The Sweatshop of Love Blog

The Loop Entrelac Top

When I had a big girl job in The Loop in downtown Chicago, I had to dress all fancy every day. This was especially challenging in the summer, going from a non-air conditioned apartment, to an over-air conditioned train car, to the sweltering city streets, to an over-air conditioned office, and back again. I’d look for little shirts that look great standing alone but that could also be worn under a suit coat.

The Loop Entrelac Top is a classy summer top you can take from day to evening, or, more importantly, from inside to outside in the heat, by just losing your blazer. The entrelac straps are knit first, with or without contrasting color strips. Stitches are picked up for the contrasting color bands, and then again for the front tummy panel. Back is worked separately, ribbed top to help with fitting, then increased out to give the bottom of the top some swing. A single crocheted bottom edging prevents curing. Clever construction, lightweight cotton knit in a larger than recommended gauge, swing bottom: Everything designed to keep you cool this summer.

Finished Measurements 32 (36, 40, 44)” bust circumference. Cardigan shown in size 36″.

The Loop Entrelac Top

MATERIALS

Yarn Knit Picks Simply Cotton Sport (100% Organic Cotton; 164 yds/50g): Basalt Heather (MC), 2 (2, 3, 3) balls. Brass Heather (CC), 1 (2, 2, 2) balls.
Needles Size 4 (3.5 mm): straight needles. Size 6 (4mm): straight needles. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge. Size G crochet hook.
Notions Tapestry needle.

GAUGE

NOTE

There aren’t a lot of stitch totals in this pattern. There are a lot of picked up stitches and seaming as you go and that leads to slight differences in stitch size and picked up stitch totals with every knitter. Make sure that you seam as you go when instructed to seam as you go, and make sure to pick up your stitches evenly, and you will be fine. The sweater shapes up clearly as you knit so any sizing issues and stitch count issues you may not be sure about are easily caught and fixed as you knit.

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If summer brings anything it seems to bring a lot of babies, and with babies comes the necessity for quick to knit, simple and customizable baby sweaters. How embarrassing would it be for a baby to run into another baby wearing the same sweater?! No need to worry about that with Baby Sweater Buffet.

Baby Sweater Buffet

Baby Sweater Buffet is everything you would want in a baby sweater pattern rolled into one quick and easy pattern. Want a quick knit baby cardigan? Done! With stripes? Done! Want to add a hood? Done! Want to add adorable front pockets? Done! Want to turn it into an animal? Done! All with practically no seaming, size 9 circulars  and worsted weight yarn for speed, and guaranteed adorableness.

Baby Sweater Buffet is sized Newborn, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, with the buffet items, like ears and pockets, knit in one size.

Finished Sizes Newborn (3, 6, 12, 18, 24) months. Zebra Cardigan shown in 6 month size, green and brown striped cardigan shown in newborn size.

Yarn Any soft worsted weight yarn, approx. 250 (275, 300, 350, 400, 450) yards. I’ve used Lion Brand’s Pound of Love and Caron’s Simply Soft, both with great success.
Needles Size 9 (5.5 mm): 16″ circular (cir). Size 9 (5.5 mm) dpns. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Notions Removable markers (m), stitch holders or scrap yarn, 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) 1″ buttons, tapestry needle.

GAUGE

16 sts and 20 rows = 4″ in St st.

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Throw it on your arm while eating custard and window shopping in Door County, Wisconsin. Toss in a trashy novel on your way to the beach! Dress it up for a hot date at the Friday night fish boil. You will want to use this bag every day this summer to matter where you are.

Door County Wooden Handle Bag

The Door County Wooden Handle Bag is the perfect summer bag. It’s versatile, deceivingly large without being bulky, and it can be dressed up or down. What more could you want? Garder stitch ribs give the body of The Door County Wooden Handle Bag a lot of stretch while holding it’s bell shape. The top cables add interest and flare.

Knit in any color and using a variety of different handle shapes, this one pattern will go a long way! Mix it up for a different bag every week.

Finished Measurements 12″ at widest point, 10″ deep.

Yarn Any worsted weight yarn, the stronger the better. This project is a great stash buster! Pull out a light colored acrylic and go to town.
Needles Size 6 (4 mm): straight needles.
Notions Stitch markers (m), cable needle, tapestry needle, a pair of size 7 wooden handles. Optional: Fabric for lining.

GAUGE

Gauge is not important in this project.

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Frank Lloyd Wright used stained glass in many of his houses, including the Robie House in Hyde Park, Illinois. His most renowned prairie style design is also full of his famous stained glass windows, inside and out. It’s hard not to want to cover yourself in stained glass inspired clothes leaving this house!

Hyde Park Legwarmers

The Hyde Park Legwarmers are a great leg warmer for summer; small and fun and easy to wear with anything! The sock weight yarn lets these babies breathe while keeping you warm on cooler summer nights. As the weather turns cooler, wear them over tights or pull them up to cover your knees while wearing high boots. Any worsted weight yarn and sock yarn will work so play with colors and patterns! More defined stripping yarn just adds to the stained glass effect.

Hyde Park Legwarmers

HYDE PARK LEGWARMERS

Finished Measurements Length: 15″. Width: 5 1/4 (6, 6 3/4)” at widest point. Shown in size small.

Yarn Cascade Yarns 220 Wool (MC), 100% Peruvian Highland Wool, 100 g/3.5 oz, 220 yards, shown in 7822; 1 (1, 2) skeins. Knit Picks Stroll Multi Sock Yarn (CC), 75% Superwash Merino Wool, 25% Nylon, 231 yards/50 grams, shown in Tucson Multi (Discontinued); 1 (1, 1) skeins.

Needles Set of 5 size 4 (3.5 mm): Double pointed needles. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions Stitch marker (M).

GAUGE

With MC, 32 sts/24 rows= 4 inches in K1P1 rib – but the gauge isn’t too important in this pattern.

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Not that we would imagine feeding our favorite Cinderella character to a cat, but this little guy is so cute I can’t help but have him pay tribute to Gus Gus, Cinderella’s not so helpful mouse friend. And the worst thing that Lucifer could do to this toy is chew off an ear.

Gus Gus Cat Toy

With an i-cord tail and big floppy ears, this kitty toy is quick to knit and a great way to use up your yarn scraps. Knit a family of little Gus Gus toys in all different colors to keep your cat busy all day long.

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GUS GUS KITTY TOY

Yarn About 20g of any brown worsted weight yarn. Tiny bits of yarn for eyes and nose. This is a great project for left over scraps!

Needles Size 4 (3.5 mm) double pointed needles.

Notions Tiny bit of fiberfill for stuffing, tapestry needle. Catnip and/or a bell, if desired.

GAUGE

Gauge is not important in this project.

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