Bead & Button Show (US)

Anyone with a passion for jewelry, fashion or art should experience the 2009 Bead&Button Show, May 31-June 7, at the Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee.

No event in the country celebrates jewelry making and jewelry makers better than the annual Bead&Button Show. As the world’s largest consumer bead and jewelry show, last year’s show welcomed more than 13,000 visitors from 50 states and 40 countries.

Attend master classes, meet the teachers, and, of course, shop during the week-long event. Register online now for master classes. Early registrants, will can shop beginning June 4. The Bead Marketplace will be open to the public June 5 – 7. Tickets are $10, or click here for $2.00 off.

May 31 – June 4: Master classes
June 4: Class attendees Bead Marketplace Preview
June 5-7: Bead Marketplace Open to Public

Midwest Airlines Center
400 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI

Visit the Bead&Button Show site for more information.

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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