kate Oates of Tot Toppers
Tuesday, October 18 – Knitmore Girls, podcast reviMary Joy Gumayagay, ew
Wednesday, October 19 – Coastal Knits’ wonderful graphic designer
Friday, October 21 – Romi Hill of Designs by Romi

Monday, October 24 – Andrea Sanchez, adventures of a sample knitter
Wednesday, October 26 – Kelbourne Woolens, distributors of The Fibre Company
Friday, October 28 – Allegra Wermuth, of Petite Purls
Monday, October 31 – Susan B. Anderson
Wednesday, November 2 – Carrie Bostick Hoge, of Maddermade and Quince & Co.
Friday, November 4 – Wendy Bernard of Knit and Tonic

Monday, November 7 – Nicole Dupuis, sample knitter chronicle
Wednesday, November 9 – Ariane Caron – Lacoste of Falling Stitches
Friday, November 11 – Deirdre Kennedy, adventures of a sample knitter

Monday, November 14 - Shannon Cook of luvinthemommyhood
Wednesday, November 16 – Anne Hanson of Knitspot
Friday, November 18 – Julie Crawford of Knitted Bliss

Monday, November 21 – Margaux Hufnagel of tentenknits
Monday, November 28 – Kirsten Kapur of Through the Loops
Wednesday, November 30 – Jaala Spiro of Knit Circus
Friday, December 2 – Cecily Glowick MacDonald of Winged Knits

Monday, December 5 – Veronika Jobe of Yarn on the House
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weekend wishes

to get some more yarn to continue practicing knitting while lying down...

http://dorguska.deviantart.com/art/End-Of-The-Dream-266569829
to drink yummy coffee with my mommy...


that my back will finally start to feel better and  i won't be stuck on bed rest anymore...

http://www.brookstone.com/nap-massaging-bed-rest?bkeid=cj%7Ccj%7C806314%7C10942233%7CNAP30
that the rain turns into sunshine...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/laserbread/5786630257/

and to remember those who have fallen.


just popping in quickly to say hi to all of you and that i'm missing being here.  i've been resting as much as possible for my back and my mom/dad are here now to help take care of the kiddos for me so i can get better and not be so gibbled.  it's been so nice having them here and it means the world to me that they came to help our family out.

i plan on spending my weekend resting...hating the belt that i have to wear 24hrs a day but also being thankful that it's helping me....cozying up with my kids....knitting & dreaming of sewing...looking through all of your lovely "carefree cowl knit along" pictures and also honoring those who have fallen that served our country for "remembrance day" here in canada.

i'm wishing you all a healthy, happy, crafty, warm, cuddle & coffee filled weekend.  come on over and visit...the coffee is on and i'm dying to hear how all of have been and what your weekend wishes are..xoxoxox.

p.s. don't forget to get your entry in to win a copy of the fabulous "little bits quilting bee"! you can enter here.
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little bits quilting bee - book review & giveaway!

 

this giveaway is now closed. thank you for all of your entries.  good luck :)

what do you get when you take one of your favorite craft bloggers & combine them with one of your favorite publishing houses?  one awesome book!  a modern, fun, fresh and upbeat book filled with eye candy on every page.  "little bits quilting bee" by the oh, so talented kathreen ricketson of the blog "whipup" has written a jewel of a craft book.  any quilter from beginner to intermediate is sure to find inspiration and patterns galore.



"little bits quilting bee: 20 quilts using charm squares, jelly rolls, layercakes & fat quarters" offers a fresh approach to modern quilting.  i love that kathreen offers up quilt designs that are unique and original using those pre-cuts that we all love. 


i think my favorite part of the book is where kathreen draws her inspirations for the patterns from.  i adore that she designed quilts around "small sparks" of ideas like lollipop tress and her children's drawings.  all of the quilts in the books are lovingly designed and quilted and have that fantastic aesthetic of kathreen's that we all enjoy.



from her use of colors to shapes and finally textures she brings the quilts in this book to life. oh, and there isn't just quilts ladies...there's also wall hangings, play mats, crib quilts, couch throws and more.  i likey! 


kathreen also has a great section at the beginning of the book all about community quilting, quilting bees & clubs.  she shares how to get involved and how to start your own.  she also has some great chapters teaching you everything from pre-cut myth busters, what equipment & supplies you'll need as well as the anatomy of a quilt, which covers everything from piecing techniques, batting, backing, quilting, binding & applique!  the patterns in the book all include clear step by step instructions, how to illustrations and pattern pieces stored in a handy pocket at the front of the book. it's fahhhhbbbbbulous!



the book is split up into the type of pre-cut you are working on.  whether it's charm squares, fat quarters, layer cakes or jelly rolls....


there is a quilt for every skill level. little bits quilting bee is filled with a captivating energy.  the quilts just scream to be made and treasured.  they look like so much fun to craft and sew and so easy to express your love and passion with every stitch.  bonus is all the designs are made with pre-cuts which are easy on the wallet and on the rotary cutter.  they each tell a little story in their design and that is one of the things i enjoy the most about kathreen's work.  it's like getting a sneak peek into her creative mind & process. 


would you like one of your own?



- one lucky winner will win their very own copy of "little bits quilting bee"!  yippee! i LOVE book giveaways!  this giveaway is open to US/Canadian residents only.

 
 
- simply leave me a comment below letting me know what your favorite kind of pre-cut is to use while quilting.



- all comments must include a valid email address or you will be disqualified.
- giveaway is open until november 16, 2011 at midnight pacific standard time.


i know what i'll be using the goodies i've got below in the next few months!

 
happy quilting everyone and good luck for the giveaway! big thanks to kathreen and to chronicle books for having me along on this tour!  you can find all things kathreen ricketson here:


and you can also follow the rest of the "little bits quilting bee" tour below where you can find a lot more quilty goodness and more giveaways!


Monday, November 7 – The Long Thread
Tuesday, November 8 – Craft Nectar & Comfort Stitching
Wednesday, November 9 – luvinthemommyhood & Elsie Marley
Thursday, November 10 – True Up
Friday, November 11 – House on Hill Road & CraftyPod

Monday, November 14 – Handmade by Alissa & Hello My Name Is Heather
Tuesday, November 15 – West Coast Crafty & Foxy Art Studio
Wednesday, November 16 – Patch Andi & The Last Piece
Thursday, November 17 – In Color Order & Duo Fiberworks
Friday, November 18 – Kristin La Flamme & Camp Follower Bags & Quilts

Monday, November 21 – Quilt Dad
Tuesday, November 22 – Pat Sloan & Pleasant Home
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carefree cowl knit along - the end is near :(


did you miss me yesterday? i missed you guys.  i've had some bad news health wise that i'm having to deal with that has to do with my lower back.  i've gone and sprained both my SI joints really badly and can hardly move.  i'm also sporting a pretty sassy belt for the next 6-8 weeks to hold myself together that makes everything and i mean everything below the belly button roll over top of it.  nastiest thing i have ever seen...lol.  seriously...if it wasn't so goddamn funny i would be one depressed individual right now.   imagine putting a 2 1/2" spanx band around your lower belly (where your overhang from your c-section is) and then do it up super tight!  back fat..hello...belly fat...nice to see you from this angle...muffin top....hell it's jumbo muffin now...hahaha!  who invents this stuff anyways...oh ya...a man :P
  
