It is amazing how much can be accomplished in just one little year. Today is my one year blog anniversary! I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into a year ago, but I am so happy I did. I’ve written more in this past year than I wrote in four years of writing school. I’ve knit more this past year than I ever have before. And I’ve taught more classes than I ever have before.
And, of course, the launch of the Knit Kits is a huge step forward for my little Sweatshop. And to thank you for being a part of this crazy year 
we are hosting a Madison Kit Giveaway!
Brynn Rockin Out
Win a Madison Cowl Kit or a Madison Hand Warmer Kit! To enter, leave a comment about which knit kit you want, which color, and how you are planning on wearing it. Tweet it with a @sweatshopoflove for bonus points!
You have until the Super Bowl (that is Sunday, February 7th) to enter! Our winners will be announced Monday, February 8th.
HOTT!
And you can take your style cues from our Madison Kit model, Brynn! She rocks the Madison Cowl and Hand Warmers so well it was like we made them for her.
Love It!
She had some lovely things to say about what she was modeling, too! “I am amazed at the vintage feel of the pattern; it makes this set especially unique. I’ve never seen anything like it. I also love how the gloves are like little coats for your hands! I can still rummage through my purse, flick my hair out of my face and get things done without constantly pulling gloves on and off. The cowl feels like a hug around the neck! It not only kept me warm doing my chilly morning shoot, but it didn’t feel confining. Vintage fashion meets function – yes, please.”
Thanks, Brynn!
How sweet! And how cute is her outfit? I couldn’t NOT make this a Style Your Knits.
Navy Floral Strapless Dress: Vintage (Knee Deep in Pilsen)
Cropped Tuxedo Jacket: Twenty8Twelve
Pale Pink Wool Cardigan: I bought it in like 9th grade!
Faux Croc Leggings: American Apparel
Belt: Vintage (Knee Deep in Pilsen)
Suede Booties: Aldo
ZigZag Bracelet: Vintage (Randolph Street Market)
And Tara took all these cute pics! She wanted to give a shout out, “To Atomix and it’s awesome patrons for being so cool with us shooting in and around the coffee shop. Everyone was really radical about it.”
I sound like a 14 year old from 85. Love it. Love the kits! Whooo!
Comment by t — February 4, 2010 @ 9:50 am
Oooh I would love this kit! Totally tweeting!
Comment by Kim — February 4, 2010 @ 9:58 am
Congratulations on the launch of the knit kits-what a great idea! And I would love the Madison Cowl in blue, which would rock so fabulously with my black peacoat.
Comment by Colleen — February 4, 2010 @ 11:51 am
I would love the red kit…not for me, but to make it for my mom. Feb. is her birth month and her favorite color is red.
.-= Alice´s last blog ..Building a Brand =-.
Comment by Alice — February 4, 2010 @ 11:52 am
i would love RED one. madison cowl is so pretty!
i could probably wear it with anything!
Comment by junghwa — February 4, 2010 @ 11:56 am
I so love the blue buttons so I would have to say the blue just for the buttons. I am going to make it for my 24 yr Goddaughter who lives in Louisville, where it is cold. Being here in So Calif I love them, but have to make things like this for friends.
And yes I of course will retweet this.
Comment by Fracksmom — February 4, 2010 @ 11:57 am
I would LOVE the Hand Warmers in gray! I love love love the buttons that come with the gray kit, and it’s such a versatile color, I could wear it with any of my warm winter coats. And on those particularly frigid days, I’d probably layer them over some gloves. So many opportunities to rock them during Chicago’s 6 months of winter!
Comment by Christina — February 4, 2010 @ 1:13 pm
Those kits are fabulous – I love the color combination of each set, but my favorite is the Madison Cowl Kit in Red – those buttons are fantastic. My peacoat is black and my other “dressy” winter coat is black / white houndstooth. The red kit would look so sharp!
I will retweet this as well!
.-= Becca´s last blog ..So Close! =-.
Comment by Becca — February 4, 2010 @ 1:14 pm
Oooh, the red Cowl Kit looks so fine!!I like to wear bright colors to cheer myself up in the winter, and I think the color and the adorable buttons would do a great job of it.
