SALE || JOURNEY ROAD TRIP SALE!

Swift Pattern (by Shannon Cook) from JOURNEY

Both Jane and I have fun road trips planned for our summer vacations this year so we thought it would be most fitting to have a JOURNEY Road Trip Sale!!!

It's summer but that doesn't mean we're not knitting and thinking about knitting! Don't waste all those hours in the car - use that valuable time knitting! Ferry, airplane, train - whip out the needles! Knit up an Antrorse to sport with denim cut offs and a tank beach side by the fire on a summer evening. Or pair your Inland with a pretty floral summer maxi dress out for a cool evening stroll with your flip flops. Making an Onward - you're in luck! This is such a versatile year round shawl. Yes, it's worsted, but it comes in handy in the morning at the farmer's market, camping, lakeside and more. Just because it's summer doesn't mean you can't style and wear your hand knits! It gets cool at night still, especially in the forest. All of the pieces from JOURNEY could easily be incorporated into your summer adventure!

JOURNEY ROAD TRIP SALE
 Save 20% OFF using code "roadtrip"
Sale is valid on the following:
:: individual patterns from JOURNEY (Antrorse, Inland, Onward, Spate, Swift & Climb)
:: eBook version of JOURNEY (which comes with pdf's of the indie patterns too!)
:: purchases can be made for the eBook & indie patterns on Ravelry ONLY for this sale. You can also find the same sale in Jane's shop too! See her blog for details.
:: sale closes on Sunday, July 13th, midnight, PST.
  
Onward Pattern (by Shannon Cook) from JOURNEY

Happy knitting and road tripping! See you all next week!

What are your summer vacation plans? Are you taking a road trip? Knitting on any JOURNEY patterns right now? We'd love to see and hear about them!

QUILTING || ANNIVERSARY SWOON QUILT

Swoon Quilt Sewn by VeryShannon.com #quilting #swoon

Earlier this spring I gave my parents a special surprise anniversary quilt - a Swoon Quilt to be exact.

It was the most challenging sewing project I've made to date. As a quilter who is still learning (and one who hates cutting) this was a mammoth project to undertake. While I enjoyed making it I hit a lot of bumps in the road that weren't pattern related. Some oopsies (mental note to buy a 1/4" foot for my machine) and some piecing errors but overall, muck ups and all, I'm so proud of this quilt. I learned so much.

My good friend and amazingly talented quilter Jeni of Quilted on the Rock (she's a professional long arm quilter with some mad skills!) was the shining star of this project. She saved me and cut out all the white pieces for me (thank you again for saving my life Jeni), finished my quilt top, lovingly pieced my back with a fun off center strip of scraps, quilted this gorgeous beauty & more! I am in awe of her talents! Every quilt she makes is beautiful but this one holds a special place for me. I highly recommend her.

Jeni helped me push through this project when I didn't think I could finish it, never mind continue sewing it. With loads of deadlines, busy mom life, and other time constraints it was literally down to the wire to get it to my folks. She cheered me on the whole way and rescued me an infinite number of times! I sewed all front blocks together, the special message on the quilt back and sewed the binding on the quilt. Seeing this quilt come to life with her quilting magic on it will be a moment I will always remember. She did such a special job of hiding all my oopsies and making this quilt shine! My points aren't all perfect and some don't even line up correctly but guess what - I don't care! I love it anyways! And that's hard for the perfectionist in me to admit :)

Swoon Quilt Sewn by VeryShannon.com #quilting #swoon

You see this was a special anniversary gift to my parents from myself and my two sisters, but the quilt didn't get given to them in Sept 2013 as planned. It got gifted to them in May 2014 instead :) They don't live in town so it actually worked out in my favor to be with them when they opened their SURPRISE present! My mom is also a quilter - she hand sews all her quilts and it blows my mind, so I knew this would be a gift they would both treasure. There is a special message on the back of the quilt as well from my all of our families to them with a lovely quote that I stitched onto the quilt.

I wish I had a bit more time to do a "proper" photoshoot of the quilt while they were here to really show it off but the odds weren't in my favor. I'm just happy it got done and given to them so we did a quick shoot in the vacation rental they were staying in. With a hot, full sun day I had no choice but to shoot indoors (boo urns) but I hope these pics will give you a bit of an idea of my swoon.


QUILT DETAILS
PATTERN
Swoon by Camille Roskelley

FABRICS USED
All prints from Flea Market Fancy by Denise Schmidt
White Solid: Kona Cotton Snow
Grey:  Kona Cotton Medium Grey
(Special thanks to Holly for helping me get just the right tone of grey & white for this quilt!)

QUILTING
Quilted by Jeni Mummery of Quilted on the Rock

Swoon Quilt Sewn by VeryShannon.com #quilting #swoon
Swoon Quilt Sewn by VeryShannon.com #quilting #swoon
Swoon Quilt Sewn by VeryShannon.com #quilting #swoon
Swoon Quilt Sewn by VeryShannon.com #quilting #swoon
Swoon Quilt Sewn by VeryShannon.com #quilting #swoon
Swoon Quilt Sewn by VeryShannon.com #quilting #swoon
Swoon Quilt Sewn by VeryShannon.com #quilting #swoonSwoon Quilt Sewn by VeryShannon.com #quilting #swoon

A big special thank you to Jeni again for being such a special friend and for her awesome sewing and quilting skills! I love ya girl!

And to my parents - I hope you cherish this quilt and it keeps you warm and surrounded with love, always. I love you both.

Have you made a Swoon Quilt before? Are you also learning to quilt? I hope all my american friends have a wonderful 4th of July tomorrow!

KNITTING || STASHBOT GUIDE & APP

Stashbot Stash Guide by Hannah Fettig || VeryShannon.com

Have you guys heard of the fabulous new guide Stashbot yet?

Stashbot is a comprehensive guide for building a useful stash. This handy guide from Hannah Fettig of Knitbot includes yarn requirement averages for all size sweaters and accessories! That's right! It is seriously a must have for every knitter! I got a print copy a few months ago and have used it many a time already. It's made project yarn shopping, pattern designing and gift making so much easier.  In a nutshell Stashbot is your perfect new yarn shopping companion!

