moments in the mommyhood || creative space

i'm trying to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel this week :)  and of course eating the cookies from yesterday doesn't hurt.  my hubs loves to take sunset and sunrise pics and i couldn't resist sharing this gorgeous shot he got the other week.  this is taken off our balcony and one of the views that he sees more than i do since i'm not a morning person.  since i sleep later than he does (i stay up later and he goes to bed earlier so it works out) i get to bask in those gorgeous moments through the lens he captures them in.  they always fill me with a sense of peace and i thought you may all love this one as much as i do.

i realized this past month that i have never gotten around to showing pics of my sewing wall.  the area i took on last year and revamped for my own office/sewing space in our condo.  i still plan on doing that but you have to wait just a little bit longer because i'm revamping again! yay!  the hubs and i are hunkering down to brace for tax season. that means lots of  cleaning, reorganizing and purging of our wee home.  but this time we are doing some redecorating as well.  we've got some lovelies that we are hoping to switch up and freshen up in our home as well as something that i cannot wait to show you all in the next few weeks!  i promise this time that i will take shots of all of it and show you where i keep my chaos...lol.

even though i have a good system i'm still trying to keep a lot of it under control.  i have an issue with getting lazy and then not rebolting my fabrics and then i run out of my mini bolts and just fold - and not always nicely i may add (tip: i use comic book inserts for my mini bolts. works fabulous and is really inexpensive! i picked this up from maggie of smashed peas and carrots). plus those pieces that are bigger than scraps and not nice fat quarters always end up in this one spot staring at me saying "shannonnnnnn...clean us up....how are you going to get inspired by us if we are all a big ol'mess....shannnooonnnn" and it drives me a tad bonkers.  so even though my current system is working well it has a few kinks that only living with it can work out and i'm hoping to solve those very soon and show you all what i've done. so excited!

in the meantime though i'm hoping to get better sooner than later so i can get back sewing :( i haven't sewn in 2 weeks and it's killing me. i just haven't been feeling up to it and it's one of those times when i'm thankful for at least my knitting.  the hubs snapped the pic of me and harper napping the other night and i thought it was a priceless moment of us both not realizing the other was asleep and both of us laying and curled up in 3 separate handmade quilts.  nothing better to nap with than quilty goodness right?

i'll see you all tomorrow with another giveaway!!  wahoo!  i'm so in the mood for giving away some more goodies! also stay tuned to find out who won the contemporary cloth fabric giveaway!  

how do you organize your fabric? do you fold or bolt?  do you keep them hidden or out for you to see?  does the disorganization get to you like it does me? let's share our tips so we can all have a fab creative space! plus if you have pics of yours pls share! i loooooove seeing shots of other spaces that they sew or craft in!

EVERYTHING IS ALWAYS BETTER WITH COOKIES || RECIPE

everything is always better with cookies.  you know the age old saying when life gives you lemons make lemonade?  well i've been trying to make a few pitchers of lemonade the last few days and i figured it would be easier to deal with life's lemons if i had some chocolate chip cookies to eat with it.  now, if you know me and have been a reader of this blog you will know i don't bake much. i don't enjoy cooking most of the time but one thing i do like doing is making cookies. not all kinds of cookies though, chocolate chip cookies.  delicious comfort food. the melt in your mouth, soft, chewy goodness kind.  just what i needed.

i know some other pals of mine are having a rough week so this post goes out to you because i really wish i could pass these cookies right through the screen and cheer ya right up.  gluten free, guilt free, calorie free, what ever kind you like...you gotta 'em.  but just in case my arm doesn't reach ya, here's the recipe if you'd like to make some yourself.  now i didn't come up with this recipe.  it's written on a wraggly, smeared, worn piece of paper that i've had hanging out of my lonely recipe organizer (that doesn't organize) forever.  i do not in any way claim this recipe as my own :)

||  EVERYTHING IS ALWAYS BETTER WITH COOKIES  ||

INGREDIENTS:

- 2 eggs
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda

heat oven to 375degrees.  beat butter, brown sugar and white sugar in a bowl. add in eggs and vanilla extract and mix again.

in another bowl mix your dry ingredients together (flour, baking soda, salt).

gradually add your dry mixture into your butter mixture and beat again.

add your chocolate chips and whatever other yummies you might like.  i like to use my tbsp as a scoop for making the perfect sized cookies. bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes on a greased baking sheet until slightly browned. let cool and gobble those bad boys up! mmmmmmmmmmmmm! yum!

you know what else makes things better sometimes? flowers. especially the kind your hubby and little girl pick out and bring home for you.  so sweet and just what this momma needed.  i've been keeping them near "my spot" (or as my hubs likes to say "my sheldon" - if you watch big bang theory you'll know what we mean) on the couch where i work to brighten up the room and cheer me up.  i can't wait for spring when i can start planting on our little deck with fresh flowers, herbs and veggies. 

between the flowers and the cookies i hope the week gets better as it goes. i'm crossing my fingers for it.  and don't worry, i'm ok, just dealing with some health issues that have proven frustrating and have knocked me down for a bit. visits to the doctor, an er visit, and other things have just gotten me into a tizzy but i'm a fighter and damn if i'm gonna let those cookies go to waste :)

i hope the sun is shining wherever you are today and remember.........everything is always better with cookies :)

do you have a fave chocolate chip cookie recipe? i'm always on the hunt for a new one and i'd love if you share your go to cookie recipe :)  gluten free ones especially! what do you turn to when you're having a bad week? you always brighten my day when you leave a comment - come chat! 

FREE PATTERN || YARNSTER HAT

Yarnster PDF "FREE" Knitting Pattern

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I've got a new knitting pattern out for you all today! I'm so in love with this one you guys and guess what? That's right...it's a freebie!!!  In honor of some special news I've got to share and a new yarn I've been crushing on, the YARNSTER hat is here!!! 