 

so needless to say being on the computer is extremely tough for me at the moment.  i'm pretty much stuck to bed and am not allowed to do any moving like bending or stretching or picking up kiddos or diaper changes etc....it's a big ol' mess.  thankfully my parents are coming to save the day.  they will get here on wed night and give me a hand till i am back to super shannon status again :)  i'm in a ton of pain but i managed to work on the first pic above that is a xmas pressie, and yes, i stupidly dragged myself to knit night on saturday with heating pad and pillow in tow before i was diagnosed like a raving lunatic and i finished my "shannon" in the yarn shown below.  if that doesn't show how much i LOVE my knit night gals and just plain knitting i don't know what does..lol.  i haven't wanted my picture taken while wearing it so you will all  have to wait to see it.  i love it and honestly it took me all of about 2 hours or less!  how's that for a great whip up?  also this pattern is a great introduction for those of you who want to dip into the baby pool of cabling (my fave).  it's also a cowl you could easily make before the deadline tomorrow :)  since i am not doing well today i asked my partner through the carefree knit along - rebecca of "nook" to come and guest post for me today. 

now let's hear from rebecca.....

hi everyone! and thanks so much shannon, for having me here!  i'm so happy to be guest posting here again! i heart this space so much.


i've had so much fun with the carefree cowl knit along. have you? i know you have. i know that both shannon and i can't believe the wonderful response! you guys are machines!! some of you must have done, what 6 cowls? i dunno. just awesome though. plain. awesome. and it's been so inspiring to see some of you learning new tricks, giving tips, and just the general feeling of this group being a real friendly neighbourhood, ya know?


but the deadline is tomorrow, so we're popping in to give you the low-down here :)  we'd love to see all of your pretty cowls and we want to share them with everyone. so we're asking that you upload pics of your cowls to the luvinthemommyhood flicker group. it's so great that you've been sharing them in our ravelry thread too... but for the sake of simplicity, if all of the cowls can be uploaded into the flicker group, we can better share them with everyone. :) so. everyone get your cowls into the flicker group by november 13th. wait! there's more! next week we'll be announcing a special prize for this lovely knit along and also letting you know how we'll be picking a winner! sooooo...more incentive to get those purty cowls up in our flicker group :)  how's that for a grand surprise!? weeee!


and to keep this groovy feeling going, shannon and i are brewing up something to last us over the holidays, before our next kal.  we heart you guys so much! and think you've all done some fabulous work! i've met some wonderful friends along the way, so excited for what lies in store!
ok so in case you missed it earlier, here are the links:

1. be sure you are signed up in


2. place those pretty photos of your ah-mazing cowls into


thanks again for having me here shannon!

thanks for lending me a helping hand becca...luv ya xoxoxo.  you can follow along with all things "carefree cowl knit along" here:


and don't forget to pop over and show some love to our carefree cowl knit along sponsor:
jen geigley is the stylish designer behind the "gap-tastic cowl" pattern so many of us love!

how are your cowls coming along?  are you going to squeeze one more into the timeline??  i can't wait to see them all!  thank you so much for making this KAL a huge success!  what was your fave cowl pattern to knit up?
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weekend wishes

to get rid of my sprained lower back (yes, i've hurt myself again..lol) so i can walk properly & remember what pain free feels like...

http://weheartit.com/entry/13105338
to stay cozy and warm this weekend by knitting up the new jane richmond pattern that she so awesomely named after little ol'me...seriously...pinch me now...i think i'm dreaming...

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/shannon-6
to take a looooong nap...


to convince my daughter that there really isn't a monster in her closet so we can all sleep at night....


to take a long hot bath (sans kidlets)...

http://weheartit.com/entry/17127107
and to hopefully get my binding cut so i can work on my hand sewing skills.

http://weheartit.com/entry/13878417
ok, so i seriously think 2011 has been a pretty crappy year for me health wise.  honestly.  poo poo..stinky year.  here's hoping 2012 more than makes up for it.  my head is just starting to feel better from my concussion and now i have a sprained lower back.  i'm hobbling around in pain like an old lady.  i'll spare you my misery except for the fact that i think i have to finish the weaning of my youngest so that i can actually take something to help.  i don't know how much longer i can go with just ice/heat and some tylenol.  anyone have any tips for me?  i blame it on my "girls" and my overhang...lol.   the weight of my breastfeeding tatas mixed with all the goodies the c-section & my other surgeries have left behind has just left me..with let's just say..a few extra post breastfeeding pounds to lose and some serious back strengthening exercises to be done. can i start my new years resolutions early? lol. 

we're also working out a pretty bad case of "i need a night light", "i'm lonely", "there's a monster in my closet" blah blah blah from our oldest.  whatever excuse she can think of she'll use it this week.  the kiddo is waking up like 10 times a night and refuses to sleep alone.  i finally brought back the night time music with the visualization/relaxation kids music on the ipod and she passed out..thankfully.  so we're hoping this weekend we can combat the sleep issues.  i'm donning my "this momma's gonna kick those sleep demons ass" hat :)

i'm also hoping my back will let up a bit soon so i can get some serious sewing done.  i know a lot of you have been missing all my sewing and believe me, it's not by choice.  it's still been hard to sew with my head but now it's even harder with my back hurting.  i do have a tutorial almost ready to go and 2 other ones in the works...so stay tuned.

i'm wishing you all pain free, sleep filled, cozy, warm, fun, relaxing, cuddles galore, red starbucks cups sipping kinda weekend.  what are you up to?  are you dealing with any sleep issues?  back issues?  let's chat and fill me in on your week.  i love hearing what you are all up to :)
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Quilting 911 - How to Sew Quilt Binding Roundup


i finally finished quilting harper's quilt and am all set to cut out the binding and bind it.  but wait....how do i do that again?  the last quilt i made i machine stitched bias tape on and hated every moment of it.  i'm determined to have a more enjoyable experience this time round.


i've heard on more than one occasion now how much some of you quilters enjoy throwing in a mix of hand and a mix of machine.  you ladies have been machine stitching one side and hand stitching the other.  i think this may be the perfect solution for this gemini.  a bit of speedy sewing (machine binding) and a bit of loving hand sewing.  i don't mind the idea of hand sewing some of the binding down it's the idea of doing all of it that freaks me right out..lol.  i don't have enough time in my day...lol or enough trust in my hand sewing skills.


so in all curiousness i set out to find what i think are some very helpful tutorials (& videos) for how to figure out how much binding to cut, how to cut it & how to sew it either by hand or machine (even zig zag it) or how to bind your quilt without even binding it at all.  wanna check them out?  here ya go!

zig zag binding tutorial from stitched in color
tutorials:

- zig zag binding tutorial from stitched in color

- perfect binding tutorial: quilting basics series (an awesome series of tutorials on everything binding by one of my fave quilting designers) from jaybirdquilts

- continuous quilt binding tutorial from heather bailey

- great post on how to attach quilt binding from obsessively stitching 

- fab binding tutorial from red pepper quilts

how to easily hand sew a quilt binding from splityarn
- how to easily sew a quilt binding from splityarn

- all machine quilt binding tutorial and round quilt corners binding tutorial from that girl can quilt.

