Mallory Cowl Pattern - The Updated Version!

mallory cowl pattern by me, yarn: knit picks swish worsted in colorway allspice

guess what's just around the corner?  fall! yahoo!  don't get me wrong, i'm basking in the last of the summer rays but i'm also itching for the loveliness of fall.  i'm also missing my cowls.  you all know how i love me a cowl.  i figured since we are only a few days away from september that i could share some upcoming news with ya.

see that lovely cowl in these pics knit up in that yummy "perfect for fall" color?  well that's the mallory cowl.  i heart the mallory cowl.  it's seriously the bounciest & squishiest cowl i have ever made.  since last year i've made a few of these to go along with mackenzie's child version and this one has to be my favorite one of all of them.  wanna know why?  well i adore the yarn it was made with.

the yarn used to knit this cowl is knit picks "swish worsted" in colorway allspice.  yep, it's as good as it's name.  how could i not knit my bouncy cowl pattern up in a yarn called "swish"? it's like a match made in heaven!!!!  best part of it all is you can now buy the mallory pattern and matching yarn on the knit picks website as part of their independent designer program!! woot woot!  how cool is that!  you could pick up your pattern and choose the color that suits you right in one shopping cart! now that's what i call efficiency :)

 

swish worsted comes in tons of gorgeous colors too and the price is oh, so affordable.  heck make one for your kidlet and one for you so you can match!  so fun!  each skein of swish worsted is $4.49 - $4.69 a ball and at 110yds/50g a ball you only need (2) to make a child's mallory or (4) for the adult one!  wowsa!  swish worsted is 100% superwash merino wool too! which means it's soft (great for baby & kid's clothes) and is machine washable!

the mallory cowl pattern has been updated and rewritten to include both the childs and adult pattern in one handy pdf with more concise instructions including 2 new gauges.  this pattern is great for beginners and/or anyone looking to try knitting in the round.  it's a quick project that knits up easily.  perfect for a "treat myself" or "christmas pressie" kind of project.

you can purchase the mallory pattern at the following online shops:

ravelry  |  etsy  |  craftsy  |  magpie patterns

and on

knit picks!!! wahoo!!!

so watcha think?  you ready to see those leaves change color, to feel a crispness to the air, and go for a lovely pre-fall stroll with me sporting our matching mallorys?  i know i am!  bring on the pumpkin spice lattes and knitted cowls people!  

a huge thank you to the lovely rebecca (nook) for being my pattern model.  i love taking pics of her and she is so sweet to happily let me go all paparazzi on her...lol.  and also thanks to the equally as lovely jane (janerichmond.com) for letting me snap some shots of her as well.  don't they look gorgeous?  thanks m'dears! luv ya both..xoxoxo.

have you made a mallory cowl yet?  if so i'd love to see your pics!!!!  make sure you add them to our flickr group or post them up in ravelry for all to see.  or you could just email them to me or comment below.  it really is fun for me to see them so share away :)  anyone else dying for pumpkin spice lattes already?

Simpatico Pillow Tutorial & Baby Pressies

my baby sister is about to have her first baby any day now and for her baby shower pressie i decided to make the baby a duvet cover along with a matching pillow using one of my fave lines of the year "simpatico".  i also made her a boobie pillow.  yes, i call it a boobie pillow...that's what it is so lovingly referred to in our home...lmao.  anyone else call it that?? if not - you should :p  I'm determined to start a new trend.

on point and straws in colorway minty from simpatico by cloud 9 fabrics

i was over the moon when i spotted that the new line "simpatico" from cloud 9 fabrics was being released a few months ago and my sister and i had been anxiously awaiting it's arrival ever since so i could make the baby's bedding.  we knew the colors and print would be perfect for her nursery.  after making the pressies for her i'm now dying to do my own bedding with simpatico.  such a fabulous line of fabrics and oh so soft. cloud 9 fabrics are all organic and i swear this baby is going to be sleeping and eating in style :)  i'm a tad bit envious of it actually..lol.  we used the  prints "straw" and "on point" bedding in colorway minty for the bedding.

pearl bracelet in turquoise from outfoxed by lizzy house

for the duvet cover i simply did a zip closure on one end so she could pull it on and off for easy washing.  i made the booby pillow out of one of my fave prints - pearl bracelet in turquoise from the line "outfoxed" by lizzy house.  i can never have enough pearl bracelet in my house.  love it!  i used the pattern from lotta jansdotter's book "simple sewing for babies" to make the actual booby pillow.  this book is one of my all time faves and i use it constantly for baby gifts. i highly recommend it.

since my sister leans toward very simple and minimal designs for her fabrics the duvet cover was "on point " for the front and "straws" for the backing.  when she said i could surprise her with the pillow i have to admit it was hard for me.  i wanted to go nuts with this fabric and have some fun with it but i had to reign myself in and try to stay true to my taste but also hers as well.  i think i pulled off a happy balance.  it has a pop of fun on the front but it's still clean and simple.  i love it and thought you might all love it too.

i know a lot of you are just learning how to piece things and to customize things for your home and your clothing.  this is a fun little tutorial showing you how to piece your pillow front together based on the size of your pillow.  easy for customization and fun on style.  it's a quick sew and finishes really nicely with a few little touches.

SIMPATICO PILLOW TUTORIAL

Copyright 2012 www.luvinthemommyhood.com  All rights reserved.  For personal use only unless prior permission has been given.

| MATERIALS |

- (1) piece of fabric (I used quilting cotton but you could use any type of light-med-home dec weight you would like) for the back of pillowcase the size of your pillow form + 1/2" for your seam allowance for your height and width.  My pillow form was 16" x 16" so I cut my back 16 1/2" x 16 1/2".
- (2) pieces of fabric for the outer columns of your front pillow case.  My pillow form was 16" x 16" so I cut my pieces to  6 1/4"W x 16 1/2"H to accommodate for seam allowances.
- (1) piece of fabric for the center column of your front pillow case cut to 5"W x 16 1/2"H
When you front piece is assembled your center strip will measure 4 1/2"W and your two outer strips will measure 6"W.
 - Scissors or rotary cutter/mat
- Co-ordinating thread
- Hand sewing needle
- Pillow form
- *Optional: light to medium weight interfacing if desired.

*How to calculate your measurements for a different sized pillow form:

The formula for calculating your measurements for a different sized pillow case would be to start by  taking your pillow form size which would be "A" and add you seam allowances to it which would be "B" and "C".  So:

A + B + C = D  so for my pillow my calculation was 16" + 1/4" + 1/4" = 16 1/2"  So my D (my overall width) is 16 1/2".

Next decide how wide you would like your finished columns to be keeping in my mind that they  have to equal your calculation for D when sewn.  My columns were to be 2 @ 6"W and 1 @ 4 1/2"W.

Now you have add your seam allowances again for the assembly of your front.  Your wider columns will be called "E", and your seam allowance "F".  To calculate how wide to cut your wider columns.  We would use the following calculation:

E + F= G so mine was 6" + 1/4"= 6 1/4"  This is how wide our outer columns will be.

To calculate our middle column you would simply take your desired finished width and add your seam allowance.  So "H" is your column and "I" & "J" are your seam allowances.

H + I + J = K so mine was 4 1/2" + 1/4" + 1/4" = 5".  I would cut my center column to be 5" wide.

Now let's check our math....

6 1/4" x 6 1/4" + 5" = 17 1/2"

which means once we sew those strips together with 1/4" seam allowances your total width would equal 16 1/2"! Yay! We did it!  You can  now apply this to any pillow form and also play around with it and have some fun.  You could easily add another column or change your widths around.

| INSTRUCTIONS|

STEP ONE: ASSEMBLE YOUR PIECES

Cut and prep your fabric pieces.  If you would like a sturdier feel to your pillow & you are using quilting cotton feel free to use a light-medium weight interfacing on your fabrics for the pillow.  If you are using a medium/home dec weight you should be fine.  I used a quilting cotton and did not interface it as it was for bedding and I wanted a very soft drape for mine instead of your normal throw pillow.