Best part is that it also helps you to control, maintain and organize your stash. You know those times when you are at your fave LYS or a knitting event and you find that yarn you just cannot bear to live without? Well Stashbot will help you figure out how much you should buy of your dream yarn. It saves you from overbuying and under buying yarn for your stash saving you money in the end. Since you are more aware and in control of what you are purchasing for your stash it will help to keep your stash useful. Hannah has also included an article in Stashbot on stash psychology with tips on how to change your stash for the better. I know I'm always looking for ways to keep my stash streamlined, purposeful and not overwhelming.

True to Hannah's style Stashbot is lovely and has a clean aesthetic accompanied by gorgeous illustrations by Neesha Hudson. It's 8.5 x 5.5" so it's perfect for your purse or knitting bag.

What will you find inside Stashbot?

Stashbot is an 8 page booklet that includes 
yarn requirement averages for gauges 3 - 8 stitches per inch / 2.5 cm

Categories include:
Vests, shrugs & cropped, average and tunic length sweaters 
in sizes 3 months - 60” / 152cm bust circumference.
Hats, Socks & Mittens in sizes Baby, Toddler, Child, Adult & XL Adult 
Neckwear in 3 averages dimensions

All yarn requirements are presented in both yards and meters.Stashbot Stash Guide by Hannah Fettig || VeryShannon.com
How can you get your hands on Stashbot?

- Stashbot is available in booklet format as pictured above at your local LYS. You can find a list of the stockists HERE on the Knitbot site or also purchase it from Quince & Co. HERE.

- And the most exciting way.....I'm freaking out over this one folks....a soon to be APP! That's right! Stashbot is about to become an APP! Soon you'll be able to have Stashbot with you on your phone, tablet and more! I'm super excited for this interactive digital format! I'm lucky enough to get to try out the Beta version this week and the Knitbot team hope to have the Stashbot app out for the public in mid-July! Woot woot!

Stashbot Stash Guide by Hannah Fettig || VeryShannon.com

I'll be sure to fill you in on how the app is when it's out for release. In the meantime enjoy Stashbot!

How do you organize and maintain your stash? Have you tried Stashbot yet? Would you use a knitting app like this? Let's chat! 

You may also like our handy "FREE Printable Yarn Stash Ball Bands" to help keep your stash under control! Get the free download HERE.

MOMENTS || ON THE DESK & ON MY MIND

FRANKIE coming soon! VeryShannon.com

This is what's on my desk right now. I'd show you the rest but then I'd be ruining some upcoming surprises...hehe.

I've been working so hard on getting FRANKIE ready for testing and out for release. I love this little dress so much and there are so many options/variations I think you guys will all dig it too. I'm sewing up the last draft this weekend and will hopefully have a call for testers out soon...very soon (fingers crossed). FRANKIE will be available in sizes 2T - 10. I've been staying up late and working so hard to get this fun dress ready for you all!

For those of you who live in BC in Canada who have kiddos I'm sure you are all struggling to find balance at an unexpected time. We've had a teacher strike ongoing here throughout most of June and it cut our kids school year short with no final report cards either. I'm so thankful that I work full time from home so I could switch my schedule to work more evenings right now since I've got both kids home from school way earlier than expected. Needless to say it's delayed some of my time lines but that's life right?

We've been trying to keep busy with fun activities, sunshine, and lots of playing! I think this has been my fave summer with them so far if you minus the packing...lol. I think it's the age. The kids are 7 and 4 now and going to the playground allows mom a bit more time to sit and knit while they play. I picked up a funky new picnic blanket and have been happily lounging while watching the kiddos play. And if you've been reading this blog for a long time you know how much I hate the playground. (Don't judge me...lol.) It's a huge statement coming from me that I've actually enjoyed the last few outings I've had with the kids at the park.

Kids Crafts - Summer Fun Calendar // VeryShannon.com

Our budget doesn't allow for me to put the kids in summer camps so we have to be creative and come up with ideas to keep busy on our own. We decided to do the same activity we did last summer that we enjoyed so much! You can find the link HERE for our Summer Fun Calendar Craft. We plan on making ours today for July. I can't wait to hear what ideas the kids have for each days activities. It's hilarious the things their little minds come up with and the drawings they do to accompany them. It's definitely a hit in our house!

What are some of your favorite things to do with the kids in the summer? What have you been busy making and creating this week? I hope you all have a wonderful and sunshine filled weekend!

TOPS, TANKS & TEES KNIT ALONG || GIVEAWAY WINNERS!

Perkins Cove Pullover by Pam Allen
Perkins Cove Pullover by Pam Allen. Picture by Carrie Bostick Hoge
It's time to announce the winners of our Tops, Tanks & Tees Knit Along Giveaway!!!! 

I know you've all be patiently waiting for me to spill the goods on who won our lovely awesome prizes!!! So here are our winners.....

WINNER #1 - 
BETSY (BETSYJO ON RAVELRY)

WINNER #2 - 
MARTA (SBNYC ON RAVELRY)

Congratulations everyone! I'll be in touch soon in regards to your prizes!!!

www.quinceandco.com

A HUGE thank you again to all of you for joining in and knitting with me! And a big thank you to all of our generous and amazing sponsors for the TTTKAL this year! You can always find all the posts and info on our Tops, Tanks & Tees Knit Along Home Page.

Stay tuned for our upcoming Summer Sweater Knit Along! Dates will be announced next month!!! So get ready :)

ANNOUNCEMENT || WE'RE MOVING!


I have been bursting at the seams to tell you guys some exciting news!!! We've bought our first home! Wahoooo!

Over the last few months we've been going through all the steps in finalizing the purchase of our very first house!!! I wasn't able to mention anything online to you all until everything was done but now we're living in the middle of packing chaos and getting very excited for the big move! I keep pinching myself to make sure it's all real!

