MOMENTS IN THE MOMMYHOOD || CATCHING UP

we've had a busy week my wee family and i.  we recently got back from a wee trip to vancouver for my hubbies convocation! so excited! he's finally done!  after many long years of his working full time/studying he has achieved such a huge accomplishment. it was such a joy and i was so proud to see him walk across that stage as a CA! congrats again hun! i love you so much and the girls and i are so proud of you!!!

now i think we need to find out about some winners! we have winners to announce for 2 different giveaways!!! first up is the ella's cottage fabric giveaway! the winner of a 16 fat quarter bundle of happy go lucky is.......

commenter #19 - johanna vandeweghe

next up is the winner of the sew pretty t-shirt dresses book giveaway.  the winner of a copy of "sew pretty t-shirt dresses" is......

commenter #62 - karen propes

congrats ladies! i'll be in touch with you sometime today!  thank you to all of you who entered. and just cause i think they are just so darn cute i couldn't resist posting some pics of my girlies. 

p.s. i'm in the middle of massive potty training drama for the wee one. any tips? it was easy with my oldest.  i have to have her trained by september to go to preschool. she just turned 3 so it's time. i can't wait to have the final diaper party :) would love any help you could give.  hope you all had a great weekend!

SEWING || PATRICIA COWL & SASCHA THE DRESS FORM

i recently got my hands on some of the fabulous bari j's new line "bijoux" from art gallery fabrics. this fabric line is gorgeous and so fun! i love the bohemian vibe and the colors are just drool worthy!  you will definitely not get bored with this fabric line. i honestly couldn't choose my fave print.

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but i was able to decide what to make with it. i knew as soon as i saw bijoux that it had to be a patricia cowl (you can find my tutorial to make the patricia cowl here. it's fast, fun & a great sew!). it just screamed cowl to me and it also screamed a pressie for a certain friend of mine.  she's been waiting a long time for this so i'm so glad to finally get it blogged and hopefully mailed out to her next week. 

hannah - merry christmas...lol. hugs! lol.  hope you love it and sorry it took me 5 months too long!

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isn't it pretty? i just want to throw it on with a white tank, some cute jeans, a bangle and my flip flops. so lovely.  wait...what's that you ask..."who's that sassy grey gal wearing it"?  well...let me tell you.  she's new to our house.  she's funny, a tad shy, curvy, purdy and is my new friend.  her name is sascha singer. she says hi!  nice to meet you.  she's bff's with poppy the pfaff.  lmao. ok...ok...ok...in all seriousness you know how i love naming inanimate objects i adore in my home right? i know it's a tad weird but whatevs...it's fun!  anyhoo, her name is sascha singer but she was born singer 151, in the US, at Joanns.com.  she came to us a few weeks ago and we have loved her ever since.

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i have been on the hunt for an adjustable dress form for years. years. could never afford the one i wanted so started looking second hand but it's damn hard to find an adjustable m/l size dress form in good condition. my 41" bust needed to be represented...lol.  so does my baby gut. and my hips. and my butt...lol.  so when i spotted a big sale on at joanns.com for a huge steal off the dress forms i jumped at the chance. i had been wanting a grey one but could never find a grey singer so i was pretty excited to be able to order this one and ship on over to canada.  to all you fellow canadians the shipping was not bad at all and the duty etc was $10. can't go wrong for that!!!! i'm happy with the dress form for the price i paid which was under $100 and i can't wait to use it for my first garment for myself.

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PATTERN

- Patricia Cowl by me

FABRIC

- Bijoux by Bari J for Art Gallery Fabrics

- Prints used:

into the wild cedar, bohemian charms cedar, embroidery's fortune rose, bohemian charms honey, dream catcher fuchsia, mystic traveler magenta.

DRESS FORM

- purchased at www.joanns.com

- model singer 151

- adjustable dress form in size M/L

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do you have a dress form?  which brand is your favorite? i had a hard time deciding between dritz, singer and all the others but figured before i invest a lot more money into a dress form i would try this brand out and see how much i use it, pros/cons and if it's worth investing in one three times as expensive later on down the road.  i'd love to hear what dress form you use and if you're so inclined what her name is...lol. have a wonderful weekend everyone!

p.s. don't forget to enter the ella's cottage fabric giveaway for a 16 fat quarter bundle of "happy go lucky" from bonnie and camille. you can enter here.

VINTAGE MAY || THE SALLY DRESS

the vintage vibe is in the air! can you feel it? that's right everyone - it's vintage may! i was so excited to be asked to join in for this fun series hosted by my pals kristin of the awesome blog - skirt as top and the equally as amazing jess of craftiness is not optional. i knew as soon as i got invited i could not pass this one up.  a dress had to be made.  a vintage inspired one at that.  this is right up my alley! luckily i had recently gotten just the right fabric.  bright, a modern yet still vintage vibe and an oh so cheerful color for my little one. 

vintage may

the print i decided to use definitely reminded me of my inspiration - sally draper of the tv show mad men. i looove mad men and i love the clothing from the show.  i thought it would be fun to use sally as my jumping off point.  can't you just see her in a scene wearing this cute frock? the fabric i used is floradots in saffron by erin mcmorris for free spirit.  i also have some in a blue/grey tone that i hope to use to sew my oldest a sally dress as well with some fun add ons. the bodice and pockets were then lined with hidden treasure gold from indie by pat bravo for art gallery fabrics. such a great print too!

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when doing my original sketches i knew i wanted big pockets. but not just any pockets - pockets that show. easy ones to throw hidden treasures in - my little ponies, dolls, shells, rocks...you name it - my girls will carry it.  they are constantly storing goodies in their pockets so this time instead of me finding it hidden in the wash i figured i wouldn't miss them in these big ol' pockets. plus, well, pockets just plain rock!

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i also knew when designing this dress that simplicity was my goal.  i wanted no closures - thus the square neckline.  and yes, that's right - there is no zipper or buttons.  you just pull it on. love it!  and so does she!  the bodice is fully lined as are the pockets.  the pockets also go right down into the hem for optimum toy storage! i also knew i wanted a higher waistline, gathered skirt and a shorter length than normal.  it's hard to tell from these pics but she could easily wear this as a tunic.  i might have even gone a bit shorter if she had stood still longer for me to pin more accurately.  darn 3 year olds...lol...don't they want mommy to make them stand on a stool wearing a piece of fabric with pins for 10 minutes while i measure over and over again? no way.  she's a trooper though.  she's getting there.

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the best part of the whole process - that smile! she loves it and that sure does my heart good.  such a doll this one.  she just melts my heart.

what do you guys think of this dress?  i've got so many fun variations of the sally dress that i'd like to try. in fact i'm leaning to making this one a pattern available. any interest?  would you like to see a pattern for the sally dress?  sleeves? long or short?  i'd love to hear your thoughts!  it's a fun dress to make and you guys know my style - if it's fun/rewarding to make, allows you to customize and shows off my fave fabric crush it's a winner in my book.

a huge thank you to kristin and jess for having me along as part of vintage may.  please be sure to check out all the other bloggers involved in this fun series. there is a TON of amazing lovelies being made and it's not to be missed.  you can find all the vintage may goodness below:

>> vintage may oncraftiness is not optional <<

>> vintage may onskirt as top <<

|| FABRICS USED ||

-  floradots in saffron by erin mcmorris for free spirit.

