The Sweatshop of Love Blog

One of the major reasons I had to run back to Minneapolis this past weekend was because my sewing machine is here and I have a shit-ton of sewing to do for Renegade, which is a mere 2 weeks away.

Project Bag Number, Like, 51

This has been my view for the past 2 days. I need 63 project bags to fill with kits for Renegade and, of course, I ran out of fabric at 54. Is it worth hand dying 15 more yards of muslin for 9 more bags? I might just try to work with what I’ve got. SO CLOSE!

Millions and Millions of Bags

Making drawstrings for all these bags are on my agenda for the weekend, between showing my family around Minneapolis.

I won’t be putting my sewing machine away when I’m done sewing these bags, though. I’ll be displaying all my jewelry and accessories in these adorable felt baskets from Katie over at Under the Red Umbrella! Aren’t they cute? I’ll be making 10 of them and, despite how cute they are, it is going to get annoying, too.

My Pattern!

Aaaaand as if I needed a bigger head, between sewing bags I hung up the beautiful frame my friend Stefanie made for me of my pattern in Interweave Knits. I was joking about framing it on twitter, and then I thought, ‘Why the hell not?!’ and then Stefanie gave me this absolutely gorgeous picture. I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t put a smile on my face every time my eyes fall on it. It brings a little legitimacy to my work station, right?

Entrelacing Up A Storm

I’ll also be making an entrelac strap how to video for my The Loop Entrelac Tank this weekend! We’re starting with straps on Monday so first time entrelac-ers will get a (hopefully very) helpful how to video to go along with Monday’s instruction.

I’m officially appointing all of you to get some sleep for me this weekend, ok? It’s a good thing I psychotically love all of this!

Last Monday the Interweave Knits Summer 2011 preview went up on their site and that was the first time I saw pics of my Cumulus Tee I sent off to them last November. (Remember me flu-ridden at the post office?!)

My Cumulus Tee!

I was so nervous about it that I called my mom practically in tears! Somewhere between November and last Monday I got in my head that this was the ugliest sweater ever created and that everyone would hate it and my career as a knitwear designer would be over before my total knitting world takeover.

Oh... HOLLA!

But it’s cute, right? Yeah. It’s cute.

Though I have no idea how they made it so cute because when I sent it off it looked like this.

Pre-Amazifying

I don’t really know what the rules are here, or what designers are supposed to say in circumstances like this, but Blue Sky Alpaca Skinny Organic Cotton, the yarn Interweave was kind enough to send me to knit this sweater with, is awful. I hated every second I was knitting it, which is why I was sitting in a bar most of the time I was working on it.

It’s splitty and stiff and rough. But I’m sure Interweave has some kind of arrangement with them and they’ve got to get it in the magazine somewhere, and I respect that. YOU, however, have choices. Like Knit Picks CotLin, which is what I suggested in my swatch and proposal to Interweave, and what I would use if I were to knit this sweater again.

HOTT From the Back, Too!

The sizing is SUPER small. I was picturing the sweater more fitted across the bust, with an A-line, more tunic-like fit across the stomach, but alas.

Larger sizing is simple here – CO for the largest size and just keep increasing as directed until it reaches past your armpits. Up the needle size for a looser fabric and easier fit – you could go up to 7s without it getting too see-through.

I’m still having a hard time believing that is really my sweater! I keep looking at my picture listed under the designers in the issue! That is MY face! Interweave Knits Summer 2011 patterns? YEAH mine is there! My Ravelry Designer Page has it listed PUBLISHED IN INTERWEAVE KNITS! How about that?

Interweave Knits subscribers started getting their issues last week, and it hits the newsstands on May 17th. Show it some love on Ravelry here.

So I’m for real now! Way realer than I was before. No more fucking around!

I anticipated that I would love my new Charvet Pullover. Right when I cast on and started changing colors I knew I would love it and that it would be beautiful.

I was always kind of worried about the fit. I’ve never had a lot of luck with pullovers, but I knit with blind faith, knowing that I could gift it if it turned out wonky.

Finished!

Then I finished it, and it’s so freaking cute I can’t even stand it! It’s not bulky, which I was worried about because it’s all garter stitch, worsted weight yarn, and size 8 needles.

