*not really. I’m just kidding.
In another life I worked at a local boss gift shop Silver in the City where I discovered amazing stationery and soft good designers such as Angela Adams, Lotta Jansdotter, and Juila Rothman. Fast forward ten years later and am in disbelief that I design fabric along side two of these women I’ve admired for so long. Windham Fabrics, I love you and thank you. My gratitude is endless. I can remember all the times we all huddled around the Lotta Jansdotter goods and awed over the choice of fabric (mostly linen) and that quintessential Swedish design. In my arsenal of items from that era still exists, I have more leather handled Lotta totebags then I’d care to admit.
I’m honored to present and let you peek in on Lotta Jansdotter’s new book for STC Craft, an imprint of Abrams publishing, Everyday Style.
I took some time over the past few weeks to thumb through the book and I have to tell you, the images are inspiring. Jenny Hallengren is the photographer who you might remember took the photographs in Heather Jones’s book Quilt Local. Same photographer. Lotta’s style combined with Jenny’s know-how is a powerful combination. Then add pattern designer Alexia Abegg to the mix, and it becomes spectacular. I am particularly impressed with the hand drawn elements included. Look at how sweet this is.
The book is filled with simple skirts, dresses, bags, and more with a modern Scandinavian elegance. I made a couple of projects from the book starting with the Wilma Bag. It is ginormous. Let’s play Who Wore It Better?? Here’s Lotta with her bag:
Here I am with my Wilma Bag:
Ok. You don’t have to comment on who wore it better but I did wear every striped piece of clothing I could find that coordinated. I used an organic canvas ticking fabric and am glad I did. It has a great heft and the size of this bag can easily accommodate a sewing machine or more.
I call this photograph “If Lotta Jansdotter, Amy Butler, Heather Ross, and Heather Givans went into a bar…” Actually, that might have happened once. I can’t be sure. I stuffed this bag full of Indiana shaped pillows made from fabrics of some of these lovely ladies. I also created a CUUUUTE hat with simple pompom instructions found in Lotta’s book. It gave me an excuse to shop at Mass Ave Knits in Downtown Indianapolis. It is a yarn lover’s oasis. 
I created this big ol’ pompom from a hand-dyed yarn. I know. I’ve probably offended yarn lovers with such a simple use of a beautiful yarn BUT I COULDN’T HELP IT. I was a moth to flame.
The pattern for this cute hat is by the crazy talented Crafty Gemini. I used Echino jacquard knit instead of fleece and bam. It worked beautifully. The pompom instructions are found in Lotta’s book.
Thanks for reading along. I’m impressed with the visual inspiration found in Everyday Style. I’m certain to create more projects from the book. If you’d like to win a copy of your own, STC Craft, Tattly Tattoos, and Windham Fabrics are offering a prize package to include a copy of the book, a fat quarter bundle of Lotta’s fabric from Windham, Lotta temporary tattoos, and Lotta washi tape. So make sure you follow along on all of the blogs in the series, leaving comments along the way to be entered to win and being inspired. A winner will be chosen at each stop along the tour.
Dec 1 – Lotta
Dec 2 – STC Craft
Dec 3 – Windham
Dec 4 – Noodlehead
Dec 7 – Modern Handcraft
Dec 8 – Sew Scatterbrained
Dec 9 – Crimson Tate [you are here]
Dec 11 – Groovy Baby & Mama
Dec 14 – City Stitching with Christine Haynes
Dec 15 – Craft Sanity
Dec 16 – Aesthetic Nest
Dec 17 – Sew Mama Sew
Dec 18 – Lish Dorset
Dec 19 – Fancy Tiger Crafts
Dec 21 – Generation Q
Dec 22 – Carolyn Friedlander
Dec 23 – Crafty Planner
Winner on my blog will be chosen on December 26. So you’ll have time until then to make comments about your everyday style, Who Wore It Better, or just in general about your love of Lotta Jansdotter. I’ll randomly choose.