- bodice and pocket are lined withhidden treasures goldfrom indie by pat bravo for art gallery fabrics.

|| PATTERN USED ||

|| VINTAGE MAY INSPIRATION ||

-sally draper of the tv showmad men.

*EDITED TO ADD - THE SALLY DRESS PATTERN IS NOW FOR SALE! YOU CAN FIND THE SALLY DRESS PATTERN HERE AND READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE! THANK YOU!*

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

vintage alarm clock from things with soul

alrighty - you all voted! the winner of the timeline extension poll is...1 week!  wahoo!  you've all got an extra week ladies! it was sure close! remember - you don't have to finish your project to qualify for the fab giveaway.  we just want you knitting and having fun so don't stress - this should be fun!

the new deadline for the tops, tanks & tees kal is:

>> may 28th, 2013, midnight, pst <<

make sure to upload your finished pics into the finished project thread in our ravelry group so i can put together our starring you post!  some of you have already been showing your first and 2nd finished projects! you're on firrrreeee!  so jealous!  my knitting has come to an abrupt halt due to some other deadlines.  not sure if even i'm going to make it to the finish line this time round gals but i'm going to give it my best shot :)

i can't wait to see all your projects next week!  how's yours coming along? have you blogged about your project? link up ladies!  

>> JOIN IN & SIGN UP <<
- sign up for the knit along by clicking "here".
- get inspired by checking out our kal pinterest board & our pattern roundup post
- take part in all the fun conversation & make new friends in our ravelry group
- find out more and find all the posts and info "here" on our kal homepage.
- remember to tag your instagram pics with #tttkal, same goes on twitter.

>> OUR LOVELY SPONSORS <<

FABRIC GIVEAWAY || ELLA'S COTTAGE

happy go lucky fabric fat quarter bundle - img src: ella's cottage

yum, yum, yum, yum! who's in the mood for some fabric fun? i am, i am!!! yahoo!  one of our newest sponsors - ella's cottage is offering up a lovely fabric giveaway today!  i love me a good fabric giveaway!

happy go lucky fat quarter fabric bundle - img src: ella's cottage

i have been a long time reader of the blog "simplicity" of camille roskelly and love her fabrics and quilt patterns.  i was excited when i saw the prize leigh anne of ella's cottage was giving away! this is a sweet one!  the happy go lucky line is the newest range of fabrics from bonnie and camille for moda.  it's bright, happy and oh so lovely!  perfect for that new quilt you've been dying to whip up! need some inspiration? you can find some of the patterns that camille has designed for this line of fabrics HERE. 

in the mood to win some?  click to find out how! 

ella's cottage is your newest fave etsy shop filled with your current fabric crushes.  the owner leigh anne is not just giving away this awesome prize she is also offering everyone 15% OFF all orders with coupon code "luvinthemommyhood"!  and that's not all!!!  you can also get free shipping on all orders over $50 within canada/us with coupon code "shipfree50"!!!  thank you leigh anne!!!
 *(customers further abroad are free to use the 15% off code but must contact ella's cottage directly for shipping costs). 
**(both the 15% off and free shipping coupons cannot be combined in one order).

|| THE PRIZE ||
- one lucky winner will win 16 fat quarters from the lovely line "happy go lucky" by bonnie & camille for moda from ella's cottage

|| HOW TO ENTER ||
- simply leave me a comment letting me know what you would make if you won.
- *bonus entry: like ella's cottage and/or luvinthemommyhood on facebook and then come back and tell us you did that as well in a seperate comment.

|| THE RULES ||
- you must have a valid email address in your comment or you will be disqualified.
- this giveaway is open to canadian & US residents ONLY.
- giveaway is open until 05/26/2013, midnight, PST.

good luck to you all and a big thank you to ella's cottage!  you can find more about ella's cottage below:

shop  ||  facebook

EVERYTHING OLD YARN || HAPPY STREET OBSESSION

happy street by veera valimaki

have you ever spotted a pattern and fallen head over heels in love? well you all know what a big fan i am of veera valimaki's patterns and when her newest shawl - happy street popped up a few weeks ago i got bit real bad.  i mean the kind of hours of mad hunting for the exact same yarn colors kind of bad. i'm the kinda gal that just can't seem to resist short rows, grey and bright neon pink in a shawl. i was and am obsessed.

i was also out of luck. for a brief moment that is.  i could not find the same colors of madelinetosh yarns that veera used anywhere.  luckily my friend em of everything old fame lives in the same city as i do and we all happened to be discussing our new happy street obsession when she revealed that she was working on a new yarn weight - solo sock....yessss!!! a  super soft, 100% superwash merino, sock weight, single ply,  that she so sweetly and kindly offered to dye me up some in the same colorways as veera's happy street. yahoo!!! problem solved!

haar, november and pinkie pie in solo sock from everything old

truth be told i much prefer my everything old's "solo sock" over my madelinetosh merino lite i just used for my stripe study.  the yarn is way softer, has great drape and helloooooo...could that pink get any more friggin' awesome!  the yarn just shines! it's beautiful! the best part about the pink besides the rockin' colorway is that em called it "pinkie pie". i die.  for reals...pinkie pie?!

we love my little pony in our house. like really love it.  so my girls made me swear that i would take a pic of the yarn starring the oh so glamorous pink pie herself...lmao! i know, i know....i'm sorry em, i couldn't resist the lure of the pony. she batted those darn eyelashes at me and i just couldn't resist.  she looks good with it no?  the greys are also equally as gorgeous.  both haar (the darker blue/grey tone) and november (lighter grey) have depth, and are both lovely shades of grey. i love me a good grey people!  and even though em rocks with her colors her greys all stand on their own as well. the girls got skillz!

if you've been looking to get your hands on some yarn for happy street look no further. em has some of the same colorways dyed up and ready for you to bring on home!  you can find her new weight of yarn "solo sock" for sale now and the colorways i purchased "haar", "november" , and "pinkie pie" in her shop now! trust me in that you won't be disappointed. we all covet em's yarns here and they are gorgeous!!!!  thank you again em, for being so awesome and for allowing me to indulge in my latest obsession. xoxo

you can follow and find out more about everything old here:

shop  ||  blog  ||  ravelry  ||  facebook  ||  twitter  ||  instagram

what about you?  are you a veera fan? addicted to her shawls as well?  are you planning on making happy street?  what colorways are you using?  and what about everything old! are you a fan too?  let's chat some yarn goodness!  wishing you all a lovely and handmade kinda weekend.

p.s. off topic... the online crafting community was saddened, shocked and devestated to hear of the loss of kathreen of whipup yesterday. she will be missed greatly. she touched the lives of so many - mine included.  for those of you inquiring on how to help the children an Education Fund has been set up and you can find more information here on whipup.  any help you can do to spread the word is so greatly appreciated. thank you in advance for your time and generosity.

