The Sweatshop of Love Blog

Halloween was so much fun! One of the best Halloweens on record.

My costume was so fun! The pink poo happily turned into a cupcake! It was probably my best costume since I was Jesus voting for John Kerry the Halloween before the 2004 election. And this costume doesn’t come with the three weeks of depression that followed the outcome of that election! Yay!

I got the idea from this foodnetwork.com child’s version.

But mine is a lot better because I can sit down. Cardboard bottom? Seriously, Food Network?

Mine is also better because I made myself a candle headband! But I can see why they wouldn’t want something so phallic sticking out of a child’s head.

I didn’t mind!

Mine is also better because I cut a slit in the inside of the bottom frosting layer and used it as a purse, so I didn’t have to carry anything! And I made my sprinkles out of yarn. Of course!

PT was Chris Kimball from America’s Test Kitchen. People who knew who Chris Kimball was kept freaking out over his costume!

He did a great job! I painted the little logo on the front of that apron and we were ready to go.

Mark (three hole punch Mark), Dan (Don Draper), Jamie (a hot doll), and Mary (Betty Draper), and me and PT, ran into Lloyd Dobler on the Western bus.

It was magic.

We ran around to different parties like crazy people. I even won a costume contest for my cupcake! It was a great night.

But by the end of it, it was getting dangerous for me to be out.

Before heading out on Halloween night I cooked up some roasted potatoes and veggies with some fresh sage we had left over from Friday. If I single leaf of  that $7.20 sage goes bad I’m going to be so upset!

I used white kidney beans, carrots, onion, and sage. It was great!

Yesterday we were back to our pizza Sundays! It was just what the hang over doctor ordered. PT made a green pepper, pineapple, artichoke heart, mushroom and bacon pizza, though he can’t even take his eyes off football for the picture!

I made a green pepper, artichoke heart, mushroom, and pineapple pizza. We haven’t had mushrooms in the house for quite a while, so we both went a little mushroom crazy.

My Slouchy Beret pattern is getting so much love! I can’t wait to see some finished hats! If you’ve got one let me know!

I’ve knit or started to knit a few of these and have never been completely satisfied with the result. They are either too slouchy, or not slouchy enough, or use tiny needles, or the brim is too big for my head. Or it’s too lacy for winter. Something is always wrong with it!

I wanted big needles, big cables, and a hat in like six hours. So I did it myself!

11/21/09 Edit: Lots of people were getting a hat that was too small for their heads! I added Large Size Hat sizing that will add 4 inches to the width of the band and 3 inches to the depth.

12/5/09 Edit: Added a gauge!

The Sweatshop of Love

Slouchy Beret Pattern

Materials:
Worsted weight yarn, two strands held together, or a bulky yarn. I used two strands of Caron Simply Soft held together, about half the skein.
Set of 5 size 11 double pointed needles.

Gauge: 13 stitches and 12 rows= 4″ square in St st.

Size: S 16″ around at band, 10″ deep un-stretched (L  20″ around at band, 13″ deep un-stretched) – shown in size small

Directions:

CO 46 (56) sts with two strands of worsted weight yarn held together, or one strand of bulky weight yarn. Divide between 4 needles and join, PM.

Work in K1P1 rib for five rounds. At the end of the 5th round, K last 2 sts together.
K2 rounds even.

For Small Size Only :

Begin Cable Pattern:
Cable Round 1: [Sl 3 sts to CN and hold to back, K3, K3 sts from CN, K3] around.

K2 rounds even.

Inc Round: [KFB, K4, KFB, K3] around. 55 sts total

K1 round even.

For Both Sizes:

Cable Round 2: [K3, Sl 4 sts to CN and hold to front, K4, K4 sts from CN] around.

K2 rounds even.

Inc Round: [KFB, K1, KFB, K8] around. 65 sts total

K1 round even.

Cable Round 3: [Sl 4 sts to CN and hold to back, K4, K4 sts from CN, K5] around.

K4 rounds even.

Cable Round 4: [K5, Sl 4 sts to CN and hold to front, K4, K4 sts from CN] around.

K4 rounds even.

Cable Round 5: [Sl 4 sts to CN and hold to back, K4, K4 sts from CN, K5] around.

K4 rounds even.

For Large Size or Slouchier Hat:

Repeat Cable Round 4, K4 rounds even. Each repeated 5 round repeat should add 3 inches to the depth of the hat, so if you choose, repeat Cable Round 5 and K4 rounds even, then Cable Round 4 and K4 rounds even, as many times as you’d like.

Begin Decreasing for Top of Hat:
Decrease Round 1 / Cable Round 6: [K2tog, K1, K2tog, Sl 4 sts to CN and hold to front, K4, K4 sts from CN] around.
Round 2: Knit
Round 3: [K9, K2tog] around.
Round 4: Knit
Round 5: [K8, K2tog] around.
Round 6: [K7, K2tog] around.
Round 7: [K6, K2tog] around.
Round 8: [K5, K2tog] around.
Round 9: [K4, K2tog] around.
Round 10: [K3, K2tog] around.
Round 11: [K2, K2tog] around.
Round 12: [K1, K2tog] around.
Round 13: [K2tog] around (5 sts remain).

Cut yarn, pull through remaining sts, and secure.

Finishing:
Weave in ends. Block hat over a large plate to stretch it and make it nice and slouchy!