The Sweatshop of Love Blog

A few months ago these patterns were included in the 6th issue of CraftSanity Magazine, a West Michigan based independently published magazine from Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood. But today I’m releasing them for free! They are just too cute to keep to myself any longer.

A Quartet of Headbands!

There is no easier way of incorporating knitting into your daily wardrobe than by throwing on a fun headband. All four of these headbands are fun to knit and easy to complete in an afternoon. So pull out some brightly colored yarn and get knitting! You’ll want all four.

From Top Left to Bottom Right: Three’s Company. Deep-Textured Bow. Wrap Bow. Eyelet
Headband.

Three’s Company

Perfect for sock yarn leftovers, Three’s Company is three tiny icords seamed up together. I used Knit Picks Stroll Tonal Sock Yarn, 75% Superwash Merino Wool, 25% Nylon. 462 yds/100 g: Queen Anne, Blue Violet, and Golden Glow.

Deep Textured Bow

A fun pattern stitch, and you work the bow as you go, and this headband is a pretty addictive knit! Knit Picks CotLin DK, 70% Tanguis Cotton, 30% Linen. 123 yds/50 g: Surf.

Wrap Bow

One big icord wrapped around your head? Yeah, it’s pretty adorable! Knit Picks CotLin DK, 70% Tanguis Cotton, 30% Linen. 123 yds/50 g: Tomato.

Eyelet Headband

A little lacy eyelet headband. Knit Picks CotLin DK, 70% Tanguis Cotton, 30% Linen. 123 yds/50 g: Canary.

Ravelry Pattern Page

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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!

When William and Kate got married a few months ago it was a huge deal. Embarrassingly huge. So huge that I got a bunch of girls on twitter to make tiaras with me to wear when we live tweet the event at 3am. Now that’s love.

Cabled Headband! Minus Tinfoil

The headband part of my tiara actually turned out really wearable! Especially when it doesn’t have a huge tinfoil bow stuck to it.

Cables! Cuteness!

This simple cabled headband is sure to be a staple in your wardrobe about 20 minutes after you cast it on. Oh yeah, it’s a quick knit. Mix it up with different yarn weights and needle sizes. You’ll want a ton of these!

Simple Cabled Goodness

Finished Size One size completely dependent on your personal gauge, materials, and head size.

Yarn One skein Knit Picks CotLin, 70% Tanquis Cotton, 30% Linen. 123 yds/50g: Sprout

Needles Size 8 (5 mm) straight needles.

GAUGE Not important.

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Dollar and a Half Cardigan

It feels like this sweater has taken me forever, but I started it on January 30th, intending it to be my February Sweater. I put it aside for two weeks for the ravelympics or I would have been finished with it much sooner.

Couldn't Fit Any Better!

We’ve been through a lot, Dollar and a Half and I. The cable band side should not at all be striped, and the front shaping should have started much lower.

Stupid Cabled Stripes!

It kinda looks like it should be striped, right? When I look at the original sweater, the way it should be, it looks… wrong.

STRIPES!

I’m in love with the stripes! And could I look skinnier in this sweater? So much for horizontal stripes making you look fat.

Fabric Buttons and Stripes Galore

I messed this sweater up royally and it still turned out great. This is a great example of going with the flow! The cable looks great against the mistake-striped background.

I love how the reverse stockinette stitch isn’t bubbly because I used size 4s for those sections and size 6s for the lace sections.

And I love my buttons! I used the plaid fabric I found at the estate sale in Portland to cover my buttons and it couldn’t be better. I had plaid fabric in mind the entire time and it came together beautifully. The buttons are so small, 5/8 inch, that it wouldn’t have mattered what I covered them with, but I love the plaid pop.

I’m still standing by my statement that I will never use normal buttons ever again. I should take out stock in fabric covered buttons right now.

The yarn is perfect, too. Knit Picks CotLin knits up really well. It’s nice and light and the color is beautiful. I will use this yarn again really soon.

I Love You!

I can’t wait to show the girls tonight in Sweater Club! And get ready for a Style Your Knits starring Dollar and a Half REALLY soon.

Pattern: Dollar and a Half Cardigan, Interweave Knits Spring 2007

Yarn: Knit Picks CotLin in Planetarium

Needles: Size 6s and 4s, both circulars

Ravelry Page Here