SPRING TOP, TANKS & TEES KNIT ALONG || DEADLINE IS LOOMING

pattern: levenwick by gudrun johnston

oh man....my spring tops, tanks & tees knit along projects has come to a dead halt for me.  i'm now sitting and typing this post, staring at my project and drinking a venti (yes venti) coffee from starbucks (it was my free drink so don't judge..lol. who doesn't order a venti when it's free right?). the fear of running out of yarn has taken over my excitement for the finished project.  i spent 4 hours knitting with my gals on sat night and i'm still not at the bottom of the cardi. i'm now into the 3rd skein and only have 1 left! 1 left to do the button band, a pocket and 2 sleeves?!!!!!!!! CRAZYTOWN people!  crazy. it's keeping me up at night. lol. die hard knitters will understand this dread and concern. i'm fretting big time but too darn lazy to search for more yarn and too darn stubborn to give up my hope that i can indeed perform a miracle and salvadge the project without more yarn. oh my...someone slap me out of it.  or at least tell me i can do it. one or the other..lol.

my plan of attack is to finish the bottom, do the button band and then weigh what i have left.  then do the sleeves dividing up the portion of yarn left over and see how far i get and then at that point order and hunt for more yarn.  darn it all.  i highly doubt i will make the deadline......but speaking of deadlines how are you all doing?  are we leaning towards an extension like normal? would you like 1 or 2 more weeks? let me know and we'll make it happen.  i need an consensus though peeps and because i'm all diplomatic and stuff (i just voted for our election last night - what a gong show that was but i digress) i've added a little poll into this post just for your voting pleasure.  let me know your thoughts and i'll do my best to make the end of the kal a happy one for us all :)

i'm hoping the poll will distract from the fact that i did indeed promise a shot of my cardi on my human body and not my dream size dress form (she's a 34" bust - i'm 41..lmao!). i did not get a pic taken. i'm hoping for next week. it just may happen.  i gotta nag the hubs and you all know how our photo shoots go.  they always end in me drinking alcohol to calm my nerves.

this week has been a weird one for my kal project. instead of knitting on my project i've been worrying about it which has been deterring me from working on it so i then in turn distract myself by watching knitting podcasts.  now watching podcasts is a bit new for me.  i'm slowly building up my faves.  this week i found 2 new to me ones that i really enjoyed!  the first one is hosted by a gal in our kal who knits one handed!  she's such a sweetheart and her podcast is shot in hawaii! ummmm...can i come live there with you? so gorgeous!  you can find her podcast "singlehandedknitter" on her website and her ravelry group of the same name here. thanks for the shout out melissa in your most recent podcast!

i also stumbled up on the "must stash" podcast. love these gals!  beware though...once i started watching i wanted to watch them all in a row. such a fun duo these gals are!  i was excited to see one of them was making jane's pattern grace! yay! check it out if you're looking for one filled with yarny goodness! you can find the must stash podcast here and all of their social media and ravelry info is on their blog.

so in the true manner of allowing me to continue to self soothe and procrastinate what are your fave knitting podcasts to watch?  fill me in!  i'm thinking it might be fun to put a fun list together in our ravelry group as a resource. whatcha think? 

POLL FOR DEADLINE EXTENSION

remember to vote in the poll about the deadline above!  i've also got coffee and tea on the go for you all...so pull up a seat, come cry with me over my sweater and then i can cheer yours on cause judging by the pics in our rav group you gals are doing AMAZING! DROOLWORTHY! some people are on their 3rd projects!!! thank you for knitting with me :)

>> JOIN IN & SIGN UP <<
- sign up for the knit along by clicking "here".
- get inspired by checking out our kal pinterest board & our pattern roundup post
- take part in all the fun conversation & make new friends in our ravelry group
- find out more and find all the posts and info "here" on our kal homepage.
- remember to tag your instagram pics with #tttkal, same goes on twitter.

>> OUR LOVELY SPONSORS <<

MOMENTS IN THE MOMMYHOOD || THREE

my baby is turning 3 today.  i had a hard time sleeping last night.  for some reason this bday has affected me so much more than 1 or 2 did.  i just cannot believe she is 3. where has the time gone already?  my little angel has just gotten so big and is so not a baby anymore..lol.  i miss the baby days.  harper is such a gift.  she is the most darling little thing and she has her momma just wrapped around her little finger. i mean how could you say no to that face right?  she's my little buddy and comes with me everywhere.  she's so precious and i just can't wait to see what 3 has in store for her.

i have spent a lot of time in thought since xmas about this blog, my creative passions, goals and of course, my family.  what and how to balance my time, energy and attention to and when.  i haven't succeeded in finding the answer but we're slowly getting there.  i don't want to miss the last 2 years i have home with her. i want to cherish them because once she's in kindergarten that's it.  that part of my life with my girls is over.  as much as it is exhausting and challenging i love being able to work from home and be with my girlies.

over the last few months things have changed a bit.  i feel the urge to have some more "evening" time free for me to create instead of being on the computer.  i want to spend time with my husband and i want to have time to actually sleep...lol.  this blog has been such a special and important part of my life and it's not going anywhere - i'm just trying to find a new balance that allows me time to have a healthy home life with my girls, time to take care of myself with exercise and healthy food, time to design and create and of course, time to document it all here with all of you. i hope you all understand and have continued to enjoy the blog this year so far as my family and i transition into a new phase of my dreams and goals.  this momma has to shift things around a bit to make sure i'm not spread so thin i can't enjoy any of it.  my health suffers and so does my family life.  blogging is damn hard work (more than i think 70% of the population is aware of) and mixed with being a full time mom it leaves little left over.  i swear i work more than my hubby :)

my little harper has helped me to realize that i need to balance things better or before i know it another year will have flown past in a blink of an eye and most of it will be spent with mommy and daddy working instead of us all having quality time together. i hope i can try to succeed at least a little bit in all the areas i would like to.  i want to put quality content out here on the blog but i also want to work on my other goals of pattern designing and books.  i hope you'll join me in the journey.  it's so amazing to know that so many of you have been reading since mackenzie was a baby and throughout all of harper's journey.  there is something so amazing and special about that feeling.  i truly love and appreciate every one of you for reading and for being my friend.  thank you from the bottom of my heart.

and to my little girl - mommy loves you. to the moon and back and the stars too.  may all your wishes come true my special angel.

any of you in the same boat with struggling to balance it all? are you an emotional bday person too?  please tell me i'm not the only one doing serious reflection and crying on my toddler's bday..lol.

GIVEAWAY & BOOK REVIEW || SEW PRETTY T-SHIRT DRESSES

sew pretty t-shirt dresses by sweet seams

are you getting ready to through your closets now that the nicer weather is starting? does anyone else get bit by that bug right before summer starts? i always feel the need to purge/clean and re-organize all the clothes in our house before a new season rolls in.  so when i got a chance to review the book "sew pretty t-shirt dresses: more than 25 easy, pattern-free designs for little girls" i was so in.  perfect thing to do with the hubs old tshirts, or ones that have gotten too short or stained for the girls and so on.  it's been a while since i repurposed anything and this book got my wheels turning again.

sew pretty t-shirt dresses has a pattern for every taste level.  from simple and fun to way girly girl.  the book is filled with bright, fun and colorful photos, clear instructions and a section i think we would all appreciate entitled "t-shirt dresses 101" with tips, techniques and more on sewing t-shirt dresses.  the ladies behind sweet seams did a great job putting together 28 patterns!!!  wowsa!

i really enjoyed the layout and found the book concise and easy to follow.  the book is suitable for every sewing level and features projects that would be easily customizable for a more advanced sewer. i think a beginner could jump in using their how to sections at the front of the book and have some fun with these patterns. all the patterns look fast and all begin with 1 t-shirt.  i think it's a great way to create a unique garment for that special girl in your life!

would you like to win one?  find out how to enter below!

