The Sweatshop of Lovers Blog

A Head Start

So I got a little head start on my Sweater a Month Challenge. A 13 day head start, to be exact. But I couldn’t help it! I was done with my holiday knitting, this yarn had been staring at me since October 27th. I’m not a very patient person to begin with! I couldn’t not start it.

Moss Stitch, Kinda

The Minimalist Cardigan, by Ruthie Nussbaum, is a hugely popular pattern on Ravelry. It was originally in the Fall 2007 issue of Interweave, and it is kind of hard to believe I’ve waited over 2 years to finally make this sweater happen.

Mods: Where do I start? The pattern calls for worsted weight, I used Knit Picks Gloss, fingering weight. When I saw this sweater the first time I thought it was a light weight little summer sweater, and I was kind of shocked to find out it wasn’t. And when I saw the Woodland Sage I knew I needed this sweater in this merino silk blended yarn.

The yarn gauged small, no surprise, but with the same size 7 needles the pattern called for it only sized about an inch off. I picked the 39 1/2 size. I wanted to knit a little more to make sure it wasn’t too loose, that it kept the integrity of the stitches, and it looks lovely. It’s a light weight sweater, right?

I hate lots of pieces so I cast on 191 for both sides and back. That single moss stitch would kill me so I modified it to a two stitch moss, with a K2P2 rib repeated for two rows then switched for two rows.

I’m so in love with the color of this sweater it is almost disgusting.

So Pretty!

Surprisingly I haven’t wanted to poke my own eyes out with these circular needles yet! I think because I’m loving how the stitch is looking, how the yarn is working, how the ribbing turned out, how the front panels are laying.

I’m like a love sick school girl for this sweater. If I keep up this knitting rate I’ll have it done before January even starts.

There is still time to get in on the Sweater a Month Challenge! Email me at allyson@thesweatshopoflove.com to get on the mailing list! The first official Sweater a Month Challenge post will be January 4th.

Irrational: Solving the ‘what to wear?’ issue by dressing as if it were still very cold, just without pants. Walking down the street this afternoon were many girls wearing large sweaters, coats, scarves, and winter boots. No pants.

Rational: Going to Home Depot!

Soil and Impulse Buy

I needed soil (of course they only had this huge heavy bag that I had to carry from Elston and Logan to California and Armitage), and then I saw the Topsy Turvy! Grow plants hanging from your porch! Or, in my case, over your dinning room table. It was $10. I really couldn’t resist.

Irrational: Digging to the very bottom of your drawer and putting on whatever is buried down there. Walking down the street this afternoon were a lot of animal print leggings.

Rational: Seeds!

(soon to be) Tea A Plenty!

Soon these little seed packets will be mint and camomile and flowers and catnip and tomatoes! Ok I’m not counting on the tomatoes.

Irrational: Being in warm denial. Walking down the street this afternoon were lots of winter coats and hats. Can you not feel?!

Rational: Being excited about your sweater dress!

Yoke Start

Isn’t it pretty? The sweater dress is knit top down, starting with the shoulder yoke. The moss stitch that I was worried about is actually really fun! It is a million times better than that bitch seed stitch, and it makes it easy to figure out which side of the dress you are on.

Moss Stitch:

Row 1: K1P1

Row 2: Knit the knits and purl the purls.

Row 3: P1K1

Row 4: Purl the purls and knit the knits.

Irrational: Dressing like it is 90 degrees. Walking down the street this afternoon were lots of short shorts, tank tops, and flip flops. It is 55.

Rational: Wearing a sweater.

Done, Buttons and All

I’m in love. I wore it last night to the first Sweater Club class (which was great!), wore it today to Home Depot, will be wearing it every day until I die and then will be buried in it. I’m in love. Soon I will be Mrs Fitted Knits Sweater Jacket, and I will have little Fitted Knits Sweater Jacket babies.

Wonk-Bread

I don’t know how to fit this in, but look at this loaf of bread I baked! I baked the perfect loaf of bread last time, and I thought it was because I lost track of how much flour I put in and accidentally added a 1/2 cup too much, and then put in a 1/2 cup more water to compensate, but apparently I only added an extra 1/2 cup of water because the extra flour just ended up all over my bread maker, and contributed to this mushroom bread. Still tastes good, miraculously.

And as you can see The Sweatshop of Lover’s Blog got a makeover thanks to Brijeet, who I pouty faced into html/ftp whatever this thing together. It looks great and I couldn’t be any happier with it!

Irrational: Being inside on an afternoon like this! I’ve got pots to soil and a tomato thingy to turn upside down.