Cable Mania Knit Along

From KnitPurlPDX over on Ravelry starting Jan 8th.

Whether you knit gifts for everyone you know or just for yourself, surviving the winter holidays is always an accomplishment. This year, we’ve decided to reward ourselves (and you!) for with a KAL that every knitter can participate in – beginning or advanced, young or mature, male or female – Cable Mania 2010.

Widely ranging in styles and skill levels, cables are the great equalizer among knitters. Former simply by manipulating the placement of stitches, with a cable needle or dpn (or nothing!), cables can look like braids, all-over patterns, or even Celtic knots.

Over the next six weeks (through February 28, 2010), expect to receive new cabling tips and tricks, coupons for specials on cable patterns, fun contests, and even a brand-new Aran stitch dictionary.

So, go on, pull out your cable needle and cast on for a fun knit-along that can be just for you!

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Looking for more Cable-styled knitting patterns? Check out these Cable Knit Patterns on Etsy

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I’m trying to include more knits for kids in my posts because I know a lot of people do a lot of their knitting for the little ones in their lives.

This child’s striped vest from Lion Brand Yarn is not only cute and great for kids who might find a full sweater too hot, it’s also an easy project if you’ve never knit a garment before.

Lion Brand rates it as level 2 easy/beginner +, probably just because there’s a little shaping and seaming invovled, but it’s nothing you can’t handle.

The pattern comes in three sizes that are meant to be for ages 6, 8 and 10. The finished chest measurement is 30, 31.5 or 33 inches, which is 76, 80 and 84 cm respectively. This makes the vest a little roomy and makes it easy to slip on over a T-shirt or other top.

It’s worked in two pieces from the bottom up, with the neckband and armhole bands worked in the round after the body pieces are sewn together. One benefit of knitting stripes on a project like this is that it’s easier to make sure your pieces are the same length because you can just count the stripes (it’s also a little easier to seam because you’re always lining up the stripes).

If you’re knitting the smallest size, you only need one skein each of the two colors you choose, and for the larger sizes you will only need two, making this project a pretty good value. The suggested yarn is Color Theory, a worsted weight acrylic yarn that comes in 18 relatively muted colors. Of course you can use any worsted weight yarn you like. Keep it acrylic for easy washing or use wool to make this a warmer garment for kids who live in cooler climates.

You can grab the pattern for free from the Lion Brand website, or get a kit that includes the yarn you need (and needles if you don’t have them already). I think this would be a great basic to knit a kid for back to school in their school colors, or make it holiday with red and green, or whatever colors the child likes.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

Next Pattern:

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