The Sweatshop of Love Blog

Let me preface this by saying that BabyNolangurumi looks weird.

Baby Nolan? Or Alien?

I did a quick search for baby amigurumi patterns before starting Baby Nolan here, and found nothing. There were a couple finished babygurumis I found pictures of, but they just looked ridiculous.

…

Yes, kind of like mine.

BabyNolangurumi Hanging Around

I ended up using the person amigurumi pattern I’ve been using for all of my amigurumis and just making it a lot smaller. But when I finished the body I realized there wasn’t a lot of other things I could do to make BabyNolangurumi more Baby Nolan like.

BabyNolangurumi in the Christmas Tree

He’s got no hair or hobbies. He is perfect so I can’t make fun of him for anything. He is five months old. I’d cut him some slack but he is sure making for a boring BabyNolangurumi post.

Baby Nolan Real Life!

Alright, that is better!

Pattern: Just winged it, and didn’t do that great a job!

Yarn: Worsted scraps

Hook: Size G

Ravelry Project Page

I’m making quick work of the amigurumis for my family! Thank god, because I’m officially pretty sick of crocheting legs and arms.

Dadgurumi in a Blizzard

But, every time I get another finished amigurumi it’s so hilarious that I just can’t help but make more!

And I’ve got to keep mixing it up because everyone has such funny little quirks. My dad, for instance, has huge ears that you can see poking out from under his hat.

So, this is my dad.

Dadgurumi in a Snowbank

There are three thing my dad loves more than anything else in the world. They are, in no particular order:

1. The Detroit Lions

2. The Detroit Tigers

3. Blizzards

Tigers Hat, Lions Jersey

If my dad had a uniform it would be Detroit Tigers hat on his head and wearing a Detroit Lions jersey or tshirt. His amigurumi got an upgrade to a Calvin Johnson jersey, which I’m sure it won’t go unnoticed.

And yeah! That is our street! Minnesota is on pace for the snowiest December in the history of the state and you can tell by the 7 foot piles of snow everywhere. I could be laying in that snow drift and it would look just as big.

So it’s fitting that on the first official day of winter (yikes) that I share some snow shots, and my dadgurumi enjoying it.

Two gifts left!

Pattern: Basic Humanoid Amigurumi Pattern by craftster.org

Yarn: Worsted acrylic leftovers

Hook: Size G

Ravelry Project Page

Hello from Minnesota! I got in on Friday afternoon on a very easy, not remotely exciting Megabus. I know that every Megabus ride with no incident is just lulling me into a false sense of bus-travel security, and that I’ll be on a Megabus from hell, 19 hour trip with no heat, any time now.

But until then, man I seriously love the Megabus!

Twin Cities Headband in Copper with Yellow and White Fabric Button

My first order of business when arriving was to do a big etsy shop update! And so I have.

Hello Sailor Knot Necklace in Green

I added the finished knits that I made for the DIY Trunk Show, including copper, light green, and blackberry Twin Cities Headbands, and cream, green, navy, and copper Hello Sailor Knot Necklaces. See all my Etsy finished knits here.

Hello Sailor Knot Necklace knitting kit!

I also finally have Hello Sailor Knot Necklace knit kits to list!

Laminated Patter, Cotton Yarn, Jewelry Hardware

The Hello Sailor Knot Necklace kit comes in cream and navy, and:

Laminated Pattern

Cotton Yarn

Jewelry Hardware, including chain and toggle button closure

All wrapped up in a handmade drawstring project bag!

All you will need to complete this project are 2 size 9 double pointed needles and a yarn needle for finishing.

Check out my Etsy shop, full of finished knits, knitting patterns, and knit kits, here.

Tomorrow starts a parade of Christmas Present FOs! More amigurumis and a full Holiday Knitting wrap up. I’m pretty damn productive in Minnesota!

I’m a big fan of selfish knitting. Knitting takes a LOT of time, and while non-knitters can be appreciative of hand knit gifts, no one appreciates all your hard work like you do.

