The Sweatshop of Love Blog

I was a busy bee last week updating the crap out of my etsy shop with a ton of new merchandise after a very dismal showing at Renegade Brooklyn.

Daisy Chain Necklace

Included in this update are my new kits! My first ever crochet kits, they are the Daisy Chain Necklace and Ruffle Bracelet.

Ruffle Bracelet Crochet Kit

Just like all my kits, these new crochet kits come with everything you need to put together these beautiful pieces of jewelry.

Both kits come in blue and yellow and you can check out all four new crochet kits in my etsy shop here.They are also available to buy already made and ready to wear!

Red Hello Sailor Knot Necklace

Also available are a ton of different colored finished Hello Sailor Knot Necklaces that are ready for you to wear without having to do any work! I added a Hello Sailor Knot Necklace knit kits in different fun colors, too.

Knot Bracelet

I added a bunch of these cute knot bracelets to the shop in a ton of different colors!

Bow Headbands

MORE! I added a bunch of my fun bow headbands that are ready to wear on your little head!

Cable Change Purses!

I knit up a few of my cable change purses in the same fun colors everything else is knit in and they are pretty much too cute for words.

Baseball Lining!

A little purse with a masculine edge! I got this adorable baseball fabric from Lily and just new it had to make purse lining.

The Sweatshop of Love Tote!

And I’ve got tote bags! Yellow or natural, these fun, screen printed yarn totes are hot!

I’m sending out a newsletter tomorrow with a coupon code for free shipping on all items in my shop so be sure sign up for my newsletter! Subscribe in the box to the right, or email me at allyson[at]thesweatshopoflove[dot]com to get the coupon.

Thanks so much for your support!

Things have been quiet around here on the knitting front, but despite my mad carpel tunnel I have been knitting up a little storm for Renegade Brooklyn, which kicks of in less than a month.

Hello Sailor!

These Hello Sailor Knot Necklaces should look familiar – they have been around for a while and are a favorite. A lot of icord? Hellz yeah. I’ve got 7 main colors I’m working with for the majority of my knits and kits for summer and I LOVE them. I can’t wait to start wearing these knits around myself.

Hello Sailor Knot... BRACELET?!

These should not look familiar! New this summer is the Hello Sailor Knot Bracelet – a super chunky fun bracelet using the same knot in the necklace, only, you know, bracelet-ized.

COLORS!

So yeah I was basically icording for 3 weeks straight. But worth it! I’m in love with these bracelets.

Cabled Change Purses

An oldie but a goodie, my Cabled Change Purse pattern is making a comeback! In all my bright summer colors I think they are so fun, and once I get zippers and linings for these little purses they are going to be even cuter.

Crochet Body Necklaces

And these?! Well, they are new, too. I’ll chat more about these later. Ohh body necklace cock tease!

So I’ve been a busy lady! As far as knitting and designing for Renegade I’m 95% finished.  I’ve got a TON of sewing and packing and organizing and tagging to do once I get back to Minneapolis, but I’m on pace to have a really great Renegade!

As of this moment I’ve got four tiny gifts to make to complete my holiday knitting. We are talking one weekend’s worth of knitting time. And it’s December 3rd! Holiday knitting success!

Based on the emails and texts, facebook and twitter comments I’ve been getting, not everyone is as close to being finished as I am. So what better way to ease some holiday stress than helping you check someone off your to-knit-for list?

I’m giving away custom knit gifts!

Win this giveaway and you will win the chance to pick a project from one of my patterns and the yarn color of your choice. I will knit it up and mail it to your mom/uncle/wife/best friend/step dad by December 18th! Plenty of time to get to your loved one before Christmas.

Your Hand Knit Present Choices Are:

Cabled Cowl

Cabled Change Purse

Slouchy Beret

Eric Man-Beanie or Eric Man-Stocking Cap

Even better? I’m giving away TWO custom made gifts! So you have two chances to win!

To enter: Leave a comment on this post about which gift you would choose and who the hand knit would be for. Extra points for following me on twitter if you don’t already and tweeting this giveaway and becoming a fan of The Sweatshop of Love on facebook if you aren’t already and saying hi on our wall.

You have until Sunday, December 6th to enter! I will contact the winners Monday to get any final instructions before I get materials and get knitting.

The Sweatshop of Love is here to ease some holiday stress! And I can’t wait to read your responses.

Wall Organizer!

Sewing is way more high contact than knitting is! You forget that when you haven’t done it in a while. And, granted I did go to the gym  yesterday morning and ran a couple miles while watching college football pregame, I’m SORE this morning.

In my SHOULDERS. And arms. Because I haven’t sewn for a long time.

It’s not just sitting at the sewing machine and going at it. You are rolling around on the floor, cutting a ton of fabric, measuring your fabric out, getting up and down off the floor.

… ok yeah it’s pathetic that I’m sore from sewing.

But got so much done! I made my wall organizer! Kinda.