Place your center strip right sides facing each other onto one of your side strips with the long edges matched up.  Stitch along your long edge with a 1/4" seam allowance.  *See diagram above.  If you aren't using a serger finish your seam off by either zig zag stitching your seam or trimming with pinking shears.  Press your seam allowance towards the darker color.  Now place the other long edge of your center strip right sides facing each other onto your other side strip lining up your long edges. Stitch along your long edge with a 1/4" seam allowance.  Finish this seam off as well.  Press your seam allowance towards the darker color.

With your pillow front right side facing up edgestitch down the outer long edge of your center strip as close to your seam as possible.  Press for a nice clean finish. *See diagram above.

Now place your front and back pillow pieces together, right sides facing each other.  *See diagram above. Pin around your entire pillow making sure to also mark where to leave yourself a 6"+ opening to put your pillow form in.  Sew along all 4 sides (but not closing your marked opening) with a 1/4" seam allowance.  *See diagram below. Finish off your seam allowances and trim your corners. 

Turn your pillowcase right side out.  Put your pillow form inside your pillow case and hand stitch your opening closed with an invisible stitch.  You're done! Great job!!!

There are lots of options for closures here as well.  You could easily add in a zipper closure if you wanted as well.  I originally intended to have a zipper closure but didn't have the right size left in my stash :(  Luckily my sister's pillow form is easily washable and she can throw the whole pillow in the wash.

HAPPY SEWING! Be sure to add your Simpatico Pillows to our Flickr Group here! I'd love to see what you make!!!  Feel free to email me at luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca if you have any questions.

what's your favorite baby pressie to make?  have any of you made any projects with simpatico?  Aare you a lizzy house addict as well? let's chat ladies! it's monday and i've got sewing on the brain...lol.

wiksten tanks and rocky coast cardis

i've been way behind on my fo shots lately.  i decided to try to get a few snaps of my rocky coast cardigan that i finished eons ago and also a newly sewn wiksten tank. *edited to add: can you believe i took these first 2 shots by balancing my camera on my ample cleavage? how's that for putting "the girls" to good use...muahah!

the wiksten tank is tank #2.  i made  my first one with fabric i wouldn't be sad to use if it didn't work out and i liked how it turned out but only wear it with a cardi because i definitely suffer from the side boob peekaboo and a way too big back neck opening.  not a good fit.  thankfully my lovely friend rae (from made by rae) had a tiny bit of the same issue with her neck and i took her cue with my 2nd attempt and took about 1" or so off the top half of the pattern along the folded edge when you lay out your pattern piece before cutting.  you can see how rae did it here.  the tank fits like a dream now (or at least i think so) and it's been in very heavy rotation ever since i finished it last week.  covers all my wobbly bits but isn't so loose and baggy that it makes me look preggers. 

1. wiksten tank in cotton lawn 2. rocky coast cardigan by hannah fettig in quince & co. lark in colorway frost

please excuse the very windy shots...we were right beside a very windy ocean just before sunset and i was right in the line of fire for ocean winds.  i swear this tank drapes nicely..lol.  the fabric is a cotton lawn i got on sale for a good deal.  like a $4.98/yd kinda deal :)  i also picked up two diff voile's to see how i liked the tank in them and also to make a wiksten tova tunic for the fall.  i can't wait to sew those bad boys up.

i've also been anxiously awaiting the mail carrier each day (what else is new right?!) for a yummy order from fabricworm that i placed to make a washi dress and tunic for myself.  so excited!  i decided after a year of selfish knitting it was time to do some selfish sewing.  this momma needs some new clothes and i'm so excited to make some new lovelies that i can fit just for my body shape.  fun!!!

after all...i need some purdy things to wear with my rocky coast cardigan this fall.  thought you were gonna see my badly sunburned nose didn't ya...nope....i hid that bad boy.  i didn't want to scare you and your children..lol.

i love this cardigan so much.  it's easy to wear, super comfy and oh so warm and is the loveliest shade of grey.  it's gorgeous.  the yarn is quince and co. lark in colorway frost and it's one of my fave yarns to knit with.  so yummy and squishy!  a big thank you again to my parents who spoiled me rotten with the yarn for this cardi for xmas last year!  best pressie!

see those cables?  aren't they mesmerizing?  i really enjoyed the outcome of this pattern even though i made a colossal boo boo 3/4 of the way through my back that had me ripping all the way back to my armholes!!! EEEEEEK! i cried real tears over that one.  luckily the cables are a fun knit and go quite quickly.  this cardi makes me want to live right beside the ocean. i can see myself strolling the beach each night and sitting on my cozy deck knitting with a yummy cup of tea.  it's that kind of cardi folks.  but even though i don't live right next to the ocean i can still get the ocean quite easily.  so when the hubs suggested we go down and check out the sunset last night i knew i had to get some shots of the rocky coast cardigan in it's home - the coast.  doesn't it look purdy?

yep, this is why we live where we live.  gorgeous and breathtaking views every single day.  can't beat that.  it just inspires you to create so much more.  unfortunately the kidlets didn't enjoy the view and the cold breeze as much as the hubs and i did...lol.

we did manage to get some pretty shots and the hubby (who loves outdoor/landscape photography) got some gorgeous ones of the sunset.  you can never have too many pictures of breathtaking sunsets and sunrises.  at least that's what we think in our wee house.  reminds me to stop and breathe ya know?  life gets busy and crazy and little things become way more important than they need to be and when i'm standing next to the ocean watching something so breathtaking the world just seems to stand still.  i feel like i can breathe and all my worries disappear for just that brief moment.  i'm so glad my hubby loves them just as much as i do.  he will sniff out a sunset pic no matter where we are and on more days than not i wake up to his tales of sunrise shots he took and it's just the way i like it.

what projects have you all finished lately?  are you any of you planning do start doing any selfish sewing/knitting?  have you made a wiksten tank or a washi dress yet? c'mon ladies...chit chat....my coffee cup is lonely and could use the company :)

weekend wishes

this weekend i'm wishing that i get to see some of your lovely faces at fibrations fibre festival on sunday!  i've been busy working away on my little half table.  that's right! eeeee!  i'm going to be selling goodies & patterns at fibrations.  i thought it would be fun to be a vendor there and besides my sewing & knitting patterns i really wanted to have some fun accessories for knitters & sewers for sale.  i've got totes & reversible totes, sock knitting project bags (and jumbo ones too), plus commuter cowls & my fave - needlebooks! 

so if you are in victoria or in the mood for a day trip on vancouver island come swing by fibrations.  it's held in the gorgeous orchard of st.anne's academy on sunday, august 19th from 10am - 4pm.  hope to see you there!!!

you can find more info about fibrations below:

blog  |  facebook

wishing you all a yummy, sunny, fun, fibre filled kinda weekend!  have you ever sold at a market before?  any tips you'd love to share to help us newbies out?  i'd love to hear them!

p.s. don't forget to get your entry in for the amazing lunden designs & birch organic fabrics giveaway!!!  this is a prize you don't want to miss!!!