Images from Sew Pretty T-Shirt Dresses by Sweet Seams Studio, published by Sixth&Spring Books. Photography by Dan Howell and dress design and instructions copyright © 2013 by Sixth&Spring Books/Soho Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

 ||  THE PRIZE ||

- one lucky winner will win a copy of "sew pretty t-shirt dresses"! get your t-shirts and sewing machines ready!

|| HOW TO ENTER ||

- simply leave me a comment letting me know what your favorite creative thing to do with old tshirts is.  that's it! yay for easy!

|| THE RULES ||

- you must leave a valid email address in your comment or you will be disqualified.  
- giveaway is open until 05/19/13, midnight, PST.

good luck and happy sewing!  thank you to sixth & spring books for the fun giveaway!

MAY 5TH
Nouveau Stitch  |  Just Pure Lovely  |  The Crafty Princess Diaries
MAY 6TH
Crafting A Green World  |  Stitched by Crystal
MAY 7TH
Prudent Baby | House of 34
MAY 8TH
Smashed Peas and Carrots  |  Simply Modern Mom
MAY 9TH
Marsha’s Spot  |  Sew Spoiled
MAY 10TH
Dollar Store Crafts  |  Only From Scratch
MAY 11TH
Wild Olive  |  Positively Splendid
MAY 12TH
On the Laundry Line  |  Elegance and Elephants
MAY 13TH
luvinthemommyhood  |  My Little Gems

SEWING || OPEN WIDE ZIPPERED POUCH

open wide zippered pouch tutorial from noodlehead ||  fabric from bari j's splendor 1920

it was recently my mom's 60th bday this week.  among the other gifts we gave her i made her a special pouch to put her knitting and/or hand quilting projects in for working on the go.  my folks love to camp and i thought this would come in handy for her fireside projects.  my mom is a pure die hard and seriously hand quilts her quilts from start to finish. not even her binding is sewn with the machine. it blows my mind every time i see one of her finished quilts.

we both started learning to quilt at the same time - i with the machine and her with her hands :)  i have now happily learned to enjoy sewing my binding on by hand (one part of it anyways) and i'm still working away trying to get her to try her hand at doing a bit on the machine.  in the meantime though i thought she could keep all her wee pieces in this cute pouch to pull out when she wants to work on them.

my mom is also my favorite secret weapon. she's got an eye like a hawk. she lovingly, painstakingly and very carefully edits and proofs all of my tutorials and patterns. she never misses a thing. i love that i always have her and my dad to send my pdf's to for a thorough and intense proofing.  it's so fun to have them be a part of my wee business.  

when i had decided to make my mom a new pouch i knew i wanted to try a new style of zippered pouch instead of the basic rectangle one that i usually make. i remembered my friend anna from noodlehead's free "open wide zippered pouch" tutorial.  this pouch is soooo fun to make!  with 3 sizes available i'm dying to make myself a trio of pouches!  i have so many projects on the go i'm still running out of pouches/bags/totes...lol. which in turn means i create more pouches, which means more projects being made. crazytown i tell ya. somebody stop me!

my mom loves teals and blues. any shade and she'll take it - anywhere.  so when it came time to choose my fabric i went straight to bari j's line - splendor 1920 for art gallery fabrics i knew my mom would swoon over it just like i did.  i chose "english garden serene" as the outer print and then did the lining in one of my fave's "tea delight jam". if you're a fan of bari's work check out her newest line - bijoux. i have another pressie i just made for someone out of it and the line is just gorgeous!

i hope my mom enjoys her pouch :)  i wouldn't sew a zipper for just anyone..wink wink.  to my mom: you are amazing.  i love you very much and could never make you enough goodies to show you how much i appreciate everything you have done for me and my family and how much you mean to me.

>>> PATTERN <<<
- open wide zippered pouch from noodlehead

>>> FABRIC <<<
- english garden serene & tea delights jam from splendor 1920 from bari j for art gallery fabrics.

>>> NOTES <<<
- made no mods to this pattern. loved it!

are you making your mom a handmade gift this year?  are you addicted to zippered pouches as well?  remember you can get 15% off all purchases in our brand new veryshannon pattern store, ravelry shop and etsy shop till 05/13/13 using coupon code "mothersday". happy making!

SPRING TOPS, TANKS & TEES KNIT ALONG - WORKING IT OUT

it's tops, tanks & tees day!  i recently went on a mini vacay to tofino, bc on the weekend and knit like a mad woman the whole car ride there. i'm happy to say i'm almost at the bottom of my levenwick.  what i'm not happy to report is i'm worried about running out of my yarn. yep. bad planner i am.  you see i had purchased my yarn in the hopes of making a tee. then decided to make levenwick instead. i was a tad short on the yardage but figured i could shorten my sleeves which i tend to need to do anyways.  but now i'm almost at the bottom of the cardi and am just about done the 3rd skein out of my 5. eek! i still have a large gorgeous button band to do (that replicates the collar) and both sleeves. not sure if i'm gonna make it......cross your fingers for me will ya?

take note that the dress form this cardi is hanging on is a very teeny size and def not the size large i'm making.  it looks like a freaking tent on this form but hey...that's what you do when you can't get a shot of yourself in it easily and your house is a disaster, your kids are crying for dinner and you just...well...need a pic. hopefully next week i can take a progress shot with it on me and not on my teeny dress from which i absolutely do not use for making clothes for myself (hint, hint...i bought a new one! she just arrived! i can't wait to introduce you all to her! more to come on that soon).

levenwick by gudrun johnston for wool people

i know i'm not the only one having some ttt kal project issues though.  remember if you need help or have questions please feel free to ask our ravelry kal group.  we love to help out and give support!  there are also lots of helpful posts listed here in our knit alongs home page.  you can easily peruse through the old knit alongs as well for guest posts and tips on the problem/issue you are having.  i know some of you are starting to finish your projects (you go girls!) but for those who are coming up on some special techniques like pockets, picking up stitches or getting ready to do seaming i wanted to remind you all of some of our fave helpful posts from previous knit alongs!

|| HELPFUL POSTS ||
- seaming with guest kelly of celtic cast on (this has videos! it's awesome)
- how to knit pockets
- picking up stitches tutorial from guest jane richmond
- how to pick up stitches tips post

also i just have to say one of my absolute favorite thing about this kal (besides all the awesome conversations going on in our ravelry group) is instagram! i adore that you are all using the #tttkal hashtag! i so look forward to watching your progression shots on there! it's bee so fun!!! i'm trying to find a way to showcase some of the pics on here...or at least get a screenshot or something. we'll see if i can finagle something.  if you're not on instagram join in - it's one of my fave forms of social media. you can find me on there under "luvinthemommyhood" and you can also keep up to date with my instagram shots on the sidebar at the bottom as well if you're not on instagram.

and just a reminder if you are done your ttt kal project please feel free to post your finished pics in our FO thread for the ttt kal as well.  that way i can make sure to include you in our "starring you" post at the of the knit along!

alrighty...fill me in! how's your project coming along? did you blog about your project this week?  have you hit any roadblocks?  go on...pour a cup of coffee & let's chat!  

