The Sweatshop of Lovers Blog

While I’ve only been in NYC for 15 days I couldn’t be more excited to get out of the city and go to another city this weekend.

PT and I are off to Boston tonight! We’ll be hanging out with our friends Lucas and Laura, who you’ll remember from our trip to Portland in February, and who have recently moved to the Boston area. SO excited to see them! And I’m gearing up for another food frenzy.

We are taking some shady Chinese bus for $15. That is one thing I love about being on the easy coast. Everything is so close! 4 hours in a shady Chinese bus and magically you are in Boston. 4 hours in a shady Chinese bus from Chicago and you’d be in the middle of nowhere Iowa or Ohio.

PT's G Train Stop, Train Approaching!

It’s loud here. It makes me very anxious, and I feel like there is nowhere to escape from it. It’s exciting and fun, but I like hearing birds and trees and breezes.

Bow Headbands for Renegade!

I have been knitting. I’ve made 11 Detroit Tigers Bow Headbands and I can’t even look at them. I want 20 for Renegade (which is coming up fast! It’s only three weeks away!) and I think I have 17 finished.

Headbands! Headbands! GAH!

I’ll have to knock out the last three in a week or so because I pick up my size 5s and I just have the urge to throw them out the window. Which, in PT’s apartment, would have them landing in the middle of the street since he has no screen.

I keep having to remind myself: NO SCREEN! DON’T REALLY THROW THINGS TOWARDS THE WINDOW!

… Weekend in Boston sounds like it’s much needed, right?

So instead of bow headbands I’ll be bringing my mom’s Christmas present that I started working on yesterday. That is right! I’ve officially started my holiday knitting, like any good home crafter, in August.

Have a great weekend everybody!

I don’t know what I was thinking when I decided a sweater dress was what I needed for my next ebook. A sweater dress. It’s such a simple little concept. Just a long sweater, right?

Bubble What the What?

Not when you think it would be cute to have a ribbed bottom with a bubble skirt. I can’t even think about how many inches of this dress got frogged along the way. 15? 25? It was ugly.

But with every restart I got more determined to finish it. Because I’m stupid.

Baby Cowl, Cute Sleeves

First of all, about the styling: I finished this last weekend in Michigan. Check out my mom’s kitchen! I brought with me a bag of yarn and a backpack of clothes. If I were home in Chicago I would not be wearing a gray wife beater under it. Also, it was H.O.T. so I didn’t want to put on leggings. In a perfect world I would be wearing a black tank with leggings or fun tights.

Striped Mini Cowl

I would also be able to take a picture of the back, which has crochet button bands and a yoke button up back. But (don’t tell!) there are no buttons on this dress because I couldn’t bring myself to making anymore fabric covered buttons after my button making weekend.

Check that cute skirt!

But, while perfect these pictures are not, I think this dress turned out pretty damn cute, if I do say so myself. I’m a little angry with it, so angry I dropped it off in Chicago before I left for New York. But I’m sure once I get back I’ll love it, and once the temps drop below 80 I’ll be rocking this dress often.

Roll Cowl Neck, Y'all!

When all was said and done it is a pretty quick knit. I used Knit Picks Swish Worsted and size 9 needles so you wouldn’t die of heat stroke every time you wore it. It’s a nice loose gauge, short, with short sleeves. It took me a lot to get through but it won’t take you nearly as much strife.

EDIT: Test knitters found!

So yes, it’s a sweater dress and yes, it’s August but who wants to be my test knitter?! Just think about how cute you are going to be once fall rolls in? Email me at allyson [at] thesweatshopoflove [dot] com or comment if you are interested!

Pattern: Coming soon!

Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Worsted in Copper and Bok Choy

Needles: Size 9 29″ Circular and size 9 DPNs

Ravelry Page

I’m inching ever closer to my Chicago Outie 5000 date (FRIDAY! HOLLA!), and somehow I find myself ahead of schedule.

