The Sweatshop of Love Blog

Things are still pretty out of hand around here. I had six work in progress projects last week, and I’ve still got SEVEN this week. And most of them are new!

From Norway With Love

First up is a project you don’t see very often around here – COLOR-WORK! I’m knitting up the Pickles From Norway With Love hat for my sister in law Emily for Christmas. It’s a stranded heart stocking cap and I’m in love with it. I’m using Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in three different blue-ish heathers and as much as I hate stranded color-work, this hat is flying off my needles. It must be the hearts!

Mary Jane Slippers

I taught my Mary Jane Slippers class last week, so I got started on another pair of these adorable slippers. I made a pair for myself this summer and knew they would make an amazing Christmas present for a friend. I’m using the left over yarn from my #25 Rib Yolk Topper, Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Tweed, so they look crazy-similar to my pair! They crochet up super fast so I’ll be done with these in no time.

Striped Something Something

Super abstract shot of something else I started this week! More on this later.

Entrelac Beret

And another amazing hat project! Remember my Entrelac Beret pattern I wrote for Lion Brand? I’m teaching a class on this hat this week so I’ve got one on the needles. Oh entrelac! I love you! Knit Picks Merino Style and Lion Brand Amazing are two peas in the pod of this hat.

Granny Squares!

Another mystery project: I’ve been granny squaring my little heart out all weekend and it’s going to be awesome! More later.

With all these projects working overtime, I haven’t touched my Ruffle Rose Pillow in a week, but it’s on the mind grapes. And, naturally, Aidez is happening, too.

Is it knitting intervention time?

Ohh Baby!

Just kidding! But seriously, can you imagine? I wonder if this has been done before! I’m guessing at super drunken office holiday party.

I bet Meredith on The Office would rock this look.

It’s a habit of mine to throw a finished project on my dress form, mainly so my terror kitties don’t rip out the yarn strands before I get a chance to weave them in. And so they don’t get a chance to eat my project before I get to wear it or give it away.

Mommy's Stockings

I knit a pair of these Christmas stockings a couple months ago for PT and I and, naturally, my mom had to have them! I used the same yarn, Caron Simply Soft for the red and cream, and Knit Picks Wool of the Andes for the light green.

The pattern is here. The only change I made was when I started the heel flap. With the MC I K11 STS from needle 1, SL remaining STS to needle 2, turn. P22 STS, SL remaining STS from needle 3 to needle 2. This just makes much more sense to me.

As we inch closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas, I’m feeling good about the progress I’m making on my knitting list! I should, right? I started about two months ago.

Veggie Packed Pasta

We’ve got a ton of vegetables in the house and, specifically, a lot of mushrooms to use up. Mushrooms make me think of two things! Veggie packed pasta from my recipe, this time with broccoli and mushrooms, and…

Mushroom and Pumpkin Risotto

Risotto! I still hand pumpkin left over from the ravioli we made last weekend, so I made mushroom and pumpkin risotto. Risotto is pretty much the best thing to eat for dinner on a cold night. It’s like soup for people with more time.

Now that I’ve got those stockings finished the only thing left on my needles is PT’s Christmas Present! I’m shocked myself. I’m going to get an elephant going before I do something stupid like start a new sweater.

So the Ann Budd pattern is getting a complete rewrite.

I’ve been looking at it and trying to pre-figure everything out, but I decided to just jump in and figure it out while I’m knitting. So far so good!

I checked the gauge with the Wool of the Andes and size 8s, but it was big, so I bought some size 7s. The gauge is still a tiny big, but I’m going with it, I’m just knitting the smallest size sweater.

Like I said before about the Cambridge Jacket pattern, I’m changing it to be a pullover. I don’t trust a crocheted edge, they always curl up, so I added a rib bottom in pattern. I’m knitting a size small, so I cast on 185, K 46, placed marker for one arm, knit to 46 stitches from end, PM for second arm.

Join, PM for center, K1 *P3,K2, repeat from* around, end with K1.

K in pattern for 1 1/2 inches. I kept the P3 pattern for the 4 ribs closest to what will be the armpit on each of the fronts and back, so you are working a St st on the center 57 sts on both the front and back, and working a P3K2 rib for 38 sts, 19 sts on each side of arm markers.

Ribbing Done!

So far so good! I finished the ribbing and I’m working on the body. For 14 1/2 inches. The sizing looks good! I love the yarn and the color is great.