- binding tutorial from crazy mom quilts

making and sewing binding from oh fransson
- making and sewing binding tutorial from oh fransson

- binding tutorial that is great for calculating the amount of bias you need for your quilt from chasing cottons

fast machine quilt binding 101 from diary of a quilter
- finishing quilt tutorial and fast machine quilt binding tutorial from diary of a quilter

video it up:

- binding your quilt: tips and tricks from the missouri quilt co.

- pat sloan machine binding tutorial

- diy dish how to bind a quilt video

- binding blind stitch tutorial from quilting in the rain

- how to make bias binding for a quilt from connecting threads

- how to bind a quilt from wendi gratz

 quilt without binding tutorial from red pepper quilts
bind without binding:

- great tutorial on how to use your quilt top as binding from made by rae

- one of my recent faves....quilt without binding tutorial from red pepper quilts

readers faves:

tell me your favorite binding tutorials and i'll post them here!

what method of binding a quilt do you prefer?  do you have some tried and tested tips to share?  any secrets of binding to let us in on?  please link up any tutorials you've found online that are helpful as well and i'll add them to the roundup!  what quilts are you working on?  let's chat quilty goodness ladies!
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Carefree Cowl Knit Along - The Carefree Cowl Tutorial!


this is a bit of a fun post for me today!  i did something i've never done before.  i wrote out a little knitting pattern.  now...first off, i am by no means a knitting designer.  i simply just couldn't find what i was looking for on ravelry after hours of hunting.  i had a skein of the yarn i used for the gap-tastic cowl left over and was dying to whip up another cowl with it.  i wanted something warm, not too long (take flight off the girls..wink wink), but not too short (needed to cover my v-neck top openings) and i wanted texture but a quick knit.  i was also looking for something that had a bit of drape but was also sturdy enough to stand up on it's own.  i sketched out the illustration beside the pattern below and voila, the carefree cowl was born!  i love it and it's rolly polly goodness. my newest cowl was made for our carefree cowl knitalong.


now, none of you may want to make this and that's ok :)  i simply thought hey, i wrote it out while i was knitting it so i could make it again if i liked it and i like it so what's the fun in keeping it to myself...we like to share around the mommyhood here.  so here's the little pattern if you would like to make one for yourself.  i also named it the carefree cowl because i was feeling very carefree when i wrote up the pattern.  it's something i've never done before and i just winged it and boy was it fun!  i hope you guys have fun with it!


Carefree Cowl Pattern

***Copyright 2011 www.luvinthemommyhood.com
All rights reserved. For personal use only. Please do not sell items made from this tutorial unless permission has been given.

* Download pdf now.  Pattern notes and more can be found on the ravelry pattern page here.


Yarn: 1 Skein Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, 108yds/170grams
Needle: 6.00mm 24"Circular
Gauge:  8sts=4inches
This cowl could be made at more than one gauge.  Switch up the yarn and the needle size, add on more stitches to make a longer cowl that could be worn wrapped as well just take care to make sure you cast on an even number.  I think the stitch pattern could look lovely on all sorts of weights of yarn and needle size.  So get carefree and whip one up to suit your stash and drape preferences.
Finished Measurement: 8.5"H x 27"W (full loop unstretched)
Abbreviations:  YO=Yarn Over K2TOG=Knit 2 stitches together knitwise.

 Cast on  loosely 64sts using the long tail cast on method. Join in the round being careful not to twist stitches.  Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of your round.
Rounds1-4: Knit.
Round 5: Purl.
Rounds 6-8: Knit
Round 9: Purl
Rounds 10-12: Knit
Round 13: Purl
Rounds 14 & 15: Knit
Round 16: YO, K2TOG* repeat to end of round ending with a K2TOG.
Rounds 17 & 18: Knit
Round 19: Purl
Rounds 20-22: Knit
Round 23: Purl
Rounds 24-26: Knit
Round 27: Purl
Rounds 28-30: Knit
Round 31: Purl
Bind off very loosely. Weave in ends and sport your cowl!


so exciting and fun!  i'm having such a wonderful time with this kal and you guys are AHHHHMAZING!  i cannot believe how gorgeous all of your cowls are and how supportive and helpful you have all been to each other.  so much so that a lot of you are on your 3rd and 4th cowls too!  you guys rock!!!!  i'm definitely going to be doing a post showing off all your handiwork on the blog very soon.


for those of you who are wanting to join in our carefree cowl knit along and haven't yet there is still time!  you can join in anytime before the deadline which is november the 9th.  sign up here:


and you can follow along with all things "carefree cowl knit along" here:


feel free to add any pics you like to the flickr group and the ravelry thread.  we love seeing your progress, yarn pics and finished items! it's been so exciting watching all your lovely cowls being made! happy knitting my dears :)  make sure you head over to my partner in crime - rebecca's blog "nook" to check out her fabulous bandana cowl! so pretty!


and don't forget to pop over and show some love to our carefree cowl knit along sponsor:
jen geigley is the stylish designer behind the "gap-tastic cowl" pattern so many of us love!

and yep, i'm sporting another bun in the pics above...this mama's got bad hair happening daily right now and that's why she's headed to the hairdressers tonight to get fixed up.  i mean, dirty, grown out, filled with baby food hair is just not cool..lol...no matter how you try to style it.  how have your cowls been coming along?  are any of you non knitters out there thinking about joining in?  a cowl is a great beginner project to start with! show off your cowls and link up below!
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neighbourhood cleaning time


i wake up thinking this a few times a week...lol.  sometimes it even happens if the hubs is in a really good mood he'll tidy up in the morning before i wake...mmmm...love those days.  but today's blog post actually doesn't have to do with the cleaning...or lacktherof..of my home.  it's about my other home.

 
Source: google.com via BethAnn on Pinterest

i need your help.  you see once/twice a year i do a little survey for luvinthemommyhood to see how things are going in our little neighbourhood. sort of like a town meeting if you like.  pretend i'm the mayor and you all get a say on how your neighbourhood is run, cleaned and is functioning.  a town hall meeting of sorts :)


i know you hear the word survey and it's like bahhhhhh..."close"...and you are all super busy ladies (& gents) but i would be over the moon if you could take a few mins to answer a few quick questions.  honestly..they aren't hard or long and i would be super duper thankful.

you can fill out the survey here:



that wasn't so hard was it?  see...you're all done and tomorrow i'll be back with some fun stuff instead of boring ol'housework!  funny thing is that when i was looking for pics for this post i got bit by the apron bug really bad and now must run to go find the perfect pattern to whip up for myself.  can you believe i've never made myself an apron?? must get on that stat.  along with the 3-4 loads of laundry that need folding, the 2 that need washing, the vacuum that needs emptying along with the dirty carpet that needs vacuuming, the bathrooms that need scrubbed, the kitchen floor that needs mopped and all the toys that need to be put away that are strewn across the condo.  oh ya...it's a good day...lol!  i think i'll go sip some coffee and knit instead :)

