The Sweatshop of Lovers Blog

I big thank you to Mercedes at Kitchen Sink Dyeworks for featuring my Bow Headband in her latest blog post!

Fashion Trend – Girlie-Girl Headbands

And let this be a lesson to all: The one time you take pictures of yourself with no make up on is the one time your picture will be on the front page of a major yarn shop! Everyone be sure to check out all my freckles and under-eye bags.

I used Kitchen Sink Dyeworks Luxe Merino Fine for my headband and have enough yarn left over for 30 more.

Thanks again, KSD!

I had to leave Pudge Rodriguez and Velma in Chicago while I went to Michigan for Christmas because they are both spoiled and hate other people/animals. Especially Velma. I left the house in tip top shape.

Yarn and Puke

More Yarn and Puke

Six days later, not so much.

My apartment has five rooms. Four of them were covered in yarn and three of them had puke in them.

Three balls of yarn got it bad, and one rug.

I love them but they are menaces. I blame Pudge for the yarn and Velma for the puke. They were both looking seriously guilty for hours after I got home and Velma avoided me for the rest of the day.

New Pillows!

My mom made me these pillows for Christmas! She knit them with strips of fleece, then used them to cover pillow forms. And, looking at my futon, she made almost everything on it! That quilt, the other pillows behind the new ones. Everything but the knitted shawl over the back. That was my first knitting project!

Which brings me to my random facts! Anne at fANNEtastic food gave me the Beautiful Blogger Award! How sweet is that? It is funny when you are reading someone’s blog and then come across yourself. I recently found Anne’s food blog and have been really enjoying it. She is fun and genuine and a really engaging writer. Thanks, Anne!

So the deal is I’ve got to share 7 random facts about myself, then choose 7 people to pass it on to.

1. My first knitting project was that gigantic shawl on the back of my futon. I learned to knit when I was a senior in high school, and my knitting teacher found the pattern and just told me to go for it. The pattern ran out but I just kept going, figuring it out along the way. It’s too big to wear, but makes an amazing blanket! It taught me to never worry about trying to do something you don’t know how to do, in knitting and in life. Try it, figure it out, make it happen.

2. I was bitten by a dog when I was little. I’ve got a big scar on the left side of my forehead and my hair doesn’t grow very well on that side, so I’ve got to have a right side part to cover it up so I don’t look like I’m bald, or scare small children. I call it my Harry Potter scar. I’ve got cuts around my nose from it, too, but they kind of look like freckles, so they are actually just enhancing the cute.

3. But I still love dogs! I get super irritated when people go on and on about how they got bit by a dog when they were little, so they are scared of them. Buck up, dude. You can’t live your life scared.

4. I really, really, really, really love baseball and football. I joke around about it on the blog and in person, but in a list of people/things that I love, baseball and football would be in the top ten. I read about it excessively, I get depressed and happy depending on how my team is doing. I even cry about it. It’s sick. I love it and it never loves me back. I hate it, but I love love love it.

5. I used to be an ugo fatty. I was a dessert vegetarian for years before I got it together. I stopped eating red meat when I was in 5th grade, and replaced protein with sugar. I weighed 180 pounds at 5′ 6″. I made up for it by being funny. When I was 21 I started taking care of myself, working out and eating better, lost 50 pounds, and now I’m a hottie. I’m still not used to it. Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and don’t even recognize myself.

6. I don’t do fancy. I’d much rather buy fancy ingredients and make a meal at home than go out to a fancy restaurant. I gauge the worth of food in terms of burrito prices – if I’m spending $20 dollars on a meal I better want that meal more than I would want 6 burritos. And can you really want anything more than you would want 6 burritos?

7. And I don’t like jewelry. I never got my ears pierced. I wear bracelets sometimes but not really. I can’t remember the last time I put on a necklace. I always joke that if someone wants to propose to me they better bring me an engagement couch or put a down payment on an engagement house, because if you spend a million dollars on an engagement ring I’ll return it and buy myself a room full of engagement yarn.

And now for the people I’m choosing:

1. Noel and Joelle at The Owls are Not What They Seem, for having super style with a hit of crafty diy love.

2. Jeanna at I Didn’t Hit You, I Just High-Fived Your Face, for always being funny, no matter what crappy things might be going down.

3. PT at Acme Valley, who needs a little blogging motivation.

4. Sarah at Brainphreak, for her ability to just jump into things! Figuring out patterns herself and being a ridiculously fearless crafter.

5. Beth at El Dugan, for being an amazing and seriously funny writer.

6. Nick at NICK HAUS. EVERY post makes me happy.

7. Julie at Knitted Bliss, for always knitting the most beautiful and the most silly patterns out there.

So again, Anne, thanks so much for the blogger award! I hope y’all have as much fun with it as I did.

I am lucky enough to be friends with amazingly creative people. Two of them are part of the band The Black Tape (find them on Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace), and sat down with me for a little one on one on one to chat about the Chicago music scene, The Black Tape’s musical goals, and hand knit Weird Al body pillows.

