banberry place giveaway!!! fabrics & more!

who's in the mood for some yummy fabric?  our lovely sponsor banberry place has fabric galore and is one of the best places to get some fabulous knit fabrics!  they've got "inspirational fabric, patterns & trims from around the world"!

heather ross fabrics on sale!

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.  THE WINNER WAS COMMENTER #176. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR ENTRIES!**

banberry place also carries designer fabrics, cotton & knit european import fabrics, pre-ruffled fabrics and seasonal fabrics.   on top of all the lovely fabric there is also an awesome selection of trims & ribbons! i love me some trims people! so cute!

banberry place stocks a great selection of patterns including e-patterns and e-book patterns.  you can find patterns for women, children, boys, stuffies and more.  make sure to get ready just in time for valentine's day as well with all their heart fabrics! 

there are also some great sales! get your hands on some far far away 2 and 3  plus boys knits are on sale too!

||  THE PRIZE  ||
- one lucky winner will receive a $30 gift certificate to banberry place.

||  HOW TO ENTER  ||
 - simply leave a comment below letting me know what you'd spend your $25 on.  that's it! nice and easy!
- *bonus entry: like banberry place and/or luvinthemommyhood on facebook and leave us another comment to let us know you did that too.

||  THE RULES  ||
- you must leave a valid email address in your comment to qualify.
- giveaway will end  january 13th, 2013 at midnight, pst.

good luck everyone and thank you corie for the great giveaway.  happy fabric shopping! you can find all things banberry place here:

website  |  blog  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  pinterest  |  

CAMILLE HOODED COWL || NEW PATTERN!!

Camille PDF Knitting Pattern

Add To Cart

It gets pretty darn windy where I live.  Wind storms blow regularly and I swear it chills me to the bone.  It also rains a lot so being a coastal gal we dress in layers and we love our accessories.  Since my oldest started kindergarten I do a lot of standing around outside for pick up and drop off.  Most of the time I curse the fact that I don't have a hood.  Sometimes I like to wear my fave leather jacket with a yummy cowl and then wouldn't you know it - bye bye sun, hello rain.  There goes mommas hair. 

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Being a bit of a scattered mom at times (aren't we all here and there) I never seem to have an umbrella and I find myself longing for a hooded cowl.  It would solve all my issues.  Be quick to make, suit many different weights of yarn, be warm, squishy and look great with all my layers :)  Best of all it keeps my hair in tact and my ears toasty.  Bring it on mother nature.

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Knit up in delicious madelinetosh chunky yarn in colorway tern (love) on a big needle this is a quick 1-2 kind of evening project.

camille is a cozy & oh so comfy hooded double wrap infinity cowl knit in a lofty oblique rib pattern with warm chunky yarn.  It also would look equally lovely in a super bulky, aran, or worsted.  Quick to knit, with a fun construction this cowl involves no picking up of stitches. Camille is knit in the round and knit flat with a simple seamed hood.

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The Camille Cowl Pattern Features:

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:: clear and easy to understand step by step instructions

:: bright & colorful photography

:: 2 page color PDF pattern

:: digitally drafted diagram

::  a great knitting experience

The Camille Cowl Pattern is available for purchase at the following:

RAVELRY 

ETSY 

VERY SHANNON SHOP

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One of my fave features of camille is that you never get cold back neck syndrome.  With the hood feature and the double wrap cowl your neck is always fully covered no matter if the hood is down or up.  I always get that draft between my cowl and top and this cowl keeps me nice and toasty. 

The pattern is easy to memorize and is a fun project to pop in your purse and carry with you.  It also makes a wonderful gift because it's a) awesome b) fast to knit up and c) a great project to splurge on some dream yarn without breaking the bank.  I can see many more camille's in my future. 

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Camille PDF Knitting Pattern

Add To Cart

Named after my sister Camille who loves a hood as much as i do (which is a lot). We just love to curl up all cozy with a nice warm hood. Camille is also a good project for an experienced beginner who is looking to take on a project that's more difficult than a basic cowl but also still fun for an advanced knitter to whip up with some dream yarn.

I hope you all enjoy making and wearing this fun, squishy cowl as much as i do.  happy knitting from my home to yours!

I'd love to hear your thoughts! What do you think? Have you worn a hooded cowl before?  Let's chat yummy knits ladies!  

p.s. Thanks in advance to the lovely jane richmond for modeling for me! luv ya hun!

Downton Abbey Knit Along - Pinterest Board & Inspirations

Source: mylusciouslife.com via Shannon on Pinterest

we've got a pinboard for our downton abbey knit along! woot woot!  i started putting together a downton abbey roundup and well....got overwhelmed.  i think i just love downton abbey too much..lol.  the post would have been way too long to put up on here so trust me when i say that a pin board was a much better solution.  now you can all view it and get inspired!  it doesn't mean my roundups are gone, just that for this kal i'm going to try something new.

||  DOWNTON ABBEY KNIT ALONG PINTEREST BOARD  ||

the lucy hat by carina spencer

i added to the pin board most of the pattern suggestions or patterns chosen by our knit along members chatting in our ravelry group.  we're getting all excited and fired up to get clicking.  2 more sleeps people and we can cast on!  hats have been a hugely popular choice for this knit along and the pattern pictured above is by far the most popular one.  isn't it lovely?  it's called the lucy hat and is by carina spencer.  i almost squealed (ok, i did squeal) when i saw the pic at the start of the post of mary! so awesome!!! how cool that they match so well? are you making a hat?

before you ask what pattern and yarn am i using i can't say yet! hehehe, you'll have to wait till next wed!  i still have to do my swatch though.  remember how important gauge is ladies.  here's a helpful post we did on the importance of swatching.  it's better to make yourself do a swatch then to knit a whole project only to have it not work out.  it hurts...trust me on that one :)  and for those of you still choosing yarns etc i've also added our link for help with that as well.

- gauge and what it is
- choosing yarns stress free

*you can find tons of helpful links and resources on our permanent kal page.  you can also click on each knit along and find a handy page with all the links, guest posts and helpful info from each knit along.  i refer to these on a regular basis.  i'm always learning something new.

