house on hill road

Little Bits Quilting Bee - Review and Giveaway

I'm so excited to be one of today's stops on the blog tour for Little Bits Quilting Bee by Kathreen Ricketson and published by Chronicle Books. As you probably know, Kathreen is the brains behind Whip Up, that fantastic website and resource for those of us that are craft-inclined. She's also the author of Whip Up Mini Quilts, a fantastic book with some of the most amazing little quilts around, and she publishes Action Pack, an e-magazine geared towards crafting with kids. She's a woman with boundless creativity and it was no surprise to me that her new book, Little Bits Quilting Bee, is fresh and informative resource for quilters.

Little Bits Quilting Bee has 20 different quilt projects that use pre-cuts. You know the charm squares, layer cakes, jelly rolls and fat quarters that are always so pretty and tempting at the quilt store? Yes, those! I am always ooh-ing and ah-ing over those little stacks and rolls, but have never really know what I would do with them until now. Kathreen has done an exemplary job of showing just how versatile using they can be. I especially love how she uses solids, together with prints and shining on their own. She also doesn't stick to the simple square and rectangle shapes that pre-cuts come in. There are patterns with curves and appliques, projects that are easy for beginners and some that offer a little more challenge. The book also contains a good resource section with information on quilting basics and about how to start your own quilting bee. I just love the idea of sewing with friends.

Some of my favorites are:

Crimson Cross

Garnets and Gold

Community Garden

Dress Circle

At the moment, having just pieced 176 half-square triangles out of two charm square packs, I'm working on my own version of Prismatic, which in the book uses layer cakes.

Kathreen and the nice folks at Chronicle Books have offered a copy of Little Bits Quilting Bee to one of my readers. To be entered in the giveaway (U.S. addresses only, please), comment on this post before 5:00 p.m. EST, Sunday, November 13th. If you are so inclined, tell me if you have ever used pre-cuts and what you have used them for. I'll pick a winner and announce it on the blog next week.

For other reviews and giveways, take some time to visit the remaining stops on the blog tour:

Friday, November 11 – CraftyPod

Monday, November 14 – Handmade by Alissa & Hello My Name Is Heather

Tuesday, November 15 – West Coast Crafty & Foxy Art Studio

Wednesday, November 16 – Patch Andi & The Last Piece

Thursday, November 17 – In Color Order & Duo Fiberworks

Friday, November 18 – Kristin La Flamme & Camp Follower Bags & Quilts

Monday, November 21 – Quilt Dad

Tuesday, November 22 – Pat Sloan & Pleasant Home

1, 2, 3 Sew - Book Review and Giveaway

If you are not familiar with Ellen Luckett Baker and her blog, The Long Thread, take a moment and go familiarize yourself. Please. You will not be disappointed.

Back? Great.

Ellen's book, 1, 2, 3 Sew, Build Your Skills with 33 Simple Projects is one of the best beginning sewing books out there. It's also fantastic for intermediate sewers, too. It's organized so that you can increase your skill set project by project. Brilliant, no? The projects are divided into 11 groups, each with 3 different entities.  The first project teaches you one thing and the next project builds on the skills you've already learned. For example, in the first chapter, beginning with tea towels, you learn how to hem and make folded corners. The next project is napkins which add mitered corners to your repetoire. Then it's on to a table runner and seamless pockets. It's so wonderfully presented and organized that it is easy to gain an entire skill set just by following the projects in order.

The book includes a wide-range of items to make. There are things for the dining and the kitchen, totes and pouches, children's and baby items, softies, pillows and more. The instructions are very succinct, the photography is straight-forward and gorgeous, the projects do-able. I read a lot of craft books every year and 1, 2, 3 Sew is among my top picks for 2011. I'm so impressed with the range of projects, the simple and easily-followed instructions as well as the great format in which it is all presented.  The pattern pieces come in a envelope at the front of the book and are easy to copy/transfer and do not overlap like many others. It is a great resource for any sewist, regardless of experience. Some of my favorite projects are:

Lawn Cosmetic Bag - this, and a few other projects in the book, include the use of stencil/fabric paint on plain fabric. What a great detail!

Change Your Mind Skirt - A reversible and simple, elastic waist skirt for young girls.

Bunny Softie - A cute, squeezable animal for any young person you know.

Circles Floor Pillow - A wonderful project that showcases special fabrics (think Liberty!) and teaches you reverse applique.

Totes - there are three in the book and all are fantastic!

And here are my interpretations of the Mouse Pincushion. I whipped up two - one for Kate and one for Jane. I loved making them - fairly quick with interesting, but easy construction. The girls are excited to have a pincushion of their own, too. I'm psyched that I no longer have to share.

Chronicle Books has generously offered a copy of 1, 2, 3 Sew to one of my readers. AND I am offering a mouse pincushion to one of you, also. That's right - you have 2 chances to win! To enter in the giveaway, please comment on this post before Sunday, July 24 at 4:00 p.m. EST. Tell me what your first sewing project was and how it came out. If you don't sew, tell me why you want to learn. I'll pick two names using the random number generator - one will get the book, the other a pincushion made by me (to be specific, it will not be one of the ones pictured above).

Other stops on the blog tour include:

Monday, July 11 – CRAFT
Tuesday, July 12 – Sew, Mama, Sew & Oh My! Handmade Goodness
Wednesday, July 13 – Handmade Charlotte
Thursday, July 14 – Everything Etsy & Not Martha
Friday, July 15 – Modern Kiddo

Monday, July 18 – Crafty Pod
Tuesday, July 19 – Indie Fixx & Patterns by Figgy’s
Wednesday, July 20 – Papernstitch
Thursday, July 21 – Coquette
Friday, July 22 – Bolt Neighborhood & True Up

Get clicking. I'll announce the winner next week.

World of Geekcraft Winner

I chose the number 40 so the winner of World of Geekcraft by Susan Beal is Mandy!

Congrats! Mandy, email me your contact info and I'll mail this off to you right away.