When you give yourself so a nearly impossible amount of work to do, knowing full well that it will be nearly impossible to finish, and then finish it… well. It’s inspiring. It inspires me to stop thinking I can’t do things. It inspires me to just try, because you don’t know if you don’t try. I went into this Renegade To Do List thinking that I would try to do it, and whatever I got done before I left I would bring and it would be fine.

But I did it all. 150+ fabric buttons. 61 kit bags. 40 completely new kits – designing, knitting, stuffing, finishing. 68 total kits completed and ready to go.

Next up? My In-NYC To Do List. Then my Post-NYC To Do List. My ebook to do list. My fall class schedule to do list.

But am I worried? Not in the least. I finished the big one. I’m pretty sure I can do anything.

I wanted to note that I’m closing The Sweatshop of Love’s Etsy Shop Thursday since I won’t be around to mail anyone anything. If you want something get it now! Whatever is left after Renegade will be posted in September.

I mentioned yesterday that I had something fun to show you guys! I’ve had this finished for a while but couldn’t handle putting on buttons much less putting it on for a fashion show. It’s hot, y’all!

Two Boyfriends! Yay!

It’s still hot, so please excuse the shiny face, but here is The Two Boyfriend Cardigan!

Half Blue, Half Green, All Hot!

This top down boyfriend style cardigan is double fun because its striping color is split down the middle. The main color is striped through on both sides, but with one of your boyfriend’s favorite colors on the right and your other boyfriend’s favorite color on the left, you are sure to please everyone!

Deep V-Neck, Lots of Buttons

Main color ribs at bottom, sleeves, and button band rows add texture, but the majority of this sweater is just increasing stitches and striping.

Slouchy, Roomy, Comfy

The Two Boyfriends Cardigan is sized big and slouchy for a borrowing-your-boyfriends-cardigan feel. I’m sure that if I were cold this sweater would warm me right up, but I’ll have to wait until fall to confirm that.

Pudgey Approved!

And Pudge Rodriguez certainly likes it!

I used Knit Picks Merino Style in Fedora (MC) Dusk (CC1) and Moss (CC2) and size 6 circular needles. This pattern is going to be part of my next ebook, but before that I’m looking for a test knitter! Please let me know if you are interested and I’ll send the pattern over to you. Sadly I can’t pay you, but you’ll get a copy now and a finished copy of the pattern once it’s ready for publishing. Edit: Test knitter found!

TOO HOT TOO HOT TOO HOT

Now I’m going to put this sweater in a drawer for 3 months!

Pattern: The Two Boyfriends Cardigan – Coming Soon!

Yarn: Knit Picks Merino Style

Needles: Size 6 circulars

Ravelry Page

Originally today was supposed to be the launch day for my new Knit Kits. We decided to push their debut back. Now they are going to debut at Renegade! So you’ll have to wait until September 11th to get in on these next kits.

What are the next knitting projects we are kit-izing?

Nautical Knot Necklace!

One of them might have something to do with what is in this picture. That is all I can say!

Yesterday was my girl Tara’s birthday. Naturally this called for a gurumi-ization!

And, like Jamiegurumi before her, Taragurumi is awesome.

Typing Away!

She works really hard.

Holla!

And she plays really hard.

Ohh La La!

And she flirts with super cute boys.

Cute Pink Undies!

And she parties really, really hard.

Taragurumi and Raggedy Ann

But more than anything, Taragurumi is a great friend. Happy birthday, lady!

I was asked to knit and donate another DinoSweater that will be an auction item in a fundraiser for Ivory Coast Mothers and Children, an organization building a hospital in the Ivory Coast. So I hopped to it!

I also wanted to show you how important embellishment is to simple projects.

Pre-Fixin's

So here you’ve got a finished cardigan from my Baby Sweater Buffet pattern with a hood buffet option. I used the original dinosweater’s spikes pattern, which is not my own.

It is obviously super cute! But we can do better.

Now With Spots!

I dug around and found three different shades of green and duplicate stitched dinospots on the sweater!

Hot DinoProfile!

It added texture and color to the sweater. I used leftover scraps that were laying around so it cost nothing, and I just winged it with placement and shape.

Fabric Covered Buttons

I also dug around in my fabric and found this green stripey fabric for the buttons.