>> JOIN IN & SIGN UP <<
- sign up for the knit along by clicking "here".
- get inspired by checking out our kal pinterest board & our pattern roundup post
- take part in all the fun conversation & make new friends in our ravelry group
- find out more and find all the posts and info "here" on our kal homepage.

>> OUR LOVELY SPONSORS <<

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CRUSHES || YARN & FABRIC LOVE

celadon & earl grey madelinetosh tosh sock

it's crushes time!  i finally got a chance to take some pics of my newest yarn and fabric lovelies!   mmmmmm.....so yummy all of them! i can't even decide which ones i love the most!  i indulged big time recently on my first 2 skeins ever of madelinetosh tosh sock! i cannot wait to knit with these skeins.  i knew when my lys - the beehive wool shop, got their big shipment of madtosh in that i absolutely had to get a skein of earl grey. i needed it. i didnt' even think twice.  the extra skein of celadon was a welcome addition and because it's so hard to get madtosh where i love in such a wide array of colors i spoiled myself and got 2 and it was worth it.  so gorg!  i didn't even realized how nicely they match with each other until i got outside and into my car.  a happy coincidence since now i think i may knit them in the same project. not sure what yet but my wheels are happily spinning.

one of my other favorite yarn companies - quince and co, recently released a new yarn!  owl is here!  and it doesn't disappoint!  a gorgeous blend of american wool and american alpaca these are a more than welcome addition to my stash.  a group of us where i live all went in on a big order to scoop up some of there lovely colorways. i can't wait to wind these up and get swatching!!!

quince and co owl in colorways - cilantro, sokoke, and cerulean

as for fabric i hit up a big pink castle fabrics sale a while back and got some beautiful new fabrics for a steal of a price!!!!  i had been waiting to try the liberty lifestyle prints for some time and so i didn't hesitate when i spotted the gorgeous mix of blues and corals in cranston. love it!  and then when i spotted the double gauze from kokka on the right i just about fainted! i got such a good deal i thought my eyes were seeing things wrong!  needless to say i got enough of both the liberty and kokka prints to make new dresses for myself.

1 & 2. floradots in gray & saffron by erin mcmorris for free spirit & 3. liberty cranston 4. free spirit designer solid in peach blush 5. commas in slate & chalk from zen chic for moda 6. muddy works currant in citron double gauze by tomotake for kokka

i haven't decided on which pattern yet but will definitely be posting something soon.  i've narrowed it down to a few and am hoping to finalize my wandering eye sooner than later..lol. i bought myself an invisible zipper foot finally (no more cowboy style zipper installations for me) so i'm all ready for another laurel dress or blouse maybe or any other garment with an invisible zipper. bring it on zippers!

what are you crushing on this week?  any new yarns or fabric prints you've scooped on or indulged in?  what are you hoping or saving for?  i've got a few other fabric/yarn lovelies to show you next week as well as a few new project - i can't wait! so spill the beans...did you treat yourself for mothers day too?

MOMENTS IN THE MOMMYHOOD || A LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN

soooooo....it's been a wee bit quiet here because i've been away :)  we went on a mini-vacay for the last 4 days!  we were lucky enough to getaway for a wonderful little holiday to one of our favorite places - tofino, bc.  we were married in tofino on mackenzie beach and haven't had a chance to go back since then.  so we decided it was high time we packed the kids in the car and made a road trip to one of our fave places and also one of the most magical ones we've ever been too.  it honestly is breathtaking.  i can't wait to go back again. for real. i'm already planning...lol.

 

needless to say we had a great time!  we got home last night after a weekend filled with AMAZING weather! the kind of weather tofino just doesn't get that often.  so my condo is filled with bags, piles of dirty laundry, toys, more bags and well, just all the stuff that you cart with you on a road trip with 2 kids that you are just too darn hot and tired to put away when you get home...lol.

so i'm taking today to clean the darn place up or attempt to cause it's just plain hot here too! don't get me wrong, i am definitely not complaining about this sunshine. it is glorious and feels so darn nice,  but its like an oven over here in my condo so we'll see how much i actually get done.  i've got lots of pics to show you soon and some fun posts this week as well. i also sent out our very first email newsletter for the blog right before we left! did you get one?  what did you think? you likey? i had so much fun putting it together!  i'd love to hear your thoughts.

i also have a winner to announce today! don't think i've forgotten about the gorgeous sweet fiber yarns giveaway!!! our lucky winner is..................commenter #42 - andee!!! congratulations andee!!!! you are one lucky lady!!!  someone will be in touch with you today. thanks to all of you who entered and to the lovely melissa of sweet fiber yarns for her generous & oh so lovely prize!

in the meantime fill me in on what you've been up to.  what have you been making & creating?  have you been sewing or knitting?  have you been to tofino before? i want to hear about it. i missed you guys! 

SPRING TOPS, TANKS & TEES KNIT ALONG || KNIT TO FLATTER BOOK REVIEW

Knit to Flatter: The Only Instructions You'll Ever Need to Knit Sweaters that make You Look Good and Feel Great!

a lot of chit chat has been going on for the tops, tanks and tees knit along on fit. if you're like me and you have some curves and you love knitting sweaters you most likely are always trying to find ways to modify existing patterns to fit your shape.  i recently purchased a copy of the new book by amy herzog called knit to flatter and let me tell you - this is a must have book.  the information in here is priceless.  whether you lack curves, have a bit more in some places than others and so on amy has tips and patterns in here to suit every body shape.  she also shows you how to measure, figure out your shape and dress your body type as well.  it's a great resource.  in particular i really found the sections on adding bust darts to cardigans and sweaters very helpful.

 

knit to flatteris also gosh darn cute.  the pink polka dot binding, the layout and graphic design of the book, the models...(i could go on & on), the book is just gosh darn welcoming, friendly, and like a great friend who always tells you the truth.  it makes you feel awesome to see REAL women's bodies in here. not waifs, not just size 2's,  not airbrushed fakes and definitely not only 32" busts.  there are beautiful, gorgeous REAL women in this book and i loved it.  i felt great after reading it.  i felt a slight empowerment in knowing i could knit and dress my body properly and look just as great in my new handiwork as the size 2 model could.  in fact the book breaks it down really easily after amy walks you through finding out your body type.  i strongly feel like more books on both sewing and knitting should be showing images like these. ones of real women, no matter what their shape (skinny or curvy) or size looking gorgeous in handmade items.

so thank you amy herzog!  can i just say you and knit to flatterrock!  true to stc craft | melanie falick style this book is lovely and a must have asset to any knitters book collection.  i highly recommend it and you know what...mother's day is right around the corner.  you deserve it....lol.  heck i pre-ordered mine i wanted it so bad...lol.

since there has been chatting about mods and fit in the ravelry group i recommend knit to flatter a great resource to have on this subject.  i also recommend a great guest post by jane richmond on "understanding fit" that is also a good reference on ease and more. i hope to use some of this info on my current project tops, tanks & tees project - levenwick. wanna see how far i am?  i was motoring but have slowed down since i have been so sick the last week or so.  you know you don't feel well when you don't knit too much.  i'm just in the thick of the waist decreases so i'm hopeful that i can get it done in time for the deadline :) can i just say again how much i love the collar on this?  that paired with the reverse stockinette is just making me so happy.  it's so rustic looking.  i heart it.

what about you? how's your project coming along?  what project did you end up going with?  did you blog about your project this week?  share! chat!  join in! it's never too late to grab those needles and jump in! happy knitting!