We take possession at the end of July and we cannot wait for all the space! We've been living with both girls in our 2 bedroom condo for almost 7 years! We love the place we've been renting but we can't wait to have some more personal space, a small yard and for momma to have her own office!!! We spent a loooooong time looking and seeing way more houses/townhouses than I think I ever needed to. Boy do I not miss that stage of real estate..lol. We knew when we walked in the house we bought that it was meant to be ours.

The hubs and I have worked so hard and saved so much to be able to buy our first home. It's been such a dream of ours for us and our kidlets and it feels amazing to have our dream come true!!! I can't wait for all the little things....planting our garden, painting the walls, decorating, fun diy projects and more! I mean just getting to buy a welcome mat is going to put me into a happy jig! So many "house" things that I just can't wait to do! If you see a woman in Target dancing in the home aisles you know it's me ;)

Needless to say July is going to be a tad different on the blog. We've got a family vacation planned (our first in many years) and of course, the big move! I will still be blogging and trying to keep things as normal as possible around here but there may be a few moments when things are a tad quieter. Don't worry though, there are lots of fun things in the works that are coming your way soon! The Summer Sweater Knit Along is in the works, our Frankie Dress Pattern is so close to going into testing and there are some knitterly goodies coming your way as well! I've also got a few finished sewing projects that I need to blog about too! So stay tuned!

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for reading all these years, and for supporting this blog and my pattern designs! It means so much that I get to share this next journey in my life with all of you!

SALE || BIRTHDAY SALE - 30% OFF!

Birthday Sale! 30% Off on www.veryshannon.com!

It's my birthday today so I'm in the mood for a sale!!!!!! 

I love me a  sale! So since I'm turning 37 today I figured why not give you all 30% off the entire shop!!! Wahoo! Enjoy!

USE COUPON CODE "BDAY30" TO GET 30% 0FF THE ENTIRE SHOP

// Sale is valid until midnight, PST, June, 21st, 2014.
// Sale is valid in our shop HERE, on Ravelry, and in our Etsy Shop.

Happy making and creating and have a wonderful weekend!!!!!

SEWING || FREE REVERSIBLE BOX TOTE PATTERN!!!

I've got a new FREE pattern for you all today! I'm on such a huge project bag/tote/pouch kick this year! I just can't seem to get enough and the Reversible Box Tote is just what I needed!

Get the Pattern


Perfect for carrying around all my knitting projects, journals, notes, & yarn spools! Heck you could even use this for the beach, for shopping, as a purse and more! The shape holds a ton and is so comfy to carry! I've been wanting a project tote that I don't have to wear over my shoulder. With my bad back sometimes I just find it easier to carry them by hand and let's admit it - some of my normal totes end up dragging on the ground or I get scared they are going to rip carrying all my loot around.



The Reversible Box Tote is sturdy, stylish and just waiting for you to sew one (ahem..or a few) up! 

Trust me, I am going to make at least a few more!! It's a super quick and easy sew that is suitable for a beginner sewer and beyond! So don't be scared if you're just learning! There's room for you to customize to your hearts content too! Want more pockets or ones with a zipper or velcro? Go ahead - add them on! Want a quilted look? Skip the interfacing and add batting instead and quilt it to your outer bag fabric for a custom look! You could even color block! So many options! See - you can't have too many when they can all look different!

You can choose to download the free pdf from our shop HERE or direct HERE if you'd prefer :)

*Note: Make sure to download the file first and then print from Adobe Reader - not direct from preview/google drive or the picture quality/sizing can be wrong.



I used the gorgeous new line from Sara Lawson (of Sew Sweetness) for Art Gallery Fabrics called Jungle Ave.

It's part of their awesome Limited Edition line that is drool worthy! 

I am HEAD OVER HEELS in love with the combos of black/white and that fuchsia/pink! Love it! I was so happy when Sara asked me to join in on her fabric tour and to sew something up using Jungle Ave.! And since Sara is the queen of bag patterns I thought it was only fair to honor her and sew up this tote in her line! Sara is so sweet and one talented lady!

For my Reversible Box Tote I used the following prints from Jungle Ave.

Outer Bag // NeighborHoods

Inner Bag // Dotted Boulevard

Pockets // Word on the Street



So....you ready to sew one up? Grab your latest fabric crush and let's get making!

For the FREE

Reversible Box Tote pattern and information please visit our Reversible Tote Pattern page HERE or if you would prefer you can download it HERE

Happy sewing!!! Use #soveryshannon to share your projects on social media!


GIVEAWAY || TOPS, TANKS & TEES KNIT ALONG GIVEAWAY!

Confetti Powder from Confetti System
It's giveaway time!!!! After all your hard work knitting up your top, tanks & tees it's time for our annual giveaway for the TTTKAL! 

A big thank you to Quince & Co. for being our Official Tops, Tanks & Tees Sponsor this year! Without Quince & Co. we wouldn't have our knit along! Our other super fabulous sponsors have donated some amazing prizes for you all to win! I'm drooling over here people! Two of you are going to be some lucky knitters!!!! Please visit their sites and show them some love! Each of our sponsors are companies I love and use. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do.

|| PRIZE ||
- Kestrel and Sparrow Sans eBooks and 1 skein each of Kestrel and Sparrow in the color of the winners choosing from Quince and Co.


|| PRIZE ||
- 3 skeins of Julie Asselin Yarn - Fino (Merino/Cashmere/Silk), in winners color choice.

|| PRIZE ||
- $25 Gift Certificate to Jane Richmond Designs.


|| PRIZE ||
- $25 Gift Certificate to Sugar + Candy Handbags.
|| PRIZE ||
- 2 sets of Akin Stitch Markers

|| HOW TO ENTER ||
- You must be signed up in the TOPS, TANKS & TEES KNIT ALONG and have started a project during the time of the knit along.  You DO NOT have to be done your project but you must have cast on and started knitting.

|| THE PRIZES ||
First Place Prize
- Quince & Co. prize package, Julie Asselin Yarn Prize Package and Jane Richmond Prize Package.

