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Knitting in the Bar Anniversary Party!

30% Off All Patterns and Giveaways!

To help celebrate The Sweatshop of Love’s 5 year anniversary, use coupon code SOL5YEARS on Ravelry and Etsy for 30% off everything there!

This week on The Sweatshop of Love Blog I’ll be giving away my The Loop Entrelac Top and Traverse City Tube Top patterns and the yarn you’ll need to make them! Be sure to check over there throughout the week to enter and see if you won.

You’ll have more of a shot at winning if you follow The Sweatshop on twitter and if you are a fan on facebook, so get on it!

Knitting in the Bar Anniversary Party!

Like we really need an excuse to drink some beers while knitting in public, but this is actually a good one! To help celebrate The Sweatshop of Love’s 5 year anniversary we are going to knock back a few and get our knitting on!

I’ll also be piecing out soon to spend the summer in Minneapolis so we need to spend as much time together as possible before I don’t see y’all till the fall.

I hope you can join us Friday May 13th at 8pm at Green Eye Lounge on Milwaukee and Western. This is a change of location from our normal knitting bar, but Streetside let us down at Christmas so I thought we should shake things up.

Green Eye has no kitchen, but our beloved Tamale Guy swings around often and if you want to grab some food and bring it in

Bring your knitting and some cash for beers (Green Eye is cash only!) and let’s do this anniversary thing up right!

RSVP over at The Sweashop’s Anniversary Party event page on Facebook!

As always, email me at allyson [at] thesweatshopoflove [dot] com with any questions and to sign up for a class. I can’t wait to get started!

- Allyson

The Sweatshop of Love’s Spring Class Schedule

Group Knitting: Come get help starting a project, finishing a project, picking a project, picking materials, or learning something new! These classes are here for you to make up class time with, especially missed Holiday Present Prep classes, and any scheduled classes you can’t make it to can be rescheduled during these class times. All of these classes are from 7-9pm and are $15.

Tuesday May 3
Thursday May 5
Wednesday May 11
Thursday May 12

~~~

One on One Classes: Is there something you are interested in knitting that you don’t see listed here? Pick a project or a new skill and email me to set up a one on one class! I generally schedule classes weekday nights 7-9pm and weekend days in two hour blocks between 10am-4pm. Send me a few dates and times that work for you. I will match our schedules, pick a time that works for both of us, and give you a class outline. One on one classes are $20 per hour; most classes are two hours long.

~~~

Knitting Book Club: We’re reading Once Again to Zelda by Marlene Wagman-Geller for our Monday, May 2nd meet up. If you are interested in joining the book club, send me an email. Please don’t come with knitting questions as I won’t be teaching anything (so the book club can be free of course), just come to knit and chat about our book!

Please note that all classes are held at New Wave Coffee at 2557 N Milwaukee Ave / 3103 W Logan Blvd in Logan Square unless otherwise noted.

Cowls are the Perfect Spring Accessory!

One day it’s 85, the next day it’s 50, and, yes, there is snow in the forecast for Sunday. Most people will call this annoying, but I call it more opportunities to wear the most versatile knit accessory ever – the cowl!

… yeah, no, it’s TOTALLY annoying. We’re just going to silver lining this situation for a quick second.

My Reflection Cowl class is next week! This 2-part class will help you read a cable chart, decipher a pattern, change colors, cable, and seam. And it’s just darn cute!

As always, email me at allyson [at] thesweatshopoflove [dot] com with any questions and to sign up for a class. I can’t wait to get started!

- Allyson

The Sweatshop of Love’s Spring Class Schedule

Beginner Knitting: Always wanted to learn to knit? This is the perfect time! It’s still cold so you can sit inside and practice your new skillz, and make things for yourself before you get wrapped up in knitting all your holiday presents! This 2 hour class is a great intro to knitting. You’ll learn to knit and purl, the two stitches you’ll be using for all your new projects, to cast on, or start a project, and to bind off, or to end a project. All class times are from 7-9pm and are $25. You can add materials for $8 or bring them yourself.

