GIVEAWAY || SEASONLESS - MINI COLLECTION

We posted a very sneaky video sneak peek of SEASONLESS | Mini Collection Volume One last week and now we thought it would be fun to have a guessing game giveaway!!!

For this year's release from Marian Rae Publications Jane and I truly wanted it to be a total surprise! That's why there are literally no pictures of the knits in our SEASONLESS promo video. We really wanted to try to get across the mood and vibe of SEASONLESS without giving away the patterns. Now don't be mad, trust us in that it will be way more fun this weekend when you pop by our booth (#40) at Knit City and get to see them for the first time!

And for those of you not able to attend Knit City, don't worry, we will be posting all the images, patterns etc for you to see and buy as soon as we are back! It's a surprise for everyone this year!

But since we're leaving what the patterns look like as a total surprise we thought we could at least give you a few clues as to what SEASONLESS | Mini Collection Volume One is.

CLUE #1 || SEASONLESS is NOT a book - it's a booklet. This year we are doing something a little different. SEASONLESS is Volume One of our new series "Mini Collection" and it's available as a gorgeous 32 page booklet in print. We hope you will all love it as much as we do.

CLUE #2 || SEASONLESS contains 3 versatile and wearable patterns.

Once SEASONLESS is available for purchase online next week you will be able to buy a HUGE (more than double the page count than the print booklet!) eBook with lots of gorgeous bonus photos as well as the individual PDF patterns from SEASONLESS. Plus we will also have a special surprise for you all next week upon it's pre-order release as well!

But in the meantime who would like to win a copy of SEASONLESS?

|| HOW TO ENTER
- simply leave a comment below letting me know what you think the 3 patterns are in SEASONLESS.

|| THE PRIZE
- 1 lucky winner will receive the printed booklet of SEASONLESS as well as the eBook and individual patterns! Wahoo!

|| THE RULES
- giveaway is open until Friday, October 3rd, midnight, PST.

Don't forget to follow along on instagram and social media with us this weekend using hashtag #seasonlessknits We are so excited to see your pics!

You can also stay up to date with SEASONLESS and all of our publications on our website www.mariarnraepublications.com! We've got an events page, media, blog and more!

p.s. For an extra chance to win pop on over to Jane's blog to enter too!

SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT || SEASONLESS - MINI COLLECTION

I've got a special announcement to make today!!!!! Jane and I are so excited!

I have been counting down the days until this post you guys! It's been so hard to keep this all under wraps and not share anything over the last few months! Jane Richmond and I have been busy working on releasing our next project for our publishing company Marian Rae Publications! It's been tons of fun and lots of hard work and we cannot wait for you to see it all! It's very special to us and we hope you guys will love it too.  But that's all I can tell you for now...hehehe....you'll have to watch our sneak peek video below to find out a wee bit more.

When can you find out the rest?  On October 4th & 5th at Knit City in Vancouver, BC (see our EVENTS page for more info). We'll both be there with some new lovelies to surprise you with, our previous publications and lots of samples for you to try on! We can't wait! So make sure you stop by our booth (#40) to say a big hello! Don't be shy - we love getting a chance to chat and meet you all!

Don't forget to also follow along with our hashtag #seasonlessknits on social media as well for more special sneak peeks, info and to share your images of SEASONLESS | MINI COLLECTION.

After Knit City watch this space for more info on when and how our newest project will be available for sale to the public! We promise it won't take long and we have a special surprise for you all :) Thank you all in advance for your continued support of our publications - it means so very much to both of us.

SUMMER SWEATER KNIT ALONG || EXTENSION VOTING TIME

Crosby by Julie Hoover for BT Fall 14

We're at the end of our Summer Sweater Knit Along 2014 and it's time for you fab knitters to vote if you would like an extension or not.

This season we've seen sweaters being finished left and right! I have loved seeing all the hibernating projects being pulled out from their dark storage spots and becoming beautiful new garments! Some of you have also knit 2-3 garments! I can't believe how fast some of you are! It's crazy fun watching them all pop up on instagram and ravelry! Make sure you tag your project #sskal14 on social media so we can all follow along!

Ondawa by Michele Wang for BT Fall 14

Even though some of you are flying through your projects there are some of us who would love another week or two. You may have a few inches left to knit, one more sleeve - doesn't matter...if you want another week or two just click below on the survey and we'll see what we can do :)



Don't forget to add your pictures to our "Finished Projects" thread in our Ravelry group. Make sure to do your best to get some awesome FO shots! I will be doing our annual "Starring You" post for the SSKAL14 and featuring some of our knitter FO's on the blog! We also love seeing them in here so we can all comment and swoon over your new sweaters!

I hope you've all been having fun! Thank you again for knitting along with me! This has been our biggest knit along to date yet! How's your project coming along? Do you need the extension?

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SEWING || JOCOLE LADIES SKINNY PANTS PATTERN REVIEW

I made myself some skinny pants and I'm so excited!

I'm part of the Jocole Pattern Tour today and when they reached out to me to join in I knew I had to make the fabulous Ladies Skinny Pants! I've been writing on the blog for about 3 years now about how badly I wanted to try my hand at sewing some pants for myself. To be honest - it's frightened me. But just like the zipper, I didn't want it to slow me down or hinder me any longer. It was time to just jump right in! So I did! I'm now addicted! I hate buying pants and they never fit me right so the idea of making pants to fit my body is fabulous!

First let me tell you these pants are so quick and easy to sew!

They are a skinny, pull on pant with a comfy knit waistband with multiple style options (read more about this at the bottom of the post) for the waistband and length. I was shocked at how fast they come together and how easy they are. Jocole patterns are super easy to follow and included tons of information and helpful tips. All the work and time is in the fit. And let me tell you - it's important. I knew I had to do a fit muslin for sure. And boy was mine bad....lol. The first rough sew was HUGE. Like way too big! I went by my hip measurement but it's really tricky for me as my ahem...belly....is my problem area and adds to my hip measurement if that makes sense. So sometimes when I go by that my hips are not in fact that wide - it's just my baby leftovers...lol. So the size I made was giant. So I started by following the fabulous fit tutorials included in the pattern. This is so helpful! There is a link where you can go and see how to make alterations and fit adjustments. I found this helpful as I'm someone who is really visual.

I went down about 2 sizes in the hip, 3 in the waist and took my legs down to match a pair of skinny pants I already own. I would guess this was 3-4 sizes down from my hip measurement. The pattern also gives you thigh measurements which is so helpful! I then also made further adjustment to my back seam up near my waist. I had to take in about another 3/4" here as well. Also, when you attach your comfy waistband (yes, there are no zippers in these pants which makes them a great starter pair to sew) I had to take inches off my size for the stretch as well. Overall the fit is ok for these. For my first pair of pants I am satisfied. They are flattering and were fun to make.