Source: ohhellofriendblog.com via Shannon on Pinterest

and just for fun i thought we could take a little quiz to see which member of the abbey we are most like.  what was your answer?  i was surprised at mine! p.s. i love seeing the cast members of downton all dressed up in clothes from present time.  so lovely! i couldn't resist pinning some and also some gorgeous shots of the men of downton from GQ mag. they are my fave!!!! love them!

DOWNTON ABBEY QUIZ

 

you can follow along with all things downton abbey knit along here:

ravelry group  |  blog  |  flickr group

and don't forget to sign up. you must be signed up & have a project started to be eligible for the awesome giveaway at the end of the knit along and remember you can knit or crochet :)

DOWNTON ABBEY  KNIT ALONG SIGN UP FORM

alrighty my friends, head on over to the pinterest board and have some fun!  i had a great time finding some fun images from the show as well.  if there are patterns you have chosen or you would love to see pinned on the board please let me know in the comments below and i'll add them in :)

p.s. i know a lot of you are signed up for the jimmy beans wool mysterl downton kal and i just wanted to mention again that you ARE ALLOWED to join our knit along making their mystery pattern :) we've had this kal planned for months and i want all of you able to join in on the fun!!! so sign up & let's all dish & knit along to the downton!

Something Silver - Better Late Than Never

PATTERN: SOMETHING SILVER BY VEERA VALIMAKI

YARN:  YELLOW LABEL DK WEIGHT BY TANIS FIBER ARTS IN COLORWAY PINK GRAPEFRUIT

NEEDLE: 3.75MM/US 5

PROJECT FOR OUR SUMMER SWEATER KNIT ALONG 2012

oh my, i sort of debated about posting this first thing in the new year but i couldn't resist. i know what some of you are thinking, this was my summer sweater knit along project and well....it sure isn't summer anymore..lol.  this goes to show sometimes we all don't get our projects finished on time.  i adore this cardigan and the pattern but i got stuck with my usual case of sleevitis. it took me forever to knit the sleeves. not for any reason other than i hate knitting sleeves.  i know it sounds like a cop out but it's just how it is.

this cardigan was very much worth ever single minute i put into knitting it and trust me, it took a while.  it's gorgeous, the fit is perfection, it's slimming on my hips and doesn't make my boobies look overly gargantuan or like big headlights..lol.  veera's patterns are always written well and her sizing is definitely perfect for women's bodies.  if you have curves don't fear her knits.

now onto my fave part of this whole cardigan - the yarn. ohhhh!!!! isn't the color just so yummy? i smile every time i look at it.  it's so funny to think back to when i was a hairdresser and my closet consisted of black to now wearing a bright grapefruit colored cardigan! my life is so much happier and brighter with the freedom of color!  this colorway is called "pink grapefruit" is yellow label dk weight from tanis fiber arts.  tanis is AMAZING!  i can't even write in descriptive words how awesome this yarn was to work with.  i can't even photograph it properly to show you all the delicious tones and colors in this cardi.  it's soft, lofty and so gentle against my skin.  tanis - you are so talented my dear! thank you again for the chance to knit this with your yarn. hugs!

now i've said this before and i will say it again, i love garter and i love lace.  so this cardi was a no brainer for me.  the lace pattern in it is easy to memorize and flows so nicely over the course of the pattern.  and the garter parts?  well let's just say those were my faves!  i love the look of garter and there are pockets in the garter?! yes! how can it get better than that?  i struggled a bit with finding the perfect buttons to accent this cardi and finally decided on some covered buttons with some fabric scraps i had that matched the tones well.  i adore them and get a kick out of them.

i'm so glad that i pushed past the arms and got this lovely finished.  i completed knitting it on december 22nd, blocked it and then seamed my pocket down & sewed my buttons on.  i've been wearing it ever since.  i'm so happy my lovely group of knitty pals pushed me to stay up late and finish the darn thing up. i honestly just kept procrastinating and working on new patterns (coming soon) and leaving my poor cardi sleeves as an after thought.  naughty girl i was.  from now on i'm going to try to knit my sleeves before i finish the body of a top down sweater or a cardigan.  we'll see if that helps me beat my sleevitis.

in the meantime i'll be curled up in this new knit.  smiling and dreaming of summer.

you can find my project page on ravelry here for my something silver and our summer sweater kal here. what project did you squeak by on finishing right before the end of the year? did you get your summer sweater kal project finished late too?  are you a fan of veera's or tanis fiber arts?  let's chat fo's ladies! happy new year's!

Patricia Infinity Cowl Tutorial & an Art Gallery Fabrics Giveaway!

It's Fat Quarter Gang time over on Art Gallery Fabrics today and I'm going to show you all how to make the Patricia Infinity Cowl using only 6 fat quarters! Woot woot!  It's a great beginner project to practice piecing and working in 3 dimensional forms.  I love making things that have multiple looks and living on the West Coast of BC in Canada means I wear a lot of cowls and layers.  The Patricia Cowl doesn't disappoint. With the option to have 3 prints/solids per side you can have a total of 6 different fabrics to show off! Hello! Fun!!!!!!!! It's warm, huge, and perfect with your fave jacket but could also easily be worn with a tee in the warmer months for some added flair!

Wear it single looped or double it up (my fave) the Patricia Infinity Cowl is sure to be your new fave accessory this winter.You can easily change up your fabrics by turning the cowl inside out and bam! - you have a whole new look!

When choosing my fabrics for my latest Fat Quarter Gang project I could not resist the lure of Pat Bravo's Rock N' Romance line.  I'm a gemini and love the play on soft and hard for this line. It appeals to both parts of my personality.  And since I'm always changing my mind about what color or vibe I want to wear this suits me perfectly.  I also think this cowl would be equally as fabulous in some bright solids.  That's next up on my list.  Art Gallery Fabrics (along with gorgeous prints) makes some awesome color palettes of solids and who can resist that darn pima cotton! The drape and softness is so amazing!

So go pick your fave new fabric crushes and let's get sewing your newest fave accessory!  Head on over to Art Gallery Fabrics for the whole tutorial in an easy downloadable PDF :) Perfect for that real last minute gift (this takes literally about 30-45mins from start to finish) or for some selfish sewing after the holidays. Go on....spoil yourself...you deserve it!

Want to win some Rock 'N Romance of your own?

