The Sweatshop of Love Blog

Today is the day! I’ve been talking about it and working on these patterns like a crazy person and today it is finally ready for you to enjoy!

It's Here! It's Here!

That link takes you to www.e-junkie.com where you will type in your info or paypal and a PDF of the ebook will be available for download. Pretty sweet, right?

This ebook includes easy to read and super clear instructions for 10 fun summer knits and some helpful how-tos to get you through this summer knitting season. Scroll down for pictures and click links for more information on each pattern.

Questions about a pattern before you buy? Let me know!

Ebook Patterns:

Caitlin’s Cardi ~ More Info

Door County Wooden Handle Bag ~ More Info

Twin Cities Headband ~ More Info

Hyde Park Legwarmers ~ More Info

Traverse City Tube Top ~ More Info

Gus Gus Kitty Toy ~ More Info

Detroit Tigers Headband ~ More Info

Twin Cities Anklets ~ More Info

Baby Sweater Buffet ~ More Info

The Look Entrelac Tank Top ~ More Info

Shoot me an email if you have any questions about any of the patterns found in the ebook. I hope from the bottom of my heart that you enjoy it!

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Caitlin's Cardi

Monday night wing night is a staple among my group of friends. When Caitlin showed up in a short sleeved red vintage cardigan with no tag she thrifted for $3 ages ago, I knew I had to recreate that sweater for myself. It was fun examining an existing sweater for stitch counts and gauges and increases, trying to match on my needles what was happening on the sweater. Especially since I found mistakes, dropped stitches, and I’m pretty sure the wool sweater was shrunk a few times. And mystery button hole band stitches were discovered to be crocheted!

I added a few of my own touches – cable bands to the tops of the pockets and big fabric covered statement buttons – but whoever knit Caitlin’s cardigan originally would be able to recognize my version today.

Caitlin's Cardi

Caitlin’s Cardi is a short sleeved cardigan with cable accents down the front, at the center of each sleeve, and on the tiny front pockets. The body is worked in a deep textured lazy man’s seed stitch pattern in one piece from the bottom up. At armholes the fronts are held while back is completed, then each front is completed separately. Sleeves are worked from cable band down to create a puffed look. Finally, tiny cable lined pockets are added that are, lets face it, are more adorable than they are functional! After assembled, a single crochet neck edge, button band, and button hole band are worked to complete the look. Make this cardi even more special by finding unique fabric to cover your buttons!

CAITLIN’S CARDI

Finished Measurements 30 (34, 38, 42)” bust circumference. Cardigan shown in size 34″.

Yarn Patons Classic Wool (100% pure new wool; 223 yds [205 m]/100g): Jade Heather, 3 (4, 4, 5) balls.

Needles Size 8 (5 mm): 29″ circular (cir). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge. Size G crochet hook.

Notions Removable markers (m), cable needle, stitch holders or scrap yarn, 7 (8, 8, 9) 1 1/8″ fabric covered buttons, tapestry needle. Fun fabric for buttons.

GAUGE

22 sts and 26 rows in stitch pattern = 4″
Row 1: K
Row 2: *K1, P1; rep from * to end
Repeat rows for stitch pattern.

Ravelry Page ~ All Ebook Patterns

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Purchase Pattern:

Caitlin's Cardi

To say that I’m happy with the way this sweater turned out is an understatement! Just to catch everyone up, I stole a sweater from my friend Caitlin that she found at a thrift store in order to try to duplicate it because I loved it so much.

The Original Caitlin Cardi

I’ve spent a lot of time with this sweater. We are best friends now, really. I know a lot of her secrets. Which I am going to tell you because I’m a catty bitch like that:

1) I’m pretty sure this sweater was shrunk somewhere along the way because it really feels felted. The more I knit the stitch pattern I figured out it was worked in, what I’ve been calling the lazy man’s seed stitch, the more I noticed that mine looks super textured, where this poor old girl has been worked pretty hard.

2) This sweater is for sure a hand knit. In all my staring I found a few mistakes in the stitch pattern, but the seaming is perfect. I kept looking for seaming mistakes to confirm my hand knit suspicions, since anyone would be able to take one look at the inside of one of my sweaters and know instantly it’s hand made, but there are none.

3) She’s got a single crochet button bands and neck edging!

Cables, Crochet Button Bands

Cables, Crochet Button Bands

It’s a really smart and easy way to make button holes if you know how to crochet and if you can get that first row down. I had a hard time spacing the single crochets to make sure the front of the sweater didn’t pucker.

4) These sleeves are off the chain.

Puffed, Cabled Sleeves

Puffed, Cabled Sleeves

I started at the top of the shoulder with the cable band, did some fancy PU trickery, and knit the sleeves from there. Top. Down. Sleeves.

Puffy Sleeves!

I feel like Anne of Green Gables up in here! I accidentally typed Anne of Green Cables at first. **Filing that away for a future sweater name**

5) She’s got kinda boring pockets. That I modified to be way cuter!

Boring Pockets

HOTT Pockets!

I added a Cable Band to the tops of the mini pockets, just for a little added jazz and a little more depth. I mean, still pretty functionless, but if you aren’t going to have function you might as well be as cute as possible!

2/8/10 EDIT: Only need size 42″ test knitter now!

I want to have this sweater pattern available ASAP because I’ve already been getting some lovely feedback about it. And some scary threats that if I don’t have this pattern out soon I’ll find a horse head in my bed. So I need two more text knitters! If you are interested in test knitting the 34″ or 42″ bust size options email me at allyson[at]thesweatshopoflove[dot]com for more information.

I’ve been hesitating to call this my February Sweater for the Knit a Sweater a Month Challenge because, well.

Body Mostly Done

I accidentally almost finished the body of Caitlin’s Sweater.

Cabled Front Edging

Original Cabled Fronts

There is a crocheted button hole band and neck edging, so other than that, which is a finishing touch, I think it looks pretty good!

Sweater's Body Stitch

I’ve got the body stitch down and it isn’t driving me too crazy. It’s like the lazy man’s seed stitch. And you all know I am a lazy man when it comes to seed stitch.

Half Rib Seed Stitch Thing

So this sweater is perfect!

I jumped the gun on the January Sweater (blasted January Sweater) so I don’t want to do it again. I was sad and I wanted to knit a sweater. Maybe I’ll have it finished by the 1st so I can start another sweater?

I might have a problem.