Fresh Quiliting by Malka Dubrawsky - Review and Giveaway

Malka Dubrawksy's new book Fresh Quilting: Fearless Color, Design and Inspiration arrived a few days ago and I am so excited to share it with you.  I've been following Malka and her work for a few years and I am always bowled over by the way she uses color and pattern to create beautiful quilted objects.  This book is no exception - it's jam-packed with great projects in bright, crisp colors that all have a modern aesthetic.  It showcases Malka's signature style with projects that are inventive and inspiring.

The book includes a very thorough section on material and tools and another on technique.  These parts are extremely informative and are a great resource for newer quilters and those of us who have more experience, too.  There are also two project sections.  The first one has small patchwork projects for home, family and friends.  In this part, you can find everything from a knitting needle case to a crib bumper and everything in between.  All the projects are fantastic and live up to the book's title.  One of my favorite projects is the mix it up patchwork scarf.  I love how Malka combined different types of fabrics - silks, corduroy, cotton prints - in an interesting pattern.  I can see making this for just about anyone on my list.  Using subdued colors, plaids and stripes would make it great for a man.  I also love the strings attached potholders and trivet.  These projects are great for using up scraps - perfect for anyone like me who has a hard time letting the little leftovers go. 

The second project section includes quilts for wall, bed and baby.  Malka has included a wonderful variety of patterns that use different techniques.  I think one of the strengths of this book is Malka's ability to transform a traditional patchwork pattern into something updated and modern.  I especially love the honeycomb hexagon quilt for this very reason.  Not only is the scale of the hexagons larger than you'd traditionally find, Malka also walks you through how to piece them by machine, not hand.  Awesome.

Malka's fresh approach to quilting and patchwork is inspiring.  Looking through the projects in this book, it is immediately evident that they are all versatile and adaptable to other items.  I really love the look of the whirlygig quilt - it's simple and understated but there is some great play with pattern and color that appeals to me.  Unfortunately, I don't have time to make any kind of quilt at the moment so I took the whirlygig pattern and used it for a potholder instead.

This came together easily and pretty fast.  I pieced the front and then followed the quilting and assembly directions from the strings attached potholders.  All the fabrics came from the scrap bin with the exception of the binding fabric, which is also on the back.  Easy, fun, fresh.  I am sure I'll be making more.

I have one copy of Fresh Quilting: Fearless Color, Design and Inspiration to give away.  If you would like a chance to win it, please leave a comment on this post before 5:00 p.m. EST, Sunday, December 12th.  I'll use the random number generator to choose a winner.

For more information about Malka and her book, visit her blog, A Stitch in Dye, and visit the other stops on her blog tour.

12/6 -  http://www.filminthefridge.com

12/7 -  http://thesillyboodilly.blogspot.com

12/8 -  http://jchandmade.typepad.com

12/9 -  http://houseonhillroad.typepad.com

12/10 - http://www.tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com

12/13 - http://blairpeter.typepad.com

12/14 - http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog

 

Sew Tina - Review and Giveaway

I recently received a copy of Tina Givens' new book, Sew Tina, which is published by Lark Crafts.  Tina is well-known for her fabric designs and sewing patterns and this book is a good marriage of the two.  The book includes many clothing items in sizes 3 months to 7 along with complete patterns.  There are booties and hats, dresses, tunics, pants, bloomers and more.  Tina also included many accessories in the book and these are what caught my eye.

I think this tulle bed canopy is super sweet.  It looks like a fun and manageable project.  I happen to know one eight, almost nine, year old who has been begging for something like this for a long while.  Hmmm...maybe for her birthday?

I have never considered making a sleeping bag for my kids, but this number has me thinking about it.  Tina also includes directions to make a tote for, well, toting the sleeping bag around.  Great idea!

The checkboard crib quilt is a basic pattern, but would be fast to put together and would be a great baby gift.  I also like the idea of a fabric Moses basket.  I had one when my girls were tiny and I used it all the time.  I had never considered making one out of fabric - it could be a great shower gift for new parents.

Lucky for you, Tina and Lark Crafts have offered a sweet giveaway to one of my readers.  The winner will receive a copy of Sew Tina, a stack of fabric (4 yards!), stationery and sewing patterns all designed by Tina.  To enter, comment on this post before 5:00 p.m. EST Friday, October 15th.  Tell me what you like to make for a baby gift or what was the best baby gift you received.  Good luck!

Wee Wonderfuls - Book Review, Q&A, Giveaway

Certainly you have heard of Hillary Lang and seen her work?  I have been anticipating the release of her new book, Wee Wonderfuls, 24 Dolls to Sew and Love, since the day she announced that she was writing it.  I am a long-time fan of her blog and her patterns and I just knew that her book would be amazing.

I like it when I'm right.

Published by STC Craft, this collection of toys is just what you would expect from Hillary and then some.  The dolls are brimming with character and they all have that Wee Wonderfuls signature style.  They are cute, but not fussy and range from a trolley to bears with all kinds of little people in between.  Jane and Kate immediately took the book away from me and then put in requests for about a half dozen creatures each.  I took their comments into consideration and then made what I wanted to make anyhow:  Doxie and Margot.

Doxie is a little stuffed dachsund sewn entirely by hand.  This was the perfect project to sit with in front of Project Runway and it took just a bit longer than the 1.5 hours of the show for me to finish it.  I have never attempted such a small, handsewn project and was really surprised to find that I liked doing pretty much every bit of it.  And I love how she turned out!

A topsy turvy doll like Margot was my secret desire as a little girl, but I never had one to call my own.  I was always amazed at how you could flip it over and see an entirely different doll.  When I saw this project in the book, I knew I would be making two.  One for each girl.

I love how they came together.  They did take a significant amount of time because each one is essentially two dolls and there is a fair amount of handwork, but they were not hard to sew.  I used a doll needle for the first time while embroidering the yarn hair and it was worth the trip to JoAnn's and the $3.79 because it made it so much easier.  I also painted the cheeks - scary! But really, not a big deal.  I psyched myself up and had that done in about 10 minutes. Easy peasy.

I asked Hillary some questions about her approach to the book and making dolls because I'm nosey like that.  Thankfully, she was willing to reply.

Erin:  There is such a wide range of toys in your book.  I swear there is something for everyone.  And by that, I mean, something for any kid you can imagine AND something for sewers of all levels, with machine or without.  Which projects would you recommend for someone just starting out making toys? And which one for those who like a challenge?