Would I make the Ladies Skinny Pants again? For sure! I would definitely make more than 1 more of these. I need 3 - 4 at least! I want to get some nice stretch denim and make some with that. I would also love a black and grey pair too! Really the possibilities are endless with these pants! So easy to customize!

Would I change anything on my next pair? Yes. I made the knee area on my pants too tight. Because I used a chambray from Robert Kaufman (I'm addicted to these) I find I need a bit more room to bend my leg in this area when going up stairs etc. I think I went a bit too aggressive in this area for fit. They look good standing but not when walking.  I would make my waist a bit smaller and definitely make my waistband smaller still. The pants slide down a bit when I'm walking. I definitely had room in the waistband to come in. I also didn't really like the stretch fabric I was using for the waist so I think next time I would change to a sturdier stretch. Mine was a bit too flimsy I think.

What was my favorite thing about this pattern? How easy they are to make! Also, the pockets! I am in love with the front pockets! So fun! I really love topstitching so getting to add details like that to the front and back pocket was super fun to me. My next pair I'm going to do a fun design on my back pockets. For the first time round I kept mine simple with two rows of topstitching as per the pattern and I like that look too. It looks pretty with the chambray! Next time I will add the topstitching on the seam of my pant leg too for a real denim look. I skipped that this time round but now wished I had done it. I also really like the waistband options. So versatile and comfy.

After sewing these I'm definitely going to be making more pants for myself!

It was fun, exciting and I learned a ton! The Ladies Skinny Pants are so comfy, flattering to all body types and seriously, they come in Sizes 00 - 28W!!!!! They are also available with 3 different waistband options - skinny, regular, or fold-over (wear yoga waistband up for more coverage and support)! There are also tons of length options! That's right! You can make capris and shorts from this pattern too! There are 7 in total - shorts, bermuda, clam digger, capris, petite full, regular full and tall full! Wow! Plus 2 pocket style options!

I loved all the options and choices to make this pattern work for your needs and figure. My curves are happy! The pattern also includes easy to follow instructions, color photographs & illustrations, and tons of helpful information on sizing and fit as well as sewing! 

So, are you ready to give pants a try to? Or have you made yourself pants before? Have you tried the Ladies Skinny Pants from Jocole? What are your favorite pant sewing tips?

PATTERN | Ladies Skinny Pants from Jocole
FABRIC | Chambray (color denim) from Robert Kaufman
SIZE MADE | Adjusted from multiple sizes on pattern to fit my body
MODIFICATIONS | None other than fit adjustments.
BOOTS | Old Navy
TOP | TNA Pomona T-Shirt from Aritzia in black.

MOMENTS || FAMILY TIME & BALANCE

Cadence yarn in colorway Laguna from Hazel Knits

I've been doing a lot of reflecting on things the last few days. It's been one of those weeks when my work/life balance is totally haywire and I know I need to just step back and make some changes.

It's been such a busy and crazy time for us here the last few months with the teacher strike since june, moving to our first home, family health issues, and me trying to balance full time work with both kids home. Saying I'm tired is an understatement...lol. I wanted to quickly pop in to say hello and let you know why it's been a quiet week on the blog. I'm flying home today see my Omi, whom I'm very close with, but who is unfortunately not doing so well health wise. Not a fun reason to fly home but it will be good to see my family. I'll be enjoying the gorgeous new worsted weight yarn called Cadence from the amazing yarn company Hazel Knits you see above, on all my flights as I work on a new pattern! I'll be back on Monday with a fun new sewing post!

What do you guys do when you know you're out of balance? Are you close with your grandmothers? Have you recently dealt with one of them getting very ill? I'd love to chat, come say hi and share your thoughts below.

In the meantime don't miss out on Craftsy's BIG fall sale! Learn from the world's best instructors in the comfort of your home, and when you shop you save up to 50% off ALL online classes! Once you enroll you can watch your classes anytime, anywhere, forever. Hurry, offer expires September 22, 2014 at 11:59 PM MT. Shop Craftsy's BIG Fall Course Sale and save.

This post contains affiliate links but all opinions are my own. The Craftsy Affiliate Program is managed by Acceleration Partners. Please review and join our other award winning programs. You can also follow us on Twitter for program news.

SUMMER SWEATER KNIT ALONG || COLORWORK DEMYSTIFIED WITH SPECIAL GUEST TANIS FIBER ARTS!

It's time for another fabulous guest post for our Summer Sweater Knit Along! I'm beyond excited to have the insanely talented Tanis Lavallee of Tanis Fiber Arts here on the blog talking all about colorwork!!! 

This subject comes up so much in our ravelry group and especially during our garment knit alongs. Colorwork can at first seem very intimidating but Tanis does an amazing job below demystifying it for us all. It's one of those things that at first can be scary and seem like a lot to learn but in all honesty, once you get going, it's fun and produces a high impact! I hope after reading Tanis's post you'll give it a try if you haven't already.

Coolbreeze Cardigan & Hat by Tanis Lavallee

Tanis is a fabulous designer as well as the owner of one of my favorite yarn lines - Tanis Fiber Arts. Color, depth & squish factor all add up to make some seriously drool worthy yarns! She's also got a beautiful blog where she shares her designs, style posts, knit alongs and more. Tanis is a long time friend and am I'm so thrilled to have her back again for the SSKAL. She's so inspiring and one of the nicest people I know. You can see her previous post on "knitting with hand dyed yarns" here.

And now here's Tanis...

Ah colour, the more the better, am I right!? Obviously I love me some wonderful, colourful yarn and I find myself constantly drawn to projects that use multiples colours together. I just love all the options and seeing what an impact different colour pairings have on a pattern. So, with that in mind, I'm going to chat a bit about colourwork today. Don't be scared! I know lots of people get nervous thinking about working with more than one strand of yarn at a time, but I'm here to tell you that it's really nothing to be afraid of. One way to lighten the mental burden is to realize that most colourwork patterns are simple stockinette stitch. If you can knit cables, or lace, can turn the heel of a sock or can follow a chart then you can handle a colourwork project for sure.

So, first step: choosing colours. This is a topic that you are bound to over think but in my opinion there are really no rules. If you really want your motif to pop then be sure to select high contrast colours. Standing out dramatically isn't always the goal and sometimes a more subtle shift can be really beautiful too. One really good tip to judge the amount of contrast between your yarns is to snap a photo of the intended yarns and convert it to black and white. Looking at them as values will help to highlight the difference. In the example shown below we've got my Snowfling Mitt knit up with the high contrast pairing of Natural and Garnet. Once converted to black and white the pattern still really pops - we know we've got a good amount of contrast here.

