The Sweatshop of Lovers Blog

I was asked to knit and donate another DinoSweater that will be an auction item in a fundraiser for Ivory Coast Mothers and Children, an organization building a hospital in the Ivory Coast. So I hopped to it!

I also wanted to show you how important embellishment is to simple projects.

Pre-Fixin's

So here you’ve got a finished cardigan from my Baby Sweater Buffet pattern with a hood buffet option. I used the original dinosweater’s spikes pattern, which is not my own.

It is obviously super cute! But we can do better.

Now With Spots!

I dug around and found three different shades of green and duplicate stitched dinospots on the sweater!

Hot DinoProfile!

It added texture and color to the sweater. I used leftover scraps that were laying around so it cost nothing, and I just winged it with placement and shape.

Fabric Covered Buttons

I also dug around in my fabric and found this green stripey fabric for the buttons.

So, with a little duplicate stitching and some fun fabric covered buttons, this baby sweater went from super cute to HOLY FREAKING CUTE OMGOMGOMG!

Ready to Roll!

I made an extra button, just in case, attached it to a card, and tied the card to the top button hole. Now it’s ready to go make Ivory Coast Mothers and Children some cash!

If you are interested in donating to Ivory Coast Mothers and Children or want to bid on this DinoSweater, contact my girl Patsy or come to the Bastille Day Fete this Saturday, July 10th at Kiki’s Bistro from 1-4, with the auction taking place at 3pm.

Pattern: Baby Sweater Buffet

Yarn: Vanna’s Choice in Dusty Green, Lion Brand Wool Ease in Mink Brown, and other scrap greens

Needles: Size 9 circulars

Ravelry Project Page

Inspired by Marissa’s guest post last week, I pulled out my sewing machine Saturday and went to town.

Outside?!

I also went outside to take pictures! I figured if I lock myself inside most of the day working, I might as well venture outside to model. Alone. In the alley. Not going to lie: It was a little weird.

Simple Boxy Top

But I sucked it up like a pro. It didn’t hurt that no one came out the entire time I was down there.

Big n Boxy

First up was this boxy top. I’ve been wanting to make a top out of this cute polka dot silky material forever. You might recognize it from the lining of Hoodie Devoted a few months ago. I had, and still have, plenty of it left for a top, so I cut out two big squares, seamed them, then sewed them together a the shoulders and sides.

Cute, Right?

Slouchy, off the shoulder, super wide, silky, and polka dotted. Kinda perfect with a high wasted red pencil skirt, right?

Pattern: Just made it up!

Fabric: Some bargain polka dot fake-silk

Paired With: Thrifted pencil skirt