So, with a little duplicate stitching and some fun fabric covered buttons, this baby sweater went from super cute to HOLY FREAKING CUTE OMGOMGOMG!

Ready to Roll!

I made an extra button, just in case, attached it to a card, and tied the card to the top button hole. Now it’s ready to go make Ivory Coast Mothers and Children some cash!

If you are interested in donating to Ivory Coast Mothers and Children or want to bid on this DinoSweater, contact my girl Patsy or come to the Bastille Day Fete this Saturday, July 10th at Kiki’s Bistro from 1-4, with the auction taking place at 3pm.

Pattern: Baby Sweater Buffet

Yarn: Vanna’s Choice in Dusty Green, Lion Brand Wool Ease in Mink Brown, and other scrap greens

Needles: Size 9 circulars

Ravelry Project Page

So Part 1 was my boxy top and Part 2 was my Built By Wendy top. You know I had to mix it up a bit for Part 3!

The third and final finished sewing project from Saturday’s sewing binge is another revisited pattern. I made the Built By Wendy Knit Dress the first time in a striped material. The pattern is so freaking wearable I knew I wanted 100 more.

Built By Wendy Knit Dress

And when I saw this ridiculous apple material it was a match made in heaven. I was so desperate for it that I cut my finger open trying to pull the bolt of fabric out from the bottom of the bargain pile. Seriously blood everywhere. I had to ask the fabric store owner for a band-aid.

Worth the Pain

SO worth it, though! I would do it again. I mean, apples?! It’s too silly not to love.

Just Chillin

I didn’t change the pattern one bit from the first dress. It’s good just the way it is.

Pattern: Built By Wendy Knit Dress, Pattern A

Fabric: Bargain Apple Print Jersey

Paired With: Gladiator sandals from Payless, leopard print glasses from Forever 21

Yesterday I shared with you my Boxy Polka Dot Top that I sewed up Saturday. Today I’ve got another sewing FO!

When I first started bombarding you with finished sewing projects they were all Built By Wendy patterns. I revisited a few of those patterns on Saturday, starting with this Built by Wendy Top. I made a gingham version of this top a few months ago, but it’s so cute I had to come back to the pattern.

A Floral Take Two

I found this chiffon-like material in the bargain room of my fabric store in Michigan with another Built by Wendy top in mind. Light and airy and FLORAL like whoa, I grabbed a yarn (EDIT: YARD! My fingers betray my preference for yarn!) and had to make it happen.

Hello FLATTERING!

This design is so ridiculously flattering. Clearly it has changed me into a totally different girl! I don’t even look like myself in this picture.

Show OFF That Elastic, Girl

I made a couple mods: No elastic in the sleeves and a longer length of elastic in the neckline for a little more neck room. It’s the perfect length, the perfect size, the perfect color. I’m in love.

Even Cute from the Back!

This shirt’s magical flattering powers even extend to my bottom. These are the four best pictures of me ever taken.

Pattern: Built By Wendy Mini Dress, Pattern C

Fabric: Bargain Fake Chaffon

Paired With: Ann Taylor Loft Green Jeans

Inspired by Marissa’s guest post last week, I pulled out my sewing machine Saturday and went to town.

Outside?!

I also went outside to take pictures! I figured if I lock myself inside most of the day working, I might as well venture outside to model. Alone. In the alley. Not going to lie: It was a little weird.

Simple Boxy Top

But I sucked it up like a pro. It didn’t hurt that no one came out the entire time I was down there.

Big n Boxy

First up was this boxy top. I’ve been wanting to make a top out of this cute polka dot silky material forever. You might recognize it from the lining of Hoodie Devoted a few months ago. I had, and still have, plenty of it left for a top, so I cut out two big squares, seamed them, then sewed them together a the shoulders and sides.

Cute, Right?

Slouchy, off the shoulder, super wide, silky, and polka dotted. Kinda perfect with a high wasted red pencil skirt, right?

Pattern: Just made it up!

Fabric: Some bargain polka dot fake-silk

Paired With: Thrifted pencil skirt