Second Place Prize
- Sugar + Candy Handbags Prize Package, Akin Prize Package

RULES:
- You must have left a valid email address when you signed up in the form above.
- You must have taken part in the TOPS, TANKS & TEES KNIT ALONG that is now over.
- Giveaway ends Sunday, June 15th, 2014 at midnight, pst.

More information and links for the entire knit along can be found on our Tops, Tanks & Tees Knit Along Homepage. Good luck everyone and thanks again for knitting along with me!

WINNER || UP, DOWN, ALL-AROUND STITCH DICTIONARY & BLUE SKY ALPACAS GIVEAWAY

Winner of Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary & Blue Sky Alpacas Giveaway!

The weather here has been positively gorgeous and I've been busy behind the scenes on some secret projects and hanging out at the beach and floating on lakes :) I hope to fill you in on some of them soon. But for now I'm excited to finally get to announce our Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary & Blue Sky Alpacas Giveaway winner!!!!

The winner is.....
COMMENTER #71: MICHAELA

Congratulations Michaela! I'll be in touch with you soon in regards to your prize! Thank you to all of you who entered.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend! What have you been making lately? 

TOPS, TANKS & TEES KNIT ALONG || STARRING YOU!!!

Vasa pattern knit by Sunflowerknit
Vasa knit by Sunflowerknit
Today is the day we've all been waiting for! The Tops, Tanks & Tees Knit Along 2014 - Starring You Post!!!! I seriously love putting this together for you all every year! It's so fun!

I mean how could you resist showing off all these amazingly gorgeous projects!!! You guys blew my mind this year! We shortened the TTTKAL by almost a month and still some of you whipped out 2 projects! Mind blown!!! Plus there was some seriously great uses of color and fibers paired with inspiring and oh so lovely patterns this year! I'm so happy to see so many of you embrace knitting warm weather garments!

Saco Stripes pattern knit by JennEmerson
Saco Stripes by JennEmerson
When putting together today's post I couldn't help but get emotional. I feel so lucky to have so many wonderful knitters joining in on our knit alongs. It does my heart good to see so many of you having such a good time, bonding, laughing, sharing stories and also learning/helping each other with your projects. I know I enjoy sitting down and reading through the thread every night and following along on Instagram with our #tttkal hashtag. It's so fun to see what you all have been up to with your projects!

Willing Spring pattern knit by Jaykayknits
Willing Spring by Jaykayknits
I can't help but say a huge THANK YOU to each and every one of you who participated - whether you finished or not. It means the world to me that you join in and have fun! From someone who had nobody to knit with to now having all of you it  makes me get all teary eyed! You guys are the best and I can't wait for the next one!!!

And now - here you all are!!!! You're AMAZING!
Sourpatch pattern knit by BetsyJo
Sourpatch knit by BetsyJo

Saco Stripes Pattern and Driftwood Tee Pattern knit by Knitthehellout
 Saco Stripes and Driftwood Tee both knit by Knitthehellout
Dulce De Leche knit by ryanpagehaas
Davis knit by Knitmish
Fire Opal Tee Pattern knit by Mamatronic
Fire Opal Tee knit by Mamatronic
Leger and Saco Stripes knit by Gardenknittr
Drifting and Scarborough Shrug knit by Moonkun
Regatta Tee knit by Sbnyc
Cap Sleeve Lattice Tops - 1 & 4: Knit by Becca Flake 2: Knit by Stephni-A 3: Knit by Joy201
1. Bryter knit by KCmomof2 2. Saco Stripes knit by cassburns 3. Simple Circle Yoke Pullover by DrAnna 4. Sunny Lou Dress from byannieclaire 5. Short Row Sweater knit by laura2022 6. Sparrow knit by Regalraven 7. Hawt Sands knit by Mamtronic 8. Hetty knit by likeleigh
1. Lavina knit by inafunk 2. Whispers by qtpieknitter 3. Emerald knit by lilpixie124 4. 26-29 Super Cotton Vest knit by karinamaza
1. Stoney Brook Top knit by madgiddy 2. Icarus knit by urbanizer 3. Saco Stripes knit by culabrat 4. Wakame knit by philda 5. Jessa knit by CassyTom 6. Sagoponack Tee knit by ummashin 7. Cosmopolitan knit by Purplefish 8. Nachtfalter knit by pattymatt 9. Catskills Cardi knit by bibite 10. Tomboy Cardigan knit by asimplehomestd
1. Bokeh Tank knit by craftycavy 2. Drambuie knit by mootastic1 3. Aquae Tank by mradford  4. Shannon knit by ValentinaS 5. Vertex knit by Calliopesmom 6. Dropveter knit by Karinamaza 7. Ribbon by qtpieknitter 8. Holla Back Tank knit by PamonMars
Wowsa!!!! You guys did soooo good! So many amazing projects! And such a fun variety! I love it! Congrats again on all of your WIP's and FO's! You guys rock!

You can always check out all the lovely knitted projects on our...

Instagram with #tttkal hashtag


And a huge thank you to our wonderful and supportive sponsor Quince & Co. for helping to make our TTTKAL 2014 happen!!!! Please go visit them and show them some love!!

Stay tuned for next week! Our big giveaway is coming up!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!!

SEWING || LOTUS POND RUBY DRESS

Lotus Pond Fabric Tour - Ruby Dress by Made By Rae, sewn by VeryShannon.com
Lotus Pond Fabric Tour - Ruby Dress by Made By Rae, sewn by VeryShannon.com
Lotus Pond Fabric Tour - Ruby Dress by Made By Rae, sewn by VeryShannon.com
Lotus Pond Fabric Tour - Ruby Dress by Made By Rae, sewn by VeryShannon.com

So excited to show you all my new Ruby Dress made from Rae Hoekstra's pattern and sewn with her new fabric line Lotus Pond!!!

You all know how much I adore Rae and all her creative talents and endeavors so I'm super happy to be part of the Lotus Pond Tour that's going around on right now.  If you haven't seen Lotus Pond for the fabulous Cloud 9 Fabrics you must get your hands on some! It's fresh, fun, and....well...just plain scrumptious! I love every print I've seen! Plus the quality of Cloud 9 Fabrics is fabulous as well as Rae's aesthetically pleasing uses of her color palette! I cannot wait to get some more to whip up some new outfits for the kids.

