NEW PATTERN || LANSBURY COWL

at the beginning of the year i was so lucky to get my hands on some yummy yarn from melissa of sweet fiber yarns.  i knew right away that i wanted to make something luxurious for my neck out of this cashmere silk aran yarn.  this cowl feels like heaven and is a dream to wear! spoil yourself & indulge in a fun knit with a delicious new yarn. a quick & fulfilling pattern using only 200yds, with a reversible ribbed inside,

Lansbury Cowl

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the lansbury cowl is sure to be a fave accessory year round. named for the lovely angela lansbury & her long time show murder, she wrote, this cowl represents all the twists & turns involved in solving a good mystery.  i have fond memories of curling up watching angela lansbury daily with my omi while knitting & crocheting alongside her. i still tune in regularly with reruns on netflix with my favorite tea and some twist filled knitting. 

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the Lansbury cowl pattern features:

:: clear and easy to understand step by step instructions

:: bright & colorful photography

:: 1 page color PDF pattern

::  a great knitting experience

Lansbury is available at the following:

RAVELRY ||    ETSY  ||  CRAFTSY 

(coming soon)

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lansbury is easy to memorize and is a great jump into small cables and slipped stitches.  it's also a great way to practice knitting in the round, ribbing and learning a new stitch pattern.  don't be afraid of the those purdy twists they are a lot easier than they look. promise :)  you can do it!  this cowl is worth it.  it has great drape but also a reliable stability to keep it from caving in.  the bonus is if you would like to wear it more soft and drapey the inside is purdy too!  lansbury features a reversible ribbed inside!  you can see a shot of it in the pics below.

i couldn't resist also posting all my fave pics from my photoshoot with my gorgeous friend rebecca of the blog nook.  she's one of my fave models to use and you will recognize her from my mallory cowl pattern.  she's a speedy knitter who eats, sleeps & breathes knitting.  she's also a fabulous test & sample knitter (if you need one you can find her under gundyknitter on ravelry). watch out for great things from her this year :) thanks for being such a wonderful model becca <3

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LANSBURY COWL  ||  BUY NOW

i hope you all enjoy the lansbury cowl pattern as much as i do. i've been wearing mine non stop i tell ya.  this is definitely one of my new fave go to accessories. before i go though i can't resist shouting a mention to the fabulousness of angela lansbury. i mean how hip does she look on the cover of gentlewoman magazine recently?  so awesome!  and meow!!!  what a looker she was & still is! you go girl!

img scr;lastfm, thegentlewoman

are you a big fan of murder,she wrote and angela lansbury? do you have a love for sweet fiber yarns?  i'd love to hear from some other murder, she wrote fans! i can't be the only gal in her 30's who watches this show? right?  :P

p.s. stay tuned next week when we will be giving away a very delicious prize from sweet fiber yarns!!!! woowweee!

TOPS, TANKS & TEES KNIT ALONG || PATTERN ROUNDUP!

lobelia by meghan fernandes for pom pom quarterly spring 2013

you guys ready to get inspired?  still looking for your spring tops, tanks & tees knit along project?  already chosen but wouldn't mind another?  well you're in luck!  here's our tops, tanks & tees inspiration roundup!  i've compiled some (and i definitely mean only some, there are way too many awesome patterns out right now) of my faves! these are the lovelies that have caught my eye over the last while and also ones that you all have been drooling over in our ravelry group!  so pour a cuppa jo' or brew your favorite tea, pull up a seat and let's daydream about our next project together.

1. compass pullover 2. helene 3. seagrass 4. newale

biston

1. high relief dolman 2. two-color baseball tee 3. die cut vest

1. hane 2.auden

gemini by jane richmond

1. etty 2. cap sleeve lattice top 3. knit t-shirt 4. fluctuate

1. grenadine tunic 2. patou tunic 3. koukla

1. low tide cardigan 2. vertex cardigan

1. kage 2. meeting point 3. lady bat

beverly tee

1. in a while crocodile 2. silverlight 3. ella jo 4. champagne 5. holla back tank 6. splitstone

so much to choose from!  i'm so excited about this kal and hope you all are too! i can't wait to show you our awesome sponsors and to see all the fabulous yarns and projects you all decide on! come chat in the ravelry group or in the comments below. fill us in on what yarn you're using & what project you're making! i'm dying to know!

also here's the deets in case you still need to sign up & join in! you can also find more information here on our tops, tanks & tees knit along homepage.

>>> SIGN UP <<<

sign up by clicking on the link below. *note: you must be signed up to be eligible to win the giveaway prizes at the end of the knit along.

Tops, Tanks & Tees Knit Along Sign Up Form

thank you for knitting along with me! 

p.s. don't forget to check out our tops, tanks & tees pinterest board!!! it's fun!  comment below to let me know which pattern you'd like to see added or mention it in our ravelry group & i'll do my best to add them in. 

pps. read through last year's tops, tanks & tees posts. there's lots of great info and helpful posts.  you can find it here.

CRUSHES || FRECKLED FAWN

oh my gosh you guys, i have been excitedly awaiting a package that arrived on the weekend!  i recently spotted freckled fawn's washi tape on instagram the other week (i know, i've been under a rock, how have i never seen their shop before??) and instantly went over to the website and went a bit nutso. i ordered a whole bunch of lovelies and have plans for more!  i'm so freakin' excited about these little things!  it's sad really, but they just make me gosh darn smile!!!!