Remember how I said that there are no rules when it comes to choosing colours? Below is a photo of one of my very favourite colourwork projects, an R&R Hoodie I knit for my son Rowan. When converted to black and white there is very little contrast between the three main colours of the sweater (in the b&w version you can't even tell that there is colourwork on the bottom!) but I love this sweater especially because of the subtle shift in tones. So don't let yourself get too caught up in the high contrast black and white trick - sometimes subtly nuanced knits are just the ticket!

The most daunting part of knitting with two colours at once is managing two strands of yarn. Some people will hold one strand in each hand and knit both english style and continental at the same time. I'm sure it takes a lot of practice but is probably pretty great once you get the hang of it. I. however, don't use that approach, I knit english style and simply drop colour A, pick up colour B, knit the stitches that I need to with colour B and then drop it to continue with colour A again. Both yarns are on my right side, I'll put one ball in back by my hip and the second ball more to the front by my knee and if the strands start to get twisted it's very easy to spot and untwist. Twisting and tangling yarns isn't a problem if you are consistent with where you pull your yarn from. If you always carry colour A under colour B, you won't have any problems. Bonus tip! The colourway that you carry underneath will be the dominant colourway in your pattern. So if you have one shade that you really want to pop and the other that is more of a background colour, be sure to carry the star colour underneath!

When working any colourwork pattern, it's really all about the chart. Charts can look super intimidating, but the trick is to take it all one row at a time. Take the sweater pictured below for example. It looks rather complicated right? Five colourways, lots of intricate patterning, surely it must have been very difficult... Nope!

And here are the reasons why: there are two rules that I follow when designing colourwork charts. The first is the rule of sevens. If at all possible, I try never to go more than seven stitches without switching colours. Any bigger gaps make for very long floats, which can make achieving an even tension difficult. I'll sometimes stretch it to nine stitches, but seven is my benchmark. The second rule is to never use more than two colours per row. As soon as you start working with more than two strands at a time the amount of effort required to keep all your balls straight increases dramatically. You can achieve amazing multicoloured, multidimensional results without going to any trouble at all by sticking to this rule.

Lets talk about gauge. Gauge is a knitters best friend right? We talk about it for every single project! When it comes to colourwork projects, you might find that your gauge differs between your colourwork portions and your single colour portions. So in the case of a colourful yoked sweater like the Byzantine Pullover shown above, you might find yourself having to change needle sizes to achieve a consistent gauge throughout your sweater. We tend to get too focused and knit stressfully tight when working colourwork. Relax and keep it loose! If your floats are too tight your work will pucker and won't lay flat. 

So, now you've made your chart, have knit your lovely garment and are ready to sew in the ends. All those ends! There are lots of ways to sew in ends, Jane highlighted a few in her lovely blog post earlier this month, but I've recently discovered a new-to-me way of weaving in ends that I absolutely love. I now use it for all of my projects, but find that it works especially well with colourwork. You know how the backside of colourwork is a thing of beauty in and of it's own right? Well, lovely as it may be I've always found it difficult to figure out where exactly to weave in the ends. Since you don't have the perfect backside of your stitches staring at you, but rather lots of floats blurring up your vision, where do you anchor in all those ends? The solution is to use a sharp darning needle and rather than weaving in and out of entire stitches, go directly through the plies of your yarn. The backside of your knitting will look a little less polished, but the side that really matters will look perfect! This trick really helps all  those ends to kind of felt together and stay put, resulting in no ends poking through to the front. Yes!

Last but not least, lets chat blocking! When it comes to blocking my hand knits, I almost always choose to wet block. I can't remember the last time I considered a knit finished without a good soak-and-lay-flat-to-dry time. Your colourwork knits are no exception, they benefit greatly from a good wet block. You should block them just as you would any other knitting project (you'll marvel at how beautiful your stitches look and how clear your motif is after blocking. The colourwork pattern really emerges!) the only tip I have for this step is to be sure to soak your colourful knits in COLD water! Heaven forbid any of that gorgeous colour should run, cold water will go a long way to  help keep the colour where it should be.

So, there you have it. Colourwork demystified (I hope!) Like anything else in knitting the best way to learn is to just dive in. Don't be afraid of all the glorious action going on in a colourful garment, it's really a lot more straight forward than it looks and I know you can do it!

Thank you so much for the awesome post Tanis! I can't wait to try some colorwork this fall! I've been dying to try some all year. Thank you for making amazing yarn and patterns and for inspiring us all.  You can find all things Tanis Fiber Arts here:

WEBSITE | BLOG | RAVELRY | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

Do you love colorwork? Have you always wanted to learn? Are you a fan of Tanis Fiber Arts? Come chat!  I'd love to hear & see if you made a colorwork project for the Summer Sweater Knit Along! 

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SUMMER SWEATER KNIT ALONG || KNITTING PLAYLIST

I love music. I also love knitting while listening to music. Put the two together and you've got yourself a relaxing knitting playlist!

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Since we moved into our house I've been enjoying listening to Spotify. It took ages to get to Canada (it's invite only but it doesn't take long) and now that it's here.....I'm addicted. Can't get enough of it. This music lovers soul is happy and blissful. I work with it on, cook with it on, relax with it on, design with it on and most importantly - knit with it on.

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So I thought, wouldn't it be fun to have a knitting playlist for our Summer Sweater Knit Along 2014?

Heck yeah it would! I love putting together playlists and do it often. Whenever Jane and I travel for work I get all excited to make our road trip playlists. It's so fun! This is the first time I've done a knitting one though and boy did I get a kick out of it! Feel free to click on it to get a link to open it in it's own window or click HERE. I will be keeping it updated and adding new music throughout the year to it.

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  >>> KNITTING PLAYLIST 2014 <<<

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So curl up, grab your fave project, yarn & needles, a yummy drink, click play and join me! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it for you!

p.s. You can find all things Summer Sweater Knit Along 2014 HERE. You may also enjoy the other freebies and fun projects we've done throughout our knit alongs! You can find them HERE.

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SEWING || COCO DRESS & KEEPING IT REAL

I made a Coco. I made it a few months ago and figured it was about time I got around to taking a pic of it for you guys.

I was in the mood for polka dots and something easy to wear with a little flair. I landed on Coco by Tilly & the Buttons. This dress pattern is versatile, comfy and quick to sew. This one is my wearable muslin. It's not perfect but I'm ok with that. It sort of matches these pics. This is what my children have done to me this week and it was only Monday when these were taken. Bad sleep, bickering sisters, teachers still on strike, my need for a shower (thus the bad hair day)...the list goes on, but then, I'm sure all you mommas can relate. I know I'm not the only one counting down the hours till they go to bed and I can finally take a breath. Bless their hearts I love them but sometimes they drive me nuts..lol.