Summer Sweater Knit Along - Bound Off!

yarn: yellow label dk by tanis fiber arts in colorway pink grapefruit pattern: something silver by veera valimaki

i got to bind off my sweater for the summer sweater knit along on the weekend!!!!!! it felt soooooo good to get that garter finished. i love garter but for some reason the garter on my cardi felt like it was taking me forever to get through it.  it's all done now though and the sweater is fitting perfectly!  i cannot wait to get it done now to wear. it's for sure going to be my staple cardigan for the fall/winter and the color....don't even get me started on how much i love the color. yum!

i am equally in love with my delectable bind off.  not tooting my own horn or anything..lol, but i was very nervous to get a nice even edge for the garter and the cardigan ( i hate wonky hems) and took my sweet time binding off as neatly as i could and boy does it look fab!!! i keep pulling it out to look at how nice it is.  it sure pays to be patient and not rush this step.  it's worth it to finish your garments nicely and evenly to get a professional finish.

i also am really excited to get my rockin' pockets done! i love pockets on everything and these are in the best spot and look fab! i can't wait to knit and stitch a little pocket luv to my cardi.

wanna see me with it on?  i knew you would....

here's a shot of the back of  my "something silver" that jane snapped of me last night.  we all headed out with the kids for a bbq and a concert in the park.  it was so fun to listen to some awesome music, dance with the kiddos and hang with my knitty pals (jane, rebecca, mandy, amy) and of course, try on and show off our knitty goodies!!!

how's your project coming along this week?  are you on your first project or number 3?? seriously - some of you are on #3...i know it :)  so awesome! do you have a favorite bind off method? link up your posts, share your pics, come chat on ravelry - i want to hear from ya!  happy knitting!!!

you can follow along with all things summer sweater knit along:

ravelry group  |  blog  |  flickr group

and a big thank you to our wonderful sponsors! thanks everyone!

additional sponsors:

joji locatelli

join our linky party by linking up your "summer sweater kal" blog post!

crafts are for sharing!

i couldn't resist sharing a wee bit of exciting news with you all!  i've been eagerly anticipating the september issue of the fab mag "canadian living".  the lovely austen (senior editor, crafts & food) wrote to me and a few crafty pals a few months ago and asked us what our fave journals are to use.  i was thrilled to be asked and let me tell you it sure was exciting to see my name in print in this iconic canadian magazine.  i grew up reading this canadian staple - crafts, cooking, beauty...it's got it all. 

i'm going to frame it!  yes...i am that kind of dork...lol!  the article included the awesome jane richmond (knitting designer), holly broadland (president, vancouver modern quilt guild), tanis lavallee (yarn dyer, tanis fiber arts), amy singer (of knitty), tina anson mine (executive editor, food & books) & austen gilliland too!  it was so fun to see what journals everyone chose and i thought it was pretty cool that tanis and i both have a soft spot for eco-jot journals!  you can read more about my affection for eco-jot in this post here.

i find it so interesting to find out how other creatives work, their processes and what accessories/tools they use to aid the process.  i have an addiction to journals and have way too many. in fact i have so many that i write in that i lose drawings/notes because i can't remember which journal i wrote/sketched them in! oops! i never leave the house without one. they are in my purse, knitting bags, kids bags, the car, beside the bed...everywhere...lol.  but you know what's funny?  sometimes i still don't have one when i need it.  do you guys know what i mean?  you carry them around all the time and then the one time i'm without my supply - bam! - i need one and it's not there.  maybe that's why i keep buying them????  sounds like a good excuse to buy some more right...wink wink!

so....spill the beans....what's your favorite journal to use? do you have a fave brand of notebook/journal that you love?  share! i'd love to see/hear what you are all using <3

thank you so much austen & canadian living for making one of this canadian gal's dreams come true! you can find more canadian living here:

website  |  facebook  |  twitter

moments in the mommyhood - it's august...say what?!

we've been busy trying to fill our summer with fun little outings.  with a low budget resource for summer camps i've been busy planning activities to keep us busy during our last summer before kindergarten starts (sob/yahoo).  we've been hitting up the royal bc museum (one of our fave places) to check out the highly entertaining dinosaur exhibit (i had a blast in there & learned a ton) and the kids had a riot too.  We also saw a lovely collection of the diamond jubille pictures of queen elizabeth II by cecil beaton. i really enjoyed this part and found it so interesting to see such personal pictures of the queen and her family. !  if you live on vancouver island or are stopping in victoria for a vacay check it out!  the imax is also lots of fun!

we've also been to the shaw ocean discovery center (thank you groupon for your great deals) & got into all sorts of mischief there as well.  i love the fact that we get to touch and hold all the sea anemones at the end.  i think that is my fave part.  i'm a nervous nilly but always find it so cool when i get the courage up to stick my hand in and feel them all!

we've also been hanging out in the sunshine, playing at the park, hitting the waterparks with daddy so mommy can sew and just plain trying to enjoy our summer during one of the most stressful times for our wee family.  i figure the more fun we can have the more we can take our minds off of what's actually going on this next month or 2 (the hubs big 3 day exam for his CA designation).

 

the fun didn't happen though until both my wee ones got over a bad stomach bug the last few weeks.  it was one after the other with lots of bathroom trips if you get my drift.  needless to say this momma will be happy not to deal with that much s&*t anytime soon..muahaha.  i mean look at my poor little baby.....

cute little thing...ok...i digress...lol.  anyhoo, it's been a busy summer so far and it just hit me that it's already august and i'm starting to panic about the fact that in a few weeks my oldest baby won't be home with me anymore and will be in kindergarten full days!!!! a part of me is so happy for her as she needs the stimulation and activity and i know she will LOVE it but another part of me is feeling like i'm losing my best little buddy.  i mean she's home with me 24 hours a day 5 days a week.  she's always with me so it's weird to think of not chatting with her during the day.  i think harper and i are going to be a bit lost without her for a while.  harper will definitely miss her big sissy and i'll miss her too.

anyone else a bit in shock of the upcoming kindergarten arrival? are you busy prepping for school and relishing these last few weeks with your baby at home with you?  such a change to our little lives, it makes me so wistful and sad but also hopeful and excited.  how are you all feeling about it? how's your summer so far?  come chat....the keurig is in overdrive and i've got iced coffees here for all of ya :) come....pull up a chair <3

The Greyling Tablet Case Tutorial

it was my lovely pal mandy's (of sugar & candy handbags) birthday a few weeks ago and i knew i wanted to spoil her.  i posted the business card holder i made her but i also made her another pressie - a handmade tablet case for her new tablet.  woot woot!  mandy is a whiz when it comes to making her gorgeous handbags for her business so i knew i wanted this tablet case to have a purse like feel to it. a mandy vibe so to speak.  i even named it after her.  her maiden name is greyling - thus the "greyling tablet case tutorial" was born.

mandy has a great eye and a flare for prints and i knew she had been eying my pat bravo stash of summerlove for art gallery fabrics. i used "naivety berry" for the upper curved portion (the faux flap) and "beyond bliss ginger" for the main body print. the tablet case has a tab closure that buttons on the front with a curved faux flap.  it's interfaced and padded so it will keep those trusty tablets safe and cozy :)

this tutorial is a great one for practicing your buttonholes, curves and edgestitching skills.  you guys know how addicted i am to topstitching right?  well i just can't get enough.  it's like drawing to me and i love the intricacy of it.  it adds that special touch to just about any and everything if you ask me :)  and a turquoise button never hurt anyone right??

you ready to make one for your tablet or ipad?  let's get sewing!!!

THE GREYLING TABLET CASE TUTORIAL

*Copyright 2012 www.luvinthemommyhood.com All rights reserved.  This tutorial is for PERSONAL USE ONLY.  Please do not sell items made with this tutorial unless permission has been given.  Thank you.

MATERIALS

**Important: Please note the dimensions used for this tablet match a Samsung Galaxy Tablet that is sized 10"H x 7"Wx .3799"D.  In order to calculate the dimensions for other tablets please measure the size of your tablet as accurately as possible or refer to your product's website for specific dimensions.  I added 3" to the tablet height (that actually is your cases width) and 2" to the width (that becomes your cases height) to accommodate for the depth of the tablet and also for the batting/interfacing that you will be using.  The tablet slides into the case sideways so your width actually becomes your cases height and the tablet height becomes the cases width when cutting your fabrics. This is not a perfect science.  I strongly suggest adding the seam allowances that will work best for the fabric and tablet that you are using.