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATS TO COMMENTER #117!**

||  THE PRIZE  ||
- one lucky winner will receive a fat quarter bundle of Rock 'N Romance by Pat Bravo for Art Gallery Fabrics.

||  HOW TO ENTER  ||
- leave a comment to let us know when you have done ANY (or all) of the following:

-follow Art Gallery Fabrics on your fav social media platform (Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter)

and Subscribe to the Art Gallery blog to stay up to date on all thing AGF & the Fat Quarter Gang..ohhh..and lets not forget Flickr!

||  THE RULES  ||
- you must leave a valid email address in your comment to win.
- Giveaway open until January 4th, 2013, midnight, PST.

Have fun and happy sewing my friends!  A big thank you to AGF for their awesome fabrics! I can't wait to see the cowl fabric combinations you all come up with! And HAPPY NEW YEAR'S!  See you all in 2013! Woot woot!

p.s. big hugs & thanks to one of my besties jane richmond for being my lovely and gorgeous model.

2012 TUTORIALS & PATTERN ROUNDUP

2012 was such a fun year! i get such a kick out of looking back at all the crafty things i got up to so i thought i would do a wee roundup of all the tutes and patterns that i put out on luvinthemommyhood this past year.  enjoy and thank you all so much for sewing and knitting along with me! big hugs to you all! see you next week with a new free tutorial for art gallery fabric's fat quarter gang!

make sure to add pics of your projects inspired by the tutorials and patterns above to our flickr group! i love seeing all of your wonderful creations!

Happy Holidays!!!!!

||  MERRY CHRISTMAS  ||

Wishing you all a wonderful, egg nog (& kahlua), candy cane, pant splitting dinner, family, laughs, hugs, pressies, loved ones, smiles, laughter, friends, treats, cookies, music, games, snuggles galore filled holiday season!

I'm going to be taking a few days off to spend with my wee family and get some much needed relaxing and unplugged holiday time.  I wanted to pop in today to say THANK YOU all so much from the bottom of my heart for reading this blog and for being my friends.  You guys are such a big part of my life and I wouldn't have it any other way.  So since I can't reach out and hug you all in real life I'm sending big virtual ones to all of you.  I hope your holiday is a relaxing and a happy one.  Enjoy!!!

Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas!!!  See you in a few days!

p.s. if you have any real last minute sewing to do or want to spoil yourself over the holidays use the code "HOLIDAY" to get 10% off all my patterns in my etsy shop! woot woot!

Book Reviews || For the Knitters

i've been lucky enough to receive some lovely knitting books over the last few weeks and i thought it would be fun to compile some of them into a post for some gifts for the knitters in your life.  i know as a knitter we are always longing for the people in our lives to feed into our obsession and buy us more knitty goodness of anything.  yarn, books, notions, bags...whatever it may be we love it!

one of my biggest passions in life are books.  i have worked in book stores for many years (in and behind the scenes), run bookclub matching services (fun idea i had!) & hosting, author events & signings, ordering, and more.  it was a lot of fun and some days i miss being surrounded by the smell of books a lot. i miss pouring over advance copies and reading through catalogues to order stock and all the fun that goes along with being in that environment with people who love to read as much as you do.  the librarians still think i'm a bit bonkers to this day i takes so many books out at one time.  thankfully now with having an ipad i can hide my addiction a little bit by taking e-books out from the library instead :)  i'm also proud to say my kids are just like me if not worse.  we can never have enough books in our house.  so i'm slowly building up my collection of sewing/knitting/crafting books to go alongside my jane austens :)

so why not indulge someone in your life this xmas with a little knitty book love?  i'm sure they'd love it!

||  TINY TREADS BY: JOELI CAPARCO  ||

tiny treads is a book filled with yummy sock patterns for kids! i love this idea!  filled with fun and colorful projects just perfect to keep those little toes you love warm and cozy!



||  BOYS' KNITS BY: KATYA FRANKEL  ||

boys' knits is a great book filled with knits just for boys! just like in the sewing community this is much needed for knitters as well.  there always seems to never be enough lovelies to knit up for the little boys in our lives.  from accessories to sweater this book has tons of classic and wearable patterns you and the little men in your life will love.

||  KNITTING HATS & MITTENS FROM AROUND THE WORLD ||

knitting hats and mittens from around the world was such an interesting read for me.  while i love modern and fun knits i am also very interested in the technical and historical side of knitting.  the patterns, colors and techniques in this book make it a great addition to my collection.  there are so many techniques and colorwork in this book you're sure to learn something interesting and knit something fun and out of the ordinary.

||  FAIRY TALE KNITS AND THE TWELVE KNITS OF CHRISTMAS BY: FIONA GOBLE  ||

fairy tale knits: 20 enchanting characters to make is adorable.  there's lots of little goodies to make to surprise your wee ones with!  includes whimsical scenes and all your fave fairy tale characters!

who could resist knitting up the whole song of the twelve days before christmas?  a creative collection of adorable little patterns "the twelve knits of christmas" is sure to be a great fun to set up and play with each christmas.

happy reading and knitting my friends!

have you knit from any of these books?  do you have a knitter in your life who would love these?  what book are you hoping santa brings you this xmas?  have a wonderful weekend and i'll see you on monday!

Announcement || The Downton Abbey Knit Along

guess what????!! it's time for our next knit along announcement!!! woot woot!  i know, i know, it's xmas and who's thinking about knit along? well....ahem...me :P  i always need a fun project to focus on right after the holidays are over and i thought what better way to ring in 2013 than to have a knit along inspired by one of our favorite shows - downton abbey!!!!  now i can't take credit for this whole idea, it started as a fun convo in our ravelry group and grew from there.   so to my lovely knitty pals - let's do this thing!!! yay!!!

the american premier of downton abbey is the first week of january!!  if you're naughty like me (streamed it online) or live in the UK you may have already seen most of season 3 but it doesn't matter, it's still gonna be fun! we thought it would be great fun to time it with the release in the states and for us all to be able to chat about the show and new season as we knit on our lovely projects throughout january.

what can you knit?  well you can KNIT OR CROCHET anything that has that downton abbey inspired vibe.  shawls, wraps, lace, gloves, hats, cardigans, home decor, anything that you feel fits in with the whole ambiance and aesthetic of downton abbey.  don't worry if you're stumped for a pattern, i'll be doing a roundup right after xmas so you can get inspired and get your yarn and needles ready!

believe me when i tell you there are a lot of yummy lovelies to make but if you can't wait for the roundup you could plan to whip up my very own downton cowl that was inspired by the peaks of the roof of downton abbey in the black and white logo they show during the commercial breaks.  it's a very fast knit and suitable for a beginner-intermediate looking to jump into an easy lace pattern.  you can find the pattern here on ravelry and also in my etsy shop here.

the downton cowl pattern - BUY NOW

here's the deets my dear friends! i hope you'll join me!

||  WHEN  ||

- january 9th to february 6th 2013 (prizes will be announced the following week)

||  HOW TO SIGN UP  ||

- simply enter your name in this doc by clicking on the link below to be eligible for prizes.