Hillary: Thanks! I really tried to mix it up. My favorite craft books have projects that are totally in my comfort zone and have me making right away as well as some dream projects that I know I'll get to when I have the time. I don't want to discourage anyone, because I did design with beginners in mind, but there are some projects that are definitely less involved than others. Good projects to get a quick success under your belt would be Mermaiden, Koji, Bonneted Baby, Evelyn Inchworm. Projects that are more involved and time consuming would be Patchwork Penny, Margot, Panda Buns, Betsy and all her outfits. And I love Tag-a-long and Sleepover Pals as projects that are a lot of bang for your buck so to speak. They're not overly complicated but look like they are which is great for gift giving.

Erin:  Ooh, good to know.  The Sleepover Pals is on Kate's wish list.

I've made a lot of soft toys from your patterns and they never disappoint.  But I know from experience that pattern writing is not easy stuff.  Do you have a certain process you follow?  Do you sketch and then sew? Or just go for it?

Hillary: No, it's not easy is it. It would be easier if everyone's brains worked the same way. I'm very visual and need short to the point instructions but I know many people like very detailed written instructions. You need to try to write patterns with everyone in mind. But yes, from the beginning... I start with a sketch. I made notecards with project ideas on them for the book (see photo) and those first sketches were what I worked from throughout the process. Then I just start cutting and sewing. There's a right way - make paper copies of every pattern piece you cut, keep detailed notes, take in-progress photos along the way and a wrong way - just go go go, make the whole thing, edit, rework and then when you finally have it the way you want go back and try to figure out how you got there. Want to guess which way I use?

Erin:  Um, I bet it's the same one I use. Ahem.

Let's talk about doll hair.  There are so many different types in your book - yarn, wigs, ribbons, fur, felt!  Which is your favorite technique?  And if you had to choose, buns or braids?

Hillary: I love doll hair. That was the first list I made when I knew I was going for the book. A very long list of all the hair-dos I've ever wanted to make. I have so many favorites in the book. I really love Pixie's fluffy curls. And Storybook's ribbon hair - I've been wanting to try that forever and I really liked how it turned out. Very sturdy! And Mermaiden's hair - I've been playing around with quilted wigs like that for years now and so happy to finally get it out of the draft stage. That was going to be the hair for the topsy turvy doll but in the end I thought she needed yarn hair. I still have a few other dolls in my sketchbook with that same hair that I'm dying to make. And the panda buns. I love those! I want to make all sorts of dolls with their spirit animals represented in their hair-dos. I think I could probably talk about doll hair for a really long time, which is pretty weird, so I'll just stop now. Braids :)

Erin: Jane loves the panda buns! That was the first thing she zero-ed in on when she saw the book.  And for the record, braids for me too.

Some of the other projects I like include

Melvin and Marian - made from wool felt, these cuties have clothes!

Betsy - paper doll meets pillow.  There is even an elasticized pocket on the back for storing all her clothes.  This would be a great gift, I think!

Haus Sweet Haus - I can see this done up in Christmas colors and folky fabrics for a holiday gift and decoration. Sweet, indeed.

I could go on and on, but I think I'll stop.  Here's the gist:  Wee Wonderfuls is an incredible addition to any craft book library.  The projects are all adorable and will appeal to just about any kid or kid at heart.  The patterns are extremely well written and easy to follow.  If you think you want to make soft toys or dolls, do yourself a favor and get your hands on this book.  You will not regret it.

Now for the giveaway!

I have one copy of the book up for grabs.  The winner will also receive a kit that Hillary put together from her own supplies to make Koji the dinosaur.  Pretty awesome, huh?

To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment on this post before Sunday, October 10 at 5:00 pm EST.   To make it more interesting, tell me your favorite doll hairdo - buns, braids, felt, fur, quilted, or something else.  I'll pick a winner using a random number generator and announce it here on the blog Monday morning.

You can also enter the giveaway that STC Craft is hosting.  Go tell them what your favorite childhood toy was for a chance to win a copy of Wee Wonderfuls.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Kaffe Fassett's Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts

I recently received a copy of Kaffe Fassett's Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts from STC Craft/Melanie Falick Books.  Kaffe and his co-author, Liza Prior Lucy, have put together 23 quilt patterns that all come from simple shapes just like the title suggests.  Squares, circles, triangles, rectangles, diamonds and quarter circles are used with color to come up with fresh variations on traditional quilt squares and patterns.

Kaffe and Liza explain how they choose a pattern:

We are in love with traditional quilts. We both admire and collect them. The repetition of shape in block form is so appealing. Most of the time we use a traditional quilt pattern to start with. We browse books of antique quilts and examine antique tops and quilts in vendor booths at quilt festivals.  

Sometimes we find an antique textile form that is not a quilt but we think would be easily adaptable to piecing or applique. For example, in the new book, Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts, there is a quilt called Haze Kilim. This pattern was derived from a Kilim Carpet. You can find a very similar form in American Native woven textiles.

Our interest is mainly in playing with color to see how we can take those traditional patterns and bring them into the modern world. We tend to choose patterns that are not terribly tricky or complicated. Large scale printed fabrics are what we use most and that kind of fabric doesn't usually lend itself to tiny piecing. 

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There are so many gorgeous quilts in this book!  I'm particularly smitten with Stripescape.  At first glance this quilt looks quite complicated, but once I took a closer look, I was amazed at how simple these rectangles of striped fabrics really are.

Another favorite of mine is the Not-So-Lone Star.  I love seeing a traditional quilt re-done in a fresh, modern palette.