* Outer Fabric Bottom Portion - (2) pieces @ 13"W x 9"H
* Outer Fabric Upper Portion - (2) pieces @ 13"W x 4 1/4"H (to cut pattern piece out of)
* Lining Fabric - (2) pieces @ 13"W x 9"H
* Interfacing (medium to heavy weight) - (2) pieces @ 13"W x 9"H
* Batting - (2) pieces @ 13"W x 9"H for lining and
   (2) pieces 6.5"H x 2.25"W for tab.           
* Loop (lining fabric) - (1) pieces @  4.75"W x 2"H
* Tab (outer fabric) - (2) pieces @  6.5"H x 2.25"W
* Coordinating thread
* Scissors or rotary cutter/mat
* (1) Button

PATTERN PIECES

- Pattern piece for the curved faux flap (upper portion) of case.

TABLET CASE FAUX FLAP PATTERN PIECE - DOWNLOAD HERE

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

INSTRUCTIONS

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

STEP ONE: ASSEMBLE YOUR OUTER FABRIC

Print out your Faux Flap Pattern Piece.  With your lining fabric cut out out your pattern piece and press.  Take your (2) Outer Fabric Upper Portions and press well a 1/4" seam around bottom curved edge.  This can be a tad tricky but just take your time, go slow and press well.  I'm a bit of a perfectionist so I pinned mine down as I ironed. See images below.  Note: There are other ways to attach the faux flap but for time, style and materials on hand this was the way I chose to assemble my case.

 

With (1) of your Outer Fabric Bottom Pieces right side facing up pin an Outer Fabric Upper Piece right side facing up matching both long straight upper edges together.  I removed my pins that were on the wrong side of the fabric as I pinned to the Bottom Piece. Edgestitch along the curved edge as close to the outer edge of your curved piece as possible.  Press flat.  See images below. Repeat with the other Outer Fabric Upper & Bottom Pieces.  Take both of your Outer Pieces and iron your interfacing onto the backs of both pieces. You now have two tablet case outer pieces.

STEP TWO: MAKE YOUR TAB AND LOOP

Match your two pieces of batting for your tab with your two tab pieces.  We're now going to sew together your tab and make a bit of a sandwich so to speak.  Lay your pieces together in this order:  batting, fabric right side up, fabric right side down, batting.  Basically your fabrics will be right sides facing each other and the batting pieces will go above and below them.  See images below.

Sew 3 sides (both long and one short) using a 1/4" seam allowance leaving one short end unsewn.  Clip your corners taking care not to cut through your sewing.  Turn right side out and press.  Edgestitch along perimeter of the tab except for your unsewn short end.  Press again.  See image below.  Nice work! 

Now we are going to make your loop.  Take your loop piece and press in half matching both long sides together.  See image below.

You are going to sew using a 1/4" seam allowance starting at one short end all along one long edge ending on the other short end but leaving an opening big enough to pull your loop through along the long edge.  See image below.  Mine was about an inch wide.  Trim your corners being careful not to clip your stitching.

Turn your loop right side out.  Press flat and edgestitch around the entire perimeter of your loop taking care to close the opening you used to pull your loop through.  Remember, go slow and steady and you'll do great!!!  Grab one of your Outer Case Pieces and turn right side up and find the center of your case. Mark this with your fabric marker.  Measure about 1 - 1 1/2" up from the bottom of your faux flap and mark again with your fabric marker.  Now find the center of your loop and mark it as well.  Place and pin your loop down matching the center of your loop with the center of your case where you marked your 1 1/2" measurement.

Starting on the left side of your loop sew a box about 1" wide.  Now stitch an "x" through it.  Repeat for the right side.  This will keep your loop attached and look purdy.  See diagram above.  Now take both your Outer Case Pieces and place them right sides facing each other.  Pin along 3 edges leaving your long top edge unpinned.  Sew along your 2 short sides and the one long bottom edge with a 1/2" seam allowance.  Clip your corners. Turn right side out and press. *Note: this would also be a great time to add a label to your case if you are using one.

Next find the center point of your case on the side without the loop attached.  Mark with your fabric marker.  Now find and mark the center of your tab.  Match these up and place a pin at least 1" down from the top edge with your nice side of your tab facing down and pointing towards the bottom of your case.  This will keep your tab from moving and shifting around while you assemble your case.  See diagram above.

STEP THREE: ASSEMBLE YOUR LINING

Place both of your Lining Pieces right sides facing each other.  Then place your batting on both sides of your fabric pieces sort of sandwiching them together just like you did when you made your tab.  So you will have: batting, lining right side facing down, lining right side facing up, batting.  See images below.  Pin along 3 edges leaving your top edge unpinned.

Sew along your 2 short sides and the one long bottom edge with a 1/2" seam allowance.  Clip your corners and trim your batting accordingly.

STEP FOUR: ASSEMBLE YOUR CASE

Ready to put your case together? Yay!  Grab your Outer Case and turn it right side out.  Now with your Inner Case still inside out simply put the Outer Case inside of the Inner Case.  Trust me, it sounds trickier than it is.  Just put one inside the other. It really is that easy.  When looking at it you will see the wrong side of the Inner Case and the wrong side of the Outer Case.  See image below.

Pin around the entire top perimeter of the case.  Sew along the top edge with a 1/2" seam allowance making sure to leave at least a 3-4" opening to pull your case through.  Turn your case right side out being careful not to poke yourself with your pin that is holding your tab in place.  You will now have what you see in the image below.  Press your case.  Now push your lining pieces inside the outer pieces.  Before we finish please try the tablet out to see if it fits.  If you need to make adjustments to it now is the time. 

If your sizing is all good press down your case again especially around your top edges.  Topstitch your entire perimeter down taking care to close up the opening you used to pull your case through.  Press again.  Looking good!!!! 

STEP FIVE: MAKE YOUR BUTTONHOLE & ATTACH BUTTON

We now get to put those buttonhole making skills to work :)  Don't be scared - you can do it.  Place your tablet inside your case if possible and grab your tab and pull it under your loop.  Mark with your fabric marker where you would like to have that perfect button on your tab.  Now following your machines instructions make your buttonhole where you marked.  Remember to always, always do a test for your buttonhole.  Trust me on that one.  I used to be scared of buttonholes but now find them a joy to make (if you need more help making a buttonhole please see this post).

Once you are done your buttonhole pull your tab through your loop again with your tablet in your case.  Mark with your fabric marker exactly where your button should be stitched on to match up perfectly with your new buttonhole.  Hand sew your button on being careful to only go through your outer fabric - not your lining as well. 

You're done!!!! Looks awesome!!!! Your tablet is going to be riding in style!!! So fun!  This case would be great to showcase some of your fave prints or go with bold solids instead!  Even a faux leather would look awesome!  Experiment...try out different combos and have some fun!

thanks for sewing with me!  be sure to add your greyling tablet case to our flickr group! i love seeing your projects when they are done! if you have any questions about this tutorial please feel free to email me at luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca.

love the fabrics i used?  you can find all things pat bravo & art gallery fabrics here:

 

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zephyr sundress - kids romper revamp craftsy class review part deux

my little one was a feeling a tad better today so we had an impromptu photo shoot of her new zephyr sundress from figgy's patterns.  i'm smitten with this whole dress and seriously would love to be able to wear this myself.  mackenzie is absolutely over the moon with it.  the print i used is pat bravo's retro harmony sugar from her line summerlove (art gallery fabrics).  it's made with 100% pima cotton and is soooooo soft and has a lovely hand/drape. i knew it would be lovely with this pattern and perfect for the summer weather.  the yoke is natural by harmony art and is a 100% organic cotton sateen from www.stitchsimple.com (where your fabrics come pre-washed and pressed! amazing!).  and those buttons....yes, the buttons....dug deep into my button stash jar for those lovelies and i think they pull the whole dress together.  perfectly purdy!