But instead of sewing for them this time this momma needed a new summer frock to wear. I wanted something a) comfy b) vacation ready c) something I could throw on over a bathing suit or easily pair with a fab pair of leggings & boots/shoes. Enter the Ruby Dress. A quick and easy sew that fulfilled all my holiday requests. We're going on our first vacay in years this summer and I will be lake/pool side for 7 days and could easily imagine the Ruby Dress being a staple part of my holiday wardrobe. Plus Rae just looks so darn cute in hers (see the Ruby page here) I couldn't resist channelling my inner Rae :) I sewed mine up with Fluttering Fields (bottom portion) and Meadow Blossoms White (upper portion) from Lotus Pond.

I made my Ruby Dress with Size Large Bust and an XL for the bottom portion. I got a great fit on the upper portion which was my biggest fear. I didn't want the bust area to pull or distortion due to the size of my ahem....girls. Well Rae gives you an upper bust and a bust measurement to go by, as well as hip so I found this dress easy to accommodate my body shape. I used my lazy man's hip seam again - aka, did a 1/4" seam allowance instead of a 1/2" as called for. I like doing this sometimes when I want a tad more ease (this pattern calls for 4" of ease for comfort) and I don't feel like I need to go up a full size in the pattern.

I love that this dress is so versatile! I was bad and already wore this before the photo shoot. In fact I wore it a few hours I finished sewing it. 

I paired it with my dark denim skinny jeans, my new fave shoes (see them HERE), and my never leave the house without light coral cardigan. I also could see this in my closet with my grey capri leggings, or in the fall paired with full length leggings and my fave boots with a handmade cardi. A sign of a great pattern :) I do need a new belt though. I noticed a lot of people belt their Ruby Dresses and this is a cute look! I just have bad juju trying to buy belts. They never look right on me and hit me in my trouble spot so I'll be on the lookout for one to pair with this as well.

Overall if you've got a bust and curves and wondered if you could pull off the Ruby I say go for it! Play around with your sizing and have some fun! I hemmed mine a heckuva lot shorter than the pattern size states to show off the legs to slim my overall body. I think mine is about 2" - 2 1/2" above the knee and I'm a shorty at 5'4".


A big congrats to my lovely friend Rae on another wonderfully inspiring collection! You consistently amaze me with your talents m'dear. Thank you sooooo much for having me along!!! Sending big Canadian hugs my way to you luv <3

DRESS: Ruby Dress from Made by Rae
SIZE MADE: Size Large for upper portion and XL for the lower portion.
MODIFICATIONS: Used a 1/4" seam allowance for the bottom portion and cut and hemmed the dress shorter. 
FABRIC: Fluttering Fields (bottom portion) and Meadow Blossoms White (upper portion) from Lotus Pond by Rae Hoekstra for Cloud 9 Fabrics

Have any of you made a Ruby Dress yet? Have you got your hands on some Lotus Pond yet? Are you planning on making any vacation outfits? Let's chat - coffee's on....

GIVEAWAY WINNERS GALORE!!

Arizona prints by April Rhodes || VeryShannon.com

I'm so excited to announce the winners of the last 2 giveaways! There were some AWESOME prizes to be had!

First up the April Rhodes Arizona Fabric Giveaway! Seriously still drooling over these prints folks! They are all so lovely!

// THE WINNER IS: COMMENTER  #40 - MOLLY

Next up is the amazing Warp & Weft Sewing Giveaway with some gorgeous prizes from Merchant & Mills! Such a drool worthy prizes!

// WINNER #1 IS: COMMENTER #47 - KELLY

// WINNER #2 IS: COMMENTER #15 - SOPHIE

Congratulations winners! I will be in touch soon about your prizes! And a big thank you to all who entered! Thanks for reading!

P.S. Don't forget to enter our great Blue Sky Alpacas Giveaway for a chance to win the new book "Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary", yarn & more! Enter HERE.

TTTKAL || DEADLINE EXTENSION POLL

Kestrel Tank by Quince and Co.
Image via Quince & Co.
Knitting a whole top, tank or tee is time consuming. You guys know that I always like to give you all a chance to vote if you'd like a 1 week extension on the deadline to finish up your KAL project.

It was new this year to try the TTTKAL in a 1 month time span. Usually I do 2 months but found everyone was making at least 2 projects - it was too long. So this year we did 1 but I'd still like to offer you a chance to push it back a few days if you'd like before we do our starring you post! The new deadline would be Monday, June 2nd, 2014.

Remember - do your best to get some lovely finished pictures of your project to show off your hard work! Get someone to help you or find some great tips on our post last year on taking great project pics by our guest Michelle from A So Called Handmade Life. It's got lots of great tips and her pics are always some of my faves! Click HERE to read the post. You can also find more helpful info on our Tips & Techniques page HERE.

Trust me when I say that you will appreciate taking the time to take a good project shot later on when you look back at all your knitting on ravelry. It feels good to have your work shine and to share it with all your fellow knitters :) Plus our next KAL post is our "Starring You" one and I'll be posting some of the finished projects on the blog next week!!

Now it's time to vote! Fill out the poll below and then get knitting ladies!


And for those of you who are already done - wahoo!!!! There are some AMAZING projects in our Tops, Tanks, Tees Knit Along FO Page on Ravelry!

Thanks for knitting along with me!

This post was brought to you by our Tops, Tanks & Tees Knit Along Official Sponsor - Quince & Co.!

UP, DOWN, ALL-AROUND BLOG TOUR & BLUE SKY ALPACAS GIVEAWAY!!!

Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary Blog Tour || VeryShannon.com
Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary by Wendy Bernard || Published by STC Craft/Abrams || Photos by Thayer Allyson Gowdy

I adore stitch dictionaries. I can't get enough of them. Fun reading for me at night is perusing stitch dictionaries. Weird, but true.