Tuesday, April 19

~~~

Group Knitting: Come get help starting a project, finishing a project, picking a project, picking materials, or learning something new! These classes are here for you to make up class time with, especially missed Holiday Present Prep classes, and any scheduled classes you can’t make it to can be rescheduled during these class times. All of these classes are from 7-9pm and are $15.


Wednesday April 13
Monday April 25
Tuesday May 3
Thursday May 5
Wednesday May 11
Thursday May 12

~~~

 

Reflection Cowl: Ready to tackle a more challenging cable pattern? Even a cable chart?! This beautiful cowl is cable-licious! Using two worsted weight yarns at once, these cables mirror each other, creating two side by side pannels of cabled goodness. It’s not to say this pattern wouldn’t be good for a beginner – this is a two part class, so we’ve got lots of time to get the cables down, read our cable chart pattern, and switch colors. Wednesdays April 20 and 27, 7-9pm. $40

~~~

One on One Classes: Is there something you are interested in knitting that you don’t see listed here? Pick a project or a new skill and email me to set up a one on one class! I generally schedule classes weekday nights 7-9pm and weekend days in two hour blocks between 10am-4pm. Send me a few dates and times that work for you. I will match our schedules, pick a time that works for both of us, and give you a class outline. One on one classes are $20 per hour; most classes are two hours long.

~~~

Knitting Book Club: We’re reading Once Again to Zelda by Marlene Wagman-Geller for our Monday, May 2nd meet up. If you are interested in joining the book club, send me an email. Please don’t come with knitting questions as I won’t be teaching anything (so the book club can be free of course), just come to knit and chat about our book!

Please note that all classes are held at New Wave Coffee at 2557 N Milwaukee Ave / 3103 W Logan Blvd in Logan Square unless otherwise noted.

Baby Knitting is Tops!

I’ve never really been into babies. When my brother and his then-girlfriend-now-wife Emily told me they were preggers I freaked out about them being so young for about 3 minutes before my brain went: BABY KNITS! And I was sold on the idea of being an aunt.

The baby versions of things are smaller, and therefore quicker and easier. And then there are the toys!

I’m teaching two toys next week! Roaring Dinosaur, the more complex pattern, and Stripy Ball, a fairly simple knit. Both patterns are from Knitted Toys, a book FULL of fun knit toy patterns.

With either of these classes we’ll be working on deciphering a pattern, shaping, construction, and seaming.

As always, email me at allyson [at] thesweatshopoflove [dot] com with any questions and to sign up for a class. I can’t wait to get started!

- Allyson

The Sweatshop of Love’s Spring Class Schedule

Beginner Knitting: Always wanted to learn to knit? This is the perfect time! It’s still cold so you can sit inside and practice your new skillz, and make things for yourself before you get wrapped up in knitting all your holiday presents! This 2 hour class is a great intro to knitting. You’ll learn to knit and purl, the two stitches you’ll be using for all your new projects, to cast on, or start a project, and to bind off, or to end a project. All class times are from 7-9pm and are $25. You can add materials for $8 or bring them yourself.

Wednesday, April 6
Tuesday, April 19

~~~

Toys! More Advanced – Dinosaur! Beginner – Stripey Ball: So I lied. There is one class that isn’t meant for you, though I wouldn’t be opposed to keeping that dinosaur for myself! Everyone is always making babies, so I like to keep a bunch of toy patterns at the ready just in case a baby birth sneaks up on me. I recently received Zoe Mellor’s book Knitted Toys as a gift and now I’ll never have to look for toy patterns again! In this two part class we will be making either the Roaring Dinosaur or the Stripey Ball. Tuesdays April 5 and 12, 7-9pm. $40

 

Roaring Dinosaur: For slightly more advanced knitters, this dino is knit in pieces and seamed together. The pattern calls for sock weight cotton yarn and size 3 needles, but the awesome part about knitting toys is that gauge doesn’t matter! Bring some yarn, any color of course, and needles corresponding to your yarn color, and we’ll do this thing! And of course email me with any materials questions.

 

Stripey Ball: New to shaping and seaming? This toy is a great beginner project and perfect for practicing your seaming skills, color changing, and pattern reading. Any yarn and needles will work! Email me if you’ve got materials questions.