Source: jezebel.com via Terri on Pinterest

thanks for helping out ladies! you guys rock!  i'm sending imaginary maid service to all of you today :)  how was your halloween?  what's your favorite retro poster?  do you have a go to saying that you use when it comes to housecleaning?  a fave apron pattern you wanna share?  c'mon over and chat :)
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makin'it in the mommyhood - oh baby...let's soak

pattern: puerperium cardigan by kelly brooker
yarn: berroco vintage dk in colorway 2134

i promise this is the last of the baby goodies...for now..lol.  a friend of mine recently had a new baby girl - scarlett.  how could i resist knitting up a vibrant red sweater for a pretty, feminine, dark haired baby girl?  nope...couldn't do it.  red it had to be.  i spent a lot of time on ravelry over the last few weeks hunting down just the right pattern for baby scarlett.  as soon as i spotted the "puerperium cardigan" i knew it was the one.  i loved it's simple lines, the border of cute buttons and the varying sleeve styles and lengths.  it caught my eye right away.


it took me less than a week to finish this little cardi up and it was a fast and rewarding knit.  i had made it a few inches in and during my sleep deprived haze i thought i had made a boo boo and ripped it out and started over only to realize i hadn't made a mistake - oops!  you live and learn not to read patterns that take a bit of concentration when overtired or distracted.


i also couldn't resist whipping up another pair of rae's "basic newborn baby pant".  seriously you guys, these things are so cute and they are super fast to sew.  i think i got this pair done in 15mins! so quick.  i added an extra 1/2" to the pattern this time round so scarlett might be able to wear them for a few weeks longer.


a pretty little outfit for a pretty little girl :)


i also made my friend a key holder thingie...i know some people call them key fob holders but she doesn't have a key fob...so let's just call it thingie..lol.  i have one that the lovely laura from "on the laundry line" sent me and i LOVE it.  my friend spotted it and asked me if i could make one for her too.  super fun and easy to make!  this is a great project for beginners to practice your top stitching skills.  i couldn't find a tutorial that i liked so i just winged it.  if anyone's interested in one let me know and i could put one together for you all.
i also have a little treat for you ladies!  i tweeted a few weeks ago asking for some recommendations for wool wash to help my handknits not stink so bad anymore.  i was finding that everytime i blocked something whoooeeeee...stinky!  nasty odor.  one of the first tweets i got back was from amanda of the fabulous blog "hey pork chop" (check it out - i'm an addicted reader) recommending "soak". 

i went right away to check out their site and found myself really excited to find a creative array of products but also that they are canadian! woot woot! go canada.....i digress :P  they so sweetly sent me some samples to try out and i've used soak on 3 projects now and man is it great stuff.  my knitted items smell better, block good and are way softer than they started.  i'm a very happy knitter! and because soak wash is so fabulous they are giving all you awesome luvinthemommyhood readers a 10% discount using the code "LMH10" good till november 28th, 2011!  wow..thanks soak!
i know i'll be ordering at least one bottle.  they carry everything from heel cream, awesome temporary knitting tattoos, labels for your handknits, basins & soak in seven fun scents!  soak is perfect for use with any fine fibers from your knitting to your lingerie.  i'm going to be ordering some of "unleash" which is inspired by ravelry.  fun! their website also has some great tips for blocking as well as videos to help on their youtube channel.  find all things soak here:

 so happy soaking and happy halloween!  i hope you all have a wonderful, fun-filled and safe halloween!  i've got a princess and a cute piggie just dying to trick or treat!  have you used soak before?  what do you use when you wash your handknits?  what do you think of my baby goodies?  you likey?  what did you work on this weekend?  let's chit chat :)
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weekend wishes

that all you ladies are cozied up in your new handmade cowls...


to remember to get my pumpkin groove on next year...


to drink a whack load of coffee...


to whip up a few of these...love...

Source: madebylex.com via Agnes on Pinterest

to celebrate a friend's bday...


to be able to do pee alone again one day...


to get my new hat done at knit night...


and to pull a rockstar & finish harper's quilt at modern sewing group this weekend.

Source: iobad.com via Karen on Pinterest

it's a pretty craft filled weekend wishes this week ladies.  that's because my upcoming weekend is bursting to the seams with handmade goodness!  i love it when that happens :)  i've got my 2nd lesson on "poppy the pfaff" and knit night tomorrow and then on sunday i have modern sewing group! can we say yee haw!!!!  i have a big list of to do's so all this crafting this weekend will hopefully allow me to cross a few goodies off my list.

i also have a goal of snuggling up on the couch one night to watch a movie with the hubs.  sounds silly but i am quite determined to make this happen.  with the hubs studying and me blogging at night it makes it hard to turn off all the other electronics and just enjoy a movie together.  so i say bring on the rain, i'm turning on the fireplace, making happy hot chocolates and curling up with my best friend for some laughs :)  

what are you all up to this weekend?  what did you get crafted this week?  are any of you as starved for privacy in the bathroom as me?  have you made some headway on your xmas pressie making?  wishing you all a snuggly, comfy and happy weekend :)  come chat :)

p.s. - make sure you head on over to "olive bungalow" for the awesome, giant 20% off sale (use code LMH20)! you've got till midnight tomorrow night and there's free shipping (on orders over $75) too!
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moments in the mommyhood - octoberfest!


the other weekend we decided to get right into the fall/halloween spirit and head out to oldfield orchard for their fun "octoberfest" celebration.  what better way to end a warm, sunny, fall weekend then with pumpkins, face painting...


hay rides...

totally different reaction to the hay ride for both girls..lol

cotton candy with friends...



tractor pull rides...


and my fave of the day - the maze!


do we look confused? hahaha, we didn't get lost but we did have a ton of fun in there.  i'll spare you our homemade blair witch project videos in the maze and of course, the one of our poor child crying as we took  her through the haunted house she begged us to go in...priceless though, honestly..priceless.  one of those videos you just know you will play at her wedding..lol!  don't you just love halloween goodness?  i'm a prankster at heart so anything halloween is fun in my books.  i'm counting down the days till trick or treating :)  bring on the spooky!

what does your family do to celebrate fall and halloween?  do you go to any kind of farm festivals?  do you trick or treat or stay home to hand out candy?  we don't get trick or treaters at our door so we are all about trick or treating ourselves. super fun!  i got a coffee sitting right here for ya with your name on it...c'mon over...let's chat :)
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Carefree Cowl Knit Along - The Bandana Cowl & the Best Knot Evah!!!