I love seeing all the endless possibilities and the creative why's and how's. When I heard about Wendy Bernard's new book "Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary" I got super excited! A coil bound stitch dictionary that does all the work for you! Seriously! She's written it so that each stitch is shown with instructions & charts and can be knit in 4 different directions!!! Flat, in the round, bottom up, town down - you name it - she shows you! Genius!!! This is the first of it's kind and I'm so excited to be on the tour today sponsored by Blue Sky Alpacas!

I have spent some lovely hours slowly perusing this gorgeous book! True to the STC Craft/Abrams brand, "Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary" is as pretty as it is useful. Clear, and bright photographs, easy to follow instructions and charts - Wendy has written and compiled a book that is a must have for any knitters technical library. I cannot tell you how useful this book is. So much helpful information and I keep going back to the coil binding. I love that it lays flat while I'm knitting from it. Plus all the yarn used in the book is from Blue Sky Alpacas (whose yarn I adore) and the colors just pop from the pages! Wendy even has each chapter broken into color themes! WEEE! It does my book lovers heart so good to see this! It adds such a great texture & vividness to the swatches when you are flipping through the book itself.

Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary Blog Tour || VeryShannon.com
Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary Blog Tour || VeryShannon.com
Photos above: Thayer Allyson Gowdy
There are lots of special little details added to this book. Such as the fun graphic design! On the spine and bottoms of the pages where the stitches are written there are shapes that mimic the symbols used in knitting charts. I go gaga for things like this! I really loved this book and thoughtful design elements of the book itself. It's also broken up into great sections to make it easy to find what you're looking for.

Here's what's included:

// HOW TO USE THE STITCH PATTERNS
- Swatching Basics
- Swapping out Stitch Patterns
- How to Work With Charts

// KNITS AND PURLS   // RIBS   // TEXTURED, SLIPPED, AND FANCY   // YARNOVERS AND EYELETS   // CABLES   // LACE   // COLORWORK   // HEMS AND EDGINGS   // PROJECTS   

// APPENDIX
- Designing From Scratch
- Abbreviations
- Special Techniques
- Key
- Stitch Multiple Index
- Acknowledgements
- About the Author

Wendy Bernard also added some great chapters in this book that are very educational and useful for any knitter - designer or not. Such as the section on Swapping out Stitch Patterns - so handy! She also has a great chapter on the end that is on Designing from Scratch and she gives you 3 patterns that you can easily learn and design your own using the stitch patterns in the book! It's awesome!  There is a stole, a slouch hat, & some mittens! Also at the end of each Stitch Chapter there is a project using one of the stitches from that section and there are some darn cute patterns as well!

I couldn't resist whipping up a swatch of one of the stitches in the Textured, Slipped & Fancy chapter! I made mine using the Bamboo Stitch! A fun one! Doesn't it look so scrumptious in Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyed? This yarn is beyond heavenly and that color......swoon, it's color #2023!!!! I can't wait to knit more with this!

Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary Blog Tour || VeryShannon.com
Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary Blog Tour || VeryShannon.com

Needless to say this book is great! Patterns, design help, stitch dictionary & more Wendy always puts together books that are so valuable but also inspiring! I recommend this one to any knitter looking to add to their stitch dictionary library. It's got some great ones in it! Plus this book would also be a handy tool for knitting instructors or shop reference.

But that's not it.......I've also got an exciting prize to give away today!!!!

Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary Blog Tour || VeryShannon.com
// THE PRIZE
- One lucky winner will win this lovely prize package:

- 3 drool worthy skeins of yarn from Blue Sky Alpacas (shown in the picture above & below)
- a copy of Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary by Wendy Bernard
- an adorable Pretty Cheep Project Bag

// HOW TO ENTER
- Leave me a comment letting me know what you love about stitch dictionaries.
- Bonus Entry: Like Blue Sky Alpacas and/or STC Craft on facebook and leave me a separate comment letting me know you did that too.

// THE RULES
- Open to US/Canadian residents ONLY.
- You must leave a valid email address in your comment or you will be disqualified.
- Giveaway is open until June 1st, 2014, midnight, PST.

Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary Blog Tour || VeryShannon.com

Follow along the rest of the Up, Down, All-Around Blog Tour below! Lots of chances to win!!! Good luck and happy knitting everyone!!! A big thank you to STC Craft/Abrams and Blue Sky Alpacas for having me on the tour! Congrats on the wonderful book Wendy!

May 20: Knit and Tonic - we will also post Tour Info & Schedule on the Blue Sky Alpacas Blog.
May 22: FreshStitches
May 24: Hey Jen Renee
May 26: Very Shannon
June 4: Mari Knits
June 21: Wendy Bernard on the Ready, Set, Knit! podcast

TOPS, TANKS & TEES KAL || KNITTING WITH QUINCE & CO. LINEN

Kestrel Collection from Quince & Co.

Oh Kestrel how I love thee. Who's Kestrel you ask? Why Kestrel is the newest linen yarn from Quince & Co. and let me tell you....this yarn is fab.u.lous. 

Every year during the Tops, Tanks & Tees Knit Along I try to encourage everyone to try a summer friendly fiber to knit with and to embrace those plant based fibers. My go to recommendation has always been Quince & Co.'s first linen yarn - Sparrow. Sparrow is a pretty fingering weight that knits up and wears great! So when Quince & Co. announced they were releasing Kestrel - an aran weight linen - be still my beating heart! Linen + aran weight = happy shannon! I admit I tend to knit with yarns that are DK or higher most often so the idea of a linen that is aran weight, 100% linen and organic just had me swooning! Not to mention it's seriously amazing to knit with, drapes like a DREAM. I can't stop petting mine!

Kestrel Collection from Quince & Co.
Now don't start to get scared and run from the computer saying "linen....hmmm...not sure...I only knit with wool....don't like how it feels on my hands....don't know how to care for it...." etc, etc. We've all been there. It's like anything new that you learn. Linen can seem scary to a knitter who hasn't used it. But trust me when I say it's not. As a sewer who also knits linen really appeals to me! I love the fact that what you get is what you see. Linen doesn't lose it's shape or stretch out. It just is what you make it. You can treat it just like fabric! And no, it's not like linen fabric where you end up all wrinkled at the end of the day. It won't go all cray cray on you. You can wash it in the machine, iron it and more! Plus it doesn't pill! The more you wear it - the better it gets! How can you not like that right?