 

you all know about my addiction to arrows and triangles recently. i can't get enough of them.  so when i spotted the wood chip arrows and cute sayings (and they have TONS of others too) i could not resist buying them.  i seriously wanted to cover my house in them..lol. it's sad really.  don't you just dig em'? aren't they the cutest things?  i know i'm going to be using these for all sorts of fun projects in the future. i can't wait to show you where.

and the washi tapes....swoon! check out my washi tapes! weeeee!

adorbs right!!!! squeal!!!!!!!!! i love them!!!!!  see that one in the middle above with the hearts on it?  that is my fave. so awesome i bought 2 of them.  i think i need more already :)  i also could not resist the lure of the arrow paper clips (see pic below). how fun are these right?  they will fit right in with my new little office redo that i can't wait to show you all!  soon - i promise!  did you notice the arrow paper and the triangle paper in the shots above? i got those too! see, i told you i went a bit nutso! i am a big time cheapskate so to splurge on little treats like this is a special thing for me.  it's almost june (my bday) right? i can buy myself an early bday pressie...it's all good :)  just don't tell the hubs...lol (honey if you are reading this turn around and walk away from the computer).

oh and just to be clear this post is by no way sponsored by freckled fawn. it is purely me showing you what little lovelies have found their way to my home this week :)  how can you not share these right?  seriously...check out their website....i don't want to be the only gal treating themselves. go on....you know you wanna! just make sure if you buy something you come back and tell me asap. i want to drool over your picks!  i can't wait to get more (i already have a wishlist started...and it's not small) but for now i'm shopping vicariously through you gals.  have fun!!!! hehe!

what are you crushin' on this week?  are you a fan of freckeld fawn as well?  what's your fave washi tape of the moment?  come chat with me! i've missed you over the weekend and i swear i have a starbucks with your name on it!

|| WHAT I BOUGHT ||

>> colorful arrow paperclips
>> wood chips - arrows
>> wood chips - speech bubbles
>> black & white triangle washi
>> triangle line washi
>> navy triangle washi
>> freckled fawn triangle washi
>> ils paper - why not

BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY || DOODLE STITCHING EMBROIDERY & BEYOND

doodle stitching: embroidery & beyond by aimee ray

who's in the mood to get stitchin'?  i sure am! i was excited to get a chance to review the newest book by aimee ray - doodle stitching: embroidery & beyond: crewel, cross stitch, sashiko & more!  this cute book is filled with bright colors, adorable projects and helpful how to's! covering everything from cross stitch, redwork, crewel , sashiko, stumpwork & more - aimee's got you covered!

i really enjoy how aimee brings an element of hand drawn art to embroidery & it's techniques in her newest book. being someone who loves to draw i get very excited at the idea of recreating a sketch of mine using fabric and thread.  it's so exciting!  this book gave me a great starting point to learn how to execute those ideas and transfer them into the right stitch and technique to use it in.  the book also features pretty projects ranging from a baby quilt, project bag, to storybook panels & my fave - the cuckoo clock! there's something for everyone in this lovely book from lark crafts.  the layout is clean, bright and easy to follow and the book feels fresh and cheerful! a happy addition to my book collection.

would you like to win a copy? yay!  read how to enter below!

||  THE PRIZE  ||
- one lucky winner will win a copy of doodle stitching: embroidery & beyond as well as one of aimee's lovely cutwork felt bookmarks (see above)! gorgeous!!! thanks for the awesome prize lark crafts!

||  HOW TO ENTER  ||
- simply leave me a comment below letting me know what your favorite thing about embroidery is.

||  THE RULES  ||
- you must leave a valid email address in your comment or you will be disqualified. 
- giveaway is open until wednesday, april 17th, 2013, midnight PST.

happy stitching & good luck everyone!  and a big thank you to lark crafts for the giveaway! 

TOPS, TANKS & TEES KNIT ALONG || PINTEREST BOARD

have you been looking for the perfect pattern to make for our upcoming tops, tanks & tees knit along?  why not check out our new pinterest board just for the knit along!  we tried this out last kal and it was so fun!!!


i've gone through our ravelry chat so far and also went through some of my faves and started pinning like a madwoman (sorry to my pinterest followers for the massive pinfest).  as we go along and projects get added in the ravelry thread i will keep adding them.  if you'd like a pattern to be added that you don't see just leave a comment here in this post or in our chat thread on ravelry and i'll do my best to add it in.

enjoy and happy yarn & pattern picking!

remember you can find all things TTT KAL below (dates, info & more):

http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/2006/04/spring-tops-tanks-tees-knit-along-2013.html

and sign up here:

TOPS, TANKS & TEES KNIT ALONG SIGN UP

P.S. next week is our ttt kal roundup of my fave patterns!

do you have a pattern you'd like to see added to our pinterest board? what top are you making? share!!! we love adding new patterns to our group!

SEWING || 241 TOTE FOR ME!