DOWNTON ABBEY  KNIT ALONG SIGN UP FORM

*you must be entered & have started a project to be eligible for the giveaway at the end of the knit along.
 

||  DETAILS  ||

- you can KNIT OR CROCHET ANY PATTERN OF YOUR LIKING that has a "downton abbey-esque" vibe to it.  for example:  shawls, wraps, hats, gloves, mitts, feminine cardigans etc.

- you don't need to finish your project (though we love it if you do) to be eligible for the giveaway but you do need to start.  we really want to encourage people to knit together and form a sense of community and online friendships.

- the KAL will start in line with the american premiere dates of downton abbey which is january 6th 2013.  in canada check your local listings for PBS airing these as well.  if you are in the UK or are naughty like me you will have already seen most of season 3 :)

- there will be a topic thread on ravelry here that you can chat away about your projects, discuss downton abbey, share patterns and more.  have fun with it!  i can't wait to start!

- you will also find all the posts and info about the downton abbey knit along on it's blog page here.  you can find all of our previous kal's listed here as well.

- if you're not on ravelry feel free to share your pics and chat in the comments.  i love when you guys comment on the blog and it's also a fun place to have convos and share your blog posts as well.

want a button? yay!

<a href="http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="downton abbey knit along" src="http://i344.photobucket.com/albums/p330/shannonandjeremy/kal-1.jpg" /></a>

you can follow along with all things downton abbey knit along here:

ravelry group  |  blog  |  flickr group

you ready to curl up near the fire with a nice cuppa tea and your downton abbey kal knitting/crochet project and knit along with me?  i'm so hoping you'll join me!  and don't worry if you are a new knitter! our ravelry group is filled with friendly ladies who love to help out. we strongly encourage new knitters to jump in and join the fun! so what do you say? are you going to join in?

a little handmade goodness

i recently sent a little handmade xmas pressie off in the mail.  i couldn't resist gifting a fun pieced zippered pouch, needlebook and a small project bag (not shown) for the receiver.  it was hard to give away this grey/yellow combo pouch.  i adore it and hope my friend does too.  i also added in one of my fave xmas cards that were made up with all of my blog info and a special message inside from moo.com last xmas. i heart them so much i'm thinking of framing the last few i have to put up as holiday decorations. so cute!

the best part of sending my gift away (other than the fun of making someone a pressie) was receiving my pressie.  how awesome was my gift below?  she sure captured my personality!  who can resist a grey velvet bow clutch, awesome fabrics and thread??? i did a very big happy dance when i opened my parcel.  thank you so much heidi (of elegance & elephants).  i looooove it!

what handmade pressies have you made this year? what's your favorite go to pattern to use when giving friends a gift? happy sewing ladies....coffee's on, come say hi!

moments in the mommyhood - bloggers day of silence

if any of you know me you know i like to talk a lot.  i almost am never not talking.  but after the tragedy on friday in conneticut i have grieved and am still grieving for the loss of so many innocent lives and have found myself...speechless.  in honor of those families and their loved ones i felt that no matter what i tried to write for today nothing seemed fitting.  so i have chosen to take part in a bloggers day of silence today to honor and to show my love and support to those families who have lost and to hold my loved ones just that much closer to me.

thank you so much for stopping by today and i wish you and your families a safe holiday with those you love close to you.

Lunden Designs Quilt Patterns & Birch Fabrics Giveaway!!!

big top, flag day, grand junction and northern exposure quilt patterns from lunden designs

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED*

Our first place winner was commenter #21 - Laura!!! Yay Laura! Merry early Xmas! Have fun decorating your son's room! 

And second place winner was Jen from A Jennuine Life

I'll be in contact soon. Thank you so much Melissa for the giveaway!

giveaway time ladies!  christmas is just around the corner (eek) and i've been super excited to host this giveaway!  one of my fave quilt designers melissa of "lunden designs sewing patterns" has a great prize for you guys today!  her patterns are modern, fun and i simply adore them!  i've got plans to make a few of them now in the new year for our home.  i've got my eye on grand junction and northern exposure - 2 of the 4 new patterns she just released.

lunden designs sewing patterns are available as paper patterns so you receive a lovely full color booklet with paper instructions and pattern pieces if needed.  her instructions are clear, well written and easy to follow.  each time melissa designs a new pattern i stop and think "how did she do that?" and then bam...she makes it soooo easy.  just the way i like it!  here's a look at her newest patterns.... big top, grand junction, northern exposure, and flag day.

gorgeous!!!  since melissa and i are both huge fans of birch organic fabrics and we both sew so much with cynthia's wonderful organic prints we thought it would be fun to team up again for another giveaway!! woot woot!!!!!!!!!!!! gotta love that!  gorgeous and fresh quilt designs with equally as fabulous fabrics!  sounds like a sweet xmas pressie  to me!  want to enter?  here's the deets!