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Named & designed after my sweet friend arika, the YARNSTER hat is your new go to slouch hat!  Featuring a lovely openwork mesh stitch, the YARNSTER shows off the gorgeous, subtle colorways of that fave yarn you're crushing on! 

Made with malabrigo's new yarn - rastita, a super soft, slightly felted, dk weight with tons of yardage (you could maybe squeeze out 2 of these from 1 skein if you unravel your gauge swatch) this hat is comfy, stylish and fun to wear.  It's also a quick knit which makes it a lovely gift for that special person in your life or as a special treat for yourself. it makes a great beginner/intermediate pattern for those of you who are looking to learn how to increase/decrease throughout a pattern and to knit in the round.

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THE YARNSTER PATTERN FEATURES:

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:: clear and easy to understand step by step instructions

:: bright & colorful photography

:: 1 page color PDF pattern

::  a great knitting experience

Yarnster is available for FREE at the following:

1. RAVELRY
2. VERY SHANNON SHOP
3. DIRECT DOWNLOAD

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I hope you guys like it as much as I do! So you all ready to hear my special news? Yay! But wait...oops, you're going to have to wait till tomorrow!!! Hehe....thought I would tease ya just a little bit.  I can give you a hint though.....you'll see a bit of it & a big hint if you download the pattern for YARNSTER.

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Yarnster PDF "FREE" Knitting Pattern

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Add to cart

Special thanks to my gorgeous sister Camille for modelling for me!  Isn't she stunning? Have you tried rastita yet?  Isn't it fab! Do you have a fave yarn that would work perfect for the YARNSTER?  Do you love slouch hats as much as I do? I swear I wear a hat almost everyday. I'm definitely addicted :)

Get those needles revved up, grab some coffee, put on a good movie and let's get knitting! Come chat!

rainshine & learning processes

it's friday! phew! it's been a long one this week.  i don't know about you guys but i'm dying for some sunshine. of course living on vancouver island we're basking in the rainshine instead of the sunshine. you know that grey that is so bright yet dreary at the same time you have to put sunglasses on?  it's cold, windy and pouring buckets out today so harper and i are curling up with a quilt, a new movie, my knitting, her barbie and some fresh coffee.  i thought i would pop in and say hello to all of you. wanna chat? yay!

i'm so excited to let you guys know i've been working away busily behind the scenes here on the blog.  i've got some news to share hopefully in the next week or so that i can't wait to show you all!  i'm also super excited to let you lovelies know that i finally started working on some new sewing patterns!  yahoo! about time right?  lol..i know. it's been a while. i'm hoping for an early summer release for 3 patterns (i hope)!  after the craziness of the fall it will be fun to start sewing up some of my designs that have been waiting patiently for me to bring them to life. the sketchbooks and journals are on fire over here.

 

i've also got 2 new knitting patterns coming out soon!!!  1 for sale and 1 freebie!  i loooove them and they are my newest go to knits.  i hope you will all crush on them as bad as i have been :)  i swear every time i put out a new pattern it's like having a little wee baby.  they are all special too me in different ways and because i've been loving designing knitting patterns so much i'm jumping in with both feet.  i've busy been beefing up my resource library with some classic knitting books.  i couldn't resist picking up a copy of "the knitter's handy book of top down sweaters" and "the knitter's handy book of sweater patterns" both by anne budd.  i also have in my collection "knitwear design workshop" and a few more on the way - "principles of knitting" and "knitting from the top".  i don't know about you guys but i'm a visual learner and do really well learning by books. i'm also a book whore (sorry for the language but it's true..lol) so the more of my faves i can splurge on for my collection the better :)  i watch for sales and scoop when i can get huge discounts and free shipping. fyi- knitpicks has 40% off sales for books and when they do i advise taking advantage! happy early bday to me!  oh it's hard being a book lover sometimes...lol.

ok so now i want to know what you've been making this week? i ask this question a lot on facebook and get tons of responses. it's fun!  but i would rather chat with you all about it over here especially since it's tricky to even get my facebook statuses to show up to all of you on a regular basis. so fill me in.  have you been knitting, sewing, crocheting?  what project? got pics or a blog post to share? link them up in the comments. i love to see what crafty goodness you've all been up to.

do you have a fave knitting resource book that you use for technical things?  what do you find yourself reaching for when you learn a new technique?  i'd love to hear your thoughts on your process as well.  do you take online classes or search for videos on youtube? c'mon..spill the beans! 

wishing you all a new technique, crafty, coffee &  sunshine filled kinda weekend! xoxoxo  


p.s. i was so thrilled to find out that i was chosen as one of babble's top 50 mom craft bloggers for 2013!!!!!!!!!!! wahoo!! i'm doing cartwheels over here people!!! it's my 3rd year and i swear every year get's more and more exciting! thank you to all the peeps over at babble and to all of you awesome readers!  thank you, thank you, thank you!  this means a lot to me and my lil'ol blog :)

FREE PATTERN || SLOANE JACKET TUTORIAL

after recently taking part in film petit for one of my fave flicks of all time - ferris beuller's day off, i knew after having so much fun making my daughter's "sloane jacket" that i had to do a pattern for all of you!  this jacket is such a blast to make! it was probably the most fun sewing i've had in a long time!  the fringe, oh the fringe!  i heart it and my daughter hearts it too!  i hope you enjoy embracing your inner sloane and whipping one up for your little girl or heck - even for yourself! you could easily use the tutorial portion and draft up your own pattern pieces based on an existing jacket of yours.

i made this jacket to fit my daughter so it's roughly a 4/5T size.  she's a small little thing though just to give you a heads up for sizing.  i've written a tutorial for you all below and there is also pattern pieces you can download for the size 4/5T.  to see more pics of my sloane jacket and to read my film petit post click here.  This is a quick and easy sew with no seams at all whatsoever to finish! yes! using a soft fleece makes this kid friendly and also super simple to sew! a winning combo in my book especially since my daughter is super sensitive to what she wears.

||  SLOANE JACKET TUTORIAL  ||

*Copyright 2013 www.luvinthemommyhood.com All rights reserved.  This tutorial is for PERSONAL USE ONLY.  Please do not sell items made with this tutorial unless permission has been given.  Thank you..  Please email luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca for more information.