To learn more about Kaffe Fassett's Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts, check out the Quilt-Along that STC Craft is hosting.  There is a free pdf download of the Yellow Potpourri quilt pattern as well.  Other stops on the blog tour are as follows: 

May 3: Quilt-A-Long Begins! http://www.melaniefalickbooks.com 

May 6: Review http://to-be-charmed.com

May 7:  Kaffe and Liza’s Top Ten Quilting Blogs http://quilting.craftgossip.com

May 10: Review and “Liza Lucy Stories!” http://goknitinyourhat.blogspot.com

May 11: Podcast Interview with Kaffe and Liza http://www.PatSloan.com

May 13: How the "Kaffe Fassett Collective" designs together http://whipup.net

May 14: Choosing Colors www.knitgrrl.com    

May 17: Art vs. Craft http://www.thisisloveforever.com

May 18: The Question of Dabbling http://www.yarnstorm.blogs.com

May 19: Choosing Patterns http://www.houseonhillroad.com

May 20: Interview http://sewmamasew.com

May 21: Review http://www.ohbara.com

May 25: Review http://usineurope.typepad.com

May 26: Review http://www.alabamachanin.com/journal

May 27: Why a Design Wall and Reducing Glass http://thelastpiece.typepad.com  

May 28: Interview: Tradition Today http://www.materialobsession.typepad.com

May 31: Interview http://thelongthread.com

June 1: Kaffe and Liza's Quilt-A-Long http://www.melaniefalickbooks.com 

June 2: Review http://quiltersbuzz.com

June 3: Quilt-A-Long Sharing http://blog.fatquarterly.com

June 4: Review http://www.trueup.net

June 7: Review http://bemused.typepad.com

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I have one copy of the book available to giveaway.  You know how it goes....leave a comment on this post before Friday, May 21 at 12 noon EST for your chance to win.

Book Review and Giveaway: Handmade Beginnings by Anna Maria Horner

The first time I saw Anna Maria Horner's fabrics, I was blown away.  Her patterns are fresh, the colors saturated and fresh.  Each time she comes out with a new fabric line, I am equally bowled over.  She always manages to out do herself.  For us, that is a very good thing.  Her newest book, Handmade Beginnings, is wonderful addition to any craft book library.  While the book focuses on 24 sewing projects to welcome baby, it is more than that.  I love that it is so versatile!  I asked Anna Maria a few questions and I am excited to share our chat with you.

E:  First, congratulations! I really like your new book. 

AM:  Thanks, I'm so glad you like it!

thank you notebook

E:  It has a wide range of projects and they are all so cute.  What impressed me the most is that this book is great for new parents and it's still fantastic for those of us who don't have babies at home.  How did you come up with such versatile projects?

AM:  Well as I wrote the book I was going through the very motions of both expecting a baby and also wanting to provide for the rest of the family.  A new baby is a perfect time to not only make goods for the new one and for the mama, but its really a celebratory time in your life when you can do a sort of preparing your home (also known as nesting!).  I think of it as sort of like preparing for company.  You might spend some time on what your new guest will need, but also make sure everyone else in your family is provided for.  I am just very lucky to have my own big family as inspiration.  The key things I asked myself with every project idea though is, would I make this for someone else, or is this still useful or beautiful even when not expecting a baby?  So if I could answer yes to one or both of those questions, then it passed the project test :)

E:  I really like that you talk about your color choices for each project.  Why did you want to write these color notes?

AM:  I provide the color notes with the hope that it provides insight into how I put things together, which seems to be one of the more popular questions that I get.  I did this also in Seams to Me, bc I really want the reader to feel like they're right there next to me in the studio, flipping through piles of fabrics and hearing some color/design logic behind my composition decisions.  I think its just that little something extra for readers to feel involved in the process and therefore, hopefully, more inspired about their own fabric selection.

swaddled baby love

E:  It's great that you include projects for siblings and even Dad.  And everything in your book is practical and beautiful, too.  Do you think having a large family influenced the way you approached Handmade Beginnings?

AM:  As mentioned above, most definitely!  I have thought before how different this book would be if it were written during my first pregnancy, or even during the third pregnancy!  Every pregnancy is different and each one has been a beautiful time, with a new wisdom all its own.  For me personally, I feel like I've really come to appreciate not only what a new baby brings to mom and dad, but I have watched and marveled at how it transforms the family as a unit and its left me in awe.  I wanted there to be a project for each and every need, detail, sibling, relationship and nook that a baby transforms simply by arriving.  And one book can't do it all, but I certainly hope that it provides a starting point and lots of home & heart centered inspiration.

center of attention quilt

E:  Thanks, Anna Maria!

AM:  Thank you so much for such thoughtful questions, and I am in love with your Sixth Times the Charm Quilt!!  Beautiful job and you didn't even have to have 6 kids to make it.  Good thinking!  Have a great weekend all! 

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I'm giving away 2 copies of Handmade Beginnings! For a chance to win, leave a comment on this post before Monday, May 17 at 3 pm EST.  Wiley Publishing is also running a drawing for 1 SINGER® Confidence™ 7470 sewing machine, 5 yards of Anna Maria Horner fabric, a copy of the book Handmade Beginnings: 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby. Details and how to enter can be found here.  Finally, you can read much more about this great book by following Anna Maria on her blog tour.

May 3      Craft

May 4      Indie Fixx

May 5      Sew Mama Sew

May 6      Pink Chalk Studio

May 10    Wise Craft

May 14    House on Hill Road

May 16    The Purl Bee

May 18    All Buttoned Up

May 19    Alabama Chanin Journal

May 20    Homemade by Jill

May 21    True Up

May 22    Oh, Fransson!

May 23    Prudent Baby

May 24    Sew Liberated

May 25    Handmade by Alissa

May 26    Hazelnuts

May 27    Petite Purls

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Enjoy your weekend.

Kids Clothes Challenge - Day 3

Well, day three didn't go so well.  The girls didn't end up with their skirts.  I was too busy working on something else.

I was hoping to have the entire quilt finished by tomorrow, but I am going to settle for the quilt top.  Please come back tomorrow.  Anna Maria Horner is stopping by for a quick chat about her new book, Handmade Beginnings.  If that isn't enough in itself, there's a giveaway, too.

Back with more kids' clothes on Saturday.

Book Review & Giveaway: Comfort Knitting & Crochet Afghans

I have a large craft book library.  It's split pretty evenly between sewing books and knitting books.  It seems like a whole slew of books come out each season, and just like everyone else, I need to be selective about which books end up lining my shelves.