Set Sail by Birch Fabrics

||  THE PRIZES  ||

- (1) winner will win a copy of the quilt pattern "Flag Day" by Lunden Designs and also the prints used in Flag Day from Set Sail by Birch Fabrics for the crib sized quilt!!!! wowsa! i want to win!
- (1) winner will receive (3) paper quilt patterns:  Big Top, Grand Junction, Northern Exposure!!!

big top, flag day, northern exposure, grand junction quilt patterns from lunden designs

||  HOW TO ENTER  ||

- simply leave a comment below telling me which of the new lunden designs quilt patterns you love the best!
*bonus entry: like lunden designs, birch fabrics and/or luvinthemommyhood on facebook and leave separate comments letting me know you did that too.

||  THE RULES  ||

- you must leave a valid email address in your comment or you will be disqualified.
- giveaway is open until monday, december 17th, 2012 at midnight (PST).

you can find more on birch fabrics and lunden designs below:

website  |  blog  |  shop  |  facebook

website  |  blog  |  facebook  |  twitter

good luck everyone and happy sewing!  i cannot wait to see who wins!  a big thank you as well to melissa of lunden designs and also to cynthia of birch organic fabric for the generous and awesome prizes!

Washi Dress for ME!!!

washi love, washi love!!!  it's taken me forever to finally get the armholes of my washi dress done but i finally did!!! yay! i used a vintage mustard bias trim and love it! it's a fun pop of color just for me on the inside of the dress.  i wore my washi out for my hubbies xmas work party this past weekend and before you judge the pics above let me tell you they were taken at midnight after the hubs and i had (some...ahem) drinky drinks.  this momma was not feeling any pain and boy was it amazing to be out with the hubs without our children for a night.  it was sooooooo nice.  we don't get to go out very often (i mean like 1-2 times a year) so it's a big treat for us to go out for an adult evening :) 

i loved that i could wear a dress that i made.  it was such a thrill!  i love this dress....i love it so much i've worn it about 3 other times since saturday...haha.  i know the pics above are crappy lighting and the dress is wrinkled but i couldn't resist sharing them.  they felt real.   they felt like me...being a goof and capturing a moment for me when i was feeling free and content with my body.  i love that rae's washi dress makes me feel like that.  it hides my flaws and shows off my good assets.  i have never felt more comfy in a dress before. it's a fab feeling!

i plan on making the tunic version next and will be trying out rae's version with the elastic on the waistline instead of the shirring.  i had a tricky time with the shirring placement for my body.  it's the only negative for me with this pattern and that's me being very, very picky.  i never seemed to get the right amount for it to hang right over my hips an butt and i made the mistake of sewing the side seams before trying on the back to see if the shirring was good.  i had to rip open a section of the sides and try to add lines of shirring and take away some and it was a nightmare.  they still aren't perfect but i don't care. i love it anyways. 

i'm also leaning towards doing the peter pan collar for my tunic and a few other of rae's tricks like the longer sleeve.  i can't wait to get started on it.  the nice thing about being done the first washi is that i have already made a muslin and a dress and can just make as many as i want  knowing they will fit :)  the paunch is hidden and the girls (aka my boobs) are happy in the bodice. 

the washi i made was done using the dress pattern and i did the short sleeves and the fully sewn down yoke and hemmed that bad boy short.  well short for me. i really wanted to wear this with tights and/or leggings and found the shorter length was way more flattering and slimming on me than the at knee or just above length that i normally wear. it slimmed my legs and made me look taller.  so i'm so happy i dared to make a big change like that from what i would normally wear.  it suits my wardrobe better now and is way more versatile for me to wear with different shoes and boots with the shorter length.  i'm also thankful for all the lovely compliments and helpful suggestions on tight colors to choose from when i posted a sneak peek instagram shot. you ladies are AWESOME! you can read the convo here which has a pic where you can see the length of the dress better.  i'm still on the hunt for some colored tights like suggested (mustard or teal) so in the meantime the grey has been a great match for brown shoes and boots.

i made a size xl and did not have to do a full bust adjustment.  the xl fit me perfectly.  the darts were right where i wanted them and there was no armhole or back neck gaping which is a problem i always have with garments. thank you rae!  i love that this dress helped me to get over my fear of sewing a fitted bodice for me.  i highly recommend doing a muslin before you make this dress and taking the time to get a great fit.  you can find out lots of information about doing a muslin and sizing etc from this great post rae has written and also from the pattern itself. 

||  FABRICS USED  ||
-  anna maria horner's print fine feathered in colorway pomegranate from her new line field study from fabricworm.
- vintage mustard colored pre-made bias tape for armholes.

||  PATTERN USED  ||
- washi dress by rae hoekstra (made by rae)
- size made: XL
- full bust adjustment: none
- length: mid thigh
- helpful link: sewing women's clothing post from rae (great for tips on sizing and muslins)

have you made a washi dress yet?  what version did you make?  have you made a dress for yourself before?  what is your fave pattern to use?  spill the beans...i'm dying to see your washi's ladies!

A Very Bari Christmas Tree Skirt Tutorial!!

christmas is right around the corner and for years and years i have yet to make or buy a christmas tree skirt.  this year it was time to change that.  first off, my tree skirt isn't round.  i'm digging it like that.  after putting together this christmas tree roundup i fell head over heels in love with the idea of a rectangular tree skirt.  something i could play with some quilting on and finally get to use the essex linen that i've been hoarding like a mad woman since the summertime.

when the fabulous bari j came out with her new line of fabrics - splendor 1920 i was sold.  fabric that was modern, yet classic with geometrics and girly, feminine florals and teapots - it was a line after my own heart. the gemini in me just swooned.  at xmas time i obsess with coffee, tea, treats, curling up under quilts by the fire and doing needlepoint or knitting....splendor 1920 reminds me of xmas.  it creates that vibe for me.  it's something that rings through in my home and even my wee ones right away loved the fabrics and have taken to curling up under the tree on it and pointing at tea pots. they know momma loves her tea and coffee and of course...her downton abbey.

the very bari christmas tree skirt tutorial is a great project for a beginner looking to to advance in their piecing and quilting skills and is also a great canvas for more advanced quilters to have fun with.  all the shapes (besides the circular opening) are either square or rectangular for simple and quick sewing and the quilting lines are all straight and mostly follow along your seam lines so it's easy quilting too!  just the way i like it right before the holiday gift making rush.  the tree skirt is a great size at 43.25"W x 38.25"H and my fave part is that even when the pressies will be under the tree parts of my skirt will still show.  it's soft, cozy and even the back looks great!  i fought the lighting in my condo the last few days with our dark, dreary coastal weather and don't have a shot of the back but it's all solid essex and the quilting patterns add some pizazz.  i gotta give a shout out to my mom who suggested the lovely diagonal line pattern for my 4 corner pieces.  they are my fave and i owe her one for that one :)

i adore the warmth that splendor 1920 lends to my tree that is mostly silver and blues with hits of turqoise.  i don't go for gold much for my tree and love that the soft creams in some of bari's print warm up my tree but don't conflict with the cool tones of the greys and blues.  it's a happy harmony for me and just what my tree needed to finish it off.  you might even see an ornament to go with it soon....

the very, bari christmas tree skirt tutorial features:

: : 6 page full color pdf pattern complete with clear & easy to understand step by step instructions with bright photos and digitally drafted diagrams

: : instructions for a finished quilt including the quilting pattern.