~~~

 

FULL! Chunky Cabled Cowl: This is a pattern that has been around for a while, but for good reason! It’s a great intro to cables, a fast and simple one skein project, an amazing gift (don’t tell anyone I said that) and so darn wearable! You’ll need a pair of size 15 needles and a skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick. Monday April 11, 7-9pm. $20

~~~

Group Knitting: Come get help starting a project, finishing a project, picking a project, picking materials, or learning something new! These classes are here for you to make up class time with, especially missed Holiday Present Prep classes, and any scheduled classes you can’t make it to can be rescheduled during these class times. All of these classes are from 7-9pm and are $15.


Wednesday April 13
Monday April 25
Tuesday May 3
Thursday May 5
Wednesday May 11
Thursday May 12

~~~

 

Reflection Cowl: Ready to tackle a more challenging cable pattern? Even a cable chart?! This beautiful cowl is cable-licious! Using two worsted weight yarns at once, these cables mirror each other, creating two side by side pannels of cabled goodness. It’s not to say this pattern wouldn’t be good for a beginner – this is a two part class, so we’ve got lots of time to get the cables down, read our cable chart pattern, and switch colors. Wednesdays April 20 and 27, 7-9pm. $40

~~~

One on One Classes: Is there something you are interested in knitting that you don’t see listed here? Pick a project or a new skill and email me to set up a one on one class! I generally schedule classes weekday nights 7-9pm and weekend days in two hour blocks between 10am-4pm. Send me a few dates and times that work for you. I will match our schedules, pick a time that works for both of us, and give you a class outline. One on one classes are $20 per hour; most classes are two hours long.

~~~

Knitting Book Club: We’re reading My Abandonment by Peter Rock for our Monday, April 4th meet up. If you are interested in joining the book club, send me an email. Please don’t come with knitting questions as I won’t be teaching anything (so the book club can be free of course), just come to knit and chat about our book!

Please note that all classes are held at New Wave Coffee at 2557 N Milwaukee Ave / 3103 W Logan Blvd in Logan Square unless otherwise noted.

Beginner Knitter?! Try Welly Warmers!

I went heavy on the beginner projects this spring because it’s so hard for people to go from just-learned-to-knit to knitter-of-projects. Welly Warmers are a perfect beginner project for both knitters that have just learned, and knitters that want to learn a few new and intimidating techniques.

Welly Warmers are worked both flat and in the round, so this is a great way to learn how to work with double pointed needles. These puppies also require increasing, ribbing, a pattern stitch, and adding buttons!

It sounds like a lot, but because the Welly Warmers are so small it’s easy to try something out and work on it while learning other things.

As always, email me at allyson [at] thesweatshopoflove [dot] com with any questions and to sign up for a class. I can’t wait to get started!

- Allyson

The Sweatshop of Love’s Spring Class Schedule

Beginner Knitting: Always wanted to learn to knit? This is the perfect time! It’s still cold so you can sit inside and practice your new skillz, and make things for yourself before you get wrapped up in knitting all your holiday presents! This 2 hour class is a great intro to knitting. You’ll learn to knit and purl, the two stitches you’ll be using for all your new projects, to cast on, or start a project, and to bind off, or to end a project. All class times are from 7-9pm and are $25. You can add materials for $8 or bring them yourself.


One Spot Left! Monday, March 21
Wednesday, April 6
Tuesday, April 19

~~~

 

Welly Warmers: A great beginner project, you’ll love these Welly Warmers so much you’ll want to wear your boots right through summer. These boot toppers aren’t full socks, they’re just leg warmers designed to fold over the top of your tall boots – filling that calf space and making your boots look awesome! You’ll need some super chunky yarn, like Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick, and size 11 double pointed needles. And don’t forget about the 4 cute buttons! This class is one session (they’re a quick knit!). Wednesday March 23, 7-9pm. $20

~~~

Toys! More Advanced – Dinosaur! Beginner – Stripey Ball: So I lied. There is one class that isn’t meant for you, though I wouldn’t be opposed to keeping that dinosaur for myself! Everyone is always making babies, so I like to keep a bunch of toy patterns at the ready just in case a baby birth sneaks up on me. I recently received Zoe Mellor’s book Knitted Toys as a gift and now I’ll never have to look for toy patterns again! In this two part class we will be making either the Roaring Dinosaur or the Stripey Ball. Tuesdays April 5 and 12, 7-9pm. $40

 

Roaring Dinosaur: For slightly more advanced knitters, this dino is knit in pieces and seamed together. The pattern calls for sock weight cotton yarn and size 3 needles, but the awesome part about knitting toys is that gauge doesn’t matter! Bring some yarn, any color of course, and needles corresponding to your yarn color, and we’ll do this thing! And of course email me with any materials questions.

