Midwestern Knitters, Check Out Annie’s Craft Festival

A brand-new, one-of-a-kind craft festival is being presented later this month in the Annie’s Craft Festival, taking place in Fort Wayne, Ind., October 30 through November 1.

The weekend will include classes taught by industry greats such as Lily Chin (I took a class from her at TNNA this year and it was awesome!) and Edie Eckman, as well as an evening with New York Times bestselling author and creator of Hallmark’s Cedar Cove series, Debbie Macomber; a playful Crafts & Cocktails Halloween Party; free make-and-takes; a measuring station and a “stitch doctor” among other attractions.

The festival is hosted by Annie’s, one of the largest and most diverse sources of craft designs, instruction and supplies in American and producer of the TV show “Knit and Crochet Now!” It will include knitting, crochet, quilting, sewing, beading, card-making and paper crafts to cross-stitch, floral crafts, painting and more.

There will be giveaways, free classes, a product runway with prizes and all sorts of other fun stuff.

“There is no other show like this, serving enthusiasts across the breadth of the crafting world,” Annie’s executive VP Michele Fortune says. “We couldn’t be more thrilled about the quality and variety of teaching talent, marketplace offerings and social activities being offered at this festival.”

The festival will be held at the Grand Wayne Convention Center located in downtown Fort Wayne. The Hilton Fort Wayne, which is connected to the Grand Wayne Convention Center, is offering festival attendees a discounted room rate of $124 a night. A limited number of VIP packages are also available.

I’d love to know if any of you attend and what you think of it!

[Photo via Annie’s.]

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]

Comments

Have you read?