Project: Bandana Cowl by Purl Soho
Yarn: Berroco Vintage Chunky in colorway 6192

yee haw ladies!  i'm feeling what my daughter mackenzie describes as an "awesome cowgirl" vibe!  i finished my bandana cowl.  i cast on at knit night saturday and stayed up till i was pretty much done.  i blocked and finished it up sunday morning and have been wearing it ever since.  i do admit i feel like doing a bit of "achy breaky heart" style line dancing while sporting it but it's all good.  i like to think i have a bit of country in me :)


i love the colorway of the yarn i used this time round.  the berroco vintage chunky is a versatile chunky that's super soft and comes in tons of color at an affordable price.  i wanted a neutral but also a color and this one fit the bill perfectly.  it just oozed fall to me :) 


this pattern was the first time i've done short rows in what feels like forever!  it was super fun and very addicting...thus the one day finish :)  that and i finally watched super 8 and had to see how it ended.  i do have to admit though that i had a few small issues with the pattern itself.  even after getting gauge (i had to go down to 5.5mm to get it) my cowl and rebecca's cowl were both much longer than the pattern length and i ran out of yarn!  rebecca eneded up with a teeny tiny amount and i just plain had none left.  i only got about half way through my 3rd pattern repeat and had to do the finishing rows or i would have ran out.  overall though i like it alot even though i didn't get through the pattern.  it's drapey, warm and cozy.  a few tips would be to make sure to get more than one skein of the yarn you are using and to cast on very loosely and bind off with a way bigger needle.  you will get a great drape that way.  my cast on was a tad too tight and i'm regretting it now as i seem to keep pulling the back neck to widen it out as it pulls in on itself a bit.  could just be my boobs though..lol


overall i love that i have another new staple accessory for my wardrobe and i especially like that it makes me want to get my inner yeehaw cowgirl groove on......c'mon....you know ya wanna join in....



and now that i've done my jig for y'all i've got a special surprise for you!  the insanely talented jane richmond is here today to show us what i think is the best knot evah!!!!!!! it's magical!  seriously.  trust me on this...it will change your knitting life forevah!!!!!  now let's hear from jane....


Hi everyone, my name is Jane Richmond and I'm going to share a very special knot with you. This knot is incredibly strong, nearly invisible and the best part is it leaves you with no ends to weave in, no joke! It's the method I use when adding a new ball of yarn to a project. When I first learned to make this knot it felt like a magic trick, you'll be amazed at how useful it is. I hope you enjoy my video tutorial.

 

Thank you so much for having me back as a guest on your blog Shannon. I think the Carefree Cowl KAL is the perfect way to kick off the knitting season and I'm so happy I could be a part of it!

thanks so much jane! you know i'm obsessed with your videos..lol.  jane's got a knit along going on of her own right now that's been a lot of fun too for one of her newest patterns - rae.  click here to join in!  you can find all things jane richmond here:

blog  |  etsy  |  ravelry  |  facebook  

for those of you who are wanting to join in our carefree cowl knit along and haven't yet there is still time!  you can join in anytime before the deadline which is november the 9th.  sign up here:


and you can follow along with all things "carefree cowl knit along" here:


feel free to add any pics you like to the flickr group and the ravelry thread.  we love seeing your progress, yarn pics and finished items! it's been so exciting watching all your lovely cowls being made!

and don't forget to pop over and show some love to our carefree cowl knit along sponsor:
jen geigley is the stylish designer behind the "gap-tastic cowl" pattern so many of us love!

how's your knit along project going?  have you finished yours yet?  did you make the bandana cowl?  let's chat knitting gals!
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Olive Bungalow - Time to treat yourself!


couldn't resist popping in with a wee post to let you know about a FAB deal going on over at my fave jewelry designer & sponsors shop - olive bungalow!  here's the deets:


*Discount: 20% off (no minimum) through midnight saturday (oct.29th) PST using code "LMH20"!!!! wowsa! her biggest discount ever!!

*Extras: Free shipping on orders over $75 including Canada/US

just a heads up if you are canadian olive bungalow's deadline for free shipping deals and 1st class mail orders to canada is November 15th.  so go get wish list making, shopping and drooling :)  i know i will be.  i'm aiming to get a set of custom birthstone rings for my fingers asap!  so gorgeous! i love michele's stuff!


happy jewelry lusting and thanks for the great sale michele!!!  if you head over to olive bungalow tell her i sent ya :)  you can find all things olive bungalow here on their website.
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the delaney dress tutorial - celebrate color!


ohhhhhh, i've caught the fall bug big time folks!  i've fallen head first into those wonderful tones of orange, purple, pink and green and who better to feed my fabric cravings for these yummy tones than amy butler!  i used disco flower in tangerine from our sponsor stitchsimple.com for this dress. love!  today's tutorial is part of the fabulous "celebrate color"!  it's been so much fun being a part of this wonderful event & helping to organize it and i hope you've all been getting your entries in for this month as there are some awesome prizes to be won!


for my tutorial for october i couldn't resist continuing along with the same retro flair as my september's tute - the autumn tunic.  i wanted something simple, classic yet modern and fun.  i'm totally crushing on the full skirt, double stitched bias tape trim and belt and the sleeves....love the sleeves.  harper just melts my heart in this little frock.


and guess what?  you can make one too!  i kept it nice and easy for you all.  a great base for you to start with if you are just learning to sew and one for more advanced sewers to add their own personal flair.  there's no zippers, buttons or tricky detail work.  it's simple, fast to make and oh so fun to see your wee one wear!


i mean how cute is this for fall??? 


it was so hard to resist jumping in the leaves and rolling around with her.  i can just feel the cozy fall  sunshine radiating off that dress.  want to make one of your own?  let's get ready!


***Copyright 2011 www.luvinthemommyhood.com
All rights reserved. For personal use only. Please do not sell items made from this tutorial unless permission has been given.

The Delaney Dress Tutorial - Approximately Size 1-2yrs

Materials:

- 1 yard fabric (I used quilting cotton) pre-washed and dried. trust me.  you want to do this :)
- co-ordinating thread
- 1 package co-ordinating double fold bias tape or handmade bias tape in the distance to suit the size of your dress.
- sewing machine
- pinking shears (*optional)
- iron
- fabric marker

Pattern pieces:

You can print out the following pattern pieces by simply clicking on the link below.  Make sure when printing the image is at 100% with no shrinking or resizing.

Bodice Back
Bodice Front
Sleeve

Instructions:

*All seams have a 1/2" seam allowance unless otherwise stated.

1. Print out the pattern pieces above on standard size paper with no shrinking or resizing.  Cut them out.  Place on your fabric taking care that if you have a print that they are all going in the correct direction and that you are cutting with your fabric give going from left to right (you can check this by pulling the fabric to see which direction gives the most ease or stretch) and cut.  Set aside.

2.  Cut out two pieces of fabric 12"L by  25"W for the skirt.  Place skirt pieces right sides facing together and pin sides.  Sew together your side seams with a 1/2" seam allowance.  Press.  Finish seam with a zig zag stitch or clip with pinking shears.
3.  It's time to ruffle that pretty skirt up!  There are many ways to ruffle a skirt and because I am still learning the best one on my machine I still do it the more involved way.  Simply stitch along the entire top of the skirt using a basting stitch with a 1/4" seam allowance taking care not to backstitch at all.  when done simply pull the bottom thread (bobbin thread) of your seam to ruffle the fabric. don't pull too hard though - you don't want to break it & don't ruffle it too much, we need to fit it to the bodice later.


4. Grab your bodice pieces.  Place fabrics right sides facing together and pin.  Sew together your sides seams with a 1/2" seam allowance.  Press.  Finish seam with a zig zag stitch or clip with pinking shears.

5.  Pin straps of bodice together with right sides still facing each other.  This is a good time to try the dress on your little one to make sure the sizing is going to work with your toddler.  If any adjustments need to be made to the bodice width now is the time to do it.  If all is good your next step is to sew both straps with a 1/2" seam allowance or size to fit your child's body.  Press.  Finish seam with a zig zag stitch or clip with pinking shears.