 

Stripey Ball: New to shaping and seaming? This toy is a great beginner project and perfect for practicing your seaming skills, color changing, and pattern reading. Any yarn and needles will work! Email me if you’ve got materials questions.

~~~

 

One Spot Left! Chunky Cabled Cowl: This is a pattern that has been around for a while, but for good reason! It’s a great intro to cables, a fast and simple one skein project, an amazing gift (don’t tell anyone I said that) and so darn wearable! You’ll need a pair of size 15 needles and a skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick. Monday April 11, 7-9pm. $20

~~~

Group Knitting: Come get help starting a project, finishing a project, picking a project, picking materials, or learning something new! These classes are here for you to make up class time with, especially missed Holiday Present Prep classes, and any scheduled classes you can’t make it to can be rescheduled during these class times. All of these classes are from 7-9pm and are $15.

Two Spots Left! Wednesday March 16
Wednesday April 13
Monday April 25
Tuesday May 3
Thursday May 5
Wednesday May 11
Thursday May 12

~~~

 

Reflection Cowl: Ready to tackle a more challenging cable pattern? Even a cable chart?! This beautiful cowl is cable-licious! Using two worsted weight yarns at once, these cables mirror each other, creating two side by side pannels of cabled goodness. It’s not to say this pattern wouldn’t be good for a beginner – this is a two part class, so we’ve got lots of time to get the cables down, read our cable chart pattern, and switch colors. Wednesdays April 20 and 27, 7-9pm. $40

~~~

One on One Classes: Is there something you are interested in knitting that you don’t see listed here? Pick a project or a new skill and email me to set up a one on one class! I generally schedule classes weekday nights 7-9pm and weekend days in two hour blocks between 10am-4pm. Send me a few dates and times that work for you. I will match our schedules, pick a time that works for both of us, and give you a class outline. One on one classes are $20 per hour; most classes are two hours long.

~~~

Knitting Book Club: We’re reading My Abandonment by Peter Rock for our Monday, April 4th meet up. If you are interested in joining the book club, send me an email. Please don’t come with knitting questions as I won’t be teaching anything (so the book club can be free of course), just come to knit and chat about our book!

Please note that all classes are held at New Wave Coffee at 2557 N Milwaukee Ave / 3103 W Logan Blvd in Logan Square unless otherwise noted.

What You Want to Knit Right Now: McCarren Park Cap

I’ve been wearing this hat every time I’ve left the house for the past four months. It’s warm and fun and unique – which are three adjectives I use to describe all of my most favorite knits.

Not in Chicago?! You can grab this pattern here and rock it on your own time.

Otherwise this class starts next week! In this class you will learn about textured stitches, picking up stitches, knitting in the round, and crown shaping. Sound fun?! Email me to grab one of the few remaining spots!

As always, email me at allyson [at] thesweatshopoflove [dot] com with any questions and to sign up for a class. I can’t wait to get started!

- Allyson

The Sweatshop of Love’s Spring Class Schedule

One Spot Left! McCarren Park Cap: Not only super cute and warm, this hat is fun to knit and a great way to practice your picking up stitches skills. It’s practically seam free and a great excuse to make some fabric covered buttons! You’ll need a skein of DK weight yarn (slightly smaller than worsted), size 4 DPNs and a size 4 16″ circular needle. This class is in two parts. Tuesdays March 8 and 15, 7-9pm. $40

~~~

Beginner Knitting: Always wanted to learn to knit? This is the perfect time! It’s still cold so you can sit inside and practice your new skillz, and make things for yourself before you get wrapped up in knitting all your holiday presents! This 2 hour class is a great intro to knitting. You’ll learn to knit and purl, the two stitches you’ll be using for all your new projects, to cast on, or start a project, and to bind off, or to end a project. All class times are from 7-9pm and are $25. You can add materials for $8 or bring them yourself.