MATERIALS

- Approx. 1 yard soft fleece fabric
- Co-ordinating thread
- Washable fabric marker

PATTERN PIECES

- Click below for the pattern pieces for the Sloane Jacket.

SLOANE JACKET (FRONT, BACK, SLEEVES & BACK FRINGE) - SIZE 4/5T

 *Please set your printer to "no scaling" or "actual size" before printing your pattern pieces.

You will also need to cut out the following sized rectangles:

- (2) @ 8"W x 6"H (Sleeve Fringe)

- (2) @ 4.5"W x 8"H (Front Fringe)

- (1) @ 10"W x 8.75"H (Back Fringe)

 

INSTRUCTIONS

*All seam allowances are 1/2" unless otherwise noted.

STEP ONE:  ASSEMBLING THE JACKET

Print out your pattern pieces being careful that the sizing is accurate.  Be careful to also make sure that you have noted the RS and WS of your fleece. Mine is white and it can sometimes be a tad tricky to tell the difference if you're sewing coffee deprived or in dim lighting :)  Cut out your pattern pieces.  You should have the following:

(2) fronts, (1) back and (2) sleeves

You should also have (5) rectangles to make your fringe from (sizes are noted above in the materials section).  Do not cut your fringe until instructed too later in the pattern.  Make sure to transfer the lines on your front and back jacket pieces for where to sew your fringe (make sure whatever fabric marker you are using is ok for the kind of fleece you are using).

With your back piece and your left front piece RS facing sew along your shoulder seam with a 1/4" seam allowance.  Repeat for the back piece this time with your right front piece.  Trim your seam allowance.

Now fold your neckline (this should be your entire neckline meaning your 2 fronts and the back) down 1/4" and topstitch it for a nice finish from the RS.  *See illustration to the left.

STEP TWO:  MAKING & ATTACHING YOUR SLEEVES

Gather the sleeve cap in between the pattern markings by using the longest stitch length (or gathering setting on your machine) with no backstitching and a 1/4" seam allowance.  Leave a long tail after sewing and pull gently to gather your sleeve cap.  Repeat for your other sleeve.  *See illustration below.

With RS facing each other lay your sleeve on your jacket sleeve opening and pin in carefully adjusting your gathering to make sure it fits your sleeve opening.  *Option: You can also choose to baste (sew in with a 1/4" seam allowance & no backstitching) in the portion of your sleeve cap that is gathered to eliminate any shifting or moving of your gathering while you sew in your sleeve.  Sew your entire sleeve cap into the opening with a 1/2" seam allowance. Trim your seam allowance.

We are now going to sew your sleeve arm and the side seams of your jacket on the side you just attached your sleeve cap to.  First though you need to place (1) of your rectangles along your sleeve arm centered between the cuff & underarm, RS facing RS of front sleeve (you want to see the RS of the fringe when you look at the jacket from front on when you are done making the garment). Pin along sleeve seam (sandwiching the sleeve fringe piece inside) and side seam.  Next starting at the bottom corner of the side seam of your jacket with RS facing each other and using a 1/4" seam allowance stitch your side jacket seams with RS facing each other continuing up and along your sleeve enclosing your sleeve (also sewing your sleeve fringe piece to your sleeve) and sew along the length of your sleeve. *See illustration above.  Fold the bottom sleeve hem 1/4" and topstitch to finish sleeve.  Repeat the above steps for your other sleeve and for the other side seam of your jacket.

STEP THREE: FINISHING EDGES

Hem the bottom of your jacket at a cropped length that is good for your child. I folded mine up 1/4" and topstitched along the hem.  Next fold your front sides under 1/4" enclosing your neckline and bottom hem underneath and topstitch this down as well close to edge. Trim all your seam allowances neatly.

STEP FOUR: ADDING THE FRINGE

Fold your back fringe piece in half.  Mark 4.25" down from top folded edge. Draw a line from this mark to the top opposite corner. Cut along this mark.

With your jacket RS facing up pin the back fringe pattern piece RS facing up on your back jacket piece along the pattern lines designating where to place fringe. Stitch along top edge of rectangle from one end to the other.  Lay jacket flat and cut your fringe evenly approx. 1/2" spacing for each cut.

Next take one of your front fringe rectangles and pin down on your left front side along the pattern markings.  Sew along the top edge of the rectangle.  Lay jacket flat and cut your fringe evenly approx. 1/2" spacing for each cut.  Repeat for the right side of your jacket front.  Your fringe length should just hit the bottom of your jacket.

Now using the same 1/2" spacing cut the fringe for your sleeves.  I did mine on an angle for fun going from short near the armpit down to a longer length before the sleeve cuff. 

That's it! You're done! So easy and fast right? Don't you love not having any seams to finish?  I hope you have fun with it!  If you have a child that is younger or older than a 4/5T size find a jacket of yours that's a similar shape and use it as a guide to make your pattern pieces. There are a lot of tutorials online showing you how to draft a pattern using an existing garment.

Try your new coat on your wee one and go rock out to "deunkeshein"! Tell Ferris and Cameron I say hi! Happy sewing!!!

p.s. if you make a sloane jacket please email me pics or add them to our flickr group! i love seeing your finished projects and so do my readers!

