Book Review: Martin Storey’s Easy Cable & Aran Knits

Martin Storey is known for his great classic British designs, which include a lot of cables and rustic, tweedy yarns.

These loves of his are combined in the book Martin Storey’s Easy Cable & Aran Knits: 26 Projects with a Modern Twist.

The title may leave you asking yourself, what’s the difference between cable knits and Aran knits? I don’t know that there’s a definitive answer to that, but Storey seems to put cable crossing that happen with both knit and purl stitches into the second category, while cables worked entirely of knit stitches are in the first.

Each section of the book includes three easier patterns for people who are new to these techniques, and then there is a gallery of the other projects followed by the pattern instructions. There are pillows, cowls, mitts and scarves, and of course classic sweaters. The projects are photographed in natural and home settings (Storey and his niece are two of the models, which is fun) and they are really classic cable patterns that mostly seem less daunting because they aren’t all over the project or there’s only one cable type in the project.

A couple of my favorite patterns include the Garter Twist Cowl pictured on the cover; the Links Cable Cardigan, with panels of cables on each side of the sweater opening; and the Aran Wrap, which features long strips of cable patterns paired with Seed Stitch.

I just looked and only a couple of the projects from the British version of the book are on Ravelry, but you can see many of the patterns (including those I just mentioned) in a book trailer on the American publisher’s website.

About the book: 128 pages, paperback, 26 patterns (they have a star rating; 13 are 1 star, 11 are 2 star and two are 3 star), paperback, published by Trafalgar Books, suggested retail $22.95.

New to knitting? Not sure what Aran Knitting is?

The Aran pullover is a style of jumper that takes its name from the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. Yes, they own claim to Aran as much as Champagne the town, own Champagne the drink. A traditional Aran Jumper or pullover as it is called is usually is off-white in colour, with cable patterns on the body and sleeves. Of course, today’s Aran designs are multicoloured and extend into beanies and accessories. Looking for more Aran Knitting patterns? Check these out on Etsy.

Next Pattern:

Linen stitch is one of my favorite knitting stitch patterns that, every time I use it in a project, I think about how I don’t use it often enough.

It’s an easy stitch to make, with slip stitches done with the yarn held to the front of the work on the right/front side and to the back on the wrong/back side, which makes the strand of yarn a visible part of the pattern.

It also makes a fabric that is thick and looks kind of like a woven fabric.

I recently used linen stitch to make a double-thick pot holder, which I worked in a kind of interesting way. I didn’t want to have to do any sewing on the project, so I started it from a crochet cast on and picked up stitches from the side of the cast on to make the hot pad all in one piece in the round with the edge sealed.

This requires working on two circular needles, which is another technique I don’t use that often and am always reminded how much I like it when I do.

The combination of double thickness and the stitch pattern makes for a hot pad that’s already pretty thick, but I also added a bit of old towel to the inside before I closed up the end to make it super thick and extra protective for your surfaces.

I found the engineering challenge of this construction method to be a lot of fun, but you could also just knit it as a tube (casting on twice as many stitches as I did) and sew up the ends by hand when the knitting is done. Either way you’ve got a useful and pretty addition to your kitchen, whether you work it in a solid color, stripes or as a stash busting project will all your cotton odd balls.

You can grab the pattern over at Our Daily Craft, or check it out on Ravelry.

40+ Hot Pads You Can Sew For The Kitchen [Sewing]

A Cozy Knit to Calm Your Mind

Double Knit an Infinity Scarf

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Have you read?