In that vein, I have come to appreciate craft books that focus on one area - maybe a technique like reverse applique or a theme like knitting for men.  The newest title in the STC Craft knitting library, Comfort Knitting and Crochet Afghans by Norah Gaughan continues this trend.  Using one kind of yarn, Berroco Comfort, Gaughan and her team came up with over 50 patterns for blankets and afghans.  The patterns vary in colors and technique.  Want to knit a solid throw with cables?  Or maybe lace is more your speed? You can find patterns that fit the bill.  How about simple stripes? Squares knit individually and sewn together? Colorwork? Those are there too.  Crochet is more your speed, you say? You'll find some simple patterns and some more challenging. Basically, there is something for everyone in this book.

This garter stitch throw is among my favorites. Simple and still interesting, it looks like the kind of project I could get into.

I also really like the fish ripple crocheted blanket.  Its small size (30" x 36") makes it a perfect baby gift.

There are so many more patterns (50+!!!) that I can't even begin to do the book justice.  The directions appear to be well written and easy to follow.  Additionally, the specified yarn, Berroco Comfort is machine washable and available in over ninety colors.  You can truly take any of these patterns and make it just like you see them or in the colors of your choice without having to worry about gauge.  I like that.

* * * * *

If you'd like a chance at winning a copy of Comfort Knitting & Crochet Afghans, tell me about your favorite blanket or throw.  I will pick a winner tomorrow, Friday, April 23, using the random number generator.

I'll be back tomorrow with shop news!

 

Book Review: Knits Men Want

STC Craft sent me a copy of their newly released title, Knit Men Want, The 10 Rules Every Woman Should Know Before Knitting for a Man by Bruce Weinstein.  I admit, I was intrigued.  I have knit Fatty a total of three sweaters in the 16 years that I have known him.  I have knit myself the same number in the last year. I'd like to even that out a bit, but it's hard to find patterns for men that appeal to both me, the knitter, and him, the wearer.  This book is my answer.

Bruce does an excellent job explaining how to go about choosing knits for the men in your life.  His approach is intelligent, practical and witty.  The book includes 10 patterns.  It doesn't sound like a lot, but the real value here is that Bruce gives you instructions and yardage requirements for six sizes and six gauges.  You choose your yarn, knit your gauge swatch, measure it and then follow the instructions for that gauge.  Brilliant!  He also gives you guidelines for figuring out what style sweater will appeal to the man you are knitting for along with what fibers to use and how to choose a color.Color is tricky, in my opinion.  It's no secret that I tend to favor green and would probably knit green garments for everyone that surrounds me.  Fatty likes green enough, but when he buys clothes, he tends to choose blue first.  I asked Bruce some questions about color and here is what he said:

Erin:  In your book, you address the reasons men often don't wear the sweaters women knit for them.  One of the reasons is bad color choices by the women knitting.  Why is choosing the right color so important? 

Bruce:  Nature is funny. I just came back from a local organic farm, picking up some duck eggs for dinner and the turkeys chased me from my car to the barn. Not the females. Those plain, drab, and quiet birds stood back while their guys, loud, aggressive, and highly decorated with mutlicolored feathers came towards us. Us being my partner Mark, myself, and Jeff, the farmer. The three human males each dressed in either black or navy shirts and sweaters with no fuss or decoration. While in the wild, males tend to pack on the color—reds, greens, purples, yellows, and pinks, civilization has trained men to tone it down. The basic black suit, perhaps a navy pinstripe, or khaki. Sure, there are some men who'll wear pink hats and orange scarves but they are few and far between. Most men just won't put it one if it's not dark and subtle. And if I had a dollar for every time I've heard a gal say that she won't be caught dead knitting with drab dull yarn, I'd be rich. It's also amazing how many brightly colored hand knit men's garments I've seen over the years at goodwill shops and garage sales.  You do the math.

Erin:  What should a knitter consider when making their color choice?

Bruce:  The only thing to consider is the wearer. If it's for a man in your life, and you're not sure, then go to his closet. Take inventory. Whats there? Are there half a dozen navy sweaters and sweatshirts? Great. make it seven. If all the blues are dark, you can consider another shade, like brown or green, but keep it in the same hue. If he likes navy, he might like deep cedar green.

Erin:  There is not a single bright color used in your book.  Do men really lack a sense of adventure when it comes to the color of their clothes?

Bruce:  Here's where the difference between men's and women's perspective comes into play. I actually think the dark yellow scarf and green socks are quite colorful. Maybe some women would say they are only starting to lean towards bright, but from this man's point of view, they are as far most men are willing to go. It's not that we're not adventurous, I just thing that in general, men don't like to call attention to themselves. The like to blend in. And it's in socks and scarves, which are just accents not the main event, that we're willing to go out on a limb in terms of color.

I highly recommend this book.  I had Fatty take a look through it and he asked for the baseball sweater, in you guessed it, blue.  I'm happy to oblige.

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STC Craft|Melanine Falick books is conducting a Knits Men Want sweepstakes.  For more information of the contest and to view the great prizes, go to this post.  You can learn more about this fantastic book by following Bruce's blog tour.  Details on his stops can be found here.

Fine art in sidewalk chalk

It was all her idea.  She thought her sick sister could use some sunshine and drawing with sidewalk chalk wouldn't be too much, would it?  No, not at all.  So while Kate drew flowers and butterflies and practiced her lower case cursive, Jane took out her new favorite book, Looking At Pictures, An Introduction to Art for Young People and got busy doing what she loves to do.  She would have kept drawing if I hadn't made her stop to get ready for soccer practice.

Thank you sun.  Thank you blue skies.  Thank you spring weather.  Thank you Jane.  You are delightful and never cease to amaze me.

Alabama Studio Style and chat with author Natalie Chanin

My copy of Alabama Studio Style written by Natalie Chanin and published by STC Craft|Melanie Falick Books arrived last week.  To say I had been anxiously awaiting its arrival is an understatement.  Natalie's first book, Alabama Stitch, is among my favorite craft books.  It is jam-packed with inspiration and projects unlike any other craft book I own.  I was hoping that Alabama Studio Style would be just as wonderful and I am not disappointed.  It is absolutely beautiful to look at and the range of projects and recipes is fantastic.  They include a skirt, tunics, dress, tops and many items for the home.  I am already dreaming about what I am going to make first.

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to chat with Natalie about the book.  Here's what she had to say.

Erin:  How did you decide on the projects that make Alabama Studio Style so beautiful?