This left me with pics of me looking bootylicious (I'm not) while staring wistfully at a painting in our dining area or a chair like a weirdo, like what the heck am I doing in these shots? Ones I had to crop my face out of because I looked slightly crazed (remember...don't judge me..lol). Then there is me laughing hysterically as my kiddos make faces at me because they think I'm nuts when I do photoshoots with the remote, which I totally agree with, I do look nuts when I do them. I need to practice more. It's dang hard to take a photoshoot of yourself peeps. The pics below prove it. Especially when you're not photographic and don't photograph well. Plus a girl wants the camera to help you lose 10lbs not gain them. Just keeping it real here folks. So pardon me if I show some pics of my new boots below. Aren't they cute? Some of my favorite boots are from Old Navy so I was happy to give these ones a new home on the weekend. They look a heckuva lot better than I do today.

I feel like when I made this muslin I had one of those situations where I kept making silly mistakes - too much coffee and not enough sleep. That's the excuse I'm running with.

Or I could use that it was one of the first few things I made on my new serger (which it was) and I'm still learning how to use the darn thing so this ended up being half sewn on my Pfaff Ambition and half sewn on my Babylock Imagine. Heck the excuse doesn't matter. It's got some issues but it's all good. The hem is a tad wonky but not too noticeable. The side seams ended up pulling a bit and the bust....well I think I need to make some alterations on the armhole and shoulder. It's hard to see in the pics but the armhole's underarm area is about 2" over too far. I don't want to make a smaller size though as the bust coverage doesn't pull and I like the fit. So my good ol' sloped shoulders and small back are going to cause me to do a bit of tweaking. I need to lift up the armhole a bit and take the end of the top of the shoulder in about 1/2" or so give or take.

I love all the variations you can make with this dress too! But the collar? That was what sold me. I heart that collar. It's so flattering and just adds a certain bit of interest to a simple dress. I didn't put pockets on this one but next time I will for sure. I miss them. I can't seem to make anything without pockets lately or I feel nude and silly always wondering where the heck to put my hands.

I definitely think this is a curve flattering dress. If you get the right size for your shape and do a few alterations I think it could be a go for most bodies. 

I feel pretty good in it even though it hangs quite close to my problem area which is my tummy. The skirt seems to kick out a good spot which doesn't show it too bad from the side view but also doesn't add width either so overall I like that. It's a nice slimming a-line. My next one will be a tad longer too. I didn't have enough fabric and just barely made it for this length. So it's a "must wear leggings under" sort of dress. Mine ended up more tunic than dress though I did make it with the intention of wearing it with tights and cute flat shoes. Next time at least 1" will be added for my frame.

I can't wait to wear this for the fall and winter! It looks great with knee high boots and this polka dot print from Girl Charlee is warm and cozy. Just perfect for the climate I live in here on Vancouver Island. Once the rain starts that's all we get for months. So boots, sweaters, warm fabrics and cuddly cowls are a must at all times.

Have you made a Coco yet? Did you sew up a top or a dress style? What variation did you choose? I'd love to see and hear about it ladies! Show some pics! 

PATTERN || Coco by Tilly and the Buttons
FABRIC || Similar to this Light Gray Dot on Black Ponte de Roma via Girl Charlee
SIZE MADE || Size 7 (which is for Size 42" bust, I'm a 41" bust)
MODIFICATIONS || None, but had made an error sewing hip and hem. Need to do adjustments on  armhole and shoulder for next one.
BOOTS || Old Navy

READING || NEW AMERICAN KNITS BY AMY CHRISTOFFERS

New American Knits by Amy Christoffers Interweave/F+W; $24.99

I've so excited to review the knitting book New American Knits by fab designer Amy Christoffers on the blog today!

I'm a big fan of Amy Christoffers work and I was super excited when I first heard she had a knitting book coming out. You all know I can't resist a good knitting and sewing book! Amy's patterns feature clean lines and are effortlessly wearable. They are the kinds of items you just want in your wardrobe. The kind that are easily incorporated into your daily life.

Jasper Pullover

Her designs always feature simple-but-sophisticated construction and her sweaters are truly drool worthy. I mean look at the cover shot of the Nevelson Lace Pullover below! I heart this sweater! The fit, the stitch pattern - pure Amy. Some of my favorite pieces in the book feature those special details that make me swoon. For instance the Serra Turtleneck (shown top right below) has that showstopper neckline and faux seam lines. I'm just loving the silhouette of this piece!

1. Moses Hoodie 2. Serra Turtleneck 3. Sargent Pullover

Then don't get me started on my favorite pattern in the book - the Moses Hoodie (shown above left). Seriously. I'm dying to cast on for this. The sewer in me is loving that there is a zipper! Then pockets...hello....gotta have pockets and then there's a hood! Could it get better than that? But wait there's more....a surprise stitch detail along the upper back. So lovely.

The book also features some pretty patterns for accessories and more! There are hats, shawls, cowls, mitts and more! The book is filled with bright, full color photography, clean graphic design accompanied by the patterns which are easy to follow and read.

What I really found interesting and enjoyed a lot was the premise behind the book and the names of the patterns. I have to say this was my favorite part of this book. Amy has named each of the pieces after an American artist that she finds inspiring! At the beginning of each pattern she has included the story behind each inspiration and name. So fun!

Overall I really think New American Knits accomplished what it set out to do - applying traditional knitting skills & textile motifs to contemporary wearable knitting. 

I think this is a book that can be enjoyed for generations to come no matter what the trend. A great addition to any knitters library. Have you gotten a copy of New American Knits yet? Are you also a fan of Amy's work? Which pattern would you make first?

Get more information and purchase a copy of New American Knits below:

New American Knits

by Amy Christoffers

Interweave/F+W

$24.99

http://bit.ly/1jjllAg

SUMMER SWEATER KNIT ALONG || WEAVING IN ENDS WITH GUEST JANE RICHMOND

I'm so excited to have my bestie and business partner - Jane Richmond here as our guest today!

Our Summer Sweater Knit Along would not be complete without a guest post from Jane! I think she's been in all of them so far! I love her to bits and could gush about her fabulousness all day but I'll spare you for now...lol. You all know how much of a fan I am of her work and her technique posts are some of our most popular for our knit alongs! 

Today Jane's here to chat with you all about weaving in those ends! I know a ton of us hate this task but trust me - it's worth every minute. When spending all that time to knit your gorgeous new garment it's so important to take the extra steps for a beautiful finish and a lovely inside for your garment as well as the outside. You guys ready to get weaving in those ends?