Kestrel Collection from Quince & Co.
Looking for some helpful posts on knitting with linen?

// Check out Knitting with Linen and also Finishing with Linen by Hannah Fettig of Knitbot. There are some great tips in these posts!
// Pam Allen (designer & one of the founders of Quince & Co.) & Hannah Fettig have a wonderful new podcast out called Knit.fm that is fun to listen to and educational! If you take a listen to Episode 7 (Design Process) you can learn more about Kestrel and also working with and caring for linen yarns. If you enjoy knitting podcasts make sure you subscribe to Knit.fm!

Need some lovely patterns to try out your linen knitting skills?

We recommend the following collections for some wonderful linen patterns:

 Kestrel   ||   Sparrow Sans   ||   Knitbot Linen

How about some helpful tips on linen?

// You can put linen in the washing machine and the dryer.
// It get's better the more you wear it and wash it.
// You can still block your linen item.
// It softens up after wear.
// It's sometimes easiest to wind linen by hand as it has a tendency to tangle and knot. If you do use a swift, go slow and be careful.
// Always knit from the outside of your ball - not the inside. If you do knit from the center pull you may want to put your yarn inside a sock or something to contain it to keep from knotting.
// It comes from the flax plant.

Sparrow Collection from Quince & Co.
I promise you once you give it a try you'll like it! You may be surprised at how much you'll enjoy the end result! 

And if you have found linens rough to knit with in the past Kestrel will be a welcome addition to your yarn stash. I found it enjoyable to use and quite comfortable on the hands to knit with. Two thumbs up in my book! I also highly recommend any of Quince & Co.'s yarns and if you haven't tried any of them yet give it a go! They have a wide selection of weights, reasonable shipping and the colors - well swoon! Texture, loft, drape - their yarns have it all. I haven't met a Quince & Co. yarn I haven't loved yet :)

So what do you say? Are you going to give knitting with linen a try? Have you knit with Kestrel or Sparrow before? Let's chat yarn ladies! And don't forget to share any tips you may have on knitting with linen! I'd love to add them to the post!

This post was brought to you by our Tops, Tanks & Tees Knit Along Official Sponsor - Quince & Co.!

*All images in the post courtesy of Quince & Co.

GIVEAWAY || WARP & WEFT SEWING GIVEAWAY!!

Merchant & Mills Giveaway from Warp & Weft // VeryShannon.com

I'm worried for my computer I'm drooling so much over today's giveaway from one of Canada's loveliest fabric shops -  Warp & Weft!!! Wowsa!

**This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for all of your entries.**

Warp & Weft is an amazing online fabric shop that is also proudly Canadian (for all you fellow Canadian shoppers shipping rates are fab!). Esmari has such a great eye and aesthetic so it's only natural that she would stock Merchant & Mills products in her awesome shop! So when I did my book review for the Merchant & Mills Sewing Book yesterday (read it HERE) we only thought it fitting to offer you all a fun giveaway too! Can we say thank you Esmari!!! She's so great!

www.warpandweft.ca

Besides her generous giveaway prizes she is also offering you all 10% OFF at Warp & Weft and that includes ALL products - even sale items!! Wahoo! Just use code "veryshannon10" at checkout!! Happy shopping my friends! You will not be disappointed! I love shopping online in shops like Warp & Weft.

Merchant & Mills Giveaway from Warp & Weft // VeryShannon.com

Esmari has curated a shop filled with exquisite textiles, notions, embroidery, high quality fabric, lovely kits & more! She even has fun workshops! I seriously suggest perusing the website and reading her blog for something special!

You ready to here what you could win?

// THE PRIZES
Prize Package #1
- 25 Merchant & Mills Sewing Needles
- Bamboo Point Turner from Merchant & Mills
- Merchant & Mills Tape Measure
- 1 ounce Dressmaking Pins from Merchant & Mills
- copy of Merchant & Mills Sewing Book
Merchant & Mills Giveaway from Warp & Weft // VeryShannon.com
Prize Package #2
- Merchant & Mills Tie-End Bolster Cushion Sewing Pattern
- Rapid Repair Kit from Merchant & Mills
Merchant & Mills Giveaway from Warp & Weft // VeryShannon.com
// HOW TO ENTER
- Visit Warp & Weft notions section and then leave us a comment letting us know what your favorite sewing notion is.
- *Bonus Entry: Like Warp & Weft and/or Very Shannon on Facebook and then leave us a separate comment letting us know you did that too.
// THE RULES
- You must leave a valid email address in your comment or you will be disqualified.
- Giveaway open until May 25th, midnight, PST.
You can find all things Warp & Weft below:



Good luck and a big thank you to Warp & Weft for the wonderful giveaway!

*All images courtesy of Warp & Weft.

READING || MERCHANT & MILLS SEWING BOOK REVIEW

Merchant & Mills Sewing Book // Review on VeryShannon.com

Oh my! I could hardly contain my excitement when the new Merchant & Mills Sewing Book by Carolyn N. K. Denham showed up in my mailbox!!!

I am a HUGE fan of Merchant & Mills and their new sewing book does not disappoint! Beautifully bound and designed, this lovely addition to any sewers collection stays true to the Merchant & Mills brand. Their notions, scissors, pins & needles are coveted and some of my absolute faves! You can't miss spotting a fab Merchant & Mills product or pattern and I was so happy to see all that gorgeous styling put into one book published by Chronicle Books.

 Merchant & Mills Sewing Book // Review on VeryShannon.com

The Merchant & Mills Sewing Book is filled with techniques, helpful information, tips and more! I honestly know I'll be reading and re-reading this book for many years. My absolute favorite part of the book is the Foundations section. So much amazing info in this section of the book! I wanted to photograph all of it but then realized I'd be showing you the whole book! And let's not forget the patterns! 15 of them! All fabulous and very handy! I'm dying to sew up the Duffel Bag and the Tote Bag asap!

