December 26, 2011

Yarn: King Cole Merino Blend DK, 100% Superwash Wool, in Copper

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 6 stitches and 7.5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: "Closing" Double Cable

Source: BW1, p. 112

Comments: This is one of several double cable stitches which are worked by slipping stitches rather than using the cable needle.  Apparently, if you take out the centre stitch in these panels, it becomes a Reverse Gull Stitch.

November 15, 2011

Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed Aran, 50% Merino, 25% Rayon, 25% Alpaca, in Teal

Needle: 4.5 mm / US 7

Gauge: 5.5 stitches and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Interlocked Cables

Source: KBB, p. 167.

Comments: This is only the first part of this knitted block - after knitting this, you are supposed to pick up stitches along the right side of this square, and then knit another of these squares - do that 3 times total, and you get one big square made up of four little squares of three cables each.  Of course, given the yarn I used, the finished block would be about 10" square, so I stopped after just one.  :)

PS: Darcy, you need to take your book back already!  :)   

October 14, 2011

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino, 100% Worsted Weight Wool, in Barn Red

Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 5 stitches and 5 rows per inch 

Stitch Pattern: Lobster Claw Cable

Source: BW2, p. 180.

Comments: I don't think I like this cable - or its name.  These look like wishbones to me - I always think of lobster claws as pointing upwards, because they point in the direction that the lobster is going, and that's generally away from the person chasing it!

September 14, 2011

Yarn: Tivoli Celtic Aran 100% Superwash Wool in Beige 

Needles: 4.5 mm / US 7

Gauge: 4.5 sts and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: The Anchor

Source: BW1, p. 288

Comments: To round out the sailing vacation that took me away from swatching for ten days, I thought I'd knit this anchor motif.  Good for a blanket square or themed project, I think, but perhaps not so useful elsewhere.  :)

August 17, 2011

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino, 100% Worsted Weight Merino Wool, in Plum Heather

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 6 stitches and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Oxox Cable, with the order reversed on the left-hand cable

Source: BW1, p. 255.

Comments:  I've seen this one used very often, especially in cabled sweaters for little girls.  I think I need to be a little more careful in my stitch formations - I don't like the split that has appeared in the middle of the Xs and Os.

August 16, 2011

Yarn: Schoeller + Stahl Merino Mix, 51% Merino/49% Acrylic Worsted Weight yarn

Needles: 4 mm / US 6

Gauge: 5 stitches x 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Hourglass Cable

Source: BW1, p. 255.

Comments: I'm classifying this next series of swatches as 'cheater swatches' because even though I took the yarn, needles, and patterns with me when I went to my friend's wedding, I didn't actually do any knitting while I was there.  Nevertheless, 7 swatches knit in 2 days still deserve to be catalogued!  I like the twisty stitches in this cable - it gives it a little something extra, and tightens the overall look just a bit.

August 4, 2011

Yarn: Schoeller + Stahl Merino Mix, 51% Merino/49% Acrylic Worsted Weight yarn

Needles: 4mm / 6 US

Gauge:  5 stitches and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Teddy Bear

Source: BW4, p. 208.

Comments: Apparently I missed the chapter heading of "Cables" for this swatch, because it wasn't until I'd reached the arms that I realized that the legs and arms were supposed to be worked as cables...  genius, really!  I like this little square, even though I think he looks more like a monster and less like a teddy bear.  :)

June 21, 2011

Yarn: Noro Silk Garden, 45% Mohair, 45% Silk, 10% Wool

Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 4 stitches and 6.5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Baby Cable Ribbing

Source: BW1, p. 40.

Comments: A little variation on your standard 2x2 rib. As usual, the colour changes in this yarn detract from the pattern a little, but at least the twists aren't entirely hidden.

June 19, 2011

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino, 100% Worsted Weight Merino Wool, in Plum Heather

Needles: 5 mm / 8 US

Gauge: 4 stitches and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Double Knotted Lattice

Source: BW2, p. 207.

Comments: Okay, so I have to stop saying that the new version of this yarn isn't as nice as the old stuff.  This is really nice yarn - soft, durable, and as you can see it has great stitch definition.  And its cheap - especially when you buy it from Michael's using one of their 40% off coupons! :)  I have this leftover from a cabled sweater I'm working on at the moment, so I thought I'd use it for more cables.  This particular stitch can be used as seen here, in a 30-stitch cable panel, or you can extend it, and make it an all-over cable pattern.  Its quite big though, so I think you'd want to use it on an adult-sized garment rather than a kids' one (at least in worsted yarn, as seen here).