1. Grace 2. Inland 3. Beacon Hill

Let's hear from Jane...

Thanks for having me back on the blog Shan! Your SSKALs are always so much fun, I'm excited to be a part of it even if I can't participate with a knitting project!

For my post I would like to share with you my two favorite methods of weaving in ends. Each serves it's own purpose depending on who I am knitting for. The first is an invisible method perfect for gift knitting or projects that I know don't need to be altered after finishing. The second is the method I use most and leaves ends secure but visible and easy to pull out in case adjustments need to be made!

Both methods are illustrated first using a contrasting yarn so that each step is easier to see, and then followed by images using matching yarn to demonstrate how invisible/visible each method is. You'll find instruction for weaving in ends on both the knit and purl sides of Stockinette fabric.

PURL SIDE /// contrasting yarn

In the demonstration below I've used a contrasting yarn to make the steps more visible.

PURL SIDE /// matching yarn

Below I've demonstrated the same method using the same yarn as the swatch to demonstrate how invisible the results are.

KNIT SIDE /// contrasting yarn

The first picture tutorial was demonstrating how to use this method on the purl side of a Stockinette fabric. Below is the same method only on the knit side of the fabric. This is also the same method used to create a duplicate stitch on a knit fabric to embellish a finished project.

KNIT SIDE /// matching yarn

This is what it looks like using the same yarn as the swatch. The duplicate stitches blend right in.

PURL SIDE /// contrasting yarn

PURL SIDE /// matching yarn

KNIT SIDE /// contrasting yarn

I weave in the ends on the knit side a little differently. As you can see they are still very visible and this method is very easy to pull out.

KNIT SIDE /// matching yarn

Happy Knitting!!!

Thanks for joining in today Jane! Love this tutorial! So handy! I hope you all enjoy it and find it helpful when finishing your new sweaters! You can always find all of our guest tutorials on our Tips & Techniques page HERE and all of our Summer Sweater Knit Along posts HERE.

You can find more Jane Richmond below:

WEBSITE || FACEBOOK || RAVELRY || TWITTER || INSTAGRAM

THIS POST IS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

GIVEAWAYS || WINNERS

I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend!

We had a lovely weekend here relaxing and doing some more home reno projects and are ready to get the wee one ready for her first day of preschool (2nd year) tomorrow! Unfortunately though, here in BC, Canada, our teachers are still on strike (don't even get me started). My oldest, who should be starting Grade 2, will still be home with me full time. She's been off school since early June due to the strike. The poor thing is desperate to start school. It's so sad to see her so upset that school isn't starting anytime soon. It breaks my heart. If any of you have any great online resources for me I'd love to do a bit of homeschooling with her until the strike is over. Thanks in advance for any tips/resources you have to share. I so appreciate it.



I'm trying to stay positive about the whole thing but it's hard not to get frustrated as a parent. I'm thankful I work from home and can try to bend my already crazy schedule to fit 2 kids home into it during our busy season. So bear with me this month if here and there it's a tad quiet on the blog. We're doing the best we can :)

But on to happier news! I've got 2 winners from our last 2 giveaways to announce! These are some fabulous prizes ladies!!!

SEW A MODERN HOME GIVEAWAY
The winner of a copy of Sew a Modern Home by Melissa Lunden is....

COMMENTER #35 - Sarka

ANTHOLOGY VOL. 1 GIVEAWAY
The winner of a copy of Anthology Vol. 1 by Carrie Bostick Hoge is....

COMMENTER #41  - AngelaH

Congrats! We'll be in touch with you soon in regards to your prize!

Thanks for all who entered and to our awesome prize sponsors! See you tomorrow with another fabulous guest tutorial for our Summer Sweater Knit Along!

SALE || 15% OFF EVERY PATTERN IN THE SHOP!

Lansbury Cowl Pattern

It's time for a SALE! Yay! Just in time for the end of summer and the start of fall!

Don't miss our Labor Day Long Weekend Sale! Save 15% off EVERY pattern in the shop!!! That's right! Save on BOTH knitting and sewing patterns for this weekend only! Sale ends midnight, PST, Monday, September 1st, 2014. Sale is valid in our shop HERE and also on Etsy and Ravelry.

Use COUPON CODE "WEEKEND15" to save 15% off every pattern in the shop! 

Happy making and thank you for all of your support! Have a wonderful and relaxing long weekend! See you next week! 

p.s. Sale valid on patterns only. Does not include Journey (hardcopy or ebook).

SUMMER SWEATER KNIT ALONG || PROVISIONAL BIND OFF TUTORIAL WITH GUEST BRISTOL IVY

We've got another fabulous guest tutorial today for the Summer Sweater Knit Along 2014 from one of my fave designers - the lovely Bristol Ivy!

Bristol's designs speak to my texture loving soul. I love her unique constructions, creative lines and overall aesthetic of her work as a designer. She's a huge source of inspiration for me as a designer and I've been a fan of hers since she started so I'm just over the moon to have Bristol here for our Summer Sweater Knit Along 2014! I knew you would all be just as excited as I am!

Bristol has a written a tutorial for us that is for one of those garment knitting situations that you're always wondering if there was a better way to handle. You know that happy place in a top down sweater that you reach when you get to separate for sleeves? Yep, that wonderful knitting haven where you think "it looks like a sweater" and "now I can try it on" time. You know those stitches you have to put on waste yarn - well Bristol is showing us how to do the Provisional Bind Off in place of just putting those lovely stitches on a scrap yarn to get all distorted. Genius. No distorted stitches and it's much easier to try your garment on. I seriously live for these kinds of things. I'm always researching and trying to learn as a knitter and learning something new like this is food for the soul for me. I encourage you to give it a try! Don't be scared of the word "provisional". It's got a bad rap in the knitting world as being hard and it's really not. Promise.

Before we jump in the lovely Bristol's birthday is this week! Happy birthday Bristol! In honor of her bday she has a lovely Birthday Sale! Bundle on! Use coupon code "29on28" to get 29% off the patterns listed in the bundle until August 31st.

And now here's Bristol...

Knitting a top-down sweater can be a fabulous way to get acquainted with sweater knitting.

Seamless, easy to try on and refine the fit of as you go, and a great way to eke out every last inch of your favorite yarn.  What’s not to like? But I’ll admit there was one part of the process that I didn’t love--putting the sleeves on waste yarn after the yoke was complete.  Either my waste yarn was too short and I couldn’t get my arms through, or it was too long and my stitches got distorted.  And what was going on with the stitches at the beginning and ends of each sleeve? It’s like they completely disappear, any extra slack in them getting absorbed into the body stitches on either side.  And, to be completely honest, a huge stumbling block? Hunting down a tapestry needle so I could thread the yarn through in the first place.