CRUSHES || FABRIC & YARN

lolli socks mcn in colorway pink lemonade

i am smitten.  in love.  crushing galore on this skein of yarn or what is now a lovely yarn cake!  it's from the lovely melissa of sweet fiber yarns and is lolli socks mcn in colorway pink lemonade and i swear it should be called shannon in a yarn...lol.  it's bright, fun, cheerful and has some of my fave colors of the moment in it! i can't help but smile when i look at it and someday soon it will become my very first pair of socks! wahoo! i haven't made socks yet, they've always slightly intimidated me up to this point, but i feel like this year is the year for me to take those bad boys down and what better yarn to use than one i am so in love with!

silk cashmere aran in colorway hippolyta

i got to meet melissa of sweet fiber yarns in person when jane and i were on the ISLAND book tour and she is just the sweetest thing!  and her yarn - well, it's to die for! seriously!  it's amazing! if you can get your hands on some scoop it up! i also received a lovely gift from her of 2 skeins of her stunning silk cashmere aran in colorway hippolyta! i am a lucky lady! thank you again so much melissa! big hugs!

melissa's skeins can hold their own right next to madelinetosh so if you are a tosh addict you will not be disappointed by sweet fiber.  trust me on that.  gorgeous!  i was lucky enough to get some of her adorable stitch markers as well that come in the cutest bottle evah! i squeal whenever i look at them!

i also finally found a skein of yarn to match my bright coral colored winter jacket so i could make some rathtrevor mitts.  i love the colors in this yarn and the new rastita by malabrigo is so lovely to work and knit with!  i saw many a pair of rastita rathtrevor mitts on our tour and couldn't resist knitting up a pair for myself in this slightly felted super soft yarn!

malabrigo rastita in colorway piedras

and i can't forget about the fabric! oh......i've been on a mad crush lately with some fabrics!

 

 

i'm working on my next fat quarter gang project for art gallery fabrics using one of my fave peeps line - "color me retro" by the adorable jeni baker of in color order! i love that it matches all my pyrex!!! you rock jeni!  i can't wait to sew with this!

i also ordered from one of my fave online shops (& our sponsor) fabricworm some of sarah watts new line "timber and leaf " and stocked up on my robert kaufman yarn dyed essex linen in denim and flax as well.  i can never have enough of these. they are truly a staple in my fabric arsenal.

1. fox portrait brown 2. pine stickers pink 3. playful fox pink

i've been drooling over my fat quarter bundle of sarah watson's debut line "luxe in bloom" it's so gorgeous and so pretty!  this is going to be a quilt for me for sure! it's stunning and such a soothing and lovely palette! i am such a huge fan of sarah's work and can't wait for he new line coming out as well "indian summer".

and coming soon is a new tutorial of mine featuring some of  pat bravo's new line - carnaby street! so bright, colorful and filled with prints that are stylish and happy!  i will definitely be using this line in all sorts of fun projects! pat always does such a great job creating lines that are so interchangeable and exciting!

so what are you guys crushing on? any new fabric lines or yarns you just got or are saving up to get?  i'm eagerly awaiting tsuru by rashida coleman hale for cloud 9 fabrics. i am buying the whole darn line. i luuuuurv it!  grab a coffee and let's share our crushes! it's a great way to find new fabrics and yarns to spoil ourselves with! have a wonderful crush filled weekend <3

FAMILY DAY || NEW HOLIDAY

it's a holiday where i live today - a new one called family day! such a great idea! so i'll see all you lovelies tomorrow because today i'm hanging with the cuties above and my hubs.  hope you all had a great weekend!

BUY NOW  ||  READ MORE

p.s. today is the last day to grab the sew fab e-pattern bundle before the sale is over :)

downton abbey knit along || confessions

Pattern: Nola Cloche by Hilary Smith Callis  Yarn: Supernova in colorway Pewter by Luna Grey Fiber Arts

i love my new hat.  i love that it's so different from my norm.  i am usually always sporting something of a slouch variety and hardly wear fitted hats anymore.  when i do i remember why i love them as well.  this hat makes me feel a tad fancy. like i should sashay around my house as if i really did live at downton, sipping from a cuppa tea, eating biscuits whilst knitting, and discussing the goings on of the servants in the house.  can't you see it?  you're all there with me too.  we're all dolled up in our prettiest frocks, the room is filled with fanciful goodies, doilies and lace and we are having the largest knit night downton has ever seen!  could you imagine? they totally need to do an episode with a big knitting party!  now that would be drama! lol!

speaking of drama true to shannon style i have a confession to make.  you ready for it?  i. made. an. oopsie.  a big one at that.  i realized right at the end of making my hat that i had actually been following the size instructions for a chunky yarn not my worsted weight. oh my.  helloooo...shannon...do you need glasses?  more sleep? more coffee?  who knows...but i can't believe i missed it.  duh.  the nola cloche is written for 2 yarn weights and i'm not sure how i got so mixed up but i did. i hate ripping things out though so instead of redoing the whole hat (ouch!) i kept going.  i tried that bad boy on and i like it. it's not perfect but it's mine and well, that's the nature of handmade right? 

i really enjoyed this pattern and i also really loved working with luna grey fiber arts yarn and have a few more lovely skeins to play with. i can't wait to dig in! both the yarn and the pattern made for a fun project even though i made an oopsies.  such is life thought right?  remember this big fat oopsie of mine? oh ya....that's a good'er right there.  moral of the story - pay better attention to the directions, get more sleep and drink more coffee ;)

luna grey fiber arts

how's your project coming along? since y'all are having so much fun i'm giving you till next week to finish up! get those lovely photos up in our ravelry group so i can show you all off next week on the blog! that's right! it's time for starring you!  i can't wait to show off all of your hard work on here. so many lovely pictures and projects!  kudos to all of you fab ladies for joining in!