Bottom Row

It’s a little crooked. The pockets are a little crooked. The top was a little crooked and, thus, it hangs a little crooked. I have never made a sewing project without a pattern that you pin to the fabric and then cut out before. This pattern was like, cut two 21″ x 31″ rectangles. In hindsight, maybe I should have marked out the measurements instead of being too stubborn that thinking I could just wing it. Eh.

Top Row

I scrambled around my apartment to find things to put in the pockets for the picture, but I’m excited to actually put things in there that will come in handy. And it makes my work table look more like a work table. I love it, despite it’s crookedness.

I made a couple artistic changes to the original design – I made the rod casing the same color as the pockets instead of the same color as the background. I sewed around the entire wall hanging after turning it out to give it a more finished look. I finished it by seaming the rod casing and sewing it over the top of the purple pieces after I had turned it out so I wouldn’t have to hand sew.

Overall, the pattern was over written, and not even for clarity’s sake. I skipped an entire page of instructions that could have simple been described in one step.

But! I’ve got a wall organizer now!

Tara's Linings

Tara, who made my amazing sign, asked me to pay her in linings for all the cabled change purses she is making for holiday presents, so I knocked those out yesterday, too. Seven! It was a lot of cutting.

Toilet Lid Cover Elastic

I had a couple toilet lid covers to put elastic into. Rachael took my class and I said I would elastic her, and I finished my brother Adam’s house warming/Christmas present.

Go Blue

Though, naturally, Michigan was getting the crap beat out of them while I was working on this, which took the joy out of it for me. I see it’s cute, I see it turned out well, but it makes me want to punch someone. I don’t think Adam reads the blog so I’m not worried about him seeing it.

Rachael's Toilet Lid Cover!

Velma Approves

Velma loves my toilet lid cover so much! She is always sitting on it when I’m getting ready to leave in the morning. I couldn’t even slip these on my toilet lid without her jumping up and making herself comfortable.

Rachael’s lid looks great! And Velma obviously loves it.

Off to class this morning, then I’ve got to FINISH THOSE STUPID SLEEVES! And make that message board thing. And maybe my Halloween costume.

AND I’ve got a HUGE announcement coming tomorrow! Chicago knitters will be pleased as punch. I’m not going to say anything else because I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag. I’m bad enough with secrets as it is. Check back tomorrow!

I couldn’t be more excited to share this pattern with everyone! I’m quite proud of it, and the finished product couldn’t be cuter, if I say so myself.

If you have any questions feel free to email me at allyson@thesweatshopoflove.com and I’ll be happy to help. Trouble with the pattern all around? Sign up for a group class and knit it with my help!

The Sweatshop of Love

Cabled Change Purse Pattern

Finished Measurements: Length 4 inches, width 6 ½ inches

Materials:

• Any worsted weight yarn; I used Vanna’s Choice
• Size 10 straight needles
• Six inch zipper in matching color
• 8×10 inch piece of fabric, for lining
• Needle and thread, for sewing lining
• Fabric pins

Stitch Patterns:

Seed Stitch

RS: K1, P1 across

WS: K the Ps, P the Ks across

Cable 1: SL4 sts to cable needle and hold to front, K3, K4 sts from cable needle, SL3 sts to cable needle and hold to back, K4, K3 sts from cable needle.

Cable 2: SL3 sts to cable needle and hold to back, K4, K3 sts from cable needle, SL4 sts to cable needle and hold to front, K3, K4 sts from cable needle.

Directions:

Cast On 30 sts. P1 row (ws).

Purse Pattern Rows:

Row 1 (RS): K1, work 7 sts in seed st, K14, work 7 sts in seed st, K1

Row 2 (WS): P1, work 7 sts in seed st, P14, work 7 sts in seed st, P1

Repeat these 2 rows 2 times more.

Cable Row 1 (RS): K1, work 7 sts in seed st, work Cable 1, work 7 sts in seed sts, K1

Work 3 Purse Pattern Rows, starting with a WS row.

Cable Row 2 (RS): K1, work 7 sts in seed st, work Cable 2, work 7 sts in seed sts, K1

Work Purse Pattern Rows, starting with a WS row, until purse measures 6 inches from beginning, ending with a WS row.

Repeat Cable Row 1.

Work 3 Purse Pattern Rows, starting with a WS row.

Repeat Cable Row 2.

Work 5 Purse Pattern Rows, starting with a WS row.

K 1 row (RS). Bind off.

Finishing:

Seam sides of purse.

Pin Zipper in Place

Fold material in half with right sides together and pin side seams together. Fold the top of the material on one side down about ½ an inch. With the right side of the zipper facing up, pin zipper to folded edge of material. Repeat for second side of bag. With a sewing machine or by hand, sew up side seams, then sew zipper in place.

Yay Cute Bag!

With bag lining unzipped, push lining into bag and pin in place. Sew in lining, being careful not to get the lining or knit portion of the bag too close to the zipper. I think it is easier to hand sew lining into place, but if you prefer machine sewing go ahead!

Cut strings! Love forever.