The Sweatshop of Love Blog

Do you get the feeling that all I do is knit this WORK+SHELTER Lace Striped Sweater? Me too.

My Mom in her New Sweater!

I just finished another one for my mom! This was a barter sweater – she made me a hand stamped table cloth I needed for a present, and she picked out this yarn, Knit Picks Comfy Worsted in Merlin, for an adorable sweater for her!

About 2″ Longer

She wanted her sweater longer, so I added an extra stripe before joining the sleeves for the yoke. So instead of ending with a St st stripe, I ended with a lace stripe, which meant I had to modify the sleeves to start with the lace stripe after the ribbing for the sleeves, and alternate my striping differently from there. It sounds confusing, but since this is my FIFTH sweater, it was a breeze.

Looking CUTE!

This knit up really fast, as usual. Those size 9 needles and worsted weight yarn is a dream. And my mom loves it! Something tells me she’ll be wearing her new sweater a lot, which makes me very happy!

Pattern: WORK+SHELTER Lace Striped Summer Sweater

Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy Sport in Merlin

Needles: Size 9 circs and DPNs

Ravelry Project Page

I finished this sweater weeks ago and have been wearing it pretty much every time I leave the house, just never when I also have my camera on me. Until this weekend!

Stash Buster!

I blogged about starting this sweater almost a month ago, and it’s such a ridiculously quick knit I’ve had it finished for almost that long. If I didn’t have a lot of projects lined up right now I’d knit more in different colors. It’s so fun and easy to wear.

From the Back

I changed colors while working the last lace row of each section, not the St st row, and I love the way this looks. You can see that it looks like the colors are tied together. This fun detail makes me wish I could make one with stripes of different colors for all sections. Someday!

Three Stripes Will Have To Do

For now I’m just happy to have this tee, now in desperate need of a wash, to wear all summer long.

Pattern: WORK+SHELTER Lace Striped Tee by Allyson Dykhuizen

Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy Worsted in Sea Foam and Ivory, and Knit Picks CotLin in Tomato

Needles: Size 9 24″ and 16″ circulars

Ravelry Project Page

As soon as I finished my WORK+SHELTER Lace Striped Winter Sweater, I couldn’t help but cast on a WORK+SHELTER Lace Striped Summer Sweater, probably because it’s April and I won’t be able to get a lot more mileage out of the winter one this year.

Lace Striped Summer Sweater Progress

Just like my winter sweater, I wanted to make this knit a stash buster, too. I didn’t have enough of any one color of cotton or cotton blend yarn, so I decided to make it striped! I had 2 skeins of Knit Picks Comfy Worsted in Sea Foam, one skein of Knit Picks CotLin in Tomato, and 4 skeins of Knit Picks Comfy Worsted in Ivory, and that should come together really nicely!

Ovals Swatch

I’ve also got a SECRET PROJECT on the needles that I’m really excited about. The swatch is beautiful and it’s on big needles and worsted weight yarn! Something new and different for me!

My friend Theresa VanderMeer runs an organization called The Lotus Odyssey that exports fair-trade products from different eco/people-friendly groups in India. She is starting a foundation called WORK+SHELTER that will offer women living in the slums of New Delhi a fresh start. Theresa is working to give these women decent living conditions and a chance to build a better future. WORK+SHELTER will be a safe place where women can come with their children to live and work. She will be providing training, materials, and a fair wage, and members of WORK+SHELTER will be producing products to be sold in boutiques around the world.

Two Sweaters in One Pattern!

Theresa asked me to design garments and accessories that will be hand knit by the women living and working at WORK+SHELTER. These sweaters are two of those items! By purchasing this pattern you are helping this amazing cause. Read more about this project here, donate by emailing Theresa, and when someone compliments you on your beautiful new sweater, be sure to tell them about WORK+SHELTER.

Winter!

WORK+SHELTER LACE STRIPED SWEATERS

Finished Size 36 (41, 46, 51) bust circumference. Sweaters shown in size 36.

Summer!

MATERIALS

Winter Sweater Yarn Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, 100% Peruvian Highland Wool. 110yds/50g: White, 8 (10, 13, 15) skeins.

Summer Sweater Yarn Knit Picks Comfy Worsted, 75% Pima Cotton, 25% Arcylic. 109yds/50g: Ivory, 6 (7, 9, 10) skeins.

The Beautiful Striped Shoulder: Winter Sweater

Needles Size 9 (5.5 mm) 24” and 16” circulars, or size to obtain gauge.

Notions Tapestry needle.

See-Through Back! Bra Straps! Tank! GAH!

GAUGE

18 sts and 20 rows – 4” in St st.

WORK+SHELTER Lace Striped Sweaters pattern is $6

Ravelry Pattern Page

My friend Theresa VanderMeer runs an organization called The Lotus Odyssey that exports fair-trade products from different eco/people-friendly groups in India. She is starting a foundation called WORK+SHELTER that will offer women living in the slums of New Delhi a fresh start. Theresa is working to give these women decent living conditions and a chance to build a better future. WORK+SHELTER will be a safe place where women can come with their children to live and work. She will be providing training, materials, and a fair wage, and members of WORK+SHELTER will be producing products to be sold in boutiques around the world.

Lace Striped Shawl

Theresa asked me to design garments and accessories that will be hand knit by the women living and working at WORK+SHELTER. This lace striped shawl is one of those items! By purchasing this pattern you are helping this amazing cause. Read more about this project here, donate by emailing Theresa, and when someone compliments you on your beautiful new shawl, be sure to tell them about WORK+SHELTER.

Wrapped Up and Cozy!

WORK+SHELTER LACE STRIPED SHAWL

Finished Size 60” wide, 36” long at triangle’s point.

MATERIALS

Yarn Knit Picks Comfy Worsted, 75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic. 109 yds/ 50g: 5 skeins Sea Foam.

Needles Size 10 (6 mm) 24” circulars.

Notions Tapestry needle.

Worsted Lace Stripes!

GAUGE

14 sts and 20 rows – 4” in St st.

WORK+SHELTER Lace Striped Shawl is $3

Ravelry Pattern Page