Perfect Length All Around

I love the length of the sweater body. I love the length of the sleeves. I love the depth of the v-neck, which looked NUTS huge before the neck band went in.

Perfect Sweater?!

Mods: The only thing I modified about the knitting of the body of the sweater was the sleeves, when I was running out of yarn. Many times during the knitting of this sweater I had absolutely no idea what I was knitting, or how I was knitting it. But it all worked out! Because of my diligent note taking. I’m a terrible row counter, but I dedicated myself to marking my rows. If you are a knitter that can’t do this, this sweater is not for you.

Hot From the Back, Too!

I used size 8 straight needles for the body. It calls for size 8 circulars but I couldn’t find mine. I also used size 6 circulars for not only the neckline like the pattern calls for, but the bottom band and size 6 dpns for the armbands.

I was concerned about my bind off being too tight, so I used a twisted k2tog bind off.

BRRRR!!

This is our street! And, as you can imagine, an outdoor photo shoot in Minneapolis in January is very chilly! 3 degrees chilly, in fact. And snowing! PT got a few shots of me just being cold.

It's COLD, Y'all!

And can you believe there is this much snow anywhere in the world? It sure makes for pretty pictures!

Holla Charvet!

Pattern: Charvet Pullover (and check out my pic on the pattern page!) by Maria Leigh, from Winter 2010 Interweave Knits

Yarn: 2 skeins Patons Classic Wool in Mercury and Water Chestnut, and about 1/4 skein Patons Classic Wool in Tidepool Heather for the edging

Needles: Size 8 straights for the body, size 6 circulars and DPNs for the edging

Ravelry Project Page

I would love to fill this post with happy, smiling pictures of my family eating and carrying on at Thanksgiving, followed by more pictures of us acting crazy at 3am on BLACK FRIDAY, but I spent most of Thanksgiving with my head in a toilet.

That is right. On the one day a year you get to pig out like no other, I woke up with a raging stomach flu. I ate maybe 10 saltines, most of which my stomach promptly rejected, and a popsicle.

I couldn’t even knit. It. Sucked. And I’m still not better! I’m barely eating and have no energy.

Sick-Face and Package!

I did manage to leave the house on Friday to mail an important package. Where is it going?!

Interweave Summer 2011, Baby!

I’m going to have a sweater pattern in the Summer 2011 issue of Interweave Knits! That is why things have been a little slow around here. I had to knit an entire secret sweater in 3 weeks! During holiday knitting season!

But I did it, and it’s mailed off, and I’m putting the finishing touches on my pattern and will send that off to them tomorrow, too. To Interweave! No big deal.

I realize how annoying it is to see CHRISTMAS in the title of a blog post over Labor Day weekend. I’m kind of annoyed with myself for sitting here, in shorts, with all the windows open, talking about Christmas, but I’m trying to set a good example!

When you are knitting sweaters for people for Christmas, you have to start early. Even when you are knitting smaller projects for people for Christmas you have to start early!

PT's Soon To Be Sweater

Let me take a moment to address The Sweater Curse. The Sweater Curse states that if you start knitting a sweater for your boyfriend, you will break up before you finish it. It also states that if you do finish it and give it to him while you are still together, he won’t react like you want him to, he won’t wear it as much as you would want him to, and, thus, you will break up because he doesn’t appreciate you and takes you for granted and can’t even wear the sweater you spent HUNDREDS OF HOURS KNITTING?!

I think there is legitimacy to The Sweater Curse. I have never knit a sweater for a boy before. So why start now? Especially since PT and I recently broke up and got back together? Why am I pressing my luck?

Because I like knitting sweaters. And I like PT. And if any boy would properly appreciate a hand knit sweater it’s PT.

Jalapeno Wool of the Andes

After doing some research on ravelry about the Cambridge Jacket from Interweave Knits, I ordered Wool of the Andes from Knit Picks in Jalapeno. The green is perfect!

I also decided that I’m going to change the jacket into a pull over. I love the ribbing, I love the collar, I love the shape of this sweater, I’m just not a fan of the zipper! So I’m going to knit it in the round and put a button closure in at the neck.

I’m a little nervous. I’ve knit sweaters for my mom before, but this is for a boy! Am I nuts? Am I dooming my relationship?