i think the braided straps and bodice detail are my favorite part of the zephyr pattern.  shelly shows you in detail how to make all of these steps in her "kids romper revamp class" on craftsy.  it was wonderful to sit down and sew the bodice while watching her.  i'm a visual learner so i completed the dress way faster than i would have if i had just read the instructions.  it was also a lot more fun.  the yoke pairs so nicely with the little gathered details of the front and back and really this sundress is a great beginner-intermediate project!  you learn a lot of skills in this one pattern so i highly recommend it for those of you looking to bump up your skill level. 

the only mod i made to the whole pattern was to topstitch the entire yoke.  i believe in the pattern you only edgestitch the bottom of the yoke to close your facings (encase your seams etc.) but that topstitching fiend in my came out and i just had to do it.  i love the feeling of things not moving about after i'm done with something as purdy as this yoke.  i would have had to press it big time every time it came out of the wash to keep it all crisp and lovely so this way it will stay where it's supposed to and be way less high maintenance for this momma. that is just my personal preference though :)

mackenzie chose the length of the dress.  she normally goes for knee length so it was cute to see her ask for it to be more mid calf this time round.  she said she loved it like that so i followed the instructions exactly for my hem.  i even added my little label to it :)

shelly's lesson on measuring and making pattern adjustments was very helpful.  my wee one is a tiny thing so i knew ahead of time that i would have to take the chest in a wee bit.  i ended up tracing the size 4/5 because my wee one was sick and i couldn't measure her properly.  it all worked out fabulously though because all i did was do a 3/4" seam allowance instead of a 1/2" and it fit her perfectly!  good thing my guessing on her strap length worked out too.  it's sure hard to make a dress for your kidlet when they are too ill to move.  i won't do that again...lol.

it did brighten her mood though when she saw it all done.  she couldn't wait to get better so she could wear it.  she hasn't taken it off since.  it's her new fave and if you knew my daughter you would know that is a huge accomplishment.  she's hard to please.  so thank you figgy's for designing clothes my kids will love to wear!  harper is very sad she doesn't have one so it sounds like a size 2 is on the horizon.  i can't wait to see them both out and about running in their zephyr's! so adorbs!

if you would like to take the kids romper revamp class you can for 50% off right now!!!!! yee haw!!! woot woot! seriously though.  i'm not kidding 'round here....that is a mighty fine deal.  that's almost just the cost of the pattern! say what?! yes.....it's a steal of a deal!  for $20 you get the zephyr pattern, all the perks that come with the class (and there are some goodies) and the class - forever!!!!  you can buy your discounted class by clicking on the link below, you know you wanna...

click here for the 50% off kids romper revamp craftsy class

you can find all things shelly and figgy's patterns here:

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summer sweater knit along - ohhhh the garter of it!

pattern: something silver by veera valimaki yarn: yellow label dk by tanis fiber arts in colorway pink grapefruit

it's summer sweater knit along day today!  i'm so close to being done the body of my sweater...i cannot wait!  i've got about 12 rows of garter stitch left and i can bind off!  so exciting!   this part is either where it drags on for me or where it gets really exciting.  i'm stuck in the middle of both at the moment.  i'm feeling like i've been knitting garter for ages but yet i'm super excited to bind off. 

one of the fun things i got to do with this cardigan was to make pockets.  i haven't done a pocket on an adult garment before and i was really interested to see how veera was going to do it.  this pattern has been so nice to work and so intuitive and the pockets didn't disappoint.  easy!  the cardigan also fits perfectly!  i'm beyond happy. i didn't have to make any mods and the neckline, bust and arms so far seem spot on.  i am one happy knitty momma.

you likey?  i likey....all that grapefruit goodness is so addicting!  i can't wait to wear this instead of just hold it in my lap.  i've been so proud of everyone in our kal. people are having so much fun, conversations are a plenty and the pics.....oh....so many gorgeous pics of wip's and fo's.  some of you are casting on for project 2 and 3!!!! go ladies go!!!!  does my heart good!  i can't even begin to tell you how fun it is to see this little dream of mine come into reality.  i'm so glad you are all having so much fun and are all knitting - in the summer!!! yay summer knits!!!! just think how awesome it's going to be this fall when you have sweaters galore all ready to snuggle up in! fabulous!

it's never too late to join in!  you can find all the deets here and you can follow along with all things summer sweater knit along here:

ravelry group  |  blog  |  flickr group

how's your summer sweater project coming along?  are you a fan of garter or stockinette?  what's your fave portion of a sweater to knit? most exciting?  come chat!

and a big thank you to our wonderful sponsors! show them some luv!

additional sponsors:

joji locatelli

join our linky party by linking up your "summer sweater kal" blog post!

quilting 911 - the zig zag quilt reveal!

i finally got around to getting some shots of the zig zag quilt i finished up.  took me long enough...lol.  i never realized how tricky it can be to get shots of a finished quilt top..lol.  luckily this one isn't too big and i def will be planning out shots for future quilts way in advance.

 

since i finished this quilt for mackenzie it has been well loved and used by all of us in the family.  it's one of the best feelings in the world to see your wee one snuggled up in a quilt made with love. i've even snuggled up with this quilt more than a few times on the couch with my knitting :)

i'm so glad after weeks of humming and hawing about the bias and the backing that i decided to stick to my guns and original plan and keep the white bias and still use my fave print  balloon in aqua from children at play by sarah jane. mack loves it and so do i.

i kept the quilting simple yet fun.  i did a line following the zig zags 1/2" on either side of the seam.  i love the way it looks from the front and the effect is nice and subtle on the back :)  it's also soft and squishy.

just like harper's quilt mackenzie requested her first initial be on the quilt.  i made a patchwork "m" that i stitched on before making the quilt sandwich.  i love the effect the quilting has on it.  so fun!  i then hand embroidered her full name along the edge of the letter.  it's not perfect but i love it anyways.

our current fave place to use our zig zag quilt is curled & cuddled up on our balcony.  so cozy!

i now have quite the addiction to hst's and have 2 more quilts on the go.  i think i am definitely smitten and bit by the quilting bug. if you are looking to jump into quilting this was a fun pattern to start using hst's.  it was quick and a lot of fun to make.  i can see many more of these in my future!

and i think she loves it too.  we call the quilts i've made my girls "love blankies".  i tell them they are filled with love from momma and that no bad dreams or anything can hurt or scare them while they have them.  i tell them as long as they have their love blankie mom is always close by watching over them.  they adore it and it really has helped with bedtime and cut down on mack's nigh time issues.  mack knows and understands how long the quilt took to make and how much i enjoyed making it for her.  does a momma's heart good i tell ya :)


you can read the rest of the posts from the making of this quilt here:

1st post  |  2nd post  |  3rd post 

 4th post  | 5th pst

have you taken up quilting recently?  what is your fave quilt pattern to make for a special child in your life?  do you have a fondness for hst's too?  let's have some quilty chat ladies :)

fabrics used for quilt:
prints: oliver + s city weekend
solid: organic white by harmony arts (from www.stitchsimple.com)
backing: balloon in aqua - children at play by sarah jane

moments in the mommyhood - too much fun

hi ladies! i hope you all had a wonderful weekend :)  we did.  it was a fun one and this momma had a great time but boy oh boy am i beat this morning.  i'm taking the day to hang with my girlies and relax, read, drink some coffee, and knit (and maybe squeak some sewing in as well).  too much fun can wear a girl out ya know...lol.

i'll be back tomorrow with some goodies for the rest of the week.  we've got a giveaway and a new sewing tutorial so stay tuned!!!! in the meantime i hope you all have a great day today <3

what projects are you hoping to work on this week?  are you sewing, knitting, quilting, crocheting? fess up...i wanna hear about it! c'mon...coffee's on...let's have a wee chat :)

makin'it in the mommyhood - fabric business card holders & treats

it was one of my besties bday recently and i couldn't resist whipping her up a special pressie i had promised her a while ago.  remember these business card holders i made for me and the gals when we went to fibers west in the fall?  while i promised mandy i would make her one too and i'm happy to say i can finally cross that bad boy off the list.  mandy is the uber-talented lady behind "sugar and candy".  she is the queen of bags.  she's awesomely talented and a super friend too.