All the sections include signature styled Merchant & Mills photographs and diagrams and all the patterns are accompanied by great illustrations along with easy to follow instructions.
Merchant & Mills Sewing Book // Review on VeryShannon.com
Here's a quick run down of what's included in this must have book!



INTRODUCTION
// Keep it Simple and Do It Well

PART I: THE FOUNDATIONS
// Sewing Tools: Furnishing Your Toolbox
// Haberdashery: A Panoply of Small Things
// Basic Sewing Techniques: The Inside Information on Construction
// Patterns: Your Template for Making
// Cloth: The Beautiful Raw Material
// Pressing Matters: A User's Guide to Good Flattening

PART II: THE PROJECTS
// The Calico Bag
// The Tailor's Ham and Sleeve Roll
// The Ironing Board Cover
// The Hussif
// The Maker's Apron
 // The Bolster Cushion
// The Pillow Cushion
// The Button Cushion
// The Throw
 // The Document Bag
// The Flight Bag
// The Duffel Bag
// The Tote Bag
// The Tailored Shawl
// The Fisherman's Top

Merchant & Mills Sewing Book // Review on VeryShannon.com
Merchant & Mills Sewing Book // Review on VeryShannon.com

Overall I give The Merchant & Mills Sewing Book two thumbs up! I would recommend this to any sewer looking for a stylish addition to their library. It will be well loved and read in my home for years to come!

You can find all things Merchant & Mills on their website HERE.

Are you a Merchant & Mills fan? Would you like to win a copy? Stay tuned for some seriously fun prizes tomorrow on the blog!

TOPS, TANKS & TEES KAL || WARM WEATHER KNITTING NECESSITIES

Warm Weather Knitting Necessities // VeryShannon.com
1. Knit and Let Knit Tote  2. Sparrow Yarn 3. Box Pouch 4. Fox Yarn Bowl 5. Neon Stitch Markers 6. Zippered Pouch
Summer knitting is almost upon us and the weather is warming up. So today we're going to chat warm weather knitting necessities! And yes - there are some :)

Now you all know how much I encourage and preach continuing to knit in the warmer months of the year. That's how our Tops, Tanks & Tees and Summer Sweater Knit Alongs were born! Just because it's gorgeous outside does not mean that our passion for knitting needs to be hidden away for months at a time. Bring that knitting out of the closet - let it see the sunlight! Instead of thinking you can't be knitting - embrace it! Bring it to the beach, take it to the park, have it go on your road and camping trips! Knitting is truly a bring it everywhere you go hobby!

So what sorts of things does one need to make knitting suitable for the warmer months? Well...these warm weather knitting neccessities of course!
// A ROCKIN' BAG OR BASKET
We don't want you getting sand in your fibers so make sure you are carrying a rockin' project bag to keep your knitting lovelies safe. You can use one of our tutorials to make your own (if you are so inclined) or spoil yourself and purchase a great new bag to go with your shorts and a tank :) We are currently crushing on all things Fringe Supply Co.

Not in the mood for a bag? We've all been crushing big time on baskets! I have an African Market Basket from Tolt Yarn and Wool that is MY FAVE! I need more and I mean like 5 more! They are great for storing your projects, yarn and for bringing your current knitting projects with you in style!

// THE RIGHT SIZE PROJECT
Bonnie Project Bag Tutorial by VeryShannon.comNow the art of warm weather knitting is to be smart and choose a suitable project. For example - don't cast on a giant chunky wool sized blanket to bring around with you. Instead opt for something light and easily portable like a top, shawl, socks, sweater etc. It makes a world of difference when it's on your lap and in your bag.

// FIBER
Warm weather fibers are becoming more and more readily available. With cotton blends, linens and more in your LYS you cannot go wrong in knitting up that lovely summer tank for yourself this year with all the gorgeous yarns on the market! Our personal fave of the moments are Sparrow and Kestrel from Quince and Co. Linen only gets better the more you wear it so cast on now for a super lovely top to wear this summer!

// YARN BOWL OR CADDY
One of my favorite things to use lately is my yarn caddy (or yarn buddy as shown here) as I like to call it. What the official name is for these I can't seem to figure out but they are AWESOME! Keeps my yarn from falling all over the place, keeps it clean, it's easier to knit and I bring it with me everywhere. What can I say - I love it.

A yarn bowl is also a stellar choice for keeping your yarn sand and dirt free! There are tons of stylish and modern yarn bowls available now and heck you could even make your own at your local pottery shop! That's what I plan on doing one of these days.

// NOTIONS & POUCHES
As any knitter knows we LOVE our notions as much as we love our knitting. Stitch markers, gauge tools, tape measures, scissors, cases and more - you can never have enough. The cooler and cuter the better! I have this adorable case to store my stitch markers and scissors in!

And with all those notions you definitely need a good pouch to keep them in! Sew yourself up some with a great tutorial or pattern (you can see ours here) or purchase a unique handmade one and show off those notions!

// SUNSCREEN, SUNNIES & GOOD TIMES
Knitting is always more fun with friends! Keep your skin protected out in the warm weather with sunscreen, your favorite pair of sunglasses and a rockin' hat! Meet some knitting pals on the beach or your favorite restaurant patio and soak up the fun!!!

So grab your needles, your fave bag, your coveted notions, some sunscreen and your sunnies and go bask in that gorgeous weather all summer long!

This post was brought to you by our Tops, Tanks & Tees Knit Along Official Sponsor - Quince & Co.!


Now....what are YOUR warm weather knitting neccessities? We're dying to know!!! Comment below with your faves!!!

SEWING || FOLDED TRIANGLE FAT QUARTER BAG TUTORIAL

SEWING || FOLDED TRIANGLE FAT QUARTER BAG TUTORIAL

Learn how to sew a fun folded triangle bag using only 3 fat quarters of fabric with the free tutorial below!!!!

Read More