The Sweatshop of Love Blog

My friend Theresa VanderMeer runs an organization called The Lotus Odyssey that exports fair-trade products from different eco/people-friendly groups in India. She is starting a foundation called WORK+SHELTER that will offer women living in the slums of New Delhi a fresh start. Theresa is working to give these women decent living conditions and a chance to build a better future. WORK+SHELTER will be a safe place where women can come with their children to live and work. She will be providing training, materials, and a fair wage, and members of WORK+SHELTER will be producing products to be sold in boutiques around the world.

Two Sweaters in One Pattern!

Theresa asked me to design garments and accessories that will be hand knit by the women living and working at WORK+SHELTER. These sweaters are two of those items! By purchasing this pattern you are helping this amazing cause. Read more about this project here, donate by emailing Theresa, and when someone compliments you on your beautiful new sweater, be sure to tell them about WORK+SHELTER.

Winter!

WORK+SHELTER LACE STRIPED SWEATERS

Finished Size 36 (41, 46, 51) bust circumference. Sweaters shown in size 36.

Summer!

MATERIALS

Winter Sweater Yarn Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, 100% Peruvian Highland Wool. 110yds/50g: White, 8 (10, 13, 15) skeins.

Summer Sweater Yarn Knit Picks Comfy Worsted, 75% Pima Cotton, 25% Arcylic. 109yds/50g: Ivory, 6 (7, 9, 10) skeins.

The Beautiful Striped Shoulder: Winter Sweater

Needles Size 9 (5.5 mm) 24” and 16” circulars, or size to obtain gauge.

Notions Tapestry needle.

See-Through Back! Bra Straps! Tank! GAH!

GAUGE

18 sts and 20 rows – 4” in St st.

WORK+SHELTER Lace Striped Sweaters pattern is $6

Ravelry Pattern Page

My friend Theresa VanderMeer runs an organization called The Lotus Odyssey that exports fair-trade products from different eco/people-friendly groups in India. She is starting a foundation called WORK+SHELTER that will offer women living in the slums of New Delhi a fresh start. Theresa is working to give these women decent living conditions and a chance to build a better future. WORK+SHELTER will be a safe place where women can come with their children to live and work. She will be providing training, materials, and a fair wage, and members of WORK+SHELTER will be producing products to be sold in boutiques around the world.

Lace Striped Shawl

Theresa asked me to design garments and accessories that will be hand knit by the women living and working at WORK+SHELTER. This lace striped shawl is one of those items! By purchasing this pattern you are helping this amazing cause. Read more about this project here, donate by emailing Theresa, and when someone compliments you on your beautiful new shawl, be sure to tell them about WORK+SHELTER.

Wrapped Up and Cozy!

WORK+SHELTER LACE STRIPED SHAWL

Finished Size 60” wide, 36” long at triangle’s point.

MATERIALS

Yarn Knit Picks Comfy Worsted, 75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic. 109 yds/ 50g: 5 skeins Sea Foam.

Needles Size 10 (6 mm) 24” circulars.

Notions Tapestry needle.

Worsted Lace Stripes!

GAUGE

14 sts and 20 rows – 4” in St st.

WORK+SHELTER Lace Striped Shawl is $3

Ravelry Pattern Page

My friend Theresa VanderMeer runs an organization called The Lotus Odyssey that exports fair-trade products from different eco/people-friendly groups in India. She is starting a foundation called WORK+SHELTER that will offer women living in the slums of New Delhi a fresh start. Theresa is working to give these women decent living conditions and a chance to build a better future. WORK+SHELTER will be a safe place where women can come with their children to live and work. She will be providing training, materials, and a fair wage, and members of WORK+SHELTER will be producing products to be sold in boutiques around the world.

WORK+SHELTER Market Bag

Theresa asked me to design garments and accessories that will be hand knit by the women living and working at WORK+SHELTER. This market bag is one of those items! By purchasing this pattern you are helping this amazing cause. Read more about this project here, donate by emailing Theresa, and when someone compliments you on your sweet market bag, be sure to tell them about WORK+SHELTER.