6.  Fold your bodice in half marking the center point of the bodice back with a fabric pen or pin.  Measure down 3 inches and make another mark.  Cut a straight line from one mark to another.  This will later form your "v" neck back opening.
6.  Grab your cute sleeves.  Take the outer edge and fold in 1/4" and press, then fold 1/4" again and press pinning the last fold down as you go.  Now you're ready to stitch that lovely hem down.  Sew your sleeve edging close to the inner edge of your fold.  Press.

7.  Fold sleeve pieces in half making a finger press fold and mark where your center is with a fabric pen or pin.  With bodice wrong side out (wrong side showing, right side inside) and sleeve right side out (right side facing and wrong side inside) place sleeve inside the opening for the sleeve matching center point of sleeve to center top of sleeve opening.  Bottom points of sleeve should be overlapping for a clean finish.  Sew with a 1/2" seam allowance. Press and finish seam with a zig zag stitch or clip with pinking shears.  Do this for both sleeves.

8. Time to put that skirt with the bodice!  Take your ruffled skirt - wrong side out, and your bodice - right side out and place bodice inside the skirt matching the bottom of bodice to top of skirt.  Pin down making sure the ruffling of your skirt matches up evenly around the bodice.  You don't want some areas more ruffly than others.  Sew the skirt to the bodice with a 1/2" seam allowance.  Press and finish seam with a zig zag stitch or clip with pinking shears.


9.  Hem your dress to your preferred length.  I folded mine 1/4", pressed, then folded 1/2" and pressed.  I stitched down close to the inner side of the folded edge then pressed again.  I then topstitched close to my hem line for a double stitch finish to match the bias tape finish you will be doing soon.  Add a label if you are using one and voila!


10. Next we are going to finish off the neck.  We're almost done!  Taking your bias tape, starting at the top of one shoulder, pin down along the entire neck and back opening taking care to fold properly at tops of back opening and bottom of  "v" opening in back.  (It would take me a whole post to explain the sewing of bias tape so I'll just direct you over to Dana from Made's handy post here for making your own and here for sewing it).  Next sew down your bias tape close to the edge taking care to catch the underside of your bias tape. When stitching the "V" opening I sort of folded the bias in on itself to form a v point at the bottom and stitched it down (see picture above).  Press.  Stitch along the entire neckline again but this time close to the opposite edge. Purdy!


11.  It's time to add the tie!  Cut bias tape the length you would like making sure to be able to tie a bow in the back.  Mine was 64" long.  Fold bias tape in half and mark center point.  Pin center of bias tape to corresponding center of dress.  Pin bias tape down with the joining seam of the bodice/skirt in the center of your bias tape.  Pin from left side seam straight over to right side seam.  Stitch close to left edge from this side to the other. Backstitch.  Start again on the bottom right seam and sew over to the bottom of the left seam. Backstitch again.  Another pretty finish!  Now the next step is up to you.  You could continue the same two stitch lines along the entire bias tape ends that will be tied in a bow but I got lazy and didn't cause I actually prefer to not sew bias tape.  We have a love/hate relationship so I left mine unfinished....for now :)


12.  Press your dress and stand back and admire your hard work!  Great job!!!  Now go take a fab photo of your new frock and post it in our flickr group so we can admire your sewing skills!  And don't forget to leave me a comment too so I can see how it turned out!  Also, feel free to email if you have any questions or problems - luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca

***Copyright 2011 www.luvinthemommyhood.com
All rights reserved. For personal use only. Please do not sell items made from this tutorial unless permission has been given.


i hope you have lots of fun with this dress!  delaney was one of the names i had loved for harper that didn't make it past the hubby test so i had been saving it to use :)  i can't wait to see the fabric combos, buttons, custom bias tape and all sorts of trim goodies you guys come up with to rock the delaney dress out with!  go have fun and don't forget to celebrate color in style!!!
what are your favorite colors to sew in for fall?  do you have a favorite dress to make for the cooler months?  what do you guys think?  do you likey?  make sure to leave me a comment below if you make one so i can see your pretty dresses :)
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makin'it in the mommyhood - baby shower pressies!



baby goodies time!  i went to a baby shower on the weekend for my friend alex and could not resist whipping up some baby goodies for her soon to be little boy.  i will openly admit it was sooooo much fun to make boy stuff!  i  had a great time choosing the pressies to make and of course i had to make at least one thing in my fave color turquoise

burp cloths  
i whipped up a few of my favorite burp cloths.  i love giving these to new moms.  super soft, easy to clean and you can  never have enough of them.  i then paired them up with an adorable pair of "basic newborn pants" from the talented rae of "made by rae".  these are so simple to make (a great beginner project for all you new sewers out there) and seriously adorable.  i know the baby will prolly wear them for all of like a week but the size.....oh my gosh....for a moment they made me want another one....for a moment that is :P  the fabric is called robots and it's by david walker and i got it from one of my fave fabric suppliers - stitch simple where all your goodies come pre-washed and pressed.

made by rae's basic newborn pants
i then had to make something that i also think every mom cannot have enough of...bibs!  fun, stylish ways to catch all that spit up, food, drool and baby vomit...yes...gross...but moms, we all know that we, and our children, get covered in it daily for at least a year.



i had to throw in a pattern i've been dying to make for a few months now the bapron from the lovely jess of craftiness is not optional.  i LOOOOVE this bib! seriously...i think it rocks all bibs.  it's super fast to make, easy and a great way to show off some fun fabric. i plan on making a pile more of these.

bapron from craftiness is not optional

i then paired it up with an adorable drool kerchief from one of my fave sewing books "simple sewing for baby" by lotta jansdotter.  i highly recommend this book for anyone looking for an awesome collection of usable baby items that are modern and fabric focused.  it's one of my most used books.  the fabric used for these is one that i actually got accidentally shipped to me instead of what i ordered and it's called pirate pups in light blue from alexander henry and let me tell you i was not sure what the heck to do with is so saved it in the hopes that someone i know would have a boy.

drool kerchief from "sewing for baby" by lotta jansdotter in alexander henry pirate pups in light blue
and last but not least, my fave out of all the goodies - a little hand knit vest for the little man to sport.  adorable. i love it.  so friggin adorable and i can say that because i have a few pals whose little ones wear these and each time you see them you cannot help but go "awwwwwwwww".  yep, it's one of those kinda gifts.
pebble (henry's manly cobblestone inspired baby vest) by nikol lohr
the vest is called "pebble (henry's manly cobbleston inspired baby vest) by nikol lohr.  i knitted mine up in what i think would be a 6-12mths size.  it's made in 100% wool and it's super soft, squishy and oh so warm.  i finished this vest in one weekend from one skein of yarn and it was a fun and interesting knit.  plus i love items with buttons so this was a fun one for me.  the baby's name is going to be oliver and i didn't realize it until after i made it that i picked an olive green color :P


best part is if you don't knit and want one of these cuties you can also pick them up from my pal rebecca's etsy shop "nook".  they come in all sorts of bright and fun colors and an array of sizes.  she's busy whipping up a ton for an xmas market so they aren't all listed right now but if you convo her i'm sure she'd love to do any custom orders.  these are great for girls and boys.