>> JOIN IN & SIGN UP <<
- sign up for the knit along by clicking "here".
- get inspired by checking out our kal pinterest board & our pattern roundup post
- take part in all the fun conversation & make new friends in our ravelry group
- find out more and find all the posts and info "here" on our kal homepage.

>> OUR LOVELY SPONSORS <<

*luvinthemommyhood.com is a participant in the Amazon.com.ca, Inc. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.ca

FREE TUTORIAL || REVERSIBLE SOCK KNITTING PROJECT BAG

i love project bags. i love them almost as much as i love the stuff  i'm knitting and sewing in them.  i have tried making a few different versions of project bags now for my many wip's but i keep coming back over and over to this one style of bag.  it's my fave!  so after lots of requests since i sold some of these last summer at a fiber festival i finally got around to doing the tutorial for this reversible sock knitting project bag! yep - that's right, it's reversible!! weee!!!! more chances to use fun fabric! love it! and there is no hand sewing! love that even more!!!  it's easy, fast, fun and a great gift project to make.  you could easily whip a few of these up in one evening.

isn't it cute! i kinda want to hug them they are so cute. i think i have about 4 of them now in different fabrics.  you can surprisingly fit quite a lot into this small size too.  i have my sweater project in one at the moment and it's still fitting.  but if you would like a larger size (equally as cute, i have made those too) or even a jumbo (heck you could go smaller too), i give you instructions on how to do that below as well.

these little bags stand up great too. the square bottom is awesome for that. just remember if you are using a lightweight fabric to use interfacing on it to keep the stability of the bag or you'll get one that is a bit more floppy. now go recycle those ugly plastic bags, save your cloth tote for something else and give your knitting project a sassy new bag in your newest fabric crush of the moment! i promise it will bring a smile to your face and your knitty pals will all want one too <3

are you ready to get sewing?  this is a great beginner project but it's also a good base for an advanced sewer to go wild with piecing and sizing to create a custom bag suited to their tastes. 

>>REVERSIBLE SOCK KNITTING BAG TUTORIAL<<

Copyright 2013 www.luvinthemommyhood.com  All rights reserved.  This tutorial is for personal use only unless prior permission has been given.  If you are interested in handmaking & selling this item on a small scale basis please email me at luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca for inquiries.

||  FINISHED MEASUREMENTS  ||

Bottom is approximately 5.5"W and height is approximately 7.5"H.

Want a different size?  You can easily adjust the sizes of this bag.  Simply choose a different overall square size for the bag (for ex. 16" x 16") and then to calculate the size of the small square corners you cut out you need to find 1/4 of the width of the fabric to be able to create a square bottom for your bag.

You can also customize the size of the upper & lower pieces as well if you are piecing your fabrics. Just remember that no matter what you piece together your overall height (after piecing/sewing your fabrics together) is 12" and your width is 12".  You could easily do a patchwork one, add more strips, or do vertical strips instead. It's totally up to you! Just have fun with it!
  

|| MATERIALS ||

To make a knitting bag all in one print you will need:
- 4 pieces of fabric 12"W x 12"H (2 for your outer and 2 for your lining).
If you would like to make your bag with 2 fabric selections for your outer and lining like the one shown in this tutorial you will need the following:
- 4 pieces @ 12"W x 7.25"H (this will be the lower section of your bag)
- 4 pieces @ 12"W x 5.25"H (this will be the upper section of your bag)

You will also need:
- 2 pieces @ 12"W x 12"H of light-medium weight fusible interfacing. I used PELLON  931TD fusible midweight white interfacing. If you are using a mid-heavy weight fabric you may make it without it.
- ruler
- scissors and/or rotary cutter and mat
- coordinating thread
- removable fabric marker
- 1 yard ribbon, fabric or cording cut to desired length

|| INSTRUCTIONS ||

 STEP ONE: PREPPING YOUR PIECES

Seam allowance is 1/4" unless otherwise noted.

 *Note: I am going to show you instructions on how to assemble a sock knitting bag that is pieced using 2 different fabric selections. If you would like to just use one fabric choice for your outer and lining please skip ahead to after the first paragraph.

Place 1 of your outer lower pieces right side facing 1 of your outer upper pieces and pin along your long edge.  Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance.  Press towards the darker of your colors.  Topstitch along the RS of your fabric along your seam. This makes a nice neat finish.  Repeat this step for the other 2 pieces of your outer bag and then repeat for all the pieces of your lining as well.  You should now have 4 - 12" x 12" squares ready to be sewn.

Iron on your interfacing to the 2 pieces of your lining bag.

Next you will mark and cut out a 3" square from the bottom 2 corners of all 4 pieces of your fabric.  Make sure these are nice and accurate.  Feel free to cut out a 3" paper square if you'd like a template.

STEP TWO: ASSEMBLING YOUR BAG

With your 2 outer pieces right sides facing sew along your bottom seam (this is the fabric between your 2 square cut outs).  Note: If you have pieced your fabrics together take care here to match up your seams for a nice finish.  I like to pin from there first and then up and down. I find I would rather trim a bit from the top or bottom than have a messy seam lineup. 

Next sew along the 2 side seams.  Repeat this step for the other 2 pieces that will be your lining bag.

Press all your seams open. Now we are going to make those fun corners that allow the bag to stand nicely.  You will still have the 3" squares you cut out unsewn.  With your outer bag in your hand hold the corner bottom in your hand and pull apart the square so that the inner top corner of that little square is now lined up with same corner of the other piece of fabric. See photo above. This should create 1 seam you can sew along with a 1/4" seam allowance. Sew along that seam.  Press.  Repeat this step for the other corner of your outer bag and for both corners of your lining bag.  Your bag should now look like the image below.

STEP THREE:  MAKING THE CASING

Turn your outer bag inside out.  Keep your lining bag right side facing out.  Now place your lining bag inside your outer bag so the right sides are facing each other.  See image below.

We are now going to create the channel for the drawstring and also close up the bag.  Mark 1" down from the top edge of your bag.   Sew a line 1" down from this edge around the whole upper circumference of the bags leaving a 2.5-3" opening to pull your bag through. This will also be the opening for your drawstring to pull through.

Pull your bags right side out and nicely tuck the lining bag inside the outer bag.  See image above.  Press all along the upper edge of your bag so it's nice and flat.  Pin your opening closed.  Sew along the top edge circumference all around the bag this time with a 3/4" seam allowance.  This will finish your drawstring channel and close up the bottom of your opening. You now have a nifty pretty opening to pull your cord through without any hand sewing! Yay!!!!  I love this kind of top finish. It's easy, fast and looks great.