Around here we spend September-December knitting mostly for other people, bookmarking and queuing projects for ourselves the entire time, counting down the days until we can cast on that first selfish project of the post-holiday season.

For me, that day came early this year. While I’m not completely finished with my holiday knitting, I needed some mindless travel knitting.

Bergen Street Sleeves!

I’ve been coveting the Bergen Street Cardigan since I spied it in the Knit Picks Independent Designer Pattern line up. It had been in my mind since October when I did a little selfish knitting sneak peek. It got a LOT worse when one of my students ordered the Knit Picks City Tweed DK, the yarn the pattern calls for, and IT WAS GORGEOUS!

So, on the Megabus back to Chicago last week I cast it on. The pattern calls for the sleeves to be knit in the round individually, but I am one terrible counter, both between increase rows and for striped rows, so if I wanted sleeves that looked the same I knew I had to knit them both at the same time on straight needles.

I knit up those sleeves and it was easy, mindless knitting with pretty yarn! But then something terrible happened.

... the body!

I cast on for the body. And I’ve been knitting it and only it. Oops!

I’m not too worried. I’ve got 7 days to finish my Dadgurumi, my BabyNolangurumi, and a surprise extra present for my mom I just added today.

Ok, when you put it like that it’s a lot to do! But I’ve got 21 hours of travel between now and then (an 8 hour Megabus back to Minneapolis tomorrow, and then the CHRISTMASEVETRAVELDAYFROMHELL also on the horizon). And you know how I be. It ain’t no thang.

I mean, have you seen this yarn?

SO PRETTY!

You would just keep knitting it, too.

Whatevs! I’m stuck in the sweater’s clutches and I can’t get out. There is nothing to do but just finish it as quickly as I can so I can finish my holiday knitting. And wear it every day because MAN it’s so pretty!

Also, today marks my last day in Chicago until the end of February. This will be the longest time I’ve been away from her, and I don’t know what to hug goodbye. Probably some beers.

Tomorrow morning I’ll be on the 6:30 Megabus to Minneapolis, Bergen Street Cardigan and an XL coffee in tow. Catch y’all in Minneapolis!

Pattern: Bergen Street Cardigan by Alexis Winslow

Needles: Size 6 and size 7 circular needles and straight needles (for sleeves)

Yarn: Knit Picks City Tweed DK in Snowshoe and Plumb Wine

Ravelry Project Page

When we last left PT’s Christmas present, it was hiding in the closet waiting to be blocked.

Blocked and Finished!

I got it blocking right when I got back to Chicago. With PT in Minnesota it was the perfect opportunity! The diagonal stripes blocked down a bit, the collar laid completely flat. And then.

ATTACK OF THE LONG SLEEVES!

Now, granted, I’m a girl. And, granted, I haven’t cleaned this mirror in 5 years. But don’t these sleeves, that completely cover my hands to my knuckles, look too long to you?

<- and does this picture look familiar to you? As I was taking it I was having major deja vu.

PT's Christmas Present from LAST YEAR

That is because it looks a hell of a lot like THIS picture! ->

I took this picture of PT’s Christmas sweater last year right after I blocked it, too!

I had more hair then, and different pajama pants, and I’ve got a nicer camera now. But what is with the long sleeves on these sweaters?

I’m comforted only by the fact that last year the sleeves ended up working out. I’m a little panicky, though! It feels like this sweater is bigger than last year’s sweater. Gah!

Well, nothing to do about it now. It’s all wrapped and ready to go with my to Minneapolis on Friday morning. Worse case scenario? I’ll cuff them on the inside so they are shorter and not really cuffed.

So Nice!

I really REALLY really love this sweater so I hope PT does, too. We’ll make it work! Even if I have to stretch his arms out to make him fit it.

I’ll be back after Christmas with the verdict!

Pattern: Dawson Sweater

Yarn: Knit Picks Merino Style in Fedora, 11 1/2 skeins, for size small

Needles: Size 6 circulars, size 4 circulars used just for collar

Ravelry Project Page