Heather Givans 
My everyday style can be considered casual. Lucky me, we are not supposed to be in a lady suit in the office 🙂 I do love colourful clothing, but I don’t dare (yet?) to wear them myself. I’m hoping that my new hobby being sewing will help my get more colours in my own stylish clothes 🙂
love this – did not know there was a yarn shop near Crimson Tate. So basically, Mass Ave. in Indianapolis is a state of perfect happiness; an ideal or idyllic place (nirvana).
Welllll…Mass Ave Knit Shop is actually on Virginia Avenue in Fountain Square. It’s super close, though. And totally worthy of checking out.
Love the big striped bag. And thank you for the peak inside the book. It looks inspiring and doable.
Love it all Heather!! And I have to say, you wear it better 🙂
Thumbs up!!!
I love Lott’as creation sand would love, love to win this great giveaway!
You know my obsession with Lotta. My everyday style is simple and casual, if that’s a style 🙂
I’d say between you, me, and a slug of gals at Silver in the City, we could make up an amazing fan club!!
Let’s talk about Lotta washi tape. And then, let’s keep talking over and over and over.
My everyday style is casual quirky, I guess. I don’t know.
How many yards of material are required for the bag?
Did you line your version or did you leave it unlined?
Hi, Petmom! I did interface the exterior of my bag but honestly, I’m not even sure where I put that book! I’ll try to find it and report back.
You know i love a BIG ASS bag. Must make! Also, you are adorable.
and also HI DAVID. I LIKE YER HAT.
I love dressing casually but i take the time to add color to my overall appearance. It can be a handmade clutch, a scarf, a hat or crazy jewellery.But especially in winter i need color to take me through the day 🙂
I love a big tote bag.
I love Lotta too! Somewhat obsessed, actually (but not in a scary way!). Thanks for the chance to win!
ah, you’re in indianapolis!! makes me smile as my grandparents lived there for most of their lives & hearing just the city name conjures up fond memories! thx for lotta’s book giveaway opportunity, & continued success on your blog!!
cheers! 😀
You are adorable. I just tried to double tap the pic of you in all your stripes because I forgot this is not instagram… 😂
Your hat is super cute! I’m going to order the knit fabric for a small version for my leopard-obsessed 3 year old! And I also love the Lotta look!
Cute hat!!! Love the big bag too!!! 🙂
I’d love to win!
Love this hat in knit! Looking forward to seeing the book.
Loved your blog. 😍😍😍😍
I love Lotta’s simple, understated designs. I know I will love this book!
Love the hat, the bag and the book!
Oh man, if the dress on the cover is any indicator I think I’d love that book!
Love that hat and the fabric.
Well duh. You (and DB) wore it better.
That bag is so cute.
coming up….quilt, Christmas stockings….then that cooool big bag!!!
The striped bag is GREAT in both tenses! So cool!
Love it! What a fun read. I’m excited to get the whole book!
Love Lotta!
Love Wilma!!
Big Lotta fan here. Love your giant stripey bag! Sometimes you just need a big tote bag!
Great blog Heather!
Love the size of that bag!
Love the giant pom pom!
This looks right up my street – simple styles which show off her modern prints. Thanks for the giveaway
Thanks for the giveaway. I like this easy style.
I actually bought Lotta fabric before I bought a sewing machine, the Sylvia and Glimma collections. I keep a small stash of her paper plates on hand for holidays and birthdays. I suppose I’ve achieved fangirl status and I don’t foresee that changing anytime soon. And a high five for using the word ginormous, it is the perfect descriptor!
I love Lotta’s style and the projects in this book look awesome!
Love the Wilma Tote!
That is one big tote! I semi regularly take myself off for a sewing week, with all my sewing stuff piled inelegantly in cardboard boxes. I think its time to go a little more upmarket, and make a tote. Thanks for the review, it looks a great book. Love your blog, about to push the follow button.
Looks like you had a wonderful time. Thank you for sharing this great book!
Awesome tote! Make a great weekender bag.
I love the enormous bag, I could fit a lot of yarn in there! 🙂
I love the striped, large bag. You wore it better😀
I love the hat and the bag. I think I have no style but maybe if I read the book I will gain one. All is not lost.