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

ravelry group  |  blog  |  flickr group

||  DOWNTON KAL SPONSORS  ||

CHERRY TREE STITCHES   ||   LUNA GREY FIBER ARTS

p.s. don't forget about our sew fab e-pattern bundle sale! don't miss this awesome deal!

ISLAND Book Tour Awesomeness!

if i could post one picture to sum up jane and i's mini book tour this past weekend for ISLAND this would be it.  ahhhh the joys of being overtired but also having awesome fun that makes it worth every minute.  it also rocks to get to share such wonderful and special moments with one of your closest friends. jane - thanks for being the best partner in crime evah and one of my most fave people on the planet. i love ya to bits and bits! now on to the juicy stuff...

this is what happens when you get a group of knitters together at an event.....

it starts all friendly and professional and then bam! turns into this!  muahaha!  oh darn...we just don't look as gorgeous and effortless as you do caitlin french ;p

we had such a fabulous and wonderful time on our journey. the pics above and the collage below were taking by the lovely and talented photographer and designer herself sylvia mcfadden.  you can find her on her blog here, ravelry here and on flickr as well. thanks for taking these pics sylvia! we had such a great evening with all of you at baaad anna's in vancouver.  thank you anna for hosting us and making it such a special night.  you did such a fabulous job and we luv your shop. we can't wait to visit again!

i thought it would be fun to just do a post highlighting some special moments from our book tour.  jane will be doing a post as well so watch for that and she'll be showing you the shops and writing more about what we did and where we were.  trust me that there's a lot more pics! lol! so in the meantime here's some shots that were some of my personal faves.

the lovely amanda and fiona from knit social (and knit city) - we wished you ladies lived on the island! we want more time to hang with you!!!  urban yarns hosted us on our first stop friday night and it was a fab evening with wine, sushi and more.  we got to see some great friends and stayed up just a tad too late having lots of fun.  thanks for having us urban yarns!  we love stopping in to see you ladies!

we had such a blast at 88 stitches - we got so spoiled by melissa of one of  our fave yarns - sweet fiber and her mom sue who owns 88 stitches and all the fab ladies who worked there.  it was a such wonderful way to spend our afternoon. thank you for your kindness and generosity.

we headed over to baaad anna's saturday night for a fun event that anna had set up.  with island decor, candles and lovely refreshments and homemade goodies we were in heaven.  we definitely had a great time and were sad the event had to end.  so much fun!

we then jumped on the ferry sunday morning to head on over to gibsons, bc to unwind knit & fibre lounge!  what a pretty city and kim and her lovely staff made us feel at home.  we had lots of laughs, yummy tea and a great time showing off jane's lovely patterns.  i wish we had more time to explore it was so gorgeous over there and if you are ever in gibsons be sure to check out kim's lovely shop. thanks for having us kim!

i of course couldn't resist posting a shot of my instagram feed from the trip.  i have to rely on free wifi on my ipad so there isn't a lot but they all have special little memories attached to them.  overall we had a fabulous time, got spoiled, had a lot of laughs, tried to be as organized as possible (which is exhausting..lol), set up and took down our little "shop" 4 times (phew!), shopped (2 stores in 2 hours..we need help...lol), paid a HUGE price for parking (ouch! $16.75 for 2 hours!!! it still hurts), forgot to pay parking (hahaha, we really are Islanders now Jane, who charges for parking after 6pm right? LOL!), took 4 ferries (cheered really loudly when we made the last one home), ate delicious food, ate some not so good food, slept in a gorgeous home (thank you to jane's aunt!), enjoyed the quiet, stayed up way too late at night giggling, knit, drank coffee and overall had a special little journey filled with wonderful people who were all so kind to us both.

image source - 88 stitches

so from us to all of you - thank you so very much for making this book what it has become and for showing us both so much love and support for jane's collection.  it means so very much to both of us and we can't wait to see you all again! thanks so much to every single person who came out to see us and showed off their ISLAND lovelies! big hugs and lots of luvs!!!! xoxoxo!!!

FILM PETIT || FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF

if you were to ask me what one of my fave movies of all time is "ferris bueller's day off" would be on the list.  i'm going to be 36 and i was raised on these kind of cult classics.  in fact i used to think, ok i still do think, sloane peterson was the bee's knees. i wanted to be just like her.  she was the embodiment of style, class, grace, beauty and was just plain cool.  i dreamed about that outfit but never felt brave enough to wear it.  so when kristin and jessica asked me to join in for this round of film petit and that the flick was ferris bueller's day off i did a bit of a squeal and a happy dance.  i've been dreaming of that white coat ever since and i'm so excited to show you my version of sloane.

i was really inspired by the idea of taking sloane into 2013 and also to make her outfit kid friendly.  i knew first off that my daughter would not wear leather or faux leather so i decided to go with a nice, soft fleece so that i could still fringe to my hearts content without finishing all those strands.  i also knew that i wanted her to stay true to my aesthetic and also be something that my daughter would actually wear.

when i finished drafting the jacket and started making my sloane version i swear i have never had so much fun working on a sewing project in my whole life.  i was laughing my head off and boy did it take all i had not to share the pics to all of you.  the icing on the cake was when my daughter got her hands on it. she looooves it.  she was posing her little heart out and just begging to wear it to school.  oh my....now that would be interesting.  i say bring on the fringe...but not everyone may agree with me on that one :)

my daughter asked me about the story behind the outfit and i gave her the 5 yr old version but in doing so i could hear myself talking about sloane with the same glorified eyes i had when i was a teenager.  she was beautiful, confident, and well....sloane.  i told her about the scene i wanted to capture - that sloane was waiting for her boyfriend, whom she loved, named ferris to come pick her up.  i told her she had hair just like hers and she was about to have a very exciting day off from school with ferris and her friend cameron and that ferris wanted to marry her.

i told her they were about to go on an adventure.  my little girl sparked up with a new found energy even though it was freezing cold, raining and a wind storm.  what a little model hard at work...lol.  she has now aptly named her new ensemble the sloane outfit.  i think it suits her.  i hope she holds onto the spirit of sloane and grows to be every bit of a confident and lovely woman that sloanes' character was.