Cute and Practical!

WORK+SHELTER MARKET BAG

Finished Size 9” deep, 10” wide, with an 8” handle.

MATERIALS

Yarn Knit Picks Dishie, 100% Cotton. 190yds/100g: Conch.

Needles Size 9 (5.5 mm) 16-24” circulars.

Notions Tapestry needle.

Just Back from the Store!

GAUGE Not important.

WORK+SHELTER Market Bag is $2

Ravelry Pattern Page

I couldn’t be more excited to show you the pattern I’ve got in the new Knitscene Magazine!

Tulip Slouch - Knitscene Spring 2012

This is the hat that was suppose to be a top. When I submitted this duplicate stitch tulip motif it was sideways across the top of a slouchy, short sleeved tunic. Lisa Shroyer, the editor of Knitscene, emailed me saying she liked the tulips but didn’t love the top, and wondered if I saw the motif on a different project. We emailed back and forth a few sketches of a possible clutch and hat ideas before Lisa gave the ok for this slouch.

Tulip Slouch from the Back

I was so excited to see these pictures when the issue preview was released last week. I really love this hat. It’s so fun and bright, and the tulips give a little shout out to my Dutch heritage! And duplicate stitch is something that I hope gains some popularity. As a girl who love embroidery but hats intarsia, I end up duplicate stitching all my color work.

Me in my Tulip Slouch!

I took some pictures of my sample before mailing it off to Knitscene last August. My knitting this sample was a little frantic because I was in Minneapolis at the time, and the yarn got mailed to Chicago. By the time I got the yarn I had like 10 days to knit the hat, and I messed up the first sample beyond repair, so I had to start over. Needless to say, I didn’t duplicate stitch for a while after that!

Tulips Down One Side...

The body of the hat is knit in one piece, and tulips are duplicate stitched like they are growing from the bottom to the top. When you are wearing it, you can see the tulips wrap around your head, shown going down one side…

... And Up the Other!

… and up the other. It’s CUTE y’all!

I used Knit Picks Gloss Fingering in a whole mess of colors. This would be a great hat to knit if you had a bunch of sock yarn scraps laying around. You’d just pick your neutral main color and duplicate stitch with your scraps! It’d be beautiful in any combination of colors.

I’ve been floored by the attention this hat has been getting! This issue is a total knockout, FULL of really beautiful designs by knitters I love, and somehow my design keeps getting mentioned as a standout, even getting a shout out on the Knitting Daily email yesterday.

But like I said. It is the hat that was suppose to be a top. Shows what I know!

Stupid Samantha

When I was little I wanted an American Girl Doll SO BAD! Samantha, the Victorian era doll, was my favorite, and part of what I liked so much about her was her amazing plaid cape, fuzzy white hat and matching muff. This love intensified when my elementary school frememy not only got Samantha for as a birthday present at her American Girl Doll themed birthday party, but also the matching fuzzy muff she could wear! It was torture!

20+ years later and I’ve finally gotten my revenge with this ridiculously awesome and way better than a fuzzy white muff Granny Square Muff pattern. Crocheted granny squares seamed together and assembled around a knit lining to keep your hands extra warm.

Eat your heart out, Samantha.

Granny Square Muff!

GRANNY SQUARE MUFF PATTERN

Finished Size Muff is 12 1/2” wide and 7” tall.

MATERIALS

Yarn About 500 yards of worsted weight yarn. This is a great stash busting project if you want to make all your granny squares different colors, otherwise get a couple healthy skeins. Main color as shown requires about 300 yards.

Granny Squares FTW!

Needles Size G (6 mm) crochet hook, size 8 (5 mm) knitting needles, and 2 size 11 (8 mm) double pointed needles.

Notions Tapestry needle.

The Knit Lining! Muff Inside Out.

GAUGE

For lining in MC and with size 8 needles, 14 sts and 21 rows = 4” square in St st.

Ravelry Pattern Page

for $3.50