My everyday style is comfortable – especially since I became a mother and breastfeed all the time. 🙂
I’m fairly notorious in our quilt guild for my love of LJ, and embarrassingly encyclopedic knowledge of all her Windham fabric lines
I’ve had this book in my amazon queue but now I’m convinced I need to get it! thanks for your review 🙂
Ooh, the stripes are so lovely! And the bag…I’m headed out to find the book.
I’m just discovering Lotta because I’m looking for simple beginner garment patterns and am excited to see more Esme tops, it’ll be an IG party tonight lol
I love your striped tote! Lotta’s style looks simple and comfortable, and all projects in the book are beautiful! I especially like the Esme top and tunic. Thank you!
I’m a longtime fan of Lotta’s work so I’m looking forward to checking out this book. I’ve even made her cardamom bun recipe that was in a previous book. Fingers crossed!
I think your bag looks fab. I love the look of this book particularly the Esme tunic x
Iain.ross30 at gmail dot com
Oh wow! First of all, I couldn’t possibly say who wore it better. Your bags are both amazingly wonderful! I am such a sucker for stripes. Lotta is my absolute fave designer! Her modern scandinavian design aesthetic is right up my alley. I was reading a blog the other day and someone wrote that the first time they went to Oslo they felt like they were at home. Haha, I have never been to Europe (but I can dream!) but I am sure I would feel the same way. If you haven’t already, I would suggest reading the AFAR magazine article about Lotta’s Scandinavian island home. It looks AMAZING! She is doing a retreat there this summer which I would LOVE to attend but sadly there are no solo European crafty getaways for this single mama of three sweet young boys in the near future. Thank you so much for this amazing prize. I shall cross my fingers and toes and everything in between. Have a lovely ALMOST Christmas. Cheers!
Jennyroo! You won!! Please send your name and mailing address along to heather@crimsontate.com! Happy day, sister! Thanks for sharing.
I love that bag. It would be great to tuck all of the blankets and pillows into it when setting out on a long car trip. And the simple, comfortable look of the clothing fits me quite well. I could see myself in several of those pieces.
I love Lotta’s clean simple design style. Thanks for the giveaway.
Great! I think Lotta is my best friend! 🙂 I like simple clothing patterns.
I am embarrassed to say that I hadn’t heard of Lotta before this hop, shows what a newbie I am! I’m excited about the simplicity of the designs and hopeful that even I can make some of the pieces!
I love how you wore your striped and coordinated outfit. So Cute. Thanks for sharing.
Love this book! My everyday style is so relaxed, and needs a little updating.. this book would help me out!
I just love the Wilma bag. Your striped version is so cute. My style is pretty casual but i love bright colors. This book looks like so much fun!
My Scandinavian heritage drives my crazy for everything Lotta!
Beautiful bag, and love your posts!
I am very excited about this book. I like her fabrics that I’ve seen online. I wish They were sold near me! So beautiful
I’m a casual dresser and like to sew casual pieces. I love the tote bag and the fabric is awesome!
I’ve just discovered your shop and blog via the Modern Sewciety podcast, where she also interviewed Lotta (I’ve been listening to tons of those podcasts, so I can’t remember if it was in the same podcast as yours or not), but I’m throwing my hat in to win the book! Also, you talk just like one of my friends, so I now think of you as how she would be if she were in the sewing world. I think my everyday style is largely jeans and t-shirt, but I’m trying to jazz it up with cool fabric and sewing, sewing, sewing in general. The more stuff I try, the more interesting my style will be, right? Today I’m wearing a basic dirndl skirt made from a Cotton + Steel apple fabric, so I feel cool about that. I look forward to looking around your site!
first time visit to your blog! Love all the stripes in the tote pic, and since the other one didn’t load, you’ve got my vote! Great hat, too!
Love this big bag! I love Lotta’s designs and past books, can’t wait to check out this new one!
Your Wilma bag looks so practical. I would be thrilled to win a copy of this book.
Is the Wilma bag lined? Or is it one layer?
Do you have a photo of the Wilma bag interior? Is interfacing exposed? Thanks.
New to all this, but love the blog and especially the striped bag which I think anyone would wear it well.