The biggest thing that bugged me about this, though, was how badly my sleeve stitches got distorted while they were on their holder.  I never felt like I got an accurate idea of how my sleeves fit, and finessing them back to the original gauge was always such a headache.  With these annoyances in mind, I started brainstorming other ways you could hold the sleeve stitches--something that would still be easy, prevent distortion, protect the integrity of the stitches at each edge, and wouldn’t need a tapestry needle.  Here’s what I came up with: the Provisional Bind-Off!

Just like the Provisional Cast-On Tutorial that Hilary showed you a couple weeks ago, the Provisional Bind-Off holds your stitches ready to work for whenever you need them.  Here, I’m demonstrating on half of a basic top-down raglan shape, worked in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in Nest (special thanks to my friend Aimee for being a willing hand model!), but this is relevant to any place where you might hold stitches: underarms, henley plackets, back necks, et cetera.

STEP ONE \\ With your working yarn, work in pattern as established to the stitches that need to be held.

STEP TWO \\ Drop your working yarn and pick up your waste yarn (either a spare ball or a length approximately 4 times as long as the fabric being held). (Image 1)

STEP THREE \\ With waste yarn, bind off knitwise all stitches to be held. (Images 2, 3 & 4)

STEP FOUR \\ After knitting the final stitch, elongate it by pulling more yarn through, then break the waste yarn (you can leave this stitch live as Hilary’s done at the end of her Provisional Cast-On, but I tend to get it caught on things.  Try it and see!). (Image 1)

STEP FIVE \\ When you reach the end of the stitches that need to be held, fold the bound off fabric onto itself to close the gap between the stitches previously worked in your working yarn and the next stitches, and continue on with the next set of pattern instructions in the working yarn, whether that’s casting on stitches to cover the gap, or just continuing directly to the next set of stitches.  In my example, I am working directly with the next set of stitches. (Images 2 & 3)

The Provisional Bind-Off is complete! 

Here you can see the body of my sweater sample is started and the sleeve stitches are held with the Provisional Bind-Off, ready to be unzipped and worked. (Image 4)

STEP SIX \\ When you’re ready to work the held stitches, slide the tail of the waste yarn back through the previous stitch and through the first live working stitch (shown from the wrong side).

STEP SEVEN \\ Unzip the bind-off stitch by stitch, replacing the stitches on the needle.  You can then proceed with the pattern instructions as written as show above and below.

A couple tips: make sure to use relatively smooth, non-toothy waste yarn.  

For the example shown, to pair with the Brooklyn Tweed Shelter I used Quince & Co.’s Lark, a smooth, worsted-spun 100% wool that I knew wouldn’t grab onto the stitches it held and make it difficult to unravel.  Fibers or yarn types to avoid would be mohair, alpaca, cashmere, boucle, novelty yarn, or anything with a halo that could get tangled in the stitches of the working yarn and make it hard to unravel.

Additionally, be mindful of your bind-off.  

If you know you typically go up or down a needle size when binding off to match your working gauge, do so here as well.

Once you’ve taken these steps to provisionally bind off your stitches to be held, you can try the sweater on and proceed as usual, without worrying about any of your stitches distorting the structure of the bind off.  This will hold your stitches in place and match your working gauge, giving you a much better idea of how the sleeves will fit.  It will also make it easier to recover and work those stitches when you’re ready.  Plus, as a huge bonus, no hunting down that elusive tapestry needle!

So there you have it: the Provisional Bind-Off.  Give it a try next time you have to hold some stitches!

Thanks so much for being on the blog today Bristol! You can find all things Bristol below...

WEBSITE || RAVELRY || INSTAGRAM || TWITTER

What do you think? Have you tried this method before? Do you adore the Provisional Cast on and Bind off too? 

THIS POST IS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

LEARN || STYLE THAT KID: CHILDREN'S CLOTHING PHOTOS THAT POP

One of my favorite parts of being a blogger/designer are the photo shoots.

When dreaming up posts, projects and new patterns I always start with a story. I'm one of those people who loves coming up with a character and the back story for that particular design/project. Then I go on the hunt to get a good photo shoot to depict that character and tell the story. This is not always easy. As many bloggers know it takes hard work, time and sometimes multiple photo shoots. Some go smoothly and others are filled with trials.

Shooting children is not an easy task either.  So when I spotted my friend Alida (from the blog Alida Makes) new Ebook "Style that Kid! Children's Clothing Photos that Pop!" I thought aha! This is what I need! I'm always on the lookout for new tips, tricks and methods to improve my photo shoots and to take great pics of my kiddos in the lovelies I sew or knit up for them. I knew you all would love it too because I'm always hearing questions from you all about how to take better project photos etc.

With new seasons of Project Run & Play and Kids Clothes Week coming up and school getting back in session I know you are all getting ready to start sewing up a storm for those kiddos! Style that Kid is a great resource to help you improve, practice and add that special "wow factor" to your photographs! I really enjoyed it and learned some new things that I know I'll be using with my photo shoots from now on - for both the kids and for adult shoots too!

Here are some of the things that Style that Kid covers:

// contrast, dimension, texture

// lighting and location (shooting indoors and out)

// hair and styling

// troubleshooting

// props & accessories

& more!

Thanks for putting together a great resource Alida! You did a great job! You can find Alida's Ebook Style that Kid for sale HERE on her website.

What's your go to tip for styling and photographing kids? Are you looking to improve your photography too? Do you prefer to shoot indoors or out? Let's chat!

SUMMER SWEATER KNIT ALONG || MADDER ANTHOLOGY VOL. 1 BOOK GIVEAWAY

Boy oh boy do I have a lovely and oh so pretty prize to giveaway today for our Summer Sweater Knit Along!

One of my most favorite designers, photographer/stylists is the oh so talented Carrie Bostick Hoge. Her work is constantly inspiring me and I am truly inspired by all of her work. I was super excited to see the release of her new book Anthology 1. Drool factor on high here folks!!! Seriously. You all know how I get obsessed about stitch patterns well this book is a knitter's dream! Carrie has taken 4 unique stitch patterns and incorporated them into a collection of dreamy and gorgeous garments and accessories!

