Knitting

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Get Great Texture with the Ropes and Twines Cardigan Knitting Pattern

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This is probably just a personal problem, but I always feel like cable patterns need to be knit in a solid color of yarn. If I’m going through all the work of making cables, I want them to be seen!

But the Ropes and Twines Cardigan from Joji Locatelli shows me that a yarn with a little bit of color to it can still make pretty cables that stand out.

This top down cardigan features a cable that runs across the back and down the sleeves, and the fronts and back panel have a lot of texture on their own worked in broken rib, but after the knitting is done, I-cords are braided into the fronts and back, adding another cable-like look without cabling.

These I-cord forms being added on top of the knitting makes them stand out even more for a really dramatic look.

The pattern is worked in worsted weight yarn and is available in 10 sizes, to fit a bust circumference of 33 to 60 inches (83.8 to 152.4 cm). The actual measurement of the sweater ranges from 34.5 to 70.5 inches in the chest, or 86 to 176 cm. It’s meant to be worn with 4 to 6 inches/10-15 cm of positive ease, but you can alter that depending on how you like to wear your cardigans.

This project looks like it would be a lot of fun to knit and to wear, and you could make a version in wool for colder weather and try it in a cotton blend for warmer months.

You can get your copy of this pattern on Ravelry.

And if you’re wondering about knitting all that I-cord, I wrote a post not too long ago that includes three different ways to make I-cord: by hand with needles, using a French knitter or spool knitter, and using a crank-powered I-cord machine. Joji actually used a DK weight yarn for her cords, so you could make them on a machine if you have one handy!

[Photo: Joji Locatelli]

Comments

  1. I understand the plane wool re cables, I have knitted in the amazing Donegal Aran wool, which is like a tweed effect, and is just super looking, I might give this multi colour ago, for my next project, I am just finishing a lovely Aran , knit from a cotton acrylic mix, as ,y son is unable to wear wool, pity, I love knitting cables, I love to knit a lot of Aran jumpers xx enjoying this post

Have you read?

Pencil Knitting Patterns

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns! 

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil. 

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn. 

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point. 

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up. 

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.