: : fabric requirements, notions needed

: : a fun quilting/sewing experience :)

the very bari christmas tree skirt tutorial is available as a FREE DOWNLOAD here:

VERY BARI CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRT TUTORIAL

the fabrics used in the very bari christmas tree skirt tutorial are:

Splendor 1920 from Bari J. for Art Gallery Fabrics

- Tea Delights Honey  - Nouveau Geo Coral  - Knotted Trellis Gold 

- Abbey Roses Blush  - Grandeur Bloom

Robert Kaufman Yarn-Dyed Essex Linen Denim

thanks for the fabric inspiration bari and for letting me use your name :)  you're awesome!

what do you think? do you make your own christmas tree skirt? is yours rectangular too?  let's chat sewing!  i've got tea on with a cup for you too :)

happy sewing and make sure to upload your pics to our flickr group or leave a comment below. i love to see what you're making and to hear from you!  i hope you enjoy making the tree skirt as much as i did!

ISLAND is here!!!

PRINT COPY || eBOOK || PATTERNS

it's here!!! i'm so excited!  jane and i finally got our shipment of ISLAND in and back out to all of you who pre-ordered.  we're so excited to announce that you can now purchase your own copy direct from AMAZON.com!!!  yahoo! it was so fun to see the book listed on amazon! what a thrill!  we would love it if you would stop by and leave a review of ISLAND on amazon.  it would make our day :)

if you purchase a print copy from amazon and would also like to receive a digital copy of the book please email jane at janerichmonddesigns@gmail.com with a proof of purchase and she will happily send one your way.  you can also now purchase the patterns individually on ravelry as well!  just in time to whip up some lovely xmas pressies!!!

if you are local you can also find ISLAND at the following locations:

VICTORIA

-------------------------------

Beehive  

Button & Needlework Boutique 

Knotty by Nature

UP ISLAND 

-------------------------------

The Book Nook @ Cafe Guido in Port Hardy

LOWER MAINLAND

-------------------------------

88 Stitches

Baaad Anna's

Black Sheep Yarns

Urban Yarns 

Valley Yarns 

SUNSHINE COAST

-------------------------------

Unwind Knit and Fibre Lounge

when you purchase a copy at your LYS you will receive a unique coupon code at point of purchase to redeem digital copies of the book and patterns.

||  ISLAND BOOK LAUNCH PARTY  ||
we also have some other exciting news!  WE'RE HAVING A PARTY!!!! WOOT WOOT!  the ISLAND Book Launch Party will be at  Knotty by Nature in Victoria, BC, Canada on Saturday, January the 12th at 6:00pm.  we hope you can join us for food and drink, view all of the samples in our trunk show, pick up a book or have your copy signed, you can even meet the photographer! it's gonna be fun so make sure to mark it on your calendar!!! you can find out more info and details on our ISLAND Book Launch Party Facebook Page.

we cannot wait to see all of you!!!  thank you so much for all of your support and we hope you enjoy ISLAND as much as we do.  also if you live in Vancouver or on the mainland stay tuned...we will be coming over for some book signings and trunk shows in the new year!

||  WHOLESALE INQUIRIES  ||
please email jane at janerichmonddesigns@gmail.com for all wholesale enquiries and orders.

||  PRESS / MARKETING INQUIRIES  ||
please email myself (shannon) at marianraepublications@gmail.com for events, press and marketing inquiries.

thank you so much everyone and happy knitting!!!

Holiday Baking || Nana's Nuts & Bolts Recipe

We have family tradition in our household. Every year at Christmas time the women in my family get busy making nuts & bolts. Mmmmmm, yum! Delicious. It’s funny how this snack mix reminds me of Christmas. The smell, the memories, the fighting with my dad and siblings over who got what kind of cereal (we all have our faves) and then picking them out of the finished dish because you can never get enough of the tasty goodness–they all bring back my childhood.

A Christmas or so ago I posted in my facebook status that I was making these and got a lot of requests for the recipe. I figured, heck, why not share the recipe as a special Christmas treat for you all. A little taste of my “mommyhood” at Christmas time. So grab the kiddos – they love to help stir, tell the hubs no snacking while you’re baking and get making! Add or take away a cereal or be adventurous and try some spices. Nuts & bolts are true to their name, mix it up, match em’ up, play around and build something truly delicious! It smells as good as it tastes!

NANA'S NUTS & BOLTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INGREDIENTS:

- 1 box of Shreddies (675g) (similar to Wheat Chex)
- 1 box of Cheerios (300g)
- 1 box of Crispix (350g)
- 1 bag of Pretzel Sticks (450g)
- Peanuts (600g/1.5lbs)
- 1 botle of Worstershire Sauce (284ml)
- 2 Cups of Mazola or Canola Oil
- 1 tbsp Seasoning Salt
-1 tbsp Garlic Salt
- 4 large plastic freezer bags to store nuts & bolts in freezer (yum!)
-Aluminum pans for mixing and baking (I use two roasting pans that equal the width of my oven.
*The ingredients above filled the two roasting pan size that I used.