Natalie:  I think that we learned a lot about putting a book together with Alabama Stitch Book.  There was just so much that I didn’t know that first time around and I was very naive about how difficult it is to make a book!  With Alabama Studio Style, I knew that we wanted to include a dress, more home furnishings and recipe sections.  From there, I made a layout board on the wall that pretty much indicated each page in the book – this was something I did not understand the first time around.  With Alabama Studio Style, I feel that the book as a whole was very thoroughly planned.  I collected fabric swatches, colors and techniques together for almost a year before ever starting to make the projects.  After I felt that we had a good flow from color and style, we started making projects, writing instructions and putting together the recipes sections to go with the projects in the book.  From there, everything just started to fall into place.

Erin:  One thing that I absolutely adore about the new book is that there are a few projects with little or no embellishment (like the plain tank).  Did you make a conscious decision to include some simpler pieces this time?

Natalie:  That’s a great question!  It was a very conscious decision to include the plain garments – we call them Basics in our studio.  The garment patterns included in Alabama Studio Style are really my favorites and the pieces that I wear everyday and work into my wardrobe. While I love very embellished tops, skirts and dresses, I also love the simpler pieces for everyday living.  For example, the camisole tunic is one of my favorite pieces at the moment. I love to wear it over pants or a skirt and then to layer other pieces over and under it for these colder days.  A little secret: I sleep in the camisole tunic – very comfortable and looks great.

Erin:  Oh, now I am going to have to make one for a nightgown too!  That's brilliant.  Alabama Studio Style has stitches and techniques that compliment the ones covered in your first book, Alabama Stitch, but that also work really well on their own.  Was it important to you that the techniques in both books could be used together as well as separately?

Natalie:  Thank you, I am so happy to hear you feel this way! It was really important to me that the books work both as individual books and as an intimate part of one another at the same time.  We worked really hard towards that goal.  I can’t wait to see how people interpret the two, take the information and then move beyond.  

Erin:  The possibilities do seem endless!  I think that is why your books are so inspiring.  Just like Alabama Stitch, Alabama Studio Style is a visual treat.  What inspired you to chose the color palette for these projects?

Natalie:  I wanted the projects to really feel like part of a whole.  I did tear sheets, and fabric swatches and thought about this for almost a year.  Alabama Studio Style is also such a part of my home and personal life – most of the book was photographed in my kitchen and living room - that many of the color palettes are also very personal to me and the colors that I choose for everyday living.

Erin:  It's very obvious to me that you love what you do - it's evident in both of your books.  I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.  Thanks, Natalie!

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You can also have a chance of winning a copy of Alabama Studio Style (or the STC Craft book of your choice) by visiting STC Craft|Melanie Falick Books and commenting on this post.  To read more about Natalie's book, follow her on her blog tour and visit her blog.

Thanks for visiting.  Back here soon.

Bread talk

I baked this past weekend.  A lot.  The total was 2 loaves of the master recipe from Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day (HBI5), 2 loaves avocado-guacamole bread from HBI5, 5 bagels and 4 soft pretzels from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day (ABI5).  I also made a sandwich loaf from the master recipe in HBI5 on Friday.  Yes.  5 loaves and 9 miniatures.  A whole lot of baking.

My successes:  The bagels!  The pretzels!  I have been wanting to make bagels since I got the book over a year ago.  I was scared, though.  Boiling pot?  Sounds tricky.  Guess what?  Not tricky at all.  Actually, super easy.  Both the pretzels and bagels were well received and they both use the same dough.  The difference is what you add to the water in the pot when you boil them.  The bagels take baking soda and sugar whereas the pretzels take cream of tartar and baking soda.  The resting time is shorter than for the big loaves so they are faster to get in the oven which means they are faster to get out of the oven too.  We ate both the bagels and the pretzels warm - yum!  The only thing I really found tricky was rolling the dough in long ropes to form the pretzels.  I did it with difficulty and they turned out fine.  I made some more pretzels after school on Monday for the girls and made the pretzels into sticks instead of twisting them.  So much easier and the exact same taste.  Another word to the wise:  my edition of ABI5 had a significant error in the bagel recipe.  A quick check of the official website told me that the oven temperature should be 450 instead 400.  I also searched the site for soft pretzels and found that although the authors say the cooking time is 15 minutes, it really takes about 30 minutes.  Check the errata before you attempt any of these recipes.

Mixed results:  the avocado-guacamole bread.  If you have been a reader of this blog for any length of time, you know that I love Mexican food.  Accordingly I had high hopes for this bread.  It has whole wheat and white flours with avocado, tomato and garlic.  The taste profile is fantastic!  I baked up the two loaves and took them to a party where the bread got great reviews.  I was a little disappointed, though.  My dough seemed overly wet even though I followed the recipe to the letter.  Accordingly my loaves were a little flat.  Next time I make the dough, I will add additional flour to see if that helps.  But the taste is there so I will definitely make this bread again.

The other mixed result I had was the HBI5 master recipe.  I was really excited to make this because it is a whole grain bread.  My loaves turned out very dense and too wheat-y for my taste.  Don't get me wrong - I like wheat bread.  In fact, when I buy bread, I almost always choose the wheat.  This dough looked great, smelled wonderful and rose exactly as it should.  When I cut into it, though, the crumb was dense.  I think that I was the issue here.  I don't think my oven was up to temperature - I had forgotten that 450 on my oven really isn't 450 degrees.  I have to set it to 475 to have my oven thermometer register 450.  Duly noted.  I will try this again at the correct temperature and hope that it's more to my taste.

Failure:  The master recipe in HBI5 as a sandwich loaf.  It was tiny and I kind of guessed it would be based on the loaf pan size that the authors call for.  The taste is nutty and nice, but it's not great for sandwiches and only ok for toast.  I'll try it again, using a bigger pan and maybe it will work out.  There are a couple other loaf recipes in HBI5 that I want to try too.

All in all, I love both books.  Both ABI5 and HBI5 have made baking bread doable for me.  The fact that I have tubs of dough in my refrigerator and can bake a loaf as it is wanted is amazing.  I love that HBI5 has many more whole grain recipes and interesting ones at that (banana bread for french toast, anyone?).  It also has a whole chapter full of gluten-free recipes - that alone should be a selling point for many people.  The recipes in ABI5 were revolutionary to me and the ones in HBI5 only add fuel to my baking fire.  And, especially, I love that it is easy for me to bake bread.  Easy, people.  So easy that I made blueberry bagels without a recipe telling me exactly what to do. 