i heart making baby pressies and couldn't resist showing you all what i've been working on.  i cannot wait to see baby oliver sporting these in a few months. it makes me wish harper was tiny again cause i really slacked on making items for her in baby sizes.  i think i made one thing...lol.  embarrassing.  oh well, i have lots of time to make up for it now when the sizes can actually be worn longer than a month or two..lol.  stay tuned tomorrow...there's a tutorial coming your way....

have you made any baby gifts lately?  do you sew or knit baby gifts?  what baby goodies are you planning on making for gifts this holiday season?  link up! i love seeing your projects!  come share :)
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weekend wishes

to enjoy spoiling a special preggo at her baby shower this weekend...


to find and carve our pumpkins...

image via http://weheartit.com/entry/16286791
to hang here... 


to get my sewing groove on to the new feist album...

image via arts & crafts 
to get my guitar restrung... 

image via http://weheartit.com/entry/16180280
to be cozy...

image via http://weheartit.com/entry/16195966
& to have some girlie time with mackenzie.

image via http://weheartit.com/entry/11381536
we've got a jam packed weekend coming up.  i'm a little scared actually.  not too sure when i'm gonna find some down time, but hey, it's filled with fun stuff so i can't complain.  we're heading out to pick our pumpkins from a local pumpkin patch this weekend and my fave part is deciding what the hubs is going to carve in our pumpkins.  each of us get's our own and i always try to make sure they represent our personalities.  needless to say mine is always goofy and never scary :P

i'm heading to a baby shower this weekend too and cannot wait to gift some handmade love that i've been working on the last few weeks.  i'll make sure to get some pics to show off the final products for you all next week :)  i'm also working on a few other newborn goodies for a friend of mine who recently had a baby girl.  i'm seriously addicted to making baby things right now.  i just can't seem to stop..haha.

and you know i'll be super busy whipping up my cowl for the "carefree cowl knit along"!  i can't wait for knit night so i can wind my skein and get knitting and, of course, be sitting with my ladies, sipping coffee kidlet free from 7-11:30...every weekend it's bliss :)  mama therapy...

i'm wishing you all warm, cozy, goofy, pumpkiny, laughter & love filled weekend.  hope you all get some crafty time too :)  what were you working on this week?  have you been sewing/knitting/crocheting?  what are your weekend wishes....come chat with me...purdy please?
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Book review - Micro Crafts: Tiny Treasures to Make and Share

Micro Crafts: Tiny Treasure to Make and Share by Margaret McGuire, Alicia Kachmar, Katie Hatz and Friends
you all in the mood for some tiny love?  sick of making large scale projects and feeling the need for some teeny weeny crafty goodness?  well this is the book for you!  when quirk press contacted me about doing a review of their awesome new book "microcrafts: tiny treasures to make and share" i was in! it's filled to the brim with mini fabulousness!  compiled by some totally creative women (margaret mcguire, alicia kachmar and katie hatz) and their equally as creative friends this book is sure to have a project to suit anyone.  from bloggers, etsy shop owners, graphic designers to editors this book features a savvy array of inspiring women and their micro crafts of choice :)


this book really does highlight that "small is beautiful".  i have to admit that i am normally not a fan of this type of crafting but this book changed that for me.  it's inspiring to just look at the whimsical, bright and modern photography and it makes me want to whip up at least half of the book.  microcrafts is what i like to call "stylishly addicting".  you just want to jump in and fill your home with tiny objects of beauty.


a fair amount of these projects would also be tons of fun to do with kids too.  in fact my kidlets haven't stopped looking at it...they love it!  even the 17mth old will sit happily for 5 minutes oohing and ahhing over it!


there's a ton of ideas ranging from jewelry, dolls, stuffies, party decor, to miscellaneous fun!
i was super delighted to see holly of chez beeper bebe in here with a monster babies project & adorable mini dogs complete with beds, bones & toys as well!  love her blog!



i mean honestly..how could you go wrong with speech bubbles for your food,  party hats for your snacks, spool dolls, handmade cards and awesome covered button earrings?



the best part of this book is that it's designed to use up all those odds and crafty ends you have kicking around the house.  little treasures to make that are all no larger than a spool of thread. microcrafts features easy to follow step-by-step instructions & bright cheery photos.  i swear you can make more than a few projects from this book with just some fabric scraps, recyclables and yarn. hello?!  sounds good to me :)  microcrafts is a great place to dive right into the wondrous world of microsewing, microcrocheting & even microgardening...yes i said microgardening!! it's amazing...there's even a project to make a potted plant in a macrame holder!!!  seriously so cool!


so jump in to the world of microcrafting with "microcrafts: tiny treasures to make and share". the world of all things crafty & small is super fun!

you can find all the fabulous ladies who contributed to this book here:
margaret mcquire - editor at quirk books   |   alicia kachmar - eternalsunshine
claudia cormier - howbeadyful.etsy.com   |   elizabeth duke - destashlife.etsy.com
sarah goldschadt - goldylocks.etsy.com   |   larissa holland - mmmcrafts.etsy.com
melissa jacobsen - isoothers.org   |   len & melanie kachmar 
holly keller - chez beeper bebe   |   colleen lemons - mrslemons.wordpress.com
mei pak - tinyhandsonline.com   |   mel sparkles - sparklerama.etsy.com
jessica trail - trailscrafts.etsy.com   |   hope watthanaphand - hopesartcreations.etsy.com
nadia marks wojcik - ready go paper studio & oh, hello there

are you into microcrafting?  what's your fave tiny craft to make?  leave a comment and let's chat all things teeny!
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Carefree Cowl Knit Along - done already??!


i have a secret to admit!  i'm already done my cowl! i know....i can't believe it either!  i chose the oh so cozy "gap-tastic cowl" by jen geigly for my pattern choice and knit it up using some super chunky lion brand wool ease thick & quick.  i cast on last wednesday and finished it on saturday night at knit night! now that is my kind of knitting pattern!


i had originally picked up 3 skeins of my yarn but ended up only using a skein and about 3/4's of the 2nd one.  i'm short and don't have a long neck so any wider and this bad boy would have looked like a neck brace on me...haha!  i would guess it'a about 8-10" wide (height)?  i highly recommend trying it on as you go to see what size works for you :) i adore this cowl though and have worn it everyday since i cast off...even around the house.  it's super warm, super cozy and the perfect accessory for our coastal winds here in victoria.


i had a quick impromptu photo shoot with the hubs so pardon my somewhat boring pics..haha.  the ones of me with it wrapped double didn't turn out very flattering so i opted to use a cowl action shot from some upcoming pics i'll be showing you soon.  see...that's little ol' me on a hay ride loving my cowl!!!!


i've also got a button for you all to sport inspired by the gaptastic cowl project pic!!!!  do you likey?  i couldn't resist sketching away again to keep the drawing goodness going for our knit alongs :)  it's so fun for me!  so if you wanna show your love for our super fun knit alongs grab a button here or on the sidebar.


so since my first cowl is done i decided to keep going and start a second one.  when rebecca posted her choice - the bandana cowl by the purl bee i fell instantly in love.  i'm still really drawn to the stockholm scarf but it just needs way to much yarn than i'm prepared to splurge on right now....so i figured a one skein cowl was the way to go.  i love the idea of this cowl and both becca and i are super excited to see how it's going to turn out! 