i tried to pick fabrics that reminded me of mandy but also matched her business tones.  i pulled out more than a few fabrics and hummed and hawed and just kept finding myself coming back to an anna maria horner print.  so i bit the bullet and went with my gut and i love it.  for some reason it just screams mandy to me.  i hope she likes it.the outer print is "shattered" in punch from innocent crush by anna maria horner,  the lining inner is "dottie cream" in coral by jay-cyn for birch fabrics and the pocket inner is "maybe" in tangerine from innocent crush by anna maria horner.

i used this tutorial again from "the crafty cupboard" and this time cut my fabric to the right size.  only mod i made was to use interfacing instead of the fleece.  worked perfect on the ones before so i went that route again this time.

i'm working on another pressie for mandy as well and that will be a tutorial coming your way very soon!  you guys will hopefully love it as much as i know mandy and i will!

i also knew that since mandy's bday was coming up i wanted to try out this new website i had been hearing about called Treat.  they have the cutest birthday cards and it's "where cards get personal". it's soooo fun!  i'm one of those gals who loves me a card.  i like mail.  snail mail folks. you know...the real kind :)  Treat allows you to go in and custom make any card you want!  they give you great layouts/sayings and you can customize to your hearts content! change the wording, design, phrasing - all of it!  best thing is they are fun, fresh & modern and it's lots of fun to put together.  then you choose to either mail the card direct to them or to yourself (to redirect) and you can top it off with a gift card!!! can you say one stop shopping?!!!!! LOVE!!!!!  i spent many a hour fiddling in there whipping up cards for mandy.  here's a few of my faves:

in the end this was the card i would have chosen.  Treat is available for all you lovely folks in the US and will hopefully be open for canadian peeps like me sometime this year! i can't wait!

if you love cards this site is for you.  go Treat yourself...wink wink :)   for first time customers you get YOUR FIRST CARD FREE using code: FREETREAT.  click here for more details.  you can find all things Treat here:

website  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  pinterest  | blog

i hope you had a wonderful bday mandy & you love your pressie! it will be here waiting for you when you get back! i luv ya long time...lol...and hope you had a wonderful, special and fabric filled bday!!! hugs!!!!

have you made your own business card holder?  what fabric would you make yours out of? do you have a soft spot for "real" cards too? coffee's on...come chat <3

weekend wishes

that my blog doesn't crash this weekend while i do some online housekeeping...

Source: flickr.com via Jonathan on Pinterest

to have a wonderful & romantic evening with my hubby...

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Heather on Pinterest

that i can figure out why i all of a sudden enjoy watching golf on tv???

img src

that the housekeeping fairy cleans up and unpacks our laundry...

img src: luvinthemommyhood.com

that i get to do some more sippin' and knittin'...

img src: luvinthemommyhood.com

it's friday! yeehaw! this week felt sooooo long to me.  it just dragged and dragged.  i've got post mini vacay hangover fo'sure.  i did manage to find a new bathing suit at superstore (joefresh) of all places on the weekend so i conned my sister into coming swimming with me so i could soak in the pool and let the kidlets have a splash.  my boobies didn't fall out so all is good on the suit...lol.  i've also been busy making some plans for this weekend that involve the blog.  i'm going to be doing some housekeeping and some revamping around here so cross your fingers that the html gods are shining down on me and the blog doesn't crash.  if you pop by excuse the mess k?

we have a pga tour golf game for our ps3 system and the hubs and i like to play it together when the kids are asleep and for some reason now i adore watching golf on tv.  it scares me...lol.  usually i'll only watch tennis and some hockey but i keep getting really into the golf...i mean full on yelling at the tv and everything.  i'm like a drunk fan but minus the drunk...lol.  not sure why because i've never even played golf just mini-golf and i suck. so who knows.....it will remain an unsolved mystery.

i'm also super excited to watch project runway today.  it killed me last night to see all the chat going on about it and having to avoid social media.  i still haven't had a chance to watch yet so i'm avoiding FB & twitter right now so I don't find out what happens.  i hope it was good cause i've been missing pr.  i heart that show.

one of my fave pics of our wedding - we call it our harlequin cover

it's also my wedding anniversary today.  yeppers. (love you honey!!!) we got married 4 years ago on mackenzie beach in tofino, bc.  it was gorgeous and very romantic and a such a special day for us (more pics here on this post). the hubs and i are going out on a date tonight to celebrate!!!!!  first one on our anniversary in years.  it's going to be awesome.  we're planning on going out for a nice dinner.  i owe my pal baljinder for hooking me up with an awesome babysitter - thanks bal!!  we've been searching for one that our wee family could afford since we moved here 4 years ago and we finally found one.  she helped me out when my back was bad the other week and the girls loved her.

the hubs also has a baseball tournament this weekend so rebecca (nook) and i will be on the sidelines with our kiddos and knitting cheering our men on.  i'm hoping for sun :)  we also get to have a yummy team bbq on sunday as well and somewhere in there i need to get some sewing done so it should be a busy one this weekend.  at least it's busy with fun stuff and not chores....but wait...i need to do those too..bah - life's too short for chores :)

what are your weekend plans?  what are you up to?  anyone else hoping the cleaning fairy visits their house? do you choose fun over chores too?  i hope i'm not alone...lol...wishing you all a yummy, sunny, cuddly, cozy, crafty, lovey, happy, kinda weekend! now let's have coffee & chat! come say hi!

moments in the mommyhood - ice cream soothes the soul

i thought i would share with you all a few more shots from our weekend.  the friends we stayed with in campbell river have an adorable dog named bailey.  the kiddos love him.  i think harper has a brand new friend now that she's old enough to play with him.  she looooves animals so it was a treat to see her play with a doggie.  the shot above was just way too cute not to post.  i might have to frame that one.

while there we got to indulge in backyard fire s'mores, yummy cocktails, bbq, and best of all.....delicious ice cream on a very hot day.  that day also included golf for the hubby and a nap for momma.  yep, you heard me....a nap!!!!!! it was a miracle! lol!  but the ice cream......delish!  we all walked down to the ocean to indulge in a delicious cone and some sights like the view you see below.




i don't think i have ever seen my kiddos eat ice cream so fast! it was so hot out the ice cream was melting like crazy!!!  even though we were all sticky and covered with it i swear it was my fave part of the whole weekend.  the looks on their faces while they were eating it was priceless.  we had to rinse them off in the shower when we got back they were that dirty.  poor little harper's curls were blowing every which way due to the wind down by the water and the ice cream was just everywhere....but really.....even covered in ice cream how cute is she???