June 12, 2011

Yarn: Unknown acrylic DK yarn

Needles: 4 mm / US 6

Gauge: 5.5 and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Rib and Braid Pattern

Source: BW2, p. 201.

Comments: Barbara Walker suggests this as a creative alternative to the standard 2x2 rib pattern... on that suggestion, I thought I'd try it out to see how quick it is to work.  Turns out, I'm not convinced.  But its nice anyway...

June 8, 2011

Yarn: Cozy Toes Woolens, 100% Wool, in Green

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 4 stitches and 6.5 rows per inch 

Stitch Pattern: Close Braid Cable

Source: BW1, p. 249.

Comments: I LOVE this swatch!  :)  That's helped by the fact that this is my absolute favourite yarn at the moment - its a 2-ply pure wool in a heavy DK/light worsted weight, which comes from Sunset Farms Studio on Salt Spring Island, one of the little islands just of the coast of Vancouver.  The wool is so soft (especially after a bath in Eucalan!), it comes in great colours, and just look at how well it shows off cable stitches!  I've made 2 pairs of socks for Mike out of this yarn and he still says they're his favourite socks.  Having seen this lovely little cable swatch, I am so making myself a cabled jumper from this yarn!   :) 

June 6, 2011

Yarn: Pingouin France +, 50% Acrylic/50% Wool (DK) in Tweedy Blue

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 4 sts and 8 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Gull Stitch

Source: BW1, p. 248.

Comments:  So if you ignore the number of purl background stitches between each cable, the main difference between this stitch and the Mock Gull Stitch from yesterday is that there are two extra rows of slipped stitches between each cable twist.  (And of course, traditionally, this one is worked with a cable needle, but given that there were only three stitches in each twist, I just cabled without the needle for most of this).  I like this version better, but then it may have something to do with the yarn - I always think that tweedy yarns were meant to be used in cable sweaters!   :)

May 8, 2011

Yarn: Patons UK Fairytale Colour 4 Me DK, 100% Wool

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 5.5 stitches and 8 rows per inch 

Stitch Pattern: "Cable Motif F"

Source: Aran Throw pattern, from the Step-By-Step Knitting Workbook by Debbie Bliss (the new version has a slightly different title)

Comments: This wasn't the motif I intended to knit - the pattern doesn't have a diagram or picture of the entire blanket indicating which motif goes where, nor does it offer any charts for the motifs (hopefully they fixed this in later editions!).... so I read through Motif F quickly, saw the bobbles, and assumed I had the right one.  So much for my assumptions!  :)

May 3, 2011

Yarn: Cascade 220, 100% Worsted Weight Wool, in Navy

Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 5 sts and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Cable Pattern from Elinor Brown's Tuckernuck Cardigan, featured in Interweave Knits, Winter 2010

Source: Interweave Knits, Winter 2010

Comments: I like the cables in this pattern, so I thought I'd try it out. (Have you noticed my new trend in stitch pattern sources - about time I put all my knitting magazines to good use!).

February 2, 2011

Yarn: King Cole Merino Blend DK - 100% Superwash Wool, in French Blue

Needles: 6 mm / 10 US

Gauge: 6.5 stitches and 8 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: French Braids

Source: Nicky Epstein's Knitting Block by Block, which Darcy very kindly lent me.  :)

Comments:  I'm pretty sure I made a mistake on one of these cables, but I can't find it...  Can you? :)  This is a fun pattern, but I don't think I blocked the sides out straight enough.  Oops.

January 30, 2011

Yarn: Cascade 220 100% wool, in Gold 

Needles: 4.5mm / US 7

Gauge: 7 stitches and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: 6-stitch cables, with 2 purls on either side, and a 1-stitch rib to separate them

Source: Leisure Arts #932, 60 Easy to Knit Pattern Stitches Combine to Create Sampler Afghans, except I only made 3 cables, and I reversed the twist on the center one.


Comments:  I'm on a Cascade 220 kick right now because it shows the stitches nicely, and I have loads of it left over from a Dr. Who Scarf I made for my brother for Christmas.  Worsted weight makes for quick swatches too! (although this one really needs to be blocked!)   :)