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- pattern used is the "banyan shorts" from figgy's patterns.
- mods made: faux fly with no zipper insertion.
- random suiting fabric from a store i will not list because i detest shopping there and went out of desperation.
- suiting has a bit of stretch to it which makes these super comfy but a bit of a pain to sew.  my daughter has lots of issues with clothing and comfort so i kept these a tad on the baggy side to keep her from feeling uncomfortable.  i made a size 4.

- pattern used is self drafted.  i love this little coat and drafted it on my own and guess what...if you like it as much as i do i may just do a sloane coat tutorial...hehe.  i want one in my own size.
- fabric is a soft white fleece from the same store i will not mention...lol.
- the sloane jacket is cropped and features a fun fringed back that dips down to a point, no closures, front fringe on each front panel and an asymmetrical fringe in the middle of the under sleeve. i chose not to go all the way to the armpit or the cuff simply for my own taste. i really liked how it looked not covering the whole arm and so did my daughter.  the jacket also has a lovely little gather on the top of each sleeve cap.  my version of the infamous shoulder pad. love it!

 - pattern used is the "banyan tunic" from figgy's patterns.
- fabric is a weird stretch blend. the lady at the store that i will not mention couldn't find out what it was nor could she the other fabrics i purchased there for this post...lol. it's soft though and has a lovely light grey blue color.
- i made the size 4 for the tunic but had to take up the length quite a bit to allow the shorts to still show.  my daughter asked me for 3 more of this top and loves it.

i also self drafted a pair of black leggings from an existing pair of pants my daughter had.  it was too cold to make her go bare legged and i thought the black tights went perfectly with her black boots.  i decided not to do the white boots as i knew there was no way in heck i would ever buy my kid white boots...lol.  talk about ruined in one day!

click here to hear the tunes!

i really enjoyed sewing both patterns from figgy's and would definitely recommend them and make them again. sooooo...whatdoyasay? want to dance with us? i think i hear "danke schoen" playing in the distance....oh ya....i do.....danke schoen, darling, danke schoen.................

go get your ferris groove on! embrace your inner sloane peterson and don that fringe jacket and strut your stuff ladies!  and while you're at it make sure you also pop on over to see kristin's adorable cameron (so cute!) and also jessica's awesome ferris (love it!).  i want to say a big thank you to these uber talented ladies for letting me join in on their fun and have a gosh darn good time sewing for my girlie.  luv you ladies <3

thanks for joining us for another film petit!  and make sure you add your pics to the film petit flickr group!

downton abbey knit along || time to block!

Pattern: Nola Cloche by Hilary Smith Callis  Yarn: Supernova in colorway Pewter by Luna Grey Fiber Arts

guess who's done their hat for the downton abbey knit along??? me! me! me!  i'm soooo excited!  i finished this bad boy up yesterday afternoon.  it really is a super fast knit but i've been distracted by other projects lately so i tried to spread the knitting love around throughout the last few weeks.  it fits like a dream and the yarn was so lovely to work with.  of course after modeling the hat i had to pop her in the bath for a lovely long soak and a cup of tea for me.

one of my fave rinses to use currently is eucalan.  i like the lavender scent.  i am also a fan of soak and cannot wait to try our sponsor quince and co's new lanolin soap! it sounds heavenly! it's on my "to try" list this year.  i've got a thing for always trying out new rinses for my knits.  what's your current fave? 

you all know how important i think blocking is.  it's a pain - yes...it sort of goes hand in hand with swatching.  they are both necessary evils.  they are kind of boring and we all are too excited to want to do them most of the time but i promise you that if you block (if appropriate for your project) the outcome is soooo worth it.  trust me on that one.  if you'd like to know a bit more about blocking here are two great post from my lovely friend rebecca of "nook":

- blocking from summer sweater knig along 2012
- blocking party from summer sweater knit along 2011 

i cannot wait to wear that brim! i'm mostly a slouch hat kinda gal so i'm looking forward to branching out a bit into the cloche style. should be fun!  i'm watching it dry as we speak and am crossing my fingers it's on my head by late this afternoon :)  i only wished i had been able to indulge in a nice soak myself last night with some tea and downton abbey.  i would have cried more than my tub could hold bath water though. i know a lot of you ladies have been commiserating in the ravelry group and i'm right there with ya. only issue for me is that i have seen the whole season and i'm still crying.  so if i chat too much about it i'll give it all away.  just be reminded to buy stock in kleenex. you're gonna need it.

oh and in case you're wondering what that lovely tea print fabric is under my hat it's from the lovely bari j and it's called "tea delights jam" from splendor 1920 for art gallery fabrics. i luuuurve it!  you may remember i used some of it in a different colorway in my christmas tree skirt this december.

how's your project coming along? are you almost done? remember to add your finished project pics to our "FO" thread in the ravelry group so i can show off your lovely finished projects in our "starring you" post soon!  i can't wait to see them! there are some gorgeous ones in there already and a lot of you are on your 2nd projects for the kal! go ladies go!

so grab your tea and come sip and chat with me. i want to hear about what YOU thought about this past weekends episode and how your project is doing.