THE BOOK INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:

CAMILLA | 6 Patterns including a pullover, shawls, child & baby garments & a blanket

SIBELLA | 4 Patterns including a cardigan, cowl, pullover and scarf

IMOGEN | 6 Patterns including a pullover, tees, a cowl, and a blanket

BEATRICE | 6 Patterns including cardigans, a wrap, cowl, tee and scarf

Each pattern is beautiful in it's own right. But when combined in different forms it creates an addictive collection of patterns just yearning to be cast on! Incorporated into different weights and styles these stitch patterns just beg to be knit up! There are patterns for babies, children and for adults. Also included are shawls, blankets and more. Each pattern is knit up with the equally as addictive Quince and Co. yarns! Seriously....could it get any better? Accompanied by Carrie's signature photography and graphic design Anthology 1 is a must have for any knitter's coveted collection of books.

Would you like to win a copy of Anthology 1? Keep reading to find out how!

Aren't they gorgeous! You ready to win?

THE PRIZE
- One lucky winner will win a hard copy of Madder: Anthology Vol. 1 when it's released (Oct) as well as the eBook which is available now.

HOW TO ENTER
- Simply leave me a comment below letting me know which pattern from Madder Anthology 1 you would make first!

THE RULES
- You must leave a valid email address in your comment or you will be disqualified. Giveaway is open until August 25th, 2014, midnight, PST.

A big congrats to Carrie for this amazing book! I can't even decide which is my fave or what to cast on first! Thank you for all the inspiration! You can find more about Carrie here:

WEBSITE || RAVELRY || TWITTER || FACEBOOK || PINTEREST || INSTAGRAM

THIS POST IS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

MOMENTS || RECHARGE THOSE CREATIVE BATTERIES

This is what we've been up to lately.

Now that we are in the new house it's time to explore! We're so lucky to live in an area now that is accessible to tons of amenities, the city and also gorgeous farm land and ocean beaches with mountain views! Both the hubs and I grew up in very small towns and we love the more relaxed feel of our neighborhood. We also love that we have all new surroundings to explore and tons of accessible outdoor landscapes! So many lovely off the beaten path views.

It's been hard to get the rest of the unpacking/chores done when all we want to do is enjoy the house and the new sights! Beaches, lakes and more are calling our names! So even though I know I "should" be unpacking this time I'm telling myself "it can wait". There's more important things to do. Like skipping rocks at the ocean, laying on the rocky shore with my best friend and love of my life, watching our girls laugh and play in the ocean, soaking up the summer sun, smelling the coastal breeze and breathing in the fresh air. Those darn pesky boxes can wait.

So that means the sewing time has been non-existent at the moment. Until this momma gets her office fully unpacked and her shelves set up the sewing is on hold. But I do promise it will be soon. I've got some new shelves being delivered this week and then I hope to get back into full work mode and say a big hello to my babies! I swear I can feel my serger/sewing machine staring at me with judgement. They don't like to be ignored. I'll make it up to them soon.

Until then, put aside your chores (and any unpacked boxes you may have), and get outside and explore! Bring a notebook, your camera and your loved ones and go be free. If even for 10 minutes. I swear it will come back tenfold in creativity. You'll feel even more inspired and much more happier to get those pesky chores and unpacking done when your soul is full.

What's your favorite way to inspire yourself outdoors? How do you balance your "chores" with your fun time? Do you have a favorite place to go unwind and recharge your creative batteries? I've got a coffee cup with your name on it! Come chat with me! I always love to hear from you. And heck.....chatting with all you lovelies is a heckuva lot more fun than unpacking. So come help me procrastinate ;)

GIVEAWAY || SEW A MODERN HOME BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY

Photo Credit || Brent Kane and Martingale

I'm so excited for the release of the new book "Sew a Modern Home" from my lovely friend Melissa Lunden!!!

I love when a new sewing book comes along that gets me really itching to pull an all day sewing marathon.  The kind of book that has me already daydreaming about fabric choices, colors and more. Sew a Modern Home: Quilts and More For Every Room is filled with inspiring projects that easily fit into my home and yours. The book covers most rooms in your home and is broken down as such in the book. I really liked that detail. Here's the rooms broken down....

LIVING ROOM | 1 Quilt and 2 Pillows

DINING ROOM | Placemats, Table Runner and Napkins

MAIN BEDROOM | 1 Quilt and 1 Pillow

GUEST BEDROOM | 1 Quilt and 1 Pillow

GIRL'S ROOM & BOY'S ROOM | Each have 1 Quilt

NURSERY | 1 Quilt, 1 Crib Skirt, 1 Crib Sheet and 1 Crib Bumper

OUT & ABOUT | 1 Quilt and 1 Tote

Photo Credit || Brent Kane and Martingale

I am particularly in love with a pattern for the Main Bedroom called the Desert Morning Quilt shown above. I need to add that one to my "must sew" list asap!I love it's subtle tones and clean palette. I just adore how it was quilted. It's hard to see in this shot but it's stunning! It would fit into my home just perfectly!


Sew a Modern Home's quilt patterns are true to Melissa's signature style. I've been a long time fan of Melissa quilt patterns (Lunden Designs) since we met over our shared love for Cynthia Mann's Birch Fabrics. I've written about Melissa's patterns before and truly do love them and highly recommend them. She writes patterns that are fun to sew and when done offer that wow factor! The book carries on her clean pattern writing style and pattern design. The patterns offered are useful and ones that could easily be added to your home or gifted to a loved one for their home. Each pattern could easily be transformed based on fabric choice and color easily lending the reader a chance to express their creativity as well.

Photo Credit || Brent Kane and Martingale

The book also offers up some basic instructions at the start of the book that are quite helpful. Melissa covers supplies, terms, techniques and more. Sew a Modern Home is laid out cleanly and neatly and the photographs are clear and bright. The pattern diagrams are also very easy to follow allowing a beginner to jump right in. Melissa has written a book that would be a nice addition to any sewers home library and one that would be well loved and used throughout the years.

Would you like to win a copy of the e-book Sew a Modern Home? 

THE PRIZE
- One lucky winner will win an e-copy of the new book Sew a Modern Home by Melissa Lunden, published by Martingale.

HOW TO ENTER
- Simply leave me a comment letting me know why you love modern sewing projects.

THE RULES
-You must leave a valid email address or you will be disqualified. Giveaway open until Monday, August 18th, 2014, midnight, PST.

I'm so thrilled to be included in this blog book tour with so many other fabulous bloggers! Don't miss checking them all out and entering to win an e-copy at each stop on the tour!

Congratulations again Melissa! I'm so excited for you! It's such a lovely book!!! Big hugs your way!

8/13 – Lunden Designs
8/14 – Very Shannon
8/15 – West Coast Crafty
8/16 – Boston Sewer
8/17 – One Shabby Chick
8/18 – Cactus Needle
8/19 – Fabricworm
8/20 – Generation Q Magazine
8/21 – Martingale
8/22 – Prudent Baby
8/23 – Stitchery Dickory Dock
8/24 – Fave Quilts – Seams and Scissors

*All images courtesy of Martingale and Brent Kane.

