The Sweatshop of Love Blog

I’ve loved Wool and the Gang since they were introduced to me years ago. Their fresh, fun, and accessible approach to knitting is something a strive for with my own knits and attitude, so when they approached me about a guest article I jumped at the chance just in case I could be the one to introduce this fun company to you.

One Cozy, Sustainable Skein

Wool and the Gang is committed to bringing knitters wool harvested sustainably and ethically from Peru. Whether you are purchasing a kit, a finished piece of knitwear, or a skein of their beautifully dyed yarn, you know you are getting the highest quality yarn direct from their own sustainable source in Peru.

From their site: The ready-to-wear clothing is hand knitted by locals steeped in the skill and tradition. The knitting wool for the locals or for you, is provided by grazing sheep at altitudes conducive to a uniquely pure and effective product. You get wonderful colors, and silkiness without sacrificing the stout thermal quality that makes wool such a magical material. The treatment the sheep receive is based on a deep and rich connection of the ranchers with their herd. The sheep get individual names and harvesting is done by hand sheering with superior care taken to never to do harm. Not only is it the right way and the time-honored way, it is integral to creating an amazing quality wool for you.

Wool And The Gang

More than that, their knits are simple and cool. On their blog they share a lot of the inspiration behind their knits, shots from their dreamy photo shoots, and stories about visiting their knitters and spinners in Peru.

A Kit For You!

And even though I want to keep this kit SO BAD, I’m going to suck it up and give it away to one lucky blog reader!

Snood Dogg in Tweed Grey

Wool and the Gang’s Snood Dogg is a fantastically chunky snood that you are sure to wear every single day. And what an amazing time to get this kit! It will knit up quickly in the yarn and needles included in the kit, and you will be sorry when spring rolls around so you will have to stop wearing it!

To Enter:

1. Leave a comment on this post!
2. Tweet: “I just entered @sweatshopoflove’s @woolandthegang Snood Dogg kit giveaway and you should, too! http://bit.ly/vUsOiO”, and leave a separate comment on this blog post telling me you did.
3. Post this giveaway on facebook, and leave a separate comment on this blog post telling me you did.

You’ve got until the end of the day Monday, November 28th, when I’ll randomly pick a winner. Good luck, and be sure to pop over to Wool and the Gang and say hi for me!

I’ll be sitting behind a booth this Saturday at the annual DIY Trunk Show!

DIY TRUNK SHOW!

This year the show is at the Broadway Armory, 5917 North Broadway Street. I’ll have kits and knits and patterns and all kinds of fun things out.

And they are giving away goody bags to the first 150 customers! Study up on all the amazing vendors, put together a list of people you are holiday shopping for, and come out to say hi.

DIY Trunk Show

Where: Broadway Armory 5917 North Broadway Street

When: This Saturday, Nov 19th from 10am-5pm

Free!

I’m in love with Craft, and even if I’m working my buns off I always make time to look at every single project they share on their blog. I’m constantly being inspired by the work I see there, and lately I’ve been finding some new crafters to follow and love through their new series “5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Things About…” Recently they put out a call for more of these answers, so I thought I’d jump at the chance!

1 Project You Are Particularly Proud Of

My Blog!

This is probably pretty silly, but of all the things I do with The Sweatshop of Love, I’m most proud of THIS! My blog. I’ve been blogging almost daily here for about 2 1/2 years. Even though I’ve directly made no money from daily blogging, the relationships I’ve formed with the blog have lead to all of my successes. If I’m not blogging I feel lost, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

2 Mistakes You’ve Made in the Past

1. I’m really bad at asking for help. When I started The Sweatshop of Love 5 1/2 years ago I did EVERYTHING myself without asking for advice or help of any kind. Now I know that I can’t do everything! Even though I’m still bad at asking for help, I’m getting better. I hire experts to do things for me, like design my website and layout my patterns. Collaboration is important for everyone. And there are some things I can’t do myself! Like code. And use InDesign.

2. I also spent a few years being comfortable with where The Sweatshop of Love was in the world. I taught classes, designed for my students, and didn’t have a vision for my business. In 2008 I started reading small business blogs and starting to get a sharper focus on what my business goals were, and started executing them. When I have a moment the first thing I think is, ‘What could I be doing now to make my business better?’ I also love the idea that you should constantly be terrified of failing, because it means you are pushing yourself. I try to push myself every day; with my designs, with my plans for my business, with my collaborations and professional friendships and relationships.