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

ravelry group  |  blog  |  flickr group

||  DOWNTON KAL SPONSORS  ||

CHERRY TREE STITCHES   ||   LUNA GREY FIBER ARTS

secret projects & new addictions

i've been working away on a fun and exciting project the last few weeks!  i'm getting to play with some fun fabrics that i haven't yet sewn with!  suiting and fleece! i can't show you the fleece yet because it's a surprise!  eeeek!  i also got to make some sewing patterns that i have been dying to try out for my kiddo!  i always enjoy sewing someone else's patterns after spending a lot of time designing and making my own.  one of the items you will see when these are done will be mine but other than that....it's all just fun sewing for me!  i also got to whip out some stretch sewing and you guys know how much i looooove sewing with knits!  needless to say i've been having a great time getting some much needed sewing time in.

i've also developed a crush lately on pleats and darts to hang out with my addiction to topstitching.  i can't stop adding them to projects and i have found myself drawn to clothing with special details lately.  i love the texture and shape that they add to garments.  swoon! along with working on my secret project i've also been madly working away on my "stripe study" shawl in my spare time.  i've got a ton of other knitting projects and designs on the go but i am sooooo in LOVE with this shawl that i am having a hard time putting it down. i can't wait to wear it!  short rows = fun!!!!! plus the madelinetosh yarn is just heavenly! don't you just love that red? i can't get enough of it!!!

pattern:  stripe study by veera valimaki  yarn: madelinetosh merino light in colorway tern and torchere

hopefully i will be able to show you all what the sewing project is that i'm working on next week!  i can't wait!!!!  anyone have any guesses?? lol.

what have you been working on?  what type of fabric have you been wanting to try? any new fabric and sewing details that you've been drawn to or are dying to work on?  have you started on any new projects that you're excited about?  i can't wait to hear about it :)

moments in the mommyhood - how long till bedtime?

i feel like it's been forever since i had pics of the girls to post.  the weather here has not been in my favor alongside the time of year.  with my oldest being in kindergarten now it sure makes it tricky to get good shots of her after school.  it gets dark and really cold fast.  i found myself going through withdrawal of their cute little faces on here and scheduled in a quick little 5 min photoshoot after school yesterday.  they had so much fun posing for the camera and i found myself amazed at how big they had grown when i edited the pics.

 

i know i see them everyday but stepping back and looking at the photos really cemented how old mackenzie looks and how big harper is getting. i mean where has my baby gone? can you believe harper is going to be 3 in may???!!! seriously! i get misty eyed just thinking about it.  they are both definitely keeping this momma busy.  my oldest loves to challenge me on more than a daily basis and i tell you the grey hairs are coming in.  but she loves school and going to full time kindergarten has been great for her.  only problem was i figured she would come home with a tad less energy but instead she comes home even more pumped up.  i can't figure this out...lol...and it's exhausting.  she wears me out..haha.  the two of them together makes me sometimes feel like i can't get a focused thought through my head.  it never sinks in how crazy it gets around here some days until they are asleep and my brain goes...."yesssssss....finally....what took you so long?".  it's like stepping into a hot bath.  i just soak and revel in the silence.  boy do i love that silence.......

.....for a while...and then i miss them and i sneak into their rooms to give them that one last bedtime kiss.  it's so hilarious to me that when they are driving me to the brink of insanity (and believe me they do on more than one occasion) that when i finally get them to go to sleep after an hour or so i miss them. anyone else have this issue?  sometimes it makes me feel guilty for wanting them to go to bed so badly that i get one of those cases of "am i a good enough mom" bouts that we all get...or at least i hope we all do and i'm not the only lone bird analyzing my parenting skills....and desperate need for silence.  speaking of silence....how long is it till bedtime??  ;P

wishing you all a wonderful weekend filled with kiddo craziness but also lots of quiet mommy time.  does your wee one come home from school even more energized than when they left in the morning?  do you long for bedtime some days and if so do you sometimes get the same mom guilts i do? let's chat!  i've got some yummy lattes here with your name on it! pull up a seat and stick around for a while :)

downton abbey knit along - twists & techniques!

Pattern: Nola Cloche by Hilary Smith Callis  Yarn: Supernova in colorway Pewter by Luna Grey Fiber Arts

i'm having so much fun with my downton abbey knit along project!  just like sewing i love a project with interesting construction or finishing details. it get's me excited and i race through the project to get to the fun part!  the nola cloche doesn't disappoint.  hilary is a friend of mine and one of our kal sponsors and i really enjoy how she designs her projects.  this hat is a fun example.  the brim is knit flat and then seamed together while the rest of the hat is knit in the round! me likie!!!  i know it sounds a tad silly but i just loved how she designed the twist which is my fave part of the hat.  i love details like that and i also love cables so it was a win win for me.

i know a lot of our kal members are trying out new things and there are a lot of hats being made with interesting techniques.  there are also a lot of lace work and cables happening so i thought i would use today's post to link up some of our handy resources so if you happen to get stuck or are still deciding on your project but needed a bit more helpful info before you jumped in i hope these help you out!  please remember we also have a very active ravelry group that is always more than willing to help knitters out and to answer any questions. so don't be shy - join the fun!

||  PICKING UP STITCHES  ||
i am just about ready to pick up stitches (not one of my fave things to do) and here's a great knit along post from one of my besties jane richmond.

- picking up stitches (summer sweater knit along 2012)
- picking up the stitches (summer sweater knit along)

||  LACE KNITTING AND KNITTED LACE  ||
i adore lace and knitting it.  i also like to get others to not be so frightened or overwhelmed by lace knitting and knitted lace.  here's a post i did with a fun rundown on the ins and outs of lace.

- la la la loving the lace (tops, tanks & tees knit along 2012)

||  SEAMING  ||
who loves seaming? not me...lol. so we had one of our group moderators kelly of celtic cast on to come and show us all her tricks for seaming.