One  Spot Left! Wednesday, March 9
Two Spots Left! Monday, March 21
Wednesday, April 6
Tuesday, April 19

~~~

 

Welly Warmers: A great beginner project, you’ll love these Welly Warmers so much you’ll want to wear your boots right through summer. These boot toppers aren’t full socks, they’re just leg warmers designed to fold over the top of your tall boots – filling that calf space and making your boots look awesome! You’ll need some super chunky yarn, like Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick, and size 11 double pointed needles. And don’t forget about the 4 cute buttons! This class is one session (they’re a quick knit!). Wednesday March 23, 7-9pm. $20

~~~

Toys! More Advanced – Dinosaur! Beginner – Stripey Ball: So I lied. There is one class that isn’t meant for you, though I wouldn’t be opposed to keeping that dinosaur for myself! Everyone is always making babies, so I like to keep a bunch of toy patterns at the ready just in case a baby birth sneaks up on me. I recently received Zoe Mellor’s book Knitted Toys as a gift and now I’ll never have to look for toy patterns again! In this two part class we will be making either the Roaring Dinosaur or the Stripey Ball. Tuesdays April 5 and 12, 7-9pm. $40

 

Roaring Dinosaur: For slightly more advanced knitters, this dino is knit in pieces and seamed together. The pattern calls for sock weight cotton yarn and size 3 needles, but the awesome part about knitting toys is that gauge doesn’t matter! Bring some yarn, any color of course, and needles corresponding to your yarn color, and we’ll do this thing! And of course email me with any materials questions.

 

Stripey Ball: New to shaping and seaming? This toy is a great beginner project and perfect for practicing your seaming skills, color changing, and pattern reading. Any yarn and needles will work! Email me if you’ve got materials questions.

~~~

 

One Spot Left! Chunky Cabled Cowl: This is a pattern that has been around for a while, but for good reason! It’s a great intro to cables, a fast and simple one skein project, an amazing gift (don’t tell anyone I said that) and so darn wearable! You’ll need a pair of size 15 needles and a skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick. Monday April 11, 7-9pm. $20

~~~

Group Knitting: Come get help starting a project, finishing a project, picking a project, picking materials, or learning something new! These classes are here for you to make up class time with, especially missed Holiday Present Prep classes, and any scheduled classes you can’t make it to can be rescheduled during these class times. All of these classes are from 7-9pm and are $15.

Two Spots Left! Wednesday March 16
Wednesday April 13
Monday April 25
Tuesday May 3
Thursday May 5
Wednesday May 11
Thursday May 12

~~~

 

Reflection Cowl: Ready to tackle a more challenging cable pattern? Even a cable chart?! This beautiful cowl is cable-licious! Using two worsted weight yarns at once, these cables mirror each other, creating two side by side pannels of cabled goodness. It’s not to say this pattern wouldn’t be good for a beginner – this is a two part class, so we’ve got lots of time to get the cables down, read our cable chart pattern, and switch colors. Wednesdays April 20 and 27, 7-9pm. $40

~~~

One on One Classes: Is there something you are interested in knitting that you don’t see listed here? Pick a project or a new skill and email me to set up a one on one class! I generally schedule classes weekday nights 7-9pm and weekend days in two hour blocks between 10am-4pm. Send me a few dates and times that work for you. I will match our schedules, pick a time that works for both of us, and give you a class outline. One on one classes are $20 per hour; most classes are two hours long.

~~~

Knitting Book Club: We’re reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society for our Monday, March 7th meet up. If you are interested in joining the book club, send me an email. Please don’t come with knitting questions as I won’t be teaching anything (so the book club can be free of course), just come to knit and chat about our book!

Please note that all classes are held at New Wave Coffee at 2557 N Milwaukee Ave / 3103 W Logan Blvd in Logan Square unless otherwise noted.