Comment by GentleStove — February 4, 2010 @ 1:19 pm
I would love the cowl kit in gray! These are great – love the pics, too. This would be a great learning tool for me since I still only know how to knit flat things! Thanks and congrats on your anniversary
Comment by Ramona — February 4, 2010 @ 1:28 pm
Red, Gray, Blue ahhh decisions, I LOVE them ALL!! I think red is my favorite. The cowl would go wonderfully with my black coats!!!
Comment by Katie — February 4, 2010 @ 1:33 pm
OH OH OH….SERIOUSLY…
I want to make the cowl…can’t decide at the moment between the grey (my old stand by color scheme) or the beatiful GREEN….
I’ve been sitting here hating the universe for my lack of extra cash to buy one from you!
hope I win!!!
but then the blue is sooooooooooooooo pretty.
I may have to draw straws for colors.
thanks Allyson for hosting an awesome giveaway! (i don’t tweet. bummer) but I am linking you on my post today! JUST CUZ!!!
xo
.-= Cindy´s last blog ..Lookie What I Found =-.
Comment by Cindy — February 4, 2010 @ 1:36 pm
I love all of them but am partial to red! I really love how Brynn wears the cowl – with a nice jacket – looks fabulous!!! Great giveaway idea!!!
Comment by Rachael — February 4, 2010 @ 1:59 pm
OMG, red Madison cowl for me please. How I would LOVE to wear this while I’m carrying my new garnet red Rio bag from Jordana Paige. And red shoes! -drool- I’m retweeting right now!
Comment by mzundercover — February 4, 2010 @ 3:16 pm
I *need* the cowl in blue, because it happens to match my fantastic new blue coat and the aforementioned coat is not at all scarf friendly. As I type this, though, I think I’d buy the matching handwarmer kit if I won, because I have cold hands when I type most of the time (and I loves the matchy matchy). Hmmm…
Comment by Sarah — February 4, 2010 @ 3:27 pm
I love this kit. I would knit it in Black and where it with everything!!!!
Comment by Diane — February 4, 2010 @ 4:20 pm
Oooh! The Cowl kit!!! Those look so cozy and warm!!!! I love this idea Alison! And blue please. kthx
.-= Kate´s last blog ..have i mentioned this? =-.
Comment by Kate — February 4, 2010 @ 6:00 pm
Happy blogversary, Allyson! I would LOVE the green cowl with blue buttons. I’d wear it with my purple coat (and pretty much everything else I own), plus the Madison hand warmers I’d like to knit. I’ve been lamenting my lack of funds and not being able to buy a kit from you. They’re absolutely lovely, I’m so proud of you ladies.
Comment by Gil — February 4, 2010 @ 6:24 pm
Happy Blogversary! It is one of my favs and I already have it in my RSS google reader. I like the hand warmers, my self.
.-= Beth´s last blog ..Book Club Shmook Club =-.
Comment by Beth — February 5, 2010 @ 10:28 am
Congrats on your one year! You sure have gotten a lot done in 12 months and everything looks great!
.-= jen´s last blog ..birds + cats =-.
Comment by jen — February 5, 2010 @ 12:12 pm
i love your cowls so much! i think grey is my fav but it is hard to choose- your model looks so pretty in the blue. ~joelle
.-= joelle van dyne´s last blog ..joelle van dyne: glacial decoy =-.
Comment by joelle van dyne — February 5, 2010 @ 12:28 pm
Gorgeous! I can’t wear cowls (I have a peanut head/neck), but I can’t get enough gloves and hand warmers!
Your blog is great – and hopefully I’ll get inspired to get back to mine!
Comment by Carrie — February 5, 2010 @ 12:48 pm
I LOVE the handwarmers and would rock the grey + cream/ochre buttons with my navy peacoat. Grey with yellow ochre is my dream color combo (see my website for proof).
<3, M
Comment by Megan K — February 5, 2010 @ 12:58 pm
Oh how I would love the handwarmer kit in the grey color! I think they are so incredibly cute and I would love to try them! Pick me!!
Comment by julie — February 5, 2010 @ 12:58 pm
I would love to make this set in RED to wear with a black dress, red tights and black boots.
Comment by Sarah D. — February 5, 2010 @ 5:47 pm
ooh…i think the red cowl, or maybe the gray cowl, or red mitts, or gray mitts…do i really have to decide now? since i probably won’t win anyway? everyone says i look good in red, but i have a gray purrsonality. they are all so beautiful. does it come in black?
Comment by iris — February 6, 2010 @ 11:32 pm