PATTERN:  241 TOTE BY NOODLEHEAD

i recently went away to seatlle and bellevue for the weekend for vogue knitting live (was sooo fun but more on that later) and needed a rockin' tote to carry around some of my loot.  i decided to go with the awesome 241 tote pattern from my pal anna from noodlehead.com.  i just adore this bag and love the shape.  i knew it would be perfect to highlight one of my fave prints of the moment - motif madness in vermillion from tsuru by rashida coleman-hale for cloud 9 fabrics.  i love the bold colors and shapes. it's right up my alley and i knew when the mail carrier brought it home to me that it had to be a bag.

i really enjoyed making the 241 tote.  it's just the right size for a daily tote yet can hold way more than you think.  trust me when i say it really took a beating on my trip. it even needs a day trip to the spa (aka - the washing machine).  i filled this sucker to the maximum and it held on for dear life (my strap may or may not have started to fall apart..shhhh...don't tell).  if you've made a 241 tote before though you may notice my oopsie. yes, i am not a robot and yes, i do make mistakes too.  in my excitement of making the bag and sewing with my tsuru i forgot to make the darling pleats on the bottom side curves.  that tsuru motif madness print is so awesome it blinded me with excitement! ooops!  oh well, i like it anyways and i think it may have given me a tad bit more room to fill the bag which i definitely needed :)

i really enjoy sewing from anna's patterns and not just because she is a friend of mine.  her instructions are always clear and concise and her photos are clear and easy to understand.  i don't often make myself bags but when i do i head to her pattern selection.  remember my envelope clutch from her envelope clutch pattern? i still love that one and use it often. i realized the other day that whenever i go somewhere really exciting on a trip or event i always whip up a new bag. so fun! they all hold special memories for me.

>> PATTERN <<
 - 241 Tote Pattern by Anna Graham of noodlehead.com

>> FABRIC <<
-  OUTER BAG: motif madness in vermillion from tsuru by rashida coleman-hale for cloud 9 fabrics
- OUTER BAG: robert kaufman yarn-dyed essex linen cotton  
- LINING:  motif madness in ivory fromtsuru by rashida coleman-hale for cloud 9 fabrics
- OUTER BAG & LINING: 1000 cranes in cerulean from tsuru by rashida coleman-hale for cloud 9 fabrics
- PELLON  931TD fusible midweight white interfacing

>> NOTES <<
- i forgot to make the bottom pleat detail.
- i would use a midweight-heavy weight interfacing on the handle next time.  i wear my bags hard and put them to the limit (bad me) so i would interface the strap next time and maybe add some batting to soften it up when carrying a heavier amount.
- i used a brass toned magnetic snap. can i just say how much i love magnetic snaps? they. are. awesome.

what's your favorite tote of the moment?  do you have a go to bag that you sew up up regularly? have you been sewing with tsuru? do you love it too? i missed you all while i was away so come chat! i'd love to hear your thoughts!

GIVEAWAY || PETITE KIDS BOUTIQUE PATTERN GIVEAWAY

maia dress

i've been doing a bit of selfish sewing lately.  it's felt fabulous but i'm almost ready to get back to sewing for my girlies :)  i know a lot of you are gearing up for the newest season of kids clothes week starting up at the end of april and what better way to get ready than with some new patterns from our lovely sponsor petite kids boutique!

1. little missy bolero 2. sasha jumper dress 3. lucy skirt

petite kids boutique is filled with fun patterns that really let your fabrics shine!  from dresses, shorts, rompers, pants & accessories - you name it wong's got them!  her patterns are for all skill levels from beginner to advanced, are simple to follow and include clear, colored images.  you will find that most patterns are sized for 12M-8T and some even go as low as 6mths! wong also even allows small quantities of your garment to be sold as well!  so if you're an etsy shop seller or someone looking to sell some adorable handmade goods at craft fairs this fall these would be an excellent choice.

1. ceci shorts 2. johannah romper 3. london pants

||  THE PRIZE  ||
- three lucky winners will receive 1 pattern of their choice from petite kids boutique! thanks wong!

||  HOW TO ENTER  ||
- simply visit petite kids boutique and then come back & leave a comment below letting me know which pattern you'd like!
- bonus entry: like petite kids boutique and/or luvinthemommyhood on facebook and then come back and leave a "separate comment" letting me know you did that.

||  THE RULES  ||
- you must leave a valid email address to be eligible to win.
- giveaway is open until wednesday, april 10th, 2013, midnight PST.

thanks for the giveaway wong and good luck to everyone! you can find petite kids boutique on facebook here and their etsy shop here.  happy sewing!!!

ANNOUNCEMENT || SPRING TOPS, TANKS & TEES KNIT ALONG!

guess what???? our annual spring tops, tanks & tees knit along is coming soon!!!!! get ready to mark your calendars!!!!!  our TTT's KAL is simply knitting a top, tank or tee to join in!  you can make it out of any weight of yarn, any style you'd like it just can't have full sleeves or be considered a full sweater!  it can be really summery or it can be warm and cozy with short sleeves. whatever you're dying to make and smitten with goes!  we just want you knitting!  just think how fab you will look sporting your new summer top in a month or so!  fun right?  plus you get to knit along with our crazy crew online!  we're a load of fun and the ravelry group is very active and chatty during our kal's.

the kal is suitable for any level of knitter! if this is your first garment - don't be scared to join in!  we've got a great group of ladies in our rav group and we are all always game to help and answer any questions!  during the kal there is always great technical posts with lots of info, tips & tutorials to help you get through your projects.  think of it as sitting each week with hundreds of ladies knitting alongside you cheering you on every step of the way!  trust me - it's fun!

then we are all done we celebrate with me showing off all your finished projects on the blog here with our starring you post and then i host a giant giveaway with awesome prizes from our KAL sponsors!!!! all you have to do is sign up (link below) and have started or complected your project to be eligible.  you can also crochet as well!  so if knittings not your game feel free to whip you your crochet needles as well.  heck do both if you're so inclined :)

>>>  DATES <<<

START:  APRIL 24TH
END:  MAY 22ND (give or take a week or two extension)

>>> SIGN UP <<<

sign up by clicking on the link below. *note: you must be signed up to be eligible to win the giveaway prizes at the end of the knit along.