STEPS:

1. Mix all the cereals and peanuts into your pans. Use your hands to stir them together.
2. Add the pretzel sticks breaking them into small pieces as you add them to the mixture. (You don’t have to do this, but it can make stirring easier.)
3. Combine your garlic salt and seasoning salt into one shaker. Equally shake the salts onto your pans. Use your hands to stir.
4. Pour your oil in equal amounts over the pans. Mix with a spoon.
5. Pour the Worstershire Sauce in equal amounts over your pans as well. Mix with a spoon.
6. Bake for 2 hours at 200 degrees F. (Bake only 2 pans at a time if you are making a large batch or using more pans.)
7. Stir ingredients every 15 minutes while baking. Yes, I know it’s a lot, but it’s very, very important to stir well and often.
8. Leave the pans to cool down before storing in plastic freezer bags or plastic containers in the freezer until needed.

That’s it! All that’s left is to eat and share with family & friends! Yum! Thanks Nana!

I’ve also included the recipe as a handy pdf download for easy printing. Who the heck wants to hand write this puppy out? Click HERE or on the pic below to get your own copy! Yummmy!!! 
 

So grab your pans….

gather your cereals…

and your pretzels and peanuts…

and get cooking!  Happy baking!
 
Now go sew/knit/crochet while you enjoy the yummy smells in between the stirring :) Merry everything ladies – from my home to yours!  

What's your favorite go to holiday recipe?  Link up and share so we can all make some yummy holiday treats! 

p.s. you can also find this post as a guest post on made - sweets and treats christmas countdown.

WIP's and WISBWO's

the pic above is a sneak peek of a new tutorial coming soon! i hope you all are going to luv it as much as i do. i'm totally crushing on bari j's new line splendor 1920. it makes me feel all warm and cozy and wanting to sip tea and do embroidery. i heart it.

i've been busy making but crazily enough none of it is xmas presents.  while i find this daring and somewhat freeing it's also weird. i have never not gone a christmas without making at least one gift and i'm sure i'll end up making at least 1-2 but as of right now...nada.  i know...it's wild!  must be all that kahlua i've been sipping!   i took a tally of some of my wip's (work in progress) and my wisbwo's (work i should be working on)(yes, i totally made that acronym up, i rock like that) and thought i would show you all that a) i'm not wonder woman and never get 3/4 of the project i start even half way completed b) i always bite off more than i can chew c) i think that i am in fact 3 human beings and that there really is 84 hrs in a day and d) that sleep is for the weak.  i in fact will openly admit this isn't even half of it but it's a good chunk of what's in baskets hidden away in my sewing area.

i got a little irritated with some of my knitting wip's and even unravelled a few and rewound them.  that my friends is really wild.  that i did without kahlua. not even a sip.  i just looked at it and went - meh.....ripping this out.  done.  felt good.  no guilt, yet here i am telling you all about it and now feeling a tad remorseful for the project that is no more. oh...wait....a tiny inkling of wistfulness....and....it's gone.  done.  bye bye.  see?  that was ok. i survived.  now i need to allocate that yarn to a new project or donate it or sell it.  cleaning out and moving on.  i think if we all allowed ourselves the freedom to just "let projects go" sometimes our creative souls would feel so much lighter.  we all carry the baggage around of the "unfinished projects" or the ones "we have no time for but need to work on" or the "ones that we think are gonna be amazing but fail horribly and make us re-evaluate if we should even keep on making".  they all gather taking up precious real estate in a corner of your brain and drain energy that could be spent making projects that simply make you happy.  so for this xmas and for the new year i am only going to attempt to work on projects that "make me happy".  if the others don't make the list they simply will be undone or reworked.  i just don't have the energy to expend on them anymore.  sheat happens and nobody is perfect.  if it doesn't work out, try again or move. simple as that. we all grow the more we create.  the more you practice the better you get and the better you get the more you learn and to me, learning and growing are what feeds my soul and my hands.

i recently picked up this yummy scarf shown above and seriously have been wearing it everyday.  i swear these colors just scream shannon right now.  i have been bundling up with this warm color palette during all of these grey blustery days we've been having.  it puts a smile on my face and keeps me warm.  a win/win in my book.

i've also been busy working on my next tutorial for the fat quarter gang.  i'm up in about 2 weeks and i'm working on something fun using pat bravo's new line "rock 'n romance".  i've been trying to clean up my sewing workspace so i can finally show you all some shots of my new sewing wall that's been up for months now that i still haven't blogged about (oops).  while i was cleaning up i realized some goodies that i haven't blogged about yet or in a while.  remember my audrey above?  so purdy in that yummy red!  i've been plugging away at it when i have the time but it keeps getting put on the back burner.  i started it last fall in the hopes of wearing it for xmas 2011 and never got it done and what do you know....i'm hoping to wear it this xmas but really don't think it's going to happen.  i'm going to remain optimistic though.  so in the meantime it's hanging out with a gorgeous skein of lace weight madeline tosh in calligraphy that i. am. obsessed. with.  i just keep swatching and swatching and know soon she will be a new design.

i recently cast on an "oatmeal pullover" while we were away a few weeks ago and i'm hoping to be wearing this cozy sweater very soon too. i'm just about at my hips and plan on making mine a tad longer and doing short sleeves instead of long ones.  i'm hoping it will cure the horrible case of sleevitis i have going on. the yarn is one of our groups fave go tos for quick cowls and chunky sweaters at an affordable price and it's by lion brand yarn.  i used the lion brand wool-ease chunky in colorway "wheat " for my oatmeal pullover.  i also recommend their wool-ease thick and quick weight as well.  both chunky and thick and quick are regulars for gifts and quick knits.

that lovely rainbow colored yarn is patiently waiting for the new year for me to cross one of my new years resolutions off the list.  i really want to make my first pair of socks.  i've knit my whole life and never made socks.  you see i hate wearing socks. i know it's sorta weird but i just hate having them on my feet. it's bothered me since i was a little girl and used to pay my younger sister pennies to put my socks on for me. i couldn't even touch them.  word to the wise never ever put socks fresh from the dryer near me.  it's like nails on the chalkboard.

needless to say it's weird that i want to take all that time to knit socks when i hate wearing them but the way i see it is that maybe if i make them and i choose the feel of them i just may wear them?  what do you think?  yay or nay?  well i ponder this life altering decision (not) the sock yarn is hanging out with my startings of "folded".  now this yarn i want to just wrap around my body and wear as a cloak (so now i'm nude, with no socks and a cloak made of gold malabrigo sock yarn...not a pretty picture my friends) it's that glorious.  i've got enough to make a garment and chose folded in the springtime.  it's now sat there crying for me to pick it back up.  sad thing is that i feel like i've lost my gumptcha (is this a word?) to make it anymore.  i've been tempted to rip it out and start another project with the yarn but each time i go to start to unravel i stop and think about how long it took me to actually knit what i have done and that i really do love folded.  so it still sits all curled up in it's knitting bag....waiting.....and waiting....for me to actually do what i wrote about at the start of this post. time to be brave ladies.  who's with me?

what are you all working on?  seriously, i love to hear about what you're making. i think it's one of my fave questions to ask you all.  i also adore when you link up posts showing what you're working on or recently made so i can pop by and say hi!  so come on...put the mug down and say hello :)  i promise it's fun.....