Next stop armholes! But these 14 1/2 inches are  going to take a while.

I realize how annoying it is to see CHRISTMAS in the title of a blog post over Labor Day weekend. I’m kind of annoyed with myself for sitting here, in shorts, with all the windows open, talking about Christmas, but I’m trying to set a good example!

When you are knitting sweaters for people for Christmas, you have to start early. Even when you are knitting smaller projects for people for Christmas you have to start early!

PT's Soon To Be Sweater

Let me take a moment to address The Sweater Curse. The Sweater Curse states that if you start knitting a sweater for your boyfriend, you will break up before you finish it. It also states that if you do finish it and give it to him while you are still together, he won’t react like you want him to, he won’t wear it as much as you would want him to, and, thus, you will break up because he doesn’t appreciate you and takes you for granted and can’t even wear the sweater you spent HUNDREDS OF HOURS KNITTING?!

I think there is legitimacy to The Sweater Curse. I have never knit a sweater for a boy before. So why start now? Especially since PT and I recently broke up and got back together? Why am I pressing my luck?

Because I like knitting sweaters. And I like PT. And if any boy would properly appreciate a hand knit sweater it’s PT.

Jalapeno Wool of the Andes

After doing some research on ravelry about the Cambridge Jacket from Interweave Knits, I ordered Wool of the Andes from Knit Picks in Jalapeno. The green is perfect!

I also decided that I’m going to change the jacket into a pull over. I love the ribbing, I love the collar, I love the shape of this sweater, I’m just not a fan of the zipper! So I’m going to knit it in the round and put a button closure in at the neck.

I’m a little nervous. I’ve knit sweaters for my mom before, but this is for a boy! Am I nuts? Am I dooming my relationship?

I grew up in a house that always had food in it. My mom is an amazing grocery shopper, and she got it from my papa (who is doing much better now, thank you). We often discuss the amazing deals we found on our recent grocery trips over our Sunday meal. I suck at this game. Everything in Chicago costs so much more than in Michigan that even when I get a good deal here, it’s like paying full price for something in Michigan.

Which is why PT and I have been building our grocery list in anticipation of our trip! We leave late tonight!

Which is why PT and I have been needing to get creative with our eating this week. But when I say I’ve got no food in the house, it isn’t like when other people say they’ve got no food in the house. I’ve just got a lot of pantry staples with no way to bring them together. I’ve got a pantry full of food because my mom always has a pantry full of food, because she is an amazing shopper. And she taught me well, despite my Chicago cost of living.

Pantry Staple Stir Fry

Wednesday night I cooked up some potatoes in the wok to get them crispy, and I dumped in a can of corn (Forgive me. A can of corn during CORN SEASON? I wanted to cry.) a can of black beans, and some taco-y and spicy seasonings. We topped it with some shredded cheddar (stolen from my roommate) and dumped some salsa on top. Served with chips (also stolen from the roommate)! This was great! Filling and fun; kind of like eating a whole lot of corn and bean salsa, with potatoes.

Toe Up Socks!

Sock are the Sweetest!

Wednesday night was Toe Up Sock class, finally! I have been trying to teach this class forever, and something came up every time. So I was so happy when Tara, Gil, and Lori signed up!

But, quickly, my delight turned to their horror. Really, they are only laughing to stop from crying. Toe up socks are hard to get started, but I kept saying the more stitches you get on your needles, the easier it gets!

Yeah, it’s a lot of needles. And yeah, that figure 8 cast on is hard. But they got it! And I bet if you ask them now they would recommend the class!

… right? I mean. Probably.

Oatmeal for Everyone!

Yesterday all of my meals looked like this. Random stuff mixed into oatmeal made on the stove, with a piece of toast. I love oatmeal, I do, but. But. But I’m excited that we are going to have some new food in the house real soon.

Soon to be Stockings

My Knit Picks order came in today! I ordered that Wool of the Andes yarn on top for the Christmas stockings I’m going to knit for PT and I. I love off color Christmas stockings, so when I saw that green I had to have it. It looks great with that Caron Simply Soft red.

Cucumber Sandwich with Swiss, and Leftover Potato Stir Fry

For lunch today I heated up the leftover potato bean thing, and had another cucumber sandwich. It wasn’t as exciting as I’m making it sound.

Off to Michigan in a few hours! I’ve got to pack. Have a great holiday weekend!