Tops, Tanks & Tees Knit Along Sign Up Form

in the next week or so i'll be filling you in on all the nitty gritty details and doing our annual round up of inspiring patterns as well as a brand new knit along pinterest board for us to pin our fave patterns to so we can all get inspired!!! i'll also have a button for you all to sport & more goodies! i so hope you'll join in and knit along with me!

do you have a pattern picked out already? which yarn are you thinking of using? i'm so excited and hope you all are too! yay! knit along time ladies! 

p.s. you can always find lots of helpful info in our past kal's. click here to see them all!

GIVEAWAY WINNER || ART GALLERY FABRICS COLOR ME RETRO FQ BUNDLE

congratulations to......commenter #70 - jennifer!  you won a fat quarter bundle of color me retro! we'll be in touch soon about your prize! happy sewing!

and thanks to art gallery fabrics for the awesome prize! you can find more art gallery fabrics here:

website  ||  blog  ||  facebook  ||  twitter  ||  pinterest

SEWING || BOX BAG LOVE

this weekend i'm hitting the road. heading on a road trip (and ferry trip) with some awesome pals to hit up vogue knitting live in seattle! i cannot wait! i'm sooooo excited! needless to say since i'm going away i needed some handmade lovelies to accompany me.  i have my laurel dress from last week and next up to show you is my new box bag.  box bags rock.  i heart them...but remember what happened last time i made one (read about it here)? yep. not so good. silly me.  oh well. lesson learned. i knew i would try again and if i did i wanted it fully lined with no exposed seams.

my fave parts of this bag are the fabrics.  aren't they awesome? they are from katherine codega.  her illustrations and prints are some of my faves!  i splurged on 3 prints a while back and just adore them.  it's taken me eons to get the guts to even cut into them i love them so much.  i'm happy i did now though. i absolutely adore my new bag :)  you can find katherine codega's shop here.  if you pop over tell her i sent you :)  she does custom listings as well so if you see something you want and it's sold out odds are she can print it for you.  that's how i got one of my prints.

i used the tutorial from my friend libby of the blog truly myrtle to make the box bag. i knew what i wanted and still remembered what i had done the first time so it was a piece of cake this time round.  box bags can be a bit tricky to wrap your head around at first if you're a new sewer so take your time and i strongly recommend really visualizing what you are doing.  hold the pieces up in front of you as you read the instructions and envision the end result.  there are a tons of tutorials online showing  how to make these but i really liked how libby's is fully lined with absolutely no exposed seams. i hand stitched my small opening closed and i'm super happy with my results.  looks fabulous! these bags are also a really good way to practice your zippers too!

all in all they are fun little bags to use for just about anything small you want to tote around.  mine is for my sock knitting at the moment.  i'm super hooked and wanted a small bag to fit 2 small projects in for my trip.  you can make them bigger though.  the box bags are really easy to customize to whatever dimensions you would like yours to have.  you can even make them quite large to fit sweater knitting in - just be sure to use a strong interfacing :)

||  NOTES  ||

FABRICS USED:
>> pastel triangles and  bows & arrows pastel by katherine codega

PATTERN NOTES:
>> fully lined, hand stitched opening, pellon medium weight interfacing, zipper pull on one end, followed same sizing as truly myrtle tutorial.

such a fun and quick sew!  i think i need a few more :) i've got another lovely to show you this week for my upcoming trip & an announcement as well so stay tuned!

are you going to vogue knitting live? if so let me know so i can look for ya!  do you use box bags for your knitting?  how do you make yours? share pics! i'd love to see them!  happy sewing!

SEWING || THE LAUREL DRESS

pattern: the laurel dress by colette patterns

after posting last week about my love for the new colette pattern - laurel, i set aside as much time as possible on saturday to make one. i sewed like a madwoman and wore that dress out that night to knit with my girls.  now i know i could write a few paragraphs gushing but my love for this dress but i'll keep things easy - I. LOVE. THIS. DRESS.  plain and simple.

i ended up having a chat with one of my fave bloggy pals anna from noodlehead last week after i initially posted about the laurel dress (read it here) and we decided it would be super fun to post our finished laurel dresses on the same day!  i ADORE how hers turned out - i mean really, anna oozes awesomeness out of her fingernails..lol.  she looks gorgeous!  so when you are done here go pop by noodlehead and show her some luv too :)

now back to laurel....

the pattern is true to colette style with lovely finishes, fabulous fit and hand stitched details that make a big difference in the finishing of your garment.  going from what i like to call "holly hobby" to "where did you buy that fabulous dress"?  i purchased the pdf version of laurel and even the cutting/piecing didn't seem to take too long. it was pretty easy to find the pieces and not too many to cut out.  with a pattern complete with 4 options (and more in the e-book variation) i was happy to see it not going to take me a few hours.

i went ahead and went a bit nuts and didn't make a muslin - i know....dumb and daring at the same time!  i feel like i'm starting to get a good idea of my bust sizing for a fitted shape and felt comfortable going ahead with this one without worries of a full bust adjustment or making changes to the pattern piece.  thankfully luck was on my side.  i made the size 14 for the 42" bust (i'm about a 41"-42" depending on my bra..lol) and it fits fabulous.  what worries me more lately is not my bust but my shoulders and smaller back compared to my bust size. i either get neck drape or armpit gaping so have had to make changes to previous patterns for these size adjustments.  for laurel i was a-ok.  i'm really happy with the fit on my back, arms, and bust.

