Imperial Stock Ranch Desitination Event to Return

There are lots of knitting-related travel opportunities out there, but some of them stand out as dream events and destinations. That’s the way I felt when I heard about the Vogue Knitting Live destination event at Imperial Stock Ranch in Oregon. The event was a weekend with Nicky Epstein and knitters from around the country flocked (ha, ha) there to experience the ranch, savor local food and music and learn Epstein’s block by block method of garment construction.

(She designed a piece, the Corona Circle Croplette, just for the event, and the pattern is available for $8 on Ravelry.)

I wasn’t there, sadly (I think it was the weekend of my 10th wedding anniversary!) but I might get the chance next year because Imperial Yarn announced that the event will be happening again next year. It’s slated for May 31 to June 2, 2013, and interested knitters can contact Doreen at Soho Publishing for more information or to reserve a spot.

Armchair travelers can check out this year’s event on Imperial Yarn’s Facebook page or read a great roundup of events with comments from some of the participants.

Have you ever gone on a destination knitting experience? Spill it!

[Photo: Nicky Epstein in her embellished cowboy hat, by Imperial Yarn.]

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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