Book Review || Mabel's Closet by Hannah Fettig

Mabel's Closet is a gorgeous and "precious collection of modern baby girl knits" perfect for that new wee one in your life designed by the talented Hannah Fettig (of Knitbot) and knit up with yarn from one of my favorite yarn companies - Quince and Co. Mabel's Closet is a useful and handy collection that was inspired and written for Hannah's new daughter Mabel featuring the oh so lovely  yarns and colorways from Quince and Co.  With a foreword & art direction by Pam Allen (one of the brilliant designers behind the fab Quince and Co), Hannah has created a lovely release of some wonderful patterns.

Mabel's Closet is priced at $15 and with your purchase you receive a signed, limited edition book in a muslin bag with a button pin designed by Neesha Hudson & an ebook.

||  PATTERNS  ||

Mabel's Closet includes patterns for the following:

- Cradle Cardigan
- Spring Jumper
- Beret
- Autumn Frock
- Stripe Hat
- Simplest Baby Blanket

Mabel's Closet's graphic design and photography was done by the talented Carrie Bostick Hoge (another creator of Quince and Co), whose work is very inspiring to me. She has such a wonderful signature to her aesthetic and I adore everything she does.

Hannah also used Neesha Hudson, the same illustrator from her previous book "Coastal Knits", who adds a special touch to this collection with whimsical illustrations.  The little bunny on the cover is just so adorable and you can find gems all throughout this little book.

I definitely recommend Mabel's Closet and think it's a great staple to any knitter's collection who is looking to make up some gorgeous baby knits.  True to Hannah's classic style this collection doesn't disappoint.  Her color palette and designs combine for a soothing, modern and natural feel allowing you to imagine all the possibilities for your special wee one.

You can watch a video overview of the collection here and find Mabel's Closet on ravelry here.

You can purchase your very own copy of Mabel's Closet here and also check out the lookbook here as well.  Have fun and happy knitting!!!

A big thank you to Hannah Fettig for all the wonderful inspiration  patterns and also for letting me review this lovely collection.  Thanks Hannah! Mabel is gorgeous and so is the book.

You can find all things Hannah Fettig (Knitbot) here:

website  ||  ravelry  ||  twitter  ||  pinterest

what do you think?  which one is your fave of the patterns? are you a big fan of hannah's and quince and co?  do you have a go to baby knitting pattern?  coffee's on....come chat!

Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway Day!

we put our xmas tree up last night...or i should say we attempted too.  not so easy with 2 restless wee ones fighting over every ornament.  this mama's patience was definitely tested but then that's why us moms can have a few sips (ok glasses) of eggnog and kahlua or anything with kahlua that is. mmmm....would taste good in my coffee this morning now that i think of it...ok, i digress. moving on.

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR ENTRIES** 

The winner is Commenter #165 - Melissa Congratulations Melissa!!!

since i'm feeling festive and in the giving spirit of the holidays i am excited to join in with the "sew mama sew giveaway day" this year!!!  yahoo!!!  giveaways? lots of them? me likie.
i love finding all the handmade goodness that gets linked up in the sew mama sew giveaway day and finding all the fun new blogs to read.  the sew mama sew giveaway day ends on december 7th so it actually runs a week which gives you lots and lots of time to enter all the amazing giveaways!

what am i giving away?  one lucky winner will win all of the patterns from my shop!!  we've got sewing and knitting patterns ranging from clothing to accessories!  the luvinthemommyhood etsy shop is a place for patterns for the modern sewer & knitter.

here's a looksie at what you could win:

||  THE SWEETHEART DRESS PATTERN  ||  

Sweetheart Dress Pattern by luvinthemommyhood - BUY NOW

||  THE DOWNTON COWL PATTERN  ||  

Downton Cowl Pattern by luvinthemommyhood - BUY NOW

||  THE MALLORY COWL PATTERN  - CHILD & ADULT ||

Mallory Cowl Pattern (Adult/Child Version) by luvinthemommyhood - BUY NOW

||  THE COMMUTER COWL PATTERN  ||

The Commuter Cowl Pattern by luvinthemommyhood - BUY NOW

||  THE STASIA COWL PATTERN  ||

Stasia Cowl Pattern by luvinthemommyhood - BUY NOW

here's the rest of the details:

||  THE PRIZE ||

- one lucky winner will a copy of every pattern in my etsy shop!!!  you will recieve the following patterns:

the sweetheart dress pattern  |  commuter cowl pattern  |  downton cowl pattern
  mallory cowl pattern  |  stasia cowl pattern

||  HOW TO ENTER  ||

- simply leave a comment letting me know which pattern is your fave!  that's it! easy peasy right? yay!

||  THE RULES  ||

- you must leave a valid email address in your comment or you will be disqualified.  giveaway is open until december 7th at 5pm PST.

 luvinthemommyhood - patterns for the modern sewer and knitter.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

find our patterns for sale on....

etsy  |  ravelry  | craftsy  |  knit picks
magpie patterns  |  go to patterns

and make sure to check out the rest of the fab giveaways over on sew mama sew here.

have fun and good luck! thank you for all your entries and happy making!

Honeybegood Fabric Giveaway Winner

prints all from havana from monaluna

we have a winner! better late than never right? drum roll please.....

lemony lucy from the blog "second hand dinosaur" 

congratulations! i'll be in touch with you today!!! happy sewing!

thank you so much karen for the lovely and generous giveaway and for all of you for entering.

you can find all things honey be good below:

website  |  blog  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  pinterest