It is increasingly difficult to come up with a band name that sums up what a band brings to the table. How did you come up with the name The Black Tape?

“It’s a reference to the tapes I used to record my emo songs on when I was in high school, those old Maxell XL1’s,” Rashid said. “I had a Tascam 4 track recorder and would just get home from school and start recording everything.” Jamie, however, took a less magical view of the naming process. “We (Rashid) came up with the name through a laborious process involving a SHIT load of beer-drinking and tedious efforts to out-quip one another. The war raged for days. We grappled, came up with names upon which we all agreed, faltered, waffled, cleaned slates, and began anew.”

Where you worried about all the other ‘black’ bands out there? Black Crows, Black Flag, Black Sabbath, The Black Keys, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Black Eyed Peas, etc

While Jamie thinks Rashid’s blackness will protect The Black Tape from everything, Rashid thinks that if you’ve got the talant to back it up, it doesn’t what your name is. “The name to me comes secondary; all we want to do is play good music.  It’s just a label that we give ourselves, it doesn’t define us.  The Beatles could have been called The Shoe Horns and they’d still be one of the greatest bands that ever lived.”

And what does The Black Tape bring to the table?

In addition to what Jamie brings to every table, (“Tons of jewelry, cash, and airbrushed jump suits”) The Black Tape, wants you “to remember rock and roll when it was fun.We start from the core and write the best song we can write and hope that people can connect and just have fun,” said Rashid.

Facebook says your influences are The Kinks, The Zombies, The Beatles, The Crystals, The Bryds, and Motown, but there is a decidedly modern rock guitar solo in most of your songs. Are you modern-rock-ing up classic influences, or is The Black Tape still trying to find their definitive sound by playing with genres?

Rashid says that growing up in the 90s has shaped his songwriting and pointed him in the rockin’ guitar solo direction. “I think it’s a little bit of both. I write what I’m feeling and that’s what comes out.  In the past I’ve written songs that were much more traditional rock songs, but right now this is where my head is.  The guitar solo’s are just me trying to be a guitar god,” he laughed. Jamie has another theory. “Rashid is staunchly committed to the theory that every second of a guitar solo translates into one additional virgin on the celestial planet over which he will rule after his death.”

There are so many sub categories and sub-sub categories of music now; by identifying yourselves as ‘rock’, do you give yourselves more room to play with different sounds? As opposed to feeling like you need to stay in any particular sub-sub-sub category?

“I feel like we say we play rock and roll because that’s exactly what it is,” Jamie said. “To me, the music sounds like the rock and roll my parents introduced me to as a kid. There is a definite emphasis on trying to develop our own ’sound’ without relying too heavily on our equipment to do that for us. I guess the best way to describe our current sound is ‘intentional’. I feel that everything we do in this band is done with great attention paid to what role the part will play in progressing the movement of each individual song.” Rashid agreed, “To me, it’s all rock and roll no matter how many labels you put on it, it started with people like Chuck Berry and it just evolved into this gigantic tree with so many different branches, I’m starting to get confused.”

As a new band, how do you decide where you are going to play? Or are you just taking whatever you can get at this point?

Jamie and Rashid both agree that they are taking anything they can get and forming new band friendships. “Often, the bands you play your first shows with are also playing their first shows, so it’s a bit like forming your first friends in elementary school,” Jamie said. “You’re sort of deciding whom you want to hang out with for the next couple of years.”

While hanging out with you guys, I’ve heard rumblings that The Black Tape is ruled by Rashid.

Jamie

He concurs, for the most part. “I wouldn’t say I’m in total control, yes I’m the principal songwriter, but we’re a very democratic band.” But Jamie is ok with it! “These songs are his, so of course he has a very defined vision of what he thinks they should sound like. I think more than a “controller,” Rashid just has a very focused vision. As we develop as a BAND and start writing songs together, I think our individual input will become increasingly important and integral to our still-developing sound.”

What is The Black Tape’s musical goal? I’ve heard a lot of references to making it to Pitchfork next year.

“Right now our goal is to be a working touring band,” Rashid said. “Just do what we love.  It’s really hard when you have a 9-5 and you spend the majority of your daydreaming about being at practice or when the next show is coming up.  Pitchfork would be amazing and we’re really pushing hard to try and get some gigs like that.” Jamie agreed. “My musical goal is to ALWAYS make progress. In every band I’ve participated, I find it to be of the utmost importance to set achievable goals and make sure they happen. If those goals aren’t being achieved, then the band is obviously stagnant. So far, our short-term goals in The Black Tape seem to continually get achieved. We first wanted to practice and write cohesive songs. Then we wanted to record a demo and play shows. Next we want to put out an album and possibly tour and play larger venues. I feel as if all of these things are, at least to some degree, coming to fruition.”

What is your biggest musical guilty pleasure?