....we couldn't resist getting this shot on the walk back to the house.  what a little sweetheart.  i def think eating that cone was her fave thing the whole weekend.  mack's was getting to run through a friends sprinkler and of course running her beans out in the backyard. there was a lot of soccer playing.  she just couldn't get enough.  i couldn't get enough of watching the smiles and yes, i could go for another cone.  that ice cream was delish - it definitely soothed the soul. 

i feel like i am still in weekend vacay mode.  i can't seem to quite get my groove back for work and sewing.  i feel sort of lazy still and the weather has been soooo gorgeous out it sure makes it hard to sit inside and work.  we are also still adjusting to the hubbies new study schedule and with him home a bit more in the evening i haven't even touched my poor sewing machine.  i did get a tiny bit done the other day but it was def short lived.  i'm hoping to change that this weekend :)  any of you suffering from the same thing?  it's hard when you work for yourself some days to get motivated ya know?

in other news make sure you pop over to brand new site created by my pal jessica from the blog "me sew crazy" called "sewset"!!! it's awesome!  it's your online sewing source!  a directory of all of your favorite sewing tutorials and patterns that is user based.  the more content we upload of our own the better the site is!  it's clean and modern layout is easy to navigate and it's already filled with some awesome content!  so upload your own tutorials and patterns!  it's free for you to do so and all of your content links directly back to you the user.  you can upload patterns/tutorials that are free and for sale. you can also favorite patterns you love on there as well.  i think jessica & her hubby did a fabulous job!  come check it out!  you can find me on there under "luvinthemommyhood".  have fun!!!

what's your fave flavor of ice cream? have you ever made your own?  i rotate between chocolate chip mint and anything else that's loaded with caramel/chocolate kind of mixes. yum! hmmmm...all this ice cream talk has made me hungry on this hot morning....lol.  i'll have to whip up an iced coffee instead.  wanna join me? come chat!

summer sweater knit along - grapefruits galore

grapefruits are yummy.  they are also purdy.  i especially love that my sweater is made out of yarn called pink grapefruit and looks just like the color of one.  it screams summer!  it's so cheerful, bright and daring for a gal like me who used to only wear black and neutrals (must have been the hairdresser in me).

i've also been thinking that it's sort of like fate that i am knitting my summer sweater kal with a yarn that is grapefruit colored.  in the fall i picked up some cute grapefruit stitch markers and then my pal arika gifted me some equally adorable grapefruit earrings she found at a market!  how perfect that a few months later and i have yarn to match?  awesomeness!

pattern: something silver by veera valimaki yarn: yellow label dk by tanis fiber arts in colorway pink grapefruit

i'm truckin' along on my "something silver" by veera valimaki.  i've got about 2 more lace pattern repeats (about 20 rows) and then it's all garter baby!!! wahoo!!! cannot wait to start on that and the pockets. yessssss...pockets!!!! i heart this cardi.

again, this pattern has been very intuitive to follow along with, the lace pattern is sooooo easy and super simple to read your work and memorize.  it's quite addicting actually.  you all know how i love a good yarn over...lol.  i've tried it on about 4 times now and it fits perfectly from what i can tell.  i had my fair share of nerves about the neckline at the start.  i have a small back compared to my bust size and my shoulders are small and sloped so sweaters tend to not fit me great in that area but veera's simple garter boat neck garter neckline looks fab!!! i adore it.  and that's the beauty of knitting on interchangeables...you simply connect your long cable with your connectors and slip that bad boy on. it's very, very addicting.  i heart my knitpicks.

tanis's yellow label dk is squishy, soft, delectable and just plain awesome.  i can't get enough of this yarn and it will definitely not be the last time i knit with tanis fiber arts yarn.  gorgeous!!!  it think it shows off the stitch pattern beautifully and it's a joy to knit with. i can't wait to see how lovely it will look after a  nice blocking as well.  i'm excited to give it a little bath..lol. perfection.

how's your summer sweater kal project coming along?  i know more than a few of you are onto your 2nd projects already!!!! wowsa!!!!! some awesome projects and knitting going on in our ravelry group so be sure not to miss out on the convo! pics to come on the blog soon! also remember it's never too late to join in.  tell your knitty pals.  you can start along with us anytime.  the more the merrier :)

you can follow along with all things summer sweater knit along:

ravelry group  |  blog  |  flickr group

and a big thank you to our wonderful sponsors! show them some luv!

additional sponsors:

joji locatelli

join our linky party by linking up your "summer sweater kal" blog post!

wee weekend peeks

waiting for the whipped cream!

we had a wonderful road trip this weekend.  we got to relax, enjoy the sunshine, visit with good friends and family and most fun - hang out in a lovely back yard. i cannot even begin to tell you how nice it is to let your kids play in a yard.  living in a condo really, really makes you miss the little things like opening a door and letting the kids run wild in a backyard.  ours loved it. in and out, in and out...they couldn't get enough of the freedom poor things..lol.  we had a short trip but we made the most of what time we had.  we're back to reality now though...laundry, unpacking and studying/work.  needless to say we are already counting down till the next one :)  here's a few peeks from our wee weekend getaway.  

sampling the whipped cream complete with homemade crepes from our lovely hostess :)

mmmmmm! yummy!

and best of all the hubs passed his latest exam so we are feeling more than happy about that! one less weight lifted off of our little shoulders.  we celebrated...me more so than others..  i'm hoping to be reunited with my sewing machine this week!  i miss poppy the pfaff so much :)  she doesn't know why i'm mad at her...lol.  i'm hoping that i'll be able to do a bit a day again to work back up to sitting i my chair and sewing again.  in the meantime i'm knitting and knitting some more.  what a shocker right? muahaha...

lots of skinny girl pina coladas and other yummy bevvies sipped in the backyard along with fire pit s'mores!! yum!

....i'm also sitting in my sweltering hot condo filled with the plants and decor off my deck so the side of our building can be painted.  i'm choking on the overwhelming scent of cilantro..for'reals...i can't breathe...lol.  can't open the windows either and to make things worse the painters aren't even hot...c'mon give a girl a break dude...couldn't i have just a bit of ryan gosling....or channing tatum?  just a wee bit?  spice up my day??? a little six pack action out my window??? please? purdy please? oh and if you are my hubby don't read this post...muhahaa.

how was your weekend?  any of you loving the skinny girl coktails too? i'm a big fan of bethenny frankel's and have been enjoying her ever since the real housewives of new york (yes, i watch those shows and no i do not feel one ounce of guilt over it...lol).  do you like her new show?  did you get to eat some s'mores this summer yet?  come chat :)

p.s. all pics via instagram. you can follow me under luvinthemommyhood :)

whatcha working on?

simpatico in colorway minty by cloud 9 fabrics

fabric goodness going on around here today.  i haven't been able to sew in a few weeks now due to my back and boy has it been torturous!  all these new fabric goodies have been showing up and all i have been able to do is drool, pet and profess my love for them.  soon my lovelies, soon i will sew you.  it's going to be hard to cut in to all the goodness but i. cannot. wait.  see that pic above? in case you haven't seen it already that is simpatico by cloud 9 fabrics.  obsessed.  i'm totally obsessed. i want to cover myself and the whole house in this line.  i can't get enough of it. i love it in all the colorways but i ordered minty this time round.  now that's it here i'm kicking myself for not ordering way more.

1. pearl bracelet by lizzy house in turquoise 2. & 3. simpatico in colorway minty by cloud 9 fabrics

the yards that did make it to my house are going to be a special pressie.  my youngest sister camille is pregnant with her first baby...eeeee! i'm so excited!  she doesnt' know what she's having so boy has it been hard for this crafter.  i'm dying to make boy or girl goodies and have to control myself.  i've decided to hold off on a lot of little things i would make and do them after the wee one is born so i can just go crazy with the prints.  but in the meantime the big pressie is in the works.  the center print and the right print from simpatico are going to be a duvet cover for the babies crib (lucky baby hey!) and the left print "pearl bracelet" by lizzy house is going to be her booby pillow.  nice!  i cannot wait to get whipping these up! so excited to give them to her!  the colors are going to match her nursery perfectly that has lots of coastal shades of greys, neutrals and some turquoise.

quilt blocks by ellen luckett baker in mostly colorway shade as well as bella moda solids from fat quarter shop

and see this stack...mmmmmm....yummy!  this is mostly all from the lovely ellen luckett baker's (the long thread) new line "quilt blocks".  i chose mostly the prints from the shade colorway as well as all the grey prints and 1 mustard print.  i also have some matching grey and mustard bella solids from moda in there as well.  i purchased all of these lovely prints from our awesome sponsor fat quarter shop.  what will they be you ask?  it's my next quilt!!! yay!!!  i've been waiting and waiting to get my hands on this line since it came out but i had to save up my pennies to get all the prints in yardage to cut the design i had in mind.  can't show you what it is yet because i first have to finish up my vintage sheet quilt. so for now i just stare lovingly at these.  my fave print is the top one.