3 Things That Make Your Work Unique

1. My perspective, but that is true with everyone. I try to be really true to my perspective and focus instead of trying to make the most commercial knits, knowing fully well they won’t appeal to everyone.

2. Being myself! I do things that I like, and use materials that I like, and do it in a way that is true to who I am. And I never apologize for it.

3. FUN! I try to make everything I do fun. I don’t take myself or what I do too seriously. Everything about knitting and The Sweatshop of Love should be fun, or I’m doing something wrong.

4 Tools That You Love To Use

TONS of Knitting Needles

TONS of Yarn

TONS of Fabric Covered Buttons

TONS of Cables

5 Inspirations

1. My Blogroll. Blogs like Knitted Bliss, Purl Bee, Jane Richmond, Under the Red Umbrella, ThreadPanda, Knitting, Fuck Yeah!, CraftyPod, Voolenvine, and, of course, Craft, are constantly doing, showing, and creating amazing things. I want to keep up!

2. Fashion. I read fashion blogs like The Owls are Not What They Seem, Kendi Everyday, Calivintage, and Go Fug Yourself for non-knit garments I like, and I try to figure out how to make a knitted version. I’m constantly stopping strangers on the street to ask them about their clothes, and sketching ideas.

3. The Midwest is Best!

I grew up in Michigan. I’ve lived in Chicago for eight years and have spent a lot of time in Minneapolis. I LOVE the Midwest and hope I never have to live anywhere else. It is who I am, and inspires me every day.

4. Minimalism. I love the idea that if you spend less you have to make less. I try not to take up a lot of unnecessary space and to only own things that are necessary to my life and happiness. People, places, and experiences make me happy.

5. As hugely LAME this is to write, number 5 is love. I LOVE knitting. I LOVE designing. I LOVE knitters, and talking to knitters, and knitting with knitters, and tweeting knitting, and tweeting with knitters, and writing about knitting, and yarn and talking about yarn and squishing yarn. I just LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE knitting! I love it so much it hurts.

Like this series and care to read more?! Peruse Crafts archive. You’ll LOVE it!

I know, I know, it’s super early to be scheduling Holiday Parties, but when you’ve got holiday knitting to plan, the earlier the better.

The Sweatshop of Love Holiday Party!

When: Friday, December 9th at 7pm

Where: Green Eye Lounge on Western and Milwaukee

We come up with a lot of excuses to knit in the bar, but I think the Holiday Season is our best excuse yet. It’s time to celebrate nearing the end of holiday gift knitting with some beers and some more knitting! So grab an easy project (its dark, and loud, and there will be beer) and please join us at Green Eye on Dec 9th!

RSVP on our Facebook Event Page. It’s going to be an awesome time!

Secret Knitting Santa

Want to knit a present for someone you know will appreciate it? Then knit something for a knitter! Let me know if you want to participate in this years Secret Santa exchange.

Rules: Put together a knitterly gift! Knit something, put together a kit, package up some pretty yarn, buy some much needed needles or a project bag. A good rule of thumb is buy or knit for yourself, and your Secret Knitting Santa will probably love it.

Let me know if you want to participate! I’ll be drawing names and letting you know who your person is a week from today, Wednesday, November 2nd. You will need to either guarantee you are coming to the party on Dec 9th or get me your present before the party to participate. I had a hell of a time last year getting presents to people and I’m not doing it again, dammit! (<- holiday cheer!)

I’ve been pretty much constantly wearing my half fabric half crochet scarf since I finished it back in September.

Sweet Scarf!

I know that if you had one you’d love it and wear it as much as I do, so I’m having a party!

Half Fabric Half Crochet Infinity Scarf Workshop!

When: Saturday, November 12th from 12-2pm

Where: Knitting Workshop at 2115 N Damen

What You’ll Need:

• 44″ by 16″ square of fabric that is the same on both sides
• 330 – 400 yards of worsted weight yarn
• Crochet hooks, size 1 (2.35 mm), and size J (6 mm)

Knitting Workshop has been kind enough to host our event! Mary will have yarn and crochet hooks available for purchase before our workshop, and some coffee and treats. Yay!

I’ll have a hole puncher and a ton of help to offer to get you started on this fun project.

Scarf For The Win!

Please RSVP for this event by emailing me at allyson[at]thesweatshopoflove[dot]com, commenting with your email address on this post, or RSVP on the Facebook Event Page!

Excited?! Me too! I can’t wait to craft with you all on the 12th!