STEP FOUR:  ADDING YOUR DRAWSTRING

Attach a safety pin to the end of your drawstring. I like to use a soft off white tie cording (not sure if this is the correct terminology for this) most commonly used on pajama pants. If you do use this kind of tie you need to finish your ends. I simply fold over a 1/2" of the end and then fold again. I then sew down along the folded edge.

Now that you have your tie ready feed the safety pin end through the channel to the other side.  Open the bag up fully and make sure you have at least a 5-6" minimum on each end to be able to tighten the bag and tie a nice big bow :)  And that's it! You're done! Now go get your sock knitting on m'dears! Enjoy!

Copyright 2013 www.luvinthemommyhood.com  All rights reserved.  This tutorial is for personal use only unless prior permission has been given.  If you are interested in handmaking & selling this item on a small scale basis please email me at luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca for inquiries. 

As always please share your finished project pics! We LOVE to see your handiwork! Add your pics to the comments below and/or add them to our flickr group!  Thanks for sewing with me!

>>  FABRICS USED  <<

- "scattered sand in warm grey" by lotta jansdotter
- a random turqouise solid i can't remember where i got from :P
- "gallop horse fabric" by katherine codega

Do you like knitting socks?  Are you always on the lookout for a new project bag? I can never have enough! So far this is my favorite one! It's almost as addicting as knitting the project in it!

GIVEAWAY || SWEET FIBER YARNS!!

silk cashmere aran from sweet fiber shown in colorway smoke

i'm drooling over here! we've got a very yummy giveaway for you all!  the other week i released my newest knitting pattern - lansbury (shown below) using sweet fiber's heavenly "silk cashmere aran" yarn.  it was such a treat and a joy to work with sweet fiber yarn. so needless to say i was thrilled when the lovely owner of sweet fiber yarns - melissa, who i've had the pleasure of meeting (she's canadian too!), sweetly offered to do a giveaway for 2 skeins of the silk cashmere aran! freaking out here! this is a very, very sweet prize!!!! wahoo!!! thanks melissa!  you can easily use it to make a lansbury of your own (you can win that too) or any other pattern of your choice!

lansbury cowl pattern by shannon cook using silk cashmere aran by sweet fiber

sweet fiber is a "canadian indie company specializing in luxury hand dyed yarns". my friends and i like to say that melissa's yarns are comparable to madelinetosh.  so if you love tosh, you'll love sweet fiber.  her color palettes and yarns are just beautiful and you will most definitely become a fellow addict. i also love that melissa does her best to source her yarns within canada as much as possible.  i can't wait to get my hands on more and there will be more :) and in case you missed it the other month check out this post to see my wild and gorgeous sock yarn from sweet fiber & watch for a post soon with the finished socks!

here are some shots of some pretty patterns from melissa (she is an awesome designer too) and other designers using sweet fiber yarns.

you can find all the patterns shown above here.  ready to find out the deets of the giveaway?  i can't wait to see who is going to win this one! someone is about to be a very lucky knitter!

>>THE PRIZE<<
- one lucky winner will win  2 skeins of  Silk Cashmere Aran in "smoke" from sweet fiber!!! wowsa!!! thank you so much melissa! i'm drooling over this prize! the winner will also receive a copy of "lansbury" - my newest cowl pattern made with 2 skeins of silk cashmere aran.

>>HOW TO ENTER<<
- simply leave me a comment letting me know what you would make with the yarn if you won.
- bonus entry: like sweet fiber yarns and/or luvinthemommyhood on facebook and leave "another" comment letting me know you did that too.

>>RULES<<
- you must leave a valid email address in your comment or you will be disqualified.
- giveaway is open until sunday, may 5th, midnight, PST.

for news & updates follow sweet fiber on facebook!  you can also find all things sweet fiber here:

website  ||  shop  ||  facebook  ||  twitter  ||  ravelry group  ||  blog||

good luck everyone & happy knitting!!!!

MOMENTS IN THE MOMMYHOOD || GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE

good morning sunshines!  it's the weekend!  i've been having some technical issues so our lovely giveaway that was due to be posted yesterday will be coming next week instead.  stay tuned though, you won't want to miss it!  trust me on that one!

i've got both my girlies home with me today (it's another pro-d day....le sigh). the sun is shining and i've been up since 5am since my faucet nose decided to run a bath...lol. don't you hate that feeling of "i have to shove half a roll of toilet paper up my nostril to keep from getting soaked" kind of feeling? ok...tmi...anyways thank god for madmen, the yarn harlot's books (reading & laughing "free range knitter"), my knitting and gosh darn good cuppa tea.  it's all i've been living on this week. the icing on the cake this morning though was a) a huge propane tank explosion in the city scared the wits out of me it was so loud and our whole condo shook and b) my kiddos slept in till almost 8am! seriously??? wth is that about? the one day i'm up before the whole house just sitting here waiting for someone to stir and they all sleep in later than i normally do and a huge explosion happens and nobody wakes up?  it's always the way right?  weird.

the sun is shining though and we've had some gorgeous weather here so i'm hoping to be feeling well enough to get out and bask in it a bit.  in the meantime though i've been plugging along on my TTT KAL project.  that cardi has been carted about everywhere and i almost had a panic attack when i realized that i had 15mins to wait at school pickup and left the aforementioned knitting project at home by the front door. i must have spent the whole 15mins trying to analyze if i had time to drive home and get it or not without being late. you see when you are in the throes of a love affair with your knitting you absolutely, under no circumstances leave said project at home. ever. i almost cried...well, ok, not cried, but i really felt like it.  i didn't even have my ipad with me to document my sadness to you all on instagram. also - remember if you're on instagram to tag your pics #tttkal and you can find me on there under "luvinthemommyhood".  and if you don't have instagram you can still see my pics by looking at the bottom of my sidebar. there's a handy widget on there showing a slideshow of my instagram feed. fun right?  there's already pics from gals in our kal on instagram and it's so fun to go on and check on everyone's progress.

also in tech news today...lol...(i sounded legit there for a sec right? hahaha) j/k, sort of.  i finally bit the bullet and started up a fun, free newsletter for luvinthemommyhood/very shannon! yay!  so once a month you'll get a fun email from moi filled with lots of interesting stuff, updates on new patterns and free tutorials, sales, discounts and more!  you can click "here" to sign up or on the top of my sidebar to subscribe to the newsletter.  i promise no spam :) 

here's hoping you all have a wonderful, explosion & cold free weekend filled with coffee, friends, family, crafty goodness galore & good times.  see y'all on monday <3

sooooo, what are you up to this weekend? what projects did you work on this week? are you sewing or knitting?  am i the only one who "almost" cried because i forgot my knitting? share away, let's chat - it's friday :)

SPRING TOPS, TANKS & TEES KNIT ALONG - MY PROJECT & YARN

yarn:  cascade 220 heathers in colowary "aliki beach/sand"

it's time to cast on my dear friends for the spring tops, tanks & tees knit along!!!! weeee! you guys have been so patient but ever so excited! i can feel the eagerness just oozing off the ravelry thread pages! so many fun conversations already! and the patterns!!!! can i just say wow!  my faves and queue has grown so long already and it's only just begun!  the chat thread has been on fire!  i'm so excited for this knit along!  i love spring and you all know how much i LOVE to encourage you all to keep on knitting even in the warmer months. i mean honestly, who said we can't knit all year round? why stop?  keep those needles movin' gals! try out a new fiber, do some selfish knitting for yourself or make a pressie for that wee one in your life.  we're not picky, as long as it's a garment and doesn't have full length sleeves we're happy you're knitting & joining in for the fun!

