Help Knitters Produce a Book Inspired by the Midwest

Knitters Allyson Dykhuizen and Carina Spencer are lifelong residents of the midwestern United States, and they know there’s a lot special about that part of the world (as do I, being born as I was in Iowa).

They’re working on a project with a bunch of other midwestern designers called, appropriately enough, Midwestern Knits. The book will feature 12 or 13 designs inspired by the history and culture of the midwest and using yarn from local producers.

Essays will be included in the book to explore the inspiration behind each design as well.

The project is being funded by a Kickstarter, and there’s about a week left to contribute if you’d like to see this book become a reality. There are all sorts of great thank yous involved, from free pattern downloads to kits, or even having a sweater knit for you. All pledges of $25 or more include a copy of the book when it comes out, which is expected to happen next fall.

I hope you’ll check the project out and give if it moves you.

[Photo via Kickstarter.]

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time.

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring.

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn.

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row.

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves.

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body.

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy.

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

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