- seaming video tutorials (summer sweater knit along 2012)

how is your project coming along?  are you doing a project with fun techniques or construction involved?  is there a topic you'd like to see covered in this knit along? come chat! coffee's on!

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

ravelry group  |  blog  |  flickr group

i'm so excited for this kal and i am so happy you are all knitting along with me! please show your love for all of our amazing sponsors who make our knit alongs possible!

CHERRY TREE STITCHES   ||   LUNA GREY FIBER ARTS

Washi Tunic for Me!

i've been busy knitting but i've also been sewing.  i couldn't resist whipping up another washi after making my dress.  this time i decided to do a tunic.  i originally was going for rae's version with sleeves and maybe a peter pan collar but the universe was against me.  never try cutting out your clothing pattern pieces when you have kids running wild around you.  after some silly mistakes (some that weren't even mine) i ended up running out of fabric and didn't have enough left to do the sleeves or collar. i also omitted the pockets...lol.  but even though the end result wasn't what i had originally visioned i love it no less. i've been wearing it non stop and cannot rave enough about this awesome pattern.

i used one of my fave prints from last year "afro fusion dusk" from indie by pat bravo for art gallery fabrics.  it's soft and has a lovely drape.  i couldn't resist adding the same vintage mustard bias for my armholes and neckline that i did for my original washi dress. i did a plain rounded neckline that i finished with the mustard bias and some double top stitching for fun which i also repeated on the hemline. i also decided to add a casing with elastic for the back this time instead of doing the shirring.  you can find a tutorial on how to do this on rae's blog here.  i didn't line mine though. i simply made a casing and topstitched it down in position and fed the elastic through. when i sewed my side seams down it closed the ends of the casing.  it's super fast, easy and i love the result.  i recommend it if you don't feel comfortable sewing shirring or your machine acts up with it.  mine has suddenly realized it hates shirring. no idea why...lol.

i hope to show you some pics soon of me actually wearing the tunic but with our dreary, grey, and rainy weather here the timing just always seems to be off for the hubs to take pics of me and it's just too dark in my condo to take shots of myself.  hopefully i'll be able to show you all soon.  in the meantime i put it on sally, my lovely dress form.  she's not my size...not even close...haha...but i love her anyways.  i use her for hanging things on and she likes to travel and do markets/craft shows with us all :)  she's on loan to me from a friend and she's come in very handy.  one day i will buy myself one that is my size though...lol.  when i put this on her i died laughing.  seriously.  it really made me realize how big "my girls" were when you see it hanging off of a dress form that is the size i'd like to be.  oh my....so close ups it is :) i'm sure you get the idea though :)

i've really been enjoying sewing my own clothing and hope to do a lot more this year.  one of my new year's resolutions has been to sew my own pair of pants.  anyone have a great pattern recommendation?  i'm fed up with buying pants that just dont' fit right and make me look bigger than i am so i'd love to make some fit just for my body.

have you made your own pants before?  what is your favorite pattern to use? do you have any tips for me? let's chat sewing my friends!

||  FABRICS USED  ||
- afro fusion dusk from indie by pat bravo for art gallery fabrics purchased 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)

PATTERN || HANNAH HAT PATTERN RELEASE

Hannah Hat PDF Pattern

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To say I love this hat is an understatement.  Since the night I whipped the Hannah Hat up it's been on my head non-stop.  Made from the scrumptious and lovely malabrigo rasta this hat is warm, cozy and sooooo soft and chunky! It's a dream to knit and wear. Living in a coastal city we are always getting wind storms and this hat keeps my ears and head warm while still being cute and stylish.

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This yarn has a special spot in my heart.  Gifted to me last xmas from my dear friend Hannah (ummashin) the color is one of my faves.  I fell so in love with this yarn that I have held on to it for a full year until i found the perfect project for it.  So to say a lovely thank you to one of the most lovely people i have met online i have named this hat for hannah.  I hope she likes it as much as I do.

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Quick and easy hannah knits up in one night.  a few hours and bam - you've got yourself a lovely new accessory.  Knit on a US12/9mm it works up fast and it's simple to customize to your desired slouch/length.  and helloo....that pom pom just melts my heart.  Love it.  Pom poms and I have had a love/hate relationship because I can never seem to make a good one but I have broken my curse (I like to use my pal jane richmond's pom pom tutorial). 

Making pom poms with rasta is actually fun! I love the added touch of fun the pom pom adds to this hat. I also love the coziness the 2x2 rib that goes to mid crown adds to keep your ears warm.  That extra bit of depth just feels so right on the part of my head that gets the coldest while waiting for school pick up. 

Best part is hannah only takes (1) skein of malabrigo rasta! Plus the pattern is only $1.99!!! That's it - time to treat yourself! Just remember that if you alter the pattern or choose to NOT unravel your gauge swatch you will need another skein to be able to finish the hat and the pom pom.  I seriously used every last inch of my skein. There were no leftovers..not even one centimeter..lol. 

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THE HANNAH HAT PATTERN FEATURES:

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:: clear and easy to understand step by step instructions

:: bright & colorful photography

:: 2 page color PDF pattern

::  a great knitting experience

The Hannah Hat Pattern is available for purchase at the following:

1. ravelry
2. Etsy
3. Very Shannon Shop

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Hannah Hat PDF Pattern

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If you make a hannah please let me know and share your pics! I love to see the projects you guys make. Feel free to add any pics to our flickr groupand also our ravelry group.

I hope you enjoy hannah as much as I do!  It's a great beginner pattern to practice knitting in the round and making pom poms :)  Happy knitting from my home to yours!  

p.s. To all you sewers...don't worry, I promise there will be sewing goodies coming soon too!  

CAMILLE HOODED COWL || NEW PATTERN!!

Camille PDF Knitting Pattern

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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

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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!

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!

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!