i picked up some yummy berroco vintage chunky to whip mine up in.  i love the berroco vintage line.  super soft, durable and also affordable to my budget...especially when you hit a sale!  i haven't cast on yet but i plan to as soon as i can get this bad boy wound :)  i recently learned how to do a center pull wind and need some serious practice at it i tell ya!


i have to say the response to this knit along has been amazing! you guys have been awesome and it's been so fun watching you all chat away in the ravelry forum!!! i love it!  i love that we can all connect and inspire each other as well as have a great time too!  it's very addicting!

for those of you who are wanting to join in and haven't yet there is still time!  you can join in anytime before the deadline which is november the 9th.  sign up here:


you can find all things "carefree cowl knit along" here:


feel free to add any pics you like to the flickr group and the ravelry thread.  we love seeing your progress, yarn pics and finished items!  you guys are superstars!  some of you are on your 3rd cowls already!!!  make sure to head over to "nook" as well to see my partner in crime rebecca's carefree cowl post today.


in other news i have to give a quick shout out to all you jane richmond fans. she just released her newest pattern yesterday - audrey!  i've been watching this gorgeous cardigan take shape over the last few months and let me just tell you it's gorgeous!  i was also lucky enough to get to help her name it! it seriously made my year!  so if you're looking to keep the sweater love going this fall i highly recommend this super squishy, adorable garter stitch cardigan that reminds of the classic styling of audrey hepburn.  a must have for every girls wardrobe!  i'm already picking out yarn :) 

what cowl did you choose for your pattern of choice?  any lovely yarns you've been using?  are you done already too?  have you blogged about the kal?  leave a link in the comments below..we'd love to see it!  let's chat knitting ladies!!!
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a sewin' and a knittin'

robots by david walker
i finally decided that i couldn't stand listening to poppy the pfaff cry herself to sleep out of loneliness so i hopped on the sewing machine this weekend.  i have to admit that after not sewing for almost 3 weeks it felt a bit weird and strangely like an aerobic workout...lol.  you see when i knit i can rest at the same time.  i cuddle with the kids, watch tv, listen to music, knit while we are in the car, while i wait for mack to get out of preschool...etc if i get a chance to knit i usually do.  i always bring it with me usually wherever i go.  the one thing i don't find knitting to be is aerobic.  it's a mental workout and it's also very relaxing and meditative.  but don't get me wrong, i also find sewing to be equally relaxing but i definitely realized how much more physical it is.  i mean i was in a sweat.  all the ironing, cutting, sewing and more ironing...wowsa!  i forgot just how involved it can sometimes be :)


(both prints part of the heirloom collection by joel dewberry in voile). 1. ornate floral in amethyst by joel dewberry  2. opal in fuschia by joel dewberry  
i've never gone this long without sewing so i guess i just never realized the difference between my two favorite crafts. i was pooped after my little sewing explosion.  i made 4 little teeny baby gifts during my sewing workout (but can only show you teasers until i give them to the pretty momma) and that lovely joel dewberry voile (this stuff is so gorgeous & soft) shown above is an upcoming tutorial for you all ladies! so excited about it!

alexander henry pirate pups in light blue
i love making wee baby goodies.  especially newborn ones.  i get to make pressies for both a boy and a girl right now and it's been so fun!  they are just so tiny and sweet!  i've been having a great time picking out baby goodies to knit and sew.  it's actually quite addictive because the projects don't take very long at all and the end result is just so darn cute!!!



and of course i could not resist hitting up a yummy sale at a local yarn shop on the weekend with my knit night girls.  we all managed to escape our mommy duties early and head out for some yarn splurging, dinner out and knit night fun!  thanks to all our hubbies for taking care of the kiddos so we could have a wonderful afternoon/evening sans kidlets :) it was tons of fun!

i can't wait to show you all my finished goodies...hopefully sooner than later cause it's killing me not to post them..haha.  what are your favorite baby goodies to sew or knit up?  do you have a standby project you always use?  have you been a sewin' and a knittin'?  leave me a comment below and show off your crafty projects!
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mama's got a new baby!


i have a new baby.  she's soooooo purdy!  i've been waiting on the edge of my seat for a few weeks to tell all you fab ladies all about her!  to say i love her is an understatement. 


right when i was having the crappiest week ever dealing with  my head injury, on the day before we went out of town, the lovely postman brought a special delivery to my door!  wrapped in pretty tape from jordana paige was my very own "Rio Bag"!!!!!! seriously....i squeal every time i think about it.  mackenzie thought i had gone off the deep end as i ran around the house squealing wearing my new bag like i had just won the lottery..haha.  and yes, i am that much of a dork :P


this bag has changed my knitting life!  that's right folks, jordana paige is the insanely talented designer of one uber fabulous line of knitting bags, needle cases and patterns.  i've been coveting one of these lovelies for a very long time.  made from vegan croc leather and nickel hardware in the loveliest of blue shades i knew the rio was the bag for me. 


 it's large but not too large, comfy to carry, fit everything but but my kitchen sink in it and trust me...i carry around a lot of stuff on a daily basis!  when i took this thing on our trip i had 4 knitting projects in it, 3 magazines, a hard cover book, my big wallet, lipsticks, cell phone, accessory case, business cards, sunglasses, spare yarn, journal, 6 patterns, mug cozy, my full set of knit picks needles, and the list goes on.  that seriously all fit in there.  the divider pocket in the middle kept my purse like essentials separate from my knitting goodies and gives just that much more organization to what would usually be a very messy bag for me.  the rio even has needle holder pockets running across the bottom of one side to hold all your knitting needles/crochet hooks as well!  it's mind blowing..haha.  best part was i didn't feel like i was carrying around a big suitcase.


this bad boy also comes with these ingenious circlets from keeping your yarn from tangling as you are working on your projects and even one for your keys!!! hallelujah!!!  i am always losing my keys!  my other fave feature are the drawstring sides.  depending on how much stuff you have in your bag you can extend or tighten the sides to fit all that yummy yarn and also the front flap as two snaps to attach to the bag based on how full it is as well.  hello??? could it be any better???


the rio bag has a shoulder drop of 12 inches and feet on the bottom to keep your pretty bag from getting all dirty at knit night or in the car.  it's also got a removable zippered pouch that's just perfect for unsnapping when you just want to run a quick errand. fab!


the rio bag may be designed for knitters by a knitter but it also works fab as a diaper bag (trust me i've already used it for that too), a camera bag, or just a fab all around bag!  it's stylish, classic and modern all at the same time and i love her :)


my rio showed all wrapped in this white bag with an adorable illustration of all the awesome things she can do as well as a lovely letter from jordana.  i love it when things come with personal touches like that.  jordana paige offers a line of 6 other bags to choose from as well.  you can find all things jordana paige here:

website  |  bags  |  patterns  |  blog  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  ravelry

want one for yourself?  you can enter celebrate color this month for your chance to win your very own rio bag in the "yarn" category! good luck!

do you have a bag that you adore?  how do you keep your knitting or purse goodies organized?  are you a jordana paige fan like me?  come chat purse love ladies!
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