SUMMER SWEATER KNIT ALONG || A NEW DESIGN!

There has been so many gorgeous pics shared of Summer Sweater Knit Along projects over the last few weeks and it's been so inspiring! 

I figured it was time to show what I've been knitting away on. I've been working in the background  on a new sweater design! Yay! This time I'm making a cardigan and I can't wait to wear it! It's one of those projects that I can't knit fast enough so I can finally add it to my regular wardrobe. I have sort of adopted a new process that when I design now I try to knit 2 of some things. 1 for me and 1 for a sample because it kills me to not be able to wear them! So right now I'm working on 2 cardigans. One in my size and one in a sample size since I am for sure NOT the sample size...haha. If you look closely at the picture of my basket below with my knitting you will see the color that I'm making my size in. More on that later though.

I really enjoy making the initial design in my own size so I can try it on, use my dress form, and see how it looks on curves instead of just model proportions. Since I also design sewing patterns I find I use techniques from both fields in the design process. It's fun to implement things when I can to aid in the design process. Since math is so heavily used and I'm more of a visual person, I find the sewing skills aid me in designing garments in knitting and then adding in the math to create the pattern.

Since we just moved into our first home my knitting time hasn't been huge but I've been busy swatching and pattern writing and finally have that lovely Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in colorway "Hayloft" turning into a cardigan! I've been rewarding all my cleaning/unpacking with a few good solid hours of knitting work at the end of the day before bed. I find myself staying up late just enjoying our new house and the quiet with this pretty yarn. Isn't this color to die for? I've been in love with it for the longest time and I'm so happy to make a sweater with it. This color is the "sample" size for this pattern. I wish I could show you more but a girls gotta have some secrets...wink wink.

We just had our first day of rain here in a very long time and let me tell you, the girls shot out of bed this morning, threw on their rain boots and ran into our backyard all full of excitement to be able to go out and play in it. I on the other hand, grabbed my favorite hand knit and ran in the yard with a camera to catch a shot of the matching leaf to my cardi. I couldn't resist the shot..lol. I didn't even have my coffee first and that's saying a lot! I just couldn't get over how much the color matched perfectly! So pretty!

How's your SSKAL project going? Do you need any help? Questions? Don't be shy! Join the conversation! Feel free to leave a comment here or to ask any questions in our Ravelry group! We love seeing your "work in progress" shots and hearing about your projects! Also, if you blog be sure to share a post every Wednesday and share your link in the comments here so we can read it!

P.S. Don't forget to tag your work on Instagram and Twitter with our hashtag #sska14. There's a ton of fun going on there as well as in our Rav group. You can find me on both under "soveryshannon".

THIS POST IS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

READING || BASIC BLACK BY SATO WATANABE

Basic Black by Sato Watanabe | Tuttle Publishing

I'm so excited to add Basic Black, another lovely Japanese sewing book by Sato Watanabe, to my collection! 

Some of you may know I used to be a hairdresser. While what you didn't know was that all I used to wear was the color black. The salons I worked for at the time encouraged the stylists to all wear black.  It was considered moody and stylish. All the color I so embrace now was in my nails and hair. I have to admit that after leaving the industry it took me a long time to "break the black" and start adding color to my wardrobe. I'm happy to say that now black has a home in my closet amongst tons of color and prints. I've come a long way :)

Even though I fought to add color to my clothes I still love black. It's slimming, classic, sexy, stylish and just cool. I always feel good when I wear black so I was excited to hear about Basic Black: 26 Edgy Essentials for the Modern Wardrobe. I wasn't disappointed. True to Sato's style there is a pattern in here for everything - 26 in fact! Yep, that's right - 26! Tops, dresses, jackets and more. The fabrics are interesting and the designs are more body flattering than most of the other Japanese sewing books you see on the shelves. Basic Black is another great English edition of a Japanese sewing book.

The patterns in the book are lovely. I really loved the Lace Shirred Blouse, Blocked Quilting Zip-Up Jacket, Zip-Up Vest with High Neck, Frilled Shirt in Charcoal, Tunic Blouse with Lace-Trimmed Armholes, and Flannel Short Coat. I could honestly see myself wearing and sewing all of these. I consider a book a win/win if I want to make at least 3-4 patterns out of it. So this one is on a roll considering I trimmed down my list to write on here...haha. There is a nice variety of styles and fits in this book that give the reader lots of style options for their wardrobe.

Basic Black features bright, modern photography for the first half of the book and the second half is the written patterns accompanied by clear, easy to follow diagrams. I don't know about you but I just swoon over these kinds of diagrams. So pretty! The pattern pieces themselves are tucked neatly away in the back flap of the book. Sato also covers some basic sewing tools and how to use the patterns in the book. For a book filled with black clothing Basic Black still feels lively, bright and energetic.

The only con I have to the book is the sizing. This is very common though for Japanese sewing books. The larger sizes don't go up very high so I usually fall on the last size or not in the range at all. The books sizing is broken down into 3 categories - "loose", "garments with darts & shaping seams" and then finally "fitted" which was nice to see. These are listed all on one page and it definitely makes it easier to see what will fit and what won't. It was a nice addition.

BASIC BLACK

AUTHOR | Sato Watanabe

PUBLISHER | Tuttle Publishing

PROS | 26 patterns! Huge variety of styles and fits. Even though all black garments the book still feels lively and nice to read. Great diagrams.

CONS |  Sizing doesn't go high enough.

Overall I give this book 2 thumbs up. I have a soft spot for Japanese sewing books and their aesthetic and styling. This one will have a lovely place on my bookshelf. If you are a fan of Japanese sewing books I think you will find this one a fresh surprise amongst the more traditional loose fitting styling of the more common ones out there.

Are you a fan of Japanese sewing books? Have you read this one? What was your favorite pattern from it? Let's chat!

*This post contains affiliate links. All opinions expressed are my own.

CREATIVITY || CRAFTSY COURSE SALE!

Don't miss Craftsy's Dog Days of Summer Sale happening now! 

Enjoy up to 50% off ALL online classes! Take advantage of big savings today. Hurry, offer expires August 11, 2014 at 11:59 PM MT. Shop now and save!

I'm a big fan of Craftsy classes and take them regularly! It's a great way to stop getting stuck wishing you knew how to do something and instead jump in to learn how :)

Above are a few that I think would be awesome for all of our Summer Sweater Knit Along knitters!!! 

Happy making and creating! Have you taken a Craftsy class? Which one would you like to take?

*This post contains affiliate links but all opinions are my own.