Uh huh.  That's what I am talking about.

Applique Your Way

I have been following Kayte Terry's blog, this is love forever, for a few years now and was anxious to get my hands on her new book, Applique Your Way, for many reasons.  First, I love applique.  I think it is one of the best ways to make something that is a little ho-hum into something fabulous with a little time and few supplies.  Plus, Kayte's aesthetic really appeals to me.  She combines materials and fabrics in unexpected ways and ends up with completely charming results.  Also, Jennifer Causey, of simply photo and simply breakfast, was the photographer for this book, so I knew that it would be a visual treat as well.  I pre-ordered it, waited paitently and it finally arrived a few weeks ago.

I wasn't disppointed.  It is a fantastic book with many great projects.  Kayte has included great instructions on many different ways to applique (hand sewn, machine sewn, reverse applique and more) and the projects are very inspiring.  They include things to wear, things to give and things for decorating your home.  I like the mix of techniques - some of the projects you sew from start to end and with others you embellish something you already own.  I, for one, have clothes hanging around that could benefit from a little face lift.  I bet you do too.

Here are a few of the projects that immediately caught my eye:

I think the Coco Sweater is fantastic.  I adore the idea of adding felted wool and new buttons to spruce up a cardigan.

 

The apples on this market tote are so cute!  Kayte gives directions on how to sew the bag, but I think that adding them to a pre-made canvas tote would be just as cute.

The Doily Trivets are fantastic! I don't think I have seen anything like these before.  I think they would make a great gift.  I think I might have to make a set of my own.

These are just a sampling of what Applique Your Way has in store.  The other projects include napkins, note cards, embellished skirts and dresses, a fabulous ribbon belt, pillows and more.  Bonus:  many of the projects are simple enough that they could be done in a day or two at the most.  You know how I like fast crafting!

The generous people at Chronicle Books have offered a copy of Applique Your Way to one of my readers.  If you are interested in a chance to win this book, leave a comment on this post before Monday, December 21 at 5:00 p.m.  I'll announce the winner on Tuesday.

Quilting for Peace

I received a copy of Quilting for Peace by Katherine Bell a few months ago.  In it, Katherine highlights the stories of people and organizations that are sewing for different causes.  Each project in the book corresponds to a particular initiative and range from full quilts to shopping bags, small pet mats to sleeping bags.

Inspired by the book, the girls and I decided to make one of the projects in the book.  Mirabel the owl is the project for Softies for Mirabel.  Softies for Mirabel is a holiday toy drive that collects handmade, soft toys for the Mirabel Foundation in Melbourne, Australia.  I chose this project because it is simple and I knew the girls would be able to help me make the softies.  Additionally, I knew that my children would be able to relate to the idea of giving to other children who might not have as much as they do.

It was definitely a team effort.  Kate and Jane chose the fabrics and trims that they wanted out of my stash.  I cut out the owls and they traced the other pattern pieces onto fusible interfacing.  I did most of the cutting, ironing and machine sewing.  They embroidered the eyelashes and stuffed the owls.  In a little over an hour, we were finished.  The girls were excited to show the softies to Fatty and spent a long time guessing what kind of child would end up with their creation.  They also asked if we could do it again another day and maybe take those softies to our city's children's hospital.  Of course.  Then they asked if they could make one for themselves.  I had been waiting for that!  Of course.

I am so glad that I carved some time out of this busy week to work on this project with my children.  It's important to me that they realize that even at their young age, they can do something for others.  And I loved that the three of us spent time working together.  Also, it wasn't me that insisted it get finished.  After I proposed the idea of making the owls to them, they were the ones that kept reminding me that we needed to do it, that we should get busy sewing.  Thanks to my girls, I was reminded that no matter how busy I am, no matter what needs to be done, chances are I have an hour or so to do something for someone else. 

Quilting for Peace includes many easy, doable projects and information on the organizations that could benefit from your crafty talent.  There's a 30-minute shopping bag pattern in the book that you could whip up for gifts.  Or maybe sew a quilted mat to donate to a local animal shelter.  I encourage you to take a look and see if there is something you can make for someone else in need this holiday season or in the new year.

I am giving away one copy of this fantastic book.  If you are interested in winning, leave a comment on this post that includes one thing you have done or will do for someone in need or a particular charity this holiday season.  I will close comments Wednesday, November 25th at 5:00 p.m. EST.  The winner will be announced on Friday or Saturday.  In other business, I'll be back tomorrow with the winner of last week's giveaway and some shop talk.

Color Your Cloth

I started following Malka Dubrawsky's blog, A Stitch In Dye, after I happened upon a photo of this quilt on her flickr stream.  At first glance, I gasped.  The colors are so vivid and the pattern is so interesting - there was nothing about this quilt that I didn't like.  After a moment or two of gazing, a few of those fabrics looked familiar.  Upon closer inspection, I realized that she didn't piece those circles into those squares.  The fabrics were dyed!  A whole world of possibility opened before my eyes.  Dyeing printed fabric?  Wow.

How did she do it?  Well now I know, and so can you.  Malka's new book, Color Your Cloth, A Quilter's Guide to Dyeing and Patterning Fabric arrived on my doorstep a few weeks ago.  In the first part of the book, Malka explains in depth the how's and the why's to wax resist and over-dyeing fabric.  In the second part, she shares directions for projects that she has made with fabric she had dyed and patterned herself.  And her fabric is fantastic - crisp, bold colors that really pop and make me want to run out and buy dyes and experiment a little myself.  If only the holidays weren't right around the corner.

 

Lucky enough for me, Malka sent me a stack of her hand dyed and hand patterned fabrics to play around with.  I knew instantly that I wanted to combine the prints with something neutral so they could really sing.  I grabbed some linen, my ruler and rotary cutter and got to work.  More than a hundred triangles later, I started sewing.