i'm also super excited to get my hands on the lovely pat bravo's new line "indie" from art gallery fabrics.  i've been dreaming about my next fat quarter gang project already.  those sunlight bazaar colorways are haunting me.....so purdy!  i cannot wait!!! come to mama!

riley blake chevrons in yellow, pink & grey from fabricworm and deco dot from gypsy caravan by amy butler in astor from stitch simple

this stack of goodies are all commuter cowls waiting to be finished up.  i'm going to be selling some handmade goodies at a local event in august here in victoria so if you'd love a handmade luvinthemommyhood item or pattern i'll be selling at "fibrations" - come by and say hi! i'd love to see ya!

sooooo....whatcha all working on?  what are your sewing or knitting this week?  any new fabrics you are obsessed with lately? share m'dears. i want to see pics too!  sit....and sip.  grab that coffee and let's chat!

moments in the mommyhood - pain & instagram

me attempting to take a self portrait with the ipad.

i've missed you guys :)  it's felt like ages since i've been online and on the mommyhood.  the last 10 days have not been easy.  there's been lots of tears, pain & frustration but there has also been laughs & some good memories.  in case you missed jane's guest post for me last week i've been having some issues again with my stupid ol'35 year old back :P  remember last fall when i couldn't sew for months and was on bed rest for a bit with that stupid back belt that was like spanx gone bad?  yeah...i'd like to erase those memories too...lol.

kidlets passed out on the floor after a loooong week.

 well for no reason at all the other weekend my back just went again.  not fun for this momma.  pain got so bad i ended up in ER over the long weekend here in canada so i could make it until i saw my doctor when offices were open.   since then there's been a confusing amount of advice about what they "think" may be going on accompanied by a lot of pain meds - yuck! only problem was that i needed the pain meds to obviously not be in pain but they made it so i couldn't take care of my kiddos. so in the end i've been toughing it out and going ibuprofren since the worst has passed. to top it off the hubby had to study and write one of his last big exams during this hell week!  i mean seriously....what else could go wrong right? (oh maggie...why can't i live closer to you?...lol..i need a good chiropractor)

thanks to my sister, my parents & some loving friends whose phone calls, visits to help me contain my kids, and basically them just listening to me rant and cry - our little family survived the last 2 weeks.  it was not easy.  boy oh boy.  i'm pretty frustrated about the whole situation and wish i could fill you guys in on some more but i really don't know anything.  i'm going to see a specialist today and am also waiting on a long list to get a CAT scan to check out the muscles/joints in my lower back so hopefully between now and the next few months this problem will slowly start to be fixed cause man has it been hard to be couped up inside when we finally just had a weekend of gorgeous sunshine & hot weather here!  i soaked up what i could from the deck, a car ride for a much needed cup of starbucks (i went a week without any!!!) and a wee walk near the ocean.  i basked in the fun stories the kiddos came home with about their outings to the waterpark, beach and more with daddy.  hopefully i'll be able to join them soon.

bear nighties...yep...that's how we roll peeps!

but in the meantime i splurged and bought myself and the hubs an anniversary/belated bday pressie (for me - thx mom/dad & nana/papa).  yeppers...i got myself an Ipad!!!! woot woot!  love it!  and the best part of the Ipad - instagram!!! yesssssss!  i'm finally on instagram!  i was seriously getting emails and messages daily asking if i was on instagram yet.  it was killing me to miss out on all the fun and boy is it fun.  i'm hooked and i just started.  it's a good time over there...lol.  you can find me under "luvinthemommyhood".  and now thanks to my awesome new tablet i can still chat with y'all and keep a bit more up to date online even though i'm all gibbled...lol. i've been busy loading apps and exploring the world of tablets and also knitting my brains out on my summer sweater kal project. 

i'm hoping posts will get a bit more back to normal this week but bear with me if here and there i'm a no show.  i'm still no where near better and have 2 kids to watch full time so i'm not sure how my schedule is going to go.  but what i can tell you is there's a great giveaway this week as well as another fabulous guest poster so stay tuned!!! i promise to do my best to keep things rolling around  here :)

so question to you guys - how are you all?  what have you been whipping up these days?  any fave Ipad apps you can't live without?  what crafty apps do you rely on & love?  so far i've been pretty happy with JKnitHDLite, Gaugefy Free, and Tally Lite for my knitting but i'd love to hear any of your suggestions!  hope you've all been well m'dears xoxoxox

summer sweater knit along - my yarn & pattern reveal!

i can hardly put in words how excited i am to start the summer sweater knit along!  see that pic above....that is my  yarn!!!!!!!!!! squeal!!!! yep...yummy isn't it!  it's been very, very, hard to not cheat and just cast on. after i did my swatch all i wanted to do was knit, knit, and knit! it's that gorgeous and really...my pics don't even do it justice.  it screams summer to me and the tones are just scrumptious.  i kinda just want to eat it...in a non weirdo way...lol.

yarn: yellow label dk by tanis fiber arts in colorway pink grapefruit

the yarn is colorway pink grapefruit and is yellow label dk from the lovely tanis fiber arts.  a fellow canadian whose yarn is simply to squeal for!  drool worthy yarn that i have been coveting and wanting to knit with for ages.  i'm so excited to not have to pet my pals skeins anymore and will soon get to cuddle up in my very own knit into something silver by veera valimaki.  perfection if you ask me...lol. 

pattern: something silver by veera valimaki

things have been busy over in our ravelry group already and i can tell you that i know i'm not the only knitter just dying to cast on...i love the excitement!  it's super fun!  i want to see your pics too!  show me your yarn, show off your pattern choice and then link your post up in our linky party at the bottom of the post.  each week when i post on wednesday you guys can also link up your summer sweater kal posts too!  simply enter in your name/url and then viola!  linky party!  we can then check out each other's blog posts, show some comment luv and drool over each others yarn stashes!  i hope you'll join in!



there are also new topics in our ravelry threads this time round to keep us all organized.  you'll find topics for your wip's, a gallery to show them off and also ones for your fo's too!  i think it will make it a lot easier to follow along with all the chat going on in there.  i hope you'll all chat away :) you'll also find some awesome moderators who help me to help you in our fun loving ravelry group.  there is rebecca (nook), sandra (3pumpkinslittle), and kelly (CelticCastOn) - these gals are all avid and very savvy knitters.  thanks for your help ladies! and if you're not already part of ravelry join in!  it's free and seriously awesome!  it's like facebook for knitters times ten!  a huge resource and a great way to make dear friends :)  but don't worry, you can still be part of the knit along even if you aren't on ravelry.  instead of showing off your pics in our ravelry group you can add them to our flickr group!  we all love seeing each other's handiwork!

i've also got a yummy summery button for you all to sport on your blogs too! the more peeps knitting in the summertime the better :)

<a href="http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/2006/06/summer-sweater-knit-along-2012.html" target="_blank"><img alt="luvinthemommyhood" src="http://i344.photobucket.com/albums/p330/shannonandjeremy/ssk150.jpg" /></a>

at the end of the kal there will be our usual "starring you" post (my fave) followed by a crazy awesome giveaway!!!  you know i love me a kal giveaway!  all of our awesome sponsors and i mean awesome people are listed below and are all generously donating prizes for our summer sweater kal!!!! make sure to pop by their sites/shops and show them some luv!  trust me....they are all drool worthy!  don't forget that to be eligible for the giveaway you need to make sure you are signed up for the knit along by filling out the form below.  you aren't able to be entered in the giveaway if you aren't signed up :)

enter the summer sweater knit along here:

  SUMMER SWEATER KAL ENTRY FORM

and you can follow along with all things summer sweater kal here:
 

ravelry group  |  blog  |  flickr group

ok......you all ready to cast on????  ready, set.....go!!!  yay!!!! thanks for knitting with me everyone!!!!

check out our awesome KAL sponsors & show them some luv! thanks guys!

joji locatelli

join our linky party by linking up your "summer sweater kal" blog post!