pattern: levenwick by gudrun johnston for brooklyn tweed wool people vol. 1

speaking of garments, i had a heckuva time picking out my project.  too many good patterns out there.  i couldn't decide if i wanted a tank, a tee or a cardi/sweater.  in the end my cascade 220 heathers in "aliki beach/sand" won out.  i needed to go with a worsted weight because let's face it - i have a crush on heavier weights and just don't plain have the time to knit a cardi in fingering at the moment (i'm still trying to finish my audrey from 2 years ago!!! hangs head in shame). i've been humming and hawing over levenwick since the day it was released and finally decided it was time to just make the darn thing.  so i'm going warmer weight with a worsted yarn that i plan on wearing this summer with all the new pretty floral dresses & tunics i've been sewing up. i wanted a great staple i could wear all year, that was feminine yet rustic and that could be worn fitted with a cute summer dress.  it gets chilly down by the ocean here and i always need that go to cardigan for summer evenings.

i've got the collar for my levenwick on the go and my gauge swatch was perfect for the pattern! yippee! that never happens to me!!!  can i just say i love the technical parts of levenwick?  so many fun things to do for this cardi!  the collar is just plain fun, the reverse stockinette is a real hoot in my books (i'm digging the look and feel of it), i already learned the invisible purl increase, and after get to do many a more fun things to keep this gal interested.  thank you gudrun johnston - you. are. awesome. 

as for my yarn choice - it's not your average summer yarn. it's not linen (though i do recommend making summer clothes in linen, it really softens up with wear and washing) and it's not cotton but cascade 220 heathers is a favorite of mine and with my house on a budget being able to make a cardi for about $45 is a huge coup in my books!  can't beat the price!  i also love how this yarn feels after blocking.  it's definitely a great workhorse for this type of cardigan.  it mimics the rustic quality of brooklyn tweed yarns with it's strength yet ability to still drape nicely.

soooooo....c'mon...spill the beans! what's your project? what yarn did you choose and why?  and are you as excited as i am or what? check out our sponsors below and on the sidebar! can we say yahoo!!! prizes galore ladies!  awesome ones!!!! so go show them some kal love!  also for those of you who are dears and sport our kal buttons grab one for the TTT KAL below :) now...let's chat!

>> GRAB A BUTTON! <<

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SEWING || TOVA TUNIC

pattern: tova tunic by wiksten

i know it's kids clothes week and this is definitely not kids clothes, lol, but i finished up my first tova tunic the other week to wear to vogue knitting live and i couldn't help but finally post some shots the hubs took of me in my new fave tunic. you may notice i chopped my hair off but please ignore my bad hair day in these shots. can we say mom frizz? not good. oh well, we all have our days right? as some of you may know one of my new year's resolutions this year was to do more selfish sewing for myself and i have been loving it so far!  i've been wanting to add a few more tunic dresses to my wardrobe so the tova was a natural choice for me.

i have to admit i was very nervous to make this.  my bust size isn't even listed on the pattern (i'm a 41" bust in case anyone cares...lol).  but after looking for ages on flickr and seeing other busy gals make it with no issues and having made the wiksten tank & fitting in the xl i decided to just go for it.  last summer i purchased some crazy sale price lawn fabric to use just for this tunic. it ended up costing me about $5/yd!!! needless to say i was not going to cry my eyes out if it didn't work out.  i sewed this bad boy up on a thursday and wore it to vogue knitting live the very next day.  so comfy! i traveled and hit up the show in this tunic!  i paired it that time with my fave dark grey leggings and knee high boots and got a lot of compliments on my outfit. . 

i really love how the fit of the tova covers all my roly poly bits. you know the ones that 2 babies and a c-section leave behind? yep, those nasty ones.  it flows without looking maternity and i found it flattering for my body type which i was worried it wouldn't be for me and my curves.  during sewing i stitched up the neck opening a bit so i didn't have to worry about cleavage flashing some poor unsuspecting passerby.  i think i stitched about 1 1/2 - 2" up from the bottom of the yoke.  i liked that i don't have to worry about that but also still have a flattering neckline. there are a ton of fun variations on the neckline all over flickr so i felt ok topstitching my flap down a tad.

all in all i am very happy with the tova tunic pattern and will definitely make it again.  i really enjoy how professional and clean the finishes are for wiksten patterns and both the tova and the wiksten tank (click here to see how mine turned out) are staples in my wardrobe. i'm going to splurge and get some softer fabric this time round and make one that isn't slightly see through (like the lawn i used) so i don't have to wear clothing under it in the warmer months.  i recommend this tunic and have been wearing it more times than i will dare to admit here on the blog :P

>> PATTERN <<
 - tova tunic from wiksten

 >> FABRIC <<
- cotton lawn floral multi (code FP-668) from fabrics.com (i can't find it on their site anymore)

 >> NOTES <<
- i made the size xl with no adjustments. i'm a size 41" bust.
- i would use a softer fabric next time. this lawn was great to practice on (use as a wearable muslin) but now that i know how much i like the tova i'm going to splurge on something that isn't as see through and that has a softer hand.
- i stitched closed my neckline opening by about 1 1/2-2" to keep the girls from showing too much.
- in case anyone is wondering the cowl i'm wearing with the tunic is my new pattern "the lansbury cowl". you can find it here if you're so inclined.

 have you made the tova tunic before?  how did you like it?  what tunic have you been wanting to make?  are you joining in and doing some selfish sewing this year too?  i love hearing what you guys are whipping up so join in the conversation :)

WINNERS & KIDS CLOTHES WEEK

we've got some winners for some of our recent giveaways!  yay!!!!

the winners of our petite kids boutique pattern giveaway are......

commenter # 90 - jessica
commetner #70 - elisabetta
commenter #36 - rebecca

the winner of a copy of the newest book by aimee ray "doodle stitching: embroidery & beyond" and a handmade bookmark is:

commenter #58 - bella 

congratulations everyone!!!! someone will be in touch in regards to your prizes today.  

i've gotten hit with a miserable evil cold today so i'm sitting here whining to myself and hoping i'll get well enough to take part in kid's clothes week. i swear every year this happens to me. i kid you not each time it starts up i get ill or my kids do. so darn frustrating. anyhoo it starts up today and it's an awesome challenge so go join in over at kids clothes week so i can live vicariously through you! 

my oldest turned 6 (wahhhhh...where did my baby go) on saturday and it was a busy and fun weekend!  oh and see that pic above?  those are my very first purchase from target!!! when i was in the states the other weekend i finally, finally got to go to target!!! woot woot! i was so very excited.  i got those cute polka dot pants and some fun sunglasses.  we're now counting down the days for the first one to open in our city.  should be any week now!!!! yay!!!   hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

what did you get up to this weekend? are you joining in for kids clothes week? what projects do you plan on making? teas on - come chat!