I went with a zig zag pattern that I sewed to a rectangle of linen to make placemats.  I used solid linen on the back and cotton batting in my quilt sandwich.  I sewed the three layers together leaving an opening and then flipped it right side out then quilted it.  I love the way the crisp cotton contrasts with the soft linen.  The colors stand out against the neutral ground and the piecing takes a pattern that was already interesting and adds another dimension to it.  And the finished placemats look great on my table.

I highly recommend Malka's book if you are looking for more information on dyeing and patterning fabric or if you just want a good dose of inspiration.  The sewing projects include small items like coasters and totes and larger endeavors like quilts.  Malka has an etsy shop where she sells her fabrics and sewn items.  Her book can be purchased from etsy as well or on Amazon.

Malka has generously offered a copy of her book to one of my readers.  If you'd like a chance of winning, please leave a comment on this post before Friday, November 20th at 12:00 p.m. EST.  I will use the random number generator to pick a winner.  Good luck!

My Bloomers Skirt

I wore my skirt from the moment I finished it on Thursday until I went to bed that night.

I got up on Friday morning and put it back on.  Don't worry - Saturday it went in the laundry.

I've had the Alabama Stitch Book since it came out - I think that was a year and half ago.  And from the moment it came in the mail, I have loved looking at it.  It oozes inspiration.  I was pretty sure it would join the collection of craft books that I love love love to own because they are so beautiful and inspiring, not because I want to make any of the projects.  Truth be told, I didn't want to attempt anything in the book.  Stenciling, hand sewing and knits?  Um, not for me, thank you.

But the more I looked at it, the more it grew on me.  I began seeing projects that other people had made.  Then I was truly inspired.  Maybe I could do this too.

 

I started gathering the supplies.  The fabric came from Mood in NYC - I bought that last November while shopping with Kristin.  The paint I picked up sometime in January or February.  I cut the skirt out in March, thinking I would get it finished for summer.  It didn't happen.  While in San Francisco this July, I found FOE in brown at Britex.  It was like a sign.  I came home, I stenciled and I started stitching.

Six weeks later, I have my skirt.  And if fits.  This is a big, huge deal, you all.  I know that the sizing on this pattern is different - it's based on waist size, not hip size so it was a guessing game as to what size to actually cut.  Both Blair and Melissa told me to go a size bigger than I thought.  I did.  I think that made all the difference.  I left the knots on the wrong side of the fabric because, as cool as they look on the outside, I'm just too tailored for that.  I also stitched the seams by machine instead of by hand mostly because I was impatient.  I made huge mistakes on the stenciling that almost made me drop the project.  But now that the stitching is finished, I'd have a hard time pointing them out.  Talk about forgiving.  It is also incredibly comfortable - hello knit!

I love it so much that I am already plotting another skirt.  With beads (oh my!).  I'm also trying not to get too excited about Alabama Studio Style.  Six months and counting....

Miles's monkey

My nephew Miles turned 5 on Saturday.  He only asked for one thing: a sock monkey.  I was happy to oblige.

 

I used the instructions found in Sock and Glove by Miyako Kanamori.  This book is great.  Softies are not my forte, but the directions and simple materials used to make the animals in this book give me a little more confidence every time I make one up.  My friend Jodi helped me - she stuffed, I sewed - and we had this guy complete in about forty-five minutes.  I also had everything I needed on hand - socks, stuffing, buttons, thread, embroidery floss.  Easy peasy and super cute.  I need to remember this book for the random gloves and single socks that accumulate over time.  Sewn up with a little stuffing, they make great and fast gifts.  Just my speed.  There's another book, Happy Gloves, by the same author.  I don't own it, but have seen it at the book store.  It looks like it might have potential, too.  If anyone has used it, I'd be interested to know what you think.

For the record, the sock monkey was not in the unfinished project pile - I made it on Saturday before I decided to finish what I have started.  And on that note, I made 12 more quilt squares yesterday.  That brings the total to 65 with 21 31 left (bad math and wishful thinking).  I can see a tiny light at the end of the tunnel.

I'm still waiting for TypePad to test my blog.  Just thought I would mention it again in case the comments disappear.

Crochet Adorned (and giveaway!!!)

Crochet Adorned is the new book by Linda Permann.  If you follow Linda's blog, you know that she is a master with yarn and a crochet hook as well as a talented seamstress.  Her book is just as lovely as she is!

 

And if you have been reading this blog for awhile now, you know that I don't really crochet much at all.  I taught myself how to do it just so I could make granny squares.  And really, that is about all the crocheting I have done.  This book has given me the confidence to move beyond the granny square and try something new.  Linda gives wonderful advice and directions for beginning crocheters and lots of illustrations to help you get going.  The back of the book has an immense stitch glossary - trims, motifs and stitch patterns all written out and charted.  I had an epiphany when looking at the charts!  Crochet started to make sense to me and now I know that with a few basic stitches, I can probably make anything in this book.

So of course, I had to try to make something!  In the book, Linda shows you how to adorn store bought and hand sewn items as well as to alter clothing you might already have with crochet.  The possibilities are endless.  I took the same trim that Linda added to this trench coat and crocheted it to add to a pillow for the window seat in Jane's room.  I had never made anything with a foundation chain before so I was a little worried that it wouldn't come together properly.  With Linda's written directions and the chart, it was a breeze.

 

 

It's super cute and it received the Jane stamp of approval.  It was also a very quick project which means I will definitely be making more pillows for her room with crocheted trim.

 

 

Some of the other projects that I really like are the tote bag with trees and the apron with a butterfly.  But I think the butterfly might end up on a t-shirt and the trees might end up on a pillow.  Like I said, these projects are versatile and will get you thinking about how you can use crochet to adorn different items.

Linda has been kind enough to offer a copy of her book to one of my readers.  If you'd like a chance to win Crochet Adorned for yourself, leave a comment on this post before 3:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, August 23.  I will announce the winner next week.

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In other news, I've been working on camera straps so there will be a shop update within the next couple of weeks.  When I have a definite date, I will post it on the blog.

Thank you all for the kind comments about the plight of my tomatoes and the girls' first day back at school.  It's been a full week around here with its share of ups (school starting, gifted tomatoes from a friend, riding bikes to school) and downs (late blight, the kitchen faucet that broke off in my hand).  I am so glad it's Friday.

Happy weekend, everyone!