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Enter Dad to Win a “Cable Knit” Sweater Vest

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Dads in cliche are known for their terrible jokes, and their hoarding of cables and other technological bits and bobs that no one really knows the use of or if they’ll ever be needed again.

Staples is giving a few lucky dads a chance to make their dad joke dreams a reality. Through June 10, 2024, anyone who takes cables to a Staples store for recycling can enter to win a cable knit sweater vest, complete with real cables woven in.

Cables, cords and other tech are eligible for this giveaway, and everyone who recycles gets an instant $10 off coupon for a purchase of $30 or more, so you can shop for a less punny gift while you’re there. Or get some new cables. Who am I to judge?

After you do your recycling, head to the Staples website with your receipt to enter to win the vest. There will be a total of five winners.

I know this doesn’t really have a lot to do with actual knitting, but this is a funny idea for the person in your life who loves puns, or to make for a white elephant gift exchange. You could add cables to your cables on all sorts of projects. I also like the idea of this as a last-minute Halloween costume: just add some cables and cords to a purchased sweater, vest or hat to make it “cable knit.”

Also I’ve crocheted with clothesline before, which is almost like a cable, so you could try knitting with some of those cast-off cables and cords, too, to make a full accessory (I’m thinking a bangle bracelet) or even a larger garment. Taking the idea of cable knit vest to a whole different place!

Is this something you would wear? Or try to make yourself? I’d love to hear your ideas for crafting with cables and cords!

[Photo via Staples]

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Summer T-Shirt Knitting Patterns

Knitters are always looking for ways to continue to knit and to wear their knits even when it’s hot outside, so there are tots of great T0shirt knitting patterns to choose from. I love knitting short-sleeved shirts because they feel so much faster than sweaters, and you can wear them on top of dresses or even longer-sleeved items when it gets cooler.

There are lots of different styles of knit tops, from the basic to the more detailed. On the more basic side are things like the Perfect T-Shirt from Originally Lovely, a basic raglan tee with nine sizes and worked in worsted weight yarn; Paper Bloom by Yvonne Hugo (free on Ravelry), available in six sizes and worked with cotton and silk yarn for extra coolness; or Iris H’s Amelia Top, also on Ravelry, a slim fit, DK weight top with nine size.

Jazz it up with a bit of lace like on the Athens Lace Hem top by Sarah Hatton (Ravelry). This otherwise simple project has a bit of lace at the bottom, which is an easy way to make a project more interesting without a ton of work. This one uses fingering weight yarn and comes in nine sizes.

Another simple embellishment is to emphasize the lines of your top with different stitches. The Spring Lines top uses twisted ribbing at the center front and V-neck and along the raglan lines to give it a slimmer fit and more interest. This design from Turquoise Toque Designs has 11 size options and is available on Ravelry.

Silfurberg by Joji Locatelli uses both of these elements, with lace panels at the center front and back and purl ridges throughout to make it a little more fun to knit and to wear. The pattern uses fingering weight yarn and comes in 10 sizes. Learn more on Ravelry.

Keep it simple or add puffed sleeves (and/or long sleeves) to the slim fit Knitty Committee top by Lily Kate France. This one has two length options, waist shaping and optional bust darts to fulfill all your curvy top dreams, and it comes in nine sizes. You’ll find it on Ravelry.

Take it even more romantic with the Daphne Top from Friday Knits, which has puffed sleeves and applied I-cord to emphasize the bust and sweetheart neckline. It comes in eight sizes and uses DK weight yarn.

Or add some sweet flowers with the Gigio pattern from Emilie Luis. This pretty pattern found on Ravelry has cable panels running up the front with the option for adding sweet embroidered flowers. You can also add decorative buttons if you like. It comes in 11 sizes and calls for sport weight yarn.