The Sweatshop of Lovers Blog

Knit and Crochet Blog Week continues with a question about patterns:

Blog about a pattern or project which you aspire to. Whether it happens to be because the skills needed are ones which you have not yet acquired, or just because it seems like a huge undertaking of time and dedication, most people feel they still have something to aspire to in their craft. If you don’t feel like you have any left of the mountain of learning yet to climb, say so!

Here at The Sweatshop of Love there is no such thing as a pattern that cannot be knit. We take a tough love approach to people saying they can’t knit something. And by tough love I mean slapping and yelling have been used. But it always gets knit!

Y’all are better knitters for it, right?!

That being said, no, there isn’t a pattern that I’m waiting for the skills to knit. I always say learn by doing. I’m not a swatcher. I don’t practice skills before starting a project. I just jump in and hope it works out! And that is how I teach.

#05 Fair Isle Cardigan Vogue Knitting Magazing

There is, however, this sweater. I possess the skills necessary to knit this cardigan. I do not possess the patience. Color-work makes me nuts. That intense color-work would drive me to my grave. It’s LACE WEIGHT, for god’s sake, and size 3 needles.

There is a reason that of the 19 active projects on it’s ravelry project page not one person finished the pattern as written.

So while I don’t aspire to knitting this project, I can’t get it out of my brain. We even brought it up in class this weekend again as a project that would drive someone to alcoholism. And I’m just too young to be a knitting-induced alcoholic.

(First of all, thank you all for being so sweet yesterday. It really means a lot to me. It’s crazy to think that we can create this internet world of friends now, and live thousands of miles away from each other but still be so connected. My grandpa would say it’s the magic of ‘the google’!)

Happy Tuesday, Knit a Sweater a Month Challengers! Week three update is here!

And I don’t know about you but I hit a bit of a wall with my Minimalist Cardigan.

SO CLOSE!

These sleeves are dragging. I’m close to finishing them and every decrease I make makes me feel better about myself and my knitting abilities, but still. JUST BE OVER ALREADY.

Double Moss Stitch

I am officially in love with double moss stitch. It’s like a rib and a pattern stitch in one! By the time I’m done with these sleeves I think I’ll be double moss stitching in my sleep.

Shalom Now-Pullover

I’ve had my eye on the Shalom Cardi for ages now, but here it is as a Pullover Shalom Vest and I like it better! Rachel (rav, twitter) did a great job adjusting the pattern into something completely new and fun!

Squares and Red

Alexandra (rav) knit this amazing sweater from HER BRAIN! Look Ma, no pattern! I just want to snuggle it.

Vintage Fair Isle Sweater

Katie (rav, blog, twitter) is also flying by the seat of her pants with this fair isle pattern! I’ve never even attempted fair isle, much less did that much color changing with no pattern. I can’t wait to see how this sweater turns out!

Be sure to email me pictures of your progress and finished sweaters! We all need some motivation as we are knitting our way down the final January stretch.

Now go get knitting! 12 days left!