what i am most in love with for this dress is my tummy.  i love that laurel skims and hides lumps and ahem...bulges (two kids sure did me in for life) but still shows off the assets i do like - my legs and bust without being too revealing or clingy.  i feel really comfy in it and can see myself wearing it often. in fact i've already worn it 3 times!!!! that's a success in my book!  i've got fabric to cut out another and the blouse version is in the queue as well.

all in all, the dress does take some time to make but it is worth every minute!  you hand sew your sleeve bias and neckline and hem.  i chose to finish my hem on the machine for time purposes because i refused to go out to my knit night without it on...lol...but if i hadn't i would have hand stitched it.  it was fun!  and honestly - the finished product looks gorgeous! only thing i haven't done yet is sew on my hook and eye. still  have to do that :)  i made version 2 with pockets and no sleeve cuff.  next one i hope to do the sleeve cuff - so adorbs! i also want to make the blouse which still features the laurel dresses bust and back darts (hello....how awesome are back darts!!! let's hear it for the back darts ladies! i mean c'mon...these things make me look just a wee bit fabulous!) but no zipper! sold! right there. done.  can't wait to whip that one up too!

and yes, i said zipper. don't be scared. trust me. laurel has an invisible zipper and it was my first time putting one in and honestly it was so easy. such an easy zipper to sew in.  colette patterns has a wonderful tutorial for you to follow as well if you need help as well as many other tutorials and tips throughout the pattern.  only thing i did change (and this was the daredevil in me coming out again) was sew in my invisible zipper with my regular foot. i know, i know...bad girl, but i don't have an invisible zipper foot and didn't want to leave my house to go get one.  i read how to sew the zipper in and realized quite quickly that i could do it without the special foot. my passion for edge stitching came in handy here. i simply unrolled the curled part of the zipper near the teeth as i sewed slowly and stitched as close as possible to my zipper.  done like dinner. worked like a charm and i had a heckavu good time while i did it...lol.  let's hear it for the selfish sewing!  i could get used to this!

||  PATTERN  ||
- laurel by colette patterns

||  FABRIC  ||
- some sort of brushed cotton from fabricland (wish i had more details but i don't :(  it's very soft though and i like it.

||  NOTES  ||
- sewed size 14 and made no full bust adjustment or alterations to the sizing of the pattern.
- hand stitched sleeve hem, neckline but machine stitched the hem.
- sewed my invisible zipper in with a regular zipper foot
- i made option 2 with pockets and no sleeve cuffs
- bias trim was store bought - not handmade
- hemmed my dress as per pattern.  did not find dress too short at all and i'm 5'4". so those of you wondering about the dress length it's great!
- overall i give this pattern two thumbs up! will be making many more!

what do you think?  are you planning on making laurel? what fabric and version will you be sewing? what's your favorite colette pattern? i'm thinking of trying the pants next! fill me in!  i've got coffee for all of you & i'd love a visit!

p.s. wishing you all a wonderful long weekend with your loved ones!  here's some lovely tulips that sit beside me as i type to all you lovelies! see you next week! xoxox

KNITTING || STRIPE STUDY SHAWL

stripe study shawl by veera valimaki

i got spoiled by my mom and dad this past xmas when they surprised me with some gorgeous madelinetosh tosh merino lite to make the stripe study shawl by veera valimaki (one of my fave knitwear designers).  i cast that baby on so fast and i swear i loved every minute of it.  even the ones that i moaned and groaned through.  those were the last few days of straight garter.  now don't get me wrong - i love garter, but after the excitement and fun of this shawl design just knitting straight garter stitch for a few inches felt a bit too humdrum.  but then i found my rhythm and my happy place and boom - my stripe study was done.

what's taken me almost as long as knitting it has been getting pics of it.  you see sometimes i have to beg (and i mean beg) the hubs to photograph things for me.  hard part is i always have some sort of creative visual in my head of the whole photoshoot. I know what I want.  he can't see in my brain. i can't seem to tell him in man lingo and we both end up frustrated.  either way we try to make it work.  so after a somewhat relaxing visit to the beach the other day (or as relaxing as it can be with 2 kids frolicking in the wet sand (one who keeps going just a bit too far out into the ocean), a hubs who keeps attempting to play with mad strange dogs, noisy people standing on the beach having a very loud 10min conversation in part german about real estate, and a child who all of a sudden realizes they have to pee and can't hold it) we attempted to get a few quick shots before driving like a madwoman to the nearest washroom so my crying child could pee.

needless to say they aren't perfect which is why there are a few more of my daughter modeling them above.  she tried to help me out.  i added them in and edited this to add that even though i wrote that i was making peace with my hubs pics i still tried again and prolly will a few more times until i get the shot that i'm happy with..lol. overall though i just wanted you to see it.  so i'm letting it go for now.  making peace with the photos of my stripe study.  it's beautiful.  i love it.  i hope you'll take my word for it and go make one of your own one day.  it's the perfect indulgence and actually a quite easy and relaxing knit that's perfect for purse knitting.  if you love short rows you'll love the race and anticipation of stripe study.  be warned though that blocking this lovely takes patience & a good tv show or movie (it took me an hour or two). i highly recommend using blocking wires (i got mine from knitpicks) and being very picky about it.  mine blocked nicely and i'm  happy with the turnout.