“Well, I hope Rashid says The Smashing Pumpkins here, but I honestly don’t think he feels guilty at all for liking them,” Jamie giggled. “I’m pretty sure there’s more than one Sugar Ray song that I like a LOT. Okay, I went and saw Sugar Ray at “Taste of Lincoln Park.” and pretty much sang until I was hoarse.” And no mention of The Smashing Pumpkins for Rashid! “I love love love the Dewey Cox soundtrack, I listen to those songs like everyday.  I mean they are pretty good songs, for a satire on the music industry, don’t you think?” We think lame, Rashid! We know you’ve got to have some Jewel in your collection somewhere.

And, because this is The Sweatshop of Love, afterall, if you were a knitted object, what would you be?

“I’d have to say mitten’s cause I can’t stand cold hands,” Rashid said. But Jamie got into the Sweatshop spririt with some crazy shit! “I would be a knit body-pillow replica of Weird Al, because though it would be moderately funny to have around, it would be COMPLETELY unpleasant to sleep with.”

Ain’t that the truth.

Last week I spoke with Mina at The Columbia Chronicle and she wrote a really sweet article about The Sweatshop! I know it is going to bring a lot of attention to the Yarn Crawl coming up on the 21st.

Thanks Mina for asking me and writing such a flattering article! And thank you Brijeet and Rachael for saying such sweet things about me!

See it here:

Close-knit ‘Sweatshop of Love’

Founder of The Sweatshop of Love teaches knitting classes; business continues to thrive

In 2006, Dykhuizen began teaching knitting classes independently and aptly named her company The Sweatshop of Love, holding a few classes every week devoted to helping women of all skill levels with their individual knitting projects as well as hosting “Chicago’s first yarn crawl” on Nov. 21.

Dykhuizen said she first learned how to knit when she was a senior in high school.

“My drama teacher taught knitting on the side at a yarn shop in Grand Rapids, Mich. and [she] knit and designed these amazing intarsia sweaters,” Dykhuizen said. “She sold them for hundreds and hundreds of dollars and that caught my attention.”

Soon after, she began to meet with her teacher every day after school to knit, thereby fostering a love for handmade knit crafts.

After Dykhuizen graduated from Columbia in 2006 with a Bachelor’s degree in Fiction Writing, she translated her love for knitting into a creative teaching outlet, she said.

Current classes include learning how to knit goldfish toilet lid covers, two-textured gloves, cowl scarves to hats—or even general holiday gift prep. The sessions usually last about two hours and about five ladies meet once a week or every other week. The classes cost anywhere from $15 – $40, depending on the difficulty of the project. Beginners, experts and everyone in between are all welcome to learn how to cable knit or double point, essentially working on projects that they might need help with, Dykhuizen said.
New Wave Coffee, 3103 W. Logan Ave., has been the home to The Sweatshop of Love’s weekly knitting classes since 2006 and will also serve as the last destination for the yarn crawl on Nov. 21.

The crawl will consist of “classes, yarn discounts, snacks and goodies,” Dykhuizen said. “We’re just going to meander, pick up some yarn and have a good afternoon.” She said she’s hoping to see at least 20 to 30 people come out for the crawl.

The ladies will begin at 10 a.m. at the DIY trunk show, which is a handmade craft fair where they have raffles and yarn sales at Pulaski Park Fieldhouse, 1419 W. Blackhawk St. Then they’ll venture out to Nina: A Well-Knit Shop, 1655 W. Division St., Knitting Workshop, 2115 N. Damen Ave and finally Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts, 2639 N. Elston Ave., to stock up on knitting supplies. They will end up at New Wave Coffee to start their projects. Dykhuizen said she’ll be crawling right along with them so they can ask questions about the materials they need for certain projects.

Having continued to develop her skills, she now has a 300-person mailing list, a frequented blog and many returning knitters for all of her specific-themed classes. Students attribute this to the nature of her warm, helpful teaching techniques.

Rachael Morie, a regular class attendee, tried to knit years ago, but could never quite get the hang of it, she said.

Morie, 33, found The Sweatshop of Love from one of Dykhuizen’s Craigslist ads in 2006, and has been continuing to take many different classes.

“I’ve seen other classes in boutiques and knitting stores and they charge a lot of money,” Morie said. “That’s what we like to call ‘not-knitting.’ It shouldn’t be such a closed-off thing. [Dykhuizen] just opens it up for everyone and she makes it so easy. She’s taught children to do this as well.”

Recently, Morie found a picture of a sweater, which did not have an easy pattern to go along with it, she said. She ended up bringing the pattern to class and Dykhuizen helped her to figure it out.

“She sat with me and wrote it out for me step-by-step, and it turned out awesome,” Morie said, who plans on attending the yarn crawl in November.

Brijeet Dhaliwal, 31, has been attending The Sweatshop of Love classes since 2008 and is planning on attending the yarn crawl as well.

“When I met Allyson, all I was doing was basic scarves and dishcloths,” Dhaliwal said. “Now I know how to make things like socks, sweaters and toys. I’m also learning how to lace while knitting.”

She, not unlike Morie, describes Dykhuizen as a natural teacher who always has constructive advice and will work on a budget with each student for their knitting supplies.

“I don’t think she’s met a pattern that’s taken her down,” Dhaliwal said.

For additional information, visit TheSweashopofLove.com.