||  PATTERN  ||
- Stripe Study Shawl by Veera Valimaki

||  YARN USED  ||
- Torchere in Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Lite
- Steamer Trunk in Madlinetosh Tosh Merino Lite

||  NOTES  ||
- I did not do the full amount of stripe repeats. I simply did what others had done and knit till I ran out of my red color. You can't really tell and I love it anyways :) I also carried my yarn on the color changes up the sides for the 2 rows. No weaving in ends for me :)

i love the lines and the design of this shawl and have been wearing it tons! it's such a fun pattern to make and it was a joy to knit.  two thumbs up in my book.  my mom also made one and i love that we can both sport our stripe study's together! thanks mom & dad!

what about you? have you made one? do you like short rows as well?  what's your fave shawl to knit?  let's chat knitty goodness m'dears!  coffees on!

p.s  Laura C from Littleandlots was the winner of the Botanical Knits Book Giveaway!!! I'll be in touch today! Thanks for all of your entries!

FREE TUTORIAL || JENI REVERSIBLE APRON & AN ART GALLERY FABRICS GIVEAWAY

It's Fat Quarter Gang time for Art Gallery Fabrics! I've got my newest project out today - The Jeni Reversible Apron Tutorial! As soon as I saw Jeni's fabulous line of fabrics - "Color Me Retro", I knew I had to figure out a way to make a fun new apron using fat quarters! I always have a hard time getting an apron to fit me right when they are store bought so I was very excited to make an apron just for me - the Jeni Reversible Apron Tutorial! Yay! It's always a good thing to spoil yourself a wee bit. I hope you will all join in and make one and spoil yourselves a bit too :) It's fun - I promise!

I love that this apron is completely comprised of fat quarters.  You can easily add more prints or take some away but you can do it all with fat quarters :) There's a bit of measuring & cutting involved but nothing too tricky. Overall it's a quick sew with some topstitching (my fave) and an interesting construction technique with the vintage inspired pocket strips on the apron skirt. Plus it's got long ties to make the perfect big bow! Who doesn't feel feminine with a pretty bow on their apron?  So next time you see the latest Art Gallery Fabric fat quarter bundles pop up online whip up a fun new apron!

Head on over to the Art Gallery Fabrics blog to get the full pdf tutorial!  Yeppers - that's right! You get a nice printable pdf for this one!

And in the meantime don't forget to enter here to win a fat quarter bundle of Color Me Retro!!!

||  THE PRIZE  ||
 - One lucky winner will win a fat quarter bundle of Color Me Retro from 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 March 29th, 2013, midnight, PST.

Have fun and happy sewing!  A big thank you to AGF for their awesome fabrics! I love this apron and cannot wait to see all the fabric combos & fun details you all come up with!

SEWING || CLOTHES FOR ME

i've been feeling the urge to spoil myself a tad these last few weeks.  i've been dreaming of finding the time to sew for myself.  not for the kids, not for a gift, but just for me.  with some fun events coming up and me not feeling 100% lately i figured a new dress was in order.  but what to make?  i have 2 washi's now and i was feeling in the mood to spice things up a tad.  then literally (i'm not kidding here) as i was perusing the wide world of the intranet the colette newsletter popped up in my inbox and low and behold the new Laurel Dress!!! love at first sight!  this shift dress had me dreaming.  off i went and boom - in my cart it went without a second though. i never. ever. ever. do that. i'm cheap..lol. i could not resist the lure of the laurel...lol.

the laurel dress by colette patterns

pretty right? i just love the ease and simplicity of it. i also love the ability to really make it your own. so many possibilities and options!  and i'm hoping it will hide that tummy of mine..lol.  darn tummy...i digress.  since i'm in canada and the fabric i really wanted i would have to order online and wait 2-3 weeks to get i decided to shop local and find some random print that i will pay way too much for just so i can whip one of these up for myself.  this soft denim blue cotton print with black roses had me swooning. not sure what it was about it but i fell for it. i could just picture it with a hand knits and boots so i grabbed it with my screaming kids in tow (yes, i even braved the dreaded fabric store with both kids! i'm nuts) and bought my first invisible zipper, bias tape (i'm too lazy to make my own this week) and thread.  now i just need to find the time to sew it.

you can get the laurel dress here and if you buy it today you can still scoop up on their 15% off deal! plus as a bonus you get a free e-book with extras for the pattern, tips, techniques and more!  it's awesome!  and if you're feeling really creative you can head to the colette patterns blog and enter their awesome sewing contest for the laurel dress! the prizes are ahhhhhmazing! just sayin' :) you know....cause i can't help but make you all sew one right side along me.

and in case the laurel dress isn't your vibe check out another fave i've got on my list - the staple dress!  how cute is this one!  this looks like it will be next on my list after i'm done a laurel dress & blouse.  april rhodes designed a fab and figure flattering dress that's great for all skill levels! check it out here!

then of course i still need to make my tova tunic, and more wiksten tanks....and.......

what are you all sewing for yourselves lately?  have you found a new pattern that you just had to drop everything for to sew?  what's your go to ladies pattern of the moment?  i'd love to hear about it.  yes, i want to add more to my to do list...lol.  the more lovelies to make the better!

have a wonderful sewing, coffee and sunshine filled weekend! luvs <3

p.s. i'll be announcing the winner of the botanical knits giveaway next week.

CRUSHES || FABRIC & YARN

motif madness in vermillion & ivory from tsuru by rashida coleman-hale for cloud 9 fabrics

the mailman brought me some new lovelies yesterday! so excited to cut into these pretty new fabrics!!!  i've been drooling after tsuru by rashida coleman-hale (for cloud 9 fabrics) since she first sneak peeked it ages ago.  i saved up my pennies and finally was able to indulge and get a few prints from the line. i'm so in love with all the prints i got!  i'm now kicking myself wishing i had ordered more...lol.

but that always happens when i order fabric online right now.  the shipping hurts right now so i'm trying to be smart about my online ordering and only doing it when i need to or have a project in mind.  this whole being canadian thing is tricky sometimes.  makes me sad it costs so much now to ship fabric from the us to canada and vice versa.  hard on the wallet :(  i've been trying to take advantage of special shipping discounts when i see them pop up.  i also have a new sponsor spool & spindle  that's located in canada and she offers $5 flat rate shipping in canada and free shipping for orders over $150!  our other sponsors fabricworm, contemporary cloth & fat quarter shop all also have regular deals on shipping as well.  i try to share their deals when i spot them on my fb page whenever i can :) us fabric addicts gotta help each other out right? lol!

1. 1000 cranes cerulean 2. of a feather ivory 3. of a feather indigo - from tsuru by rashida coleman-hale for cloud 9 fabrics

along with my tsuru i also picked up more prints from timber & leaf by sarah watts for blend fabrics (you can see the other prints i got here) to add to the others i got from the line a few weeks ago.  these have a special project in mind for them and i can't spill the beans about it yet :)  the whole line is lovely though and i'm really happy with all the prints i have.  the girls love them as well.

brush bear ivory & gerbara turquoise from timber & leaf by sarah watts for blend fabrics

as well as fabrics i recently picked up some more of one of my go to worsted weight yarns - cascade 220 heathers in colorway aliki beach/sand.  i love this subtle neutral and hope the project i have in mind for it works out and i can show you all what i have planned in the next week or so :) think spring/summer & knitting ladies! wink wink....

cascade 220 heathers in colorway aliki beach/sand

i also could not resist ordering some of knit picks newest yarns billow.  as soon as i spotted these colorways i was sold.  this bulky yarn is 100% pima cotton! i know right! so soft! not sure what it's going to be yet but i'm working on something fun!!! 

billow from knitpicks in colorway tumeric and sagebrush

what fabrics have you splurged on lately? anything new you're lusting after? yarn goodies you recently picked up?  let's chat what you're crushing on! coffee's on!

GET INSPIRED FOR SPRING GIVEAWAY!!

 
With warmer temperatures around the corner, we want to help you get inspired for Spring!

Some fantastic bloggers and companies have teamed up to help you get your Spring Sewing On. Enter the Sewing Collection Giveaway for your chance to win one of SIX incredible prizes, including a brand new PFAFF® ambition essential™ sewing machine, with the total of all prizes being valued at more than $2,000! 

Get inspired this Spring!

MOMENTS IN THE MOMMYHOOD || SURVIVAL

it's spring break here where i live and let me tell you..never in my life would i have thought that i would dislike spring break. aiyayaya.  these are going to be 2 very long weeks.  my oldest has even drawn a calendar on her easel chalkboard counting down the days until school starts back up.  with the hubs busy with overtime it's not a season we can take a vacay in. so it's more of a torture having no school then a fun 2 weeks of holidays in our house. i guess that's just a reminder that i'm a grown up now...lol.  gone are the days when i counted down on my own calendar until spring break started to go have fun with my friends and have no school.  it struck me as funny how similar the situations are but in reverse.  when you are little you love school and then you get older and don't want to go and can't wait for that brief but awesome break of fun. and now here i am again wishing there was school.  i think if my hubs could have holidays right now i may feel differently but this is my fate so i'm putting it bravely out there - i. don't. like. spring. break.  there, i said it. phew. i feel better now.

i'm still not 100% (waiting to see a specialist next month) so that's making it even harder to entertain these wee ones. top it off with fog, non stop rain pours and you've got a pretty crappy spring break. bleh.  i also  haven't been able to sew for weeks!  with being ill and also having had a procedure done on my upper back near my shoulder it's made it really hard to type, knit and even sew and has me pretty down in the dumps i must say.  i'm trying to do it in little stints now. i sewed the other day for about 15 mins and will do a tiny bit more today again.  so i apologize for the lack of sewing goodness on the blog lately.  there's been a lot of knitting going on around here but that's mostly due to me being unable to sew.  at least i can lay down and feel crappy and knit. it's a bit harder to do that while sewing..lol.  i can't wait to be fully reunited with poppy though.  her and i have some new patterns in the works and this has sure slowed us down.

oh and did i mention we've been living in utter chaos?  yep. big time chaos.  you know when you redecorate and reorganize and your house turns into a bad episode of hoarders and you have no idea how it got that way? well that's my house. i can't even hardly get into my bedroom. plus my bed?  what's a bed?  mine's covered in 5 (i'm guessing), count em' 5 + loads of laundry...eeek!  i def need a fairy cleaning lady..lol.  we had a quick trip to the mainland last weekend and picked up a lot of new lovelies for our condo from ikea.  i can't wait to show you all my new office space.  i've now taken over our dining area and a good chunk of our living room.  oops...lol.  oh well....you gotta do what you gotta do right? the joys of condo living. you peeps without houses know what i mean right?

so the hubs and i have slowly been assembling ikea furniture after ikea furniture and watching non stop homeland (LOVE this show) and starting to get our lives back in order.  we're selling our old stuff to offset the cost of the new and also to make room for the new stuff...lol.  so as the old pieces sell we assemble the new ones.  the kids and i definitely do not do well with this kind of living situation though.  it's sort of a weird feeling being in limbo. hopefully by the end of this weekend things will be in more of a normal state again.

airplanes built by my oldest and photographed by her as well

the girls and i have been playing a ton of lego (lego rocks!!!!) and also restaurant.  these are both good things to play while mom needs to be laying down (you so know that i can rock restaurant for at least an hour, people can lay down in restaurants right?).  i even designed a fancy menu for their restaurant and printed it out and binded it for them...haha.  yep, i'm hardcore that way. can't have a restaurant without a menu!  we also got to have some good cuddle times with my super adorbs nephew.  i loooooove this little guy.  i love that i get baby snuggles but then he goes home..lol.  he makes me want more babies but then my oldest acts out and i snap out of it quickly.  i love the babies....older kids...now that's hard work.  2 is more than enough for me. in fact i think my soon to be 6 year old is the equivalent of 2-3 6yr olds in one body...lol. she's a challenging one that one.  thankfully my youngest is very docile and calm so it balances out a tad.  oh who am i kidding - it's nuts in my house...lol. there. i said it.  it's nuts. i'm surprised most days when i crawl into bed that i am still indeed alive. honestly.  i look around and think how the hell did i make it through today without a nervous breakdown?  or them killing me?  seriously.  being a mom is damn hard work.  damn hard work.  i think from now on spring break should be mom break.  all the moms could gather somewhere fabulous with lots of spa services, shopping, hot waiters, booze, beaches (whatever your thing) for a 2 week break from life.  ahhhhh....yessss....that sounds good.  waiter...another daiquiri please?  won't you join me?

who else is trying to survive spring break? is yours coming up soon?  what's going on in your home?  are you in a chaos zone too?  let's chat. it's friday and i am so excited the weekend is almost here!

BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY || BOTANICAL KNITS

eye candy alert! eye candy alert!  it's been a while since i did a book review and boy am i happy to have the awesomely talented alana dakos's new book "botanical knits" on the blog today!  i'm a big fan of alana's work and her podcast (never not knitting) and her new publication botanical knits does not disappoint!  filled with stunning photography, gorgeous illustrations & fresh graphic design this book just makes you want to curl up at home and knit till you can't knit anymore.

botanical knits is inspired by alana's love of leaves and she has incorporated it into a stunning collection of hand knits that fits so perfectly with her beautiful aesthetic.  true to her style and signature look botanical knits is filled with 12 patterns ranging from sweaters & cardigans, to shawls, socks and mitts.  and let's not forget the hats! some of my fave projects alana designs are her hats.  this collection features 3 hat patterns all of which are awesome!  i have already cast on for my fave - forest floor and i'm loving it!

alana's patterns are well written, clear and easy to follow and the layout of the book is truly inspiring.  i really enjoyed the special touches that the graphic designer - Mary Joy Gumayagay, added to the book.  in particular her table of contents and yarn pages just made me clap with excitement (shown above). they are fresh, unique and fit the vibe of the book perfectly.  i also enjoyed how she tied in the "botanical" aspect of the theme and really reflected the vibe of specimens.  i thoroughly enjoyed it!  alongside Neesha Hudson's soft and endearing illustrations and the breathtaking photography by Carlee Tatum this book is sure to be a new fave for anyone's collection.  i can't wait to make more of the projects!

what do you think? are you ready to go on a wee walk through the woods?  let's go get inspired by the leaves shall we?  and maybe at the end of it you might win a copy of botanical knits of your own??? hehehe....click below to read more, drool over pics with me and to enter the giveaway!

MOMENTS IN THE MOMMYHOOD || IT'S A GOOD DAY

it's a good day by shannon cook

i love coffee.  i also love the start of a new journey.  since i'm revamping my home a bit i knew i wanted a lovely little pic to get printed and hang near my new desk.  i knew it had to have coffee in it..lol (of course right?).  instead of searching for something awesome on etsy or pinterest i really wanted to make something truly my own.  so i took the shot above and put a reminder to myself on it.  i can't wait to hang it up (and for all you coffee lovers out there if you'd like a copy shoot me an email and i would more than happily send one your way)! what do you have hanging in your creative space?

i've been working hard over the last few months to make some changes in my life. you know that never-ending journey of trying to find the ultimate work/life balance?  yep, that one.  so far it's been all positive, slow going albeit, but progress nonetheless.  i'm excited for what this year holds for me and when i read this post over on design for mankind last night erin just summed up all my thoughts so beautifully i had to share it.  i found her post so touching and inspiring and really a very special reminder that what i've been working towards is so worth it.  click here to go read her wonderful post. i swear i'm going to print it out and read it when i need a pick me up.  i hope you all enjoy it as much as i did.

what did you think about erin's post?  have you been striving to reach that balance?  are you trying to simplify and slow down to focus on your passions?  please share your thoughts.  i find this topic so interesting and such a great discussion starting point.  i hope you all have a wonderful weekend and i'll see ya next week with some new lovelies to share!  thank you all so much for the well wishes this week -  you guys are the best!  luvs <3

p.s.  the winner of the contemporary cloth fabric giveaway was...............

bless by tone - commenter #186

congrats hun!!!! so excited for you!!! i'll be in touch soon!  enjoy! thank you to all who entered and to sondra from contemporary cloth for the wonderful giveaway!

you can find all things contemporary cloth here:

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