Knitting

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Giveaway: Inspired Cable Knits

by

wina copy of inspired cable knits (through aug 24)

Yolanda is the winner of this giveaway!

This is an older book, but it’s a good one if you like cable knitting. I always think of cables as being the perfect thing to knit in the fall or for the fall. I guess that’s because the twisty cables remind me of bare trees and gnarled branches, or maybe because there are so many great warm sweaters decorated with cables.

Either way, this book, Inspired Cable Knits by Fiona Ellis, is probably better for knitters with a few cable projects under their belts, since the allover patterns do take some concentration.

This book is fun, too, because it shares the inspiration behind the patterns and includes mindfulness pointers, which sometimes have something to do with knitting but even when they don’t are probably ideas we could all use in our busy lives.

If you’d like a chance to win this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, August 24. Let me know what your favorite thing about fall is, or why you love knitting cables, or whatever is on your mind this week.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

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

Comments

  1. love the elegance of cables and the pretty leaves of fall (which is coming early to California).

  5. I love Fall weather–get a chance to being to wear the knits that I have made. I checked this book out of the library once and love the patterns I saw in it.

  7. I enjoy the cooler temperatures of fall and would like to make a cable sweater as a early fall-type jacket. This book would be perfect!! Thanks for this wonderful giveaway!!

  9. I love that cables can be as simple or complex as you choose to make them, whether it’s a Celtic knot, a two-color cable, or just a small twist every now and then. Thanks for another great giveaway.

  12. I love knitting cables because I find the end result absolutely beautiful,, and because I find the necessary counting, separating, joining again, soothing.

    And did I mention beautiful?

  13. I love the Autumn probably because I was born in it. I love knitting cables because they’re soooo fun!!! And I think they’re very easy; much easier than lace knitting.

  15. Autumn is my favourite season – the colours, smells, light and cooler weather. And I love knitting cables as the give any project an extra cosiness.

  16. I love knitting cables because they’re addictive. I love to watch the cables grow off my needles, and usually say to myself “just one more cable cross”, then one more, and well, there may be some late nights knitting, but I do get the project done that way. Autumn, on the other hand, I’m not really crazy about. Pumpkins and apples are good, but I hate seeing the days get shorter.

  18. I love the colors of fall, the cool temps that encourage wearing those great hand knits, and the anticipation of the winter holidays.

  19. The colour of the leaves on the trees is a fantastic colour pallet to inspire crafters in every area.

  20. Fall is my favourite season of the year…I love everything about fall! And cables make me think of cold, misty days, so they fit wonderfully into fall!

  21. I love knitted items with cables, but have never tried making anything with them yet. Maybe winning this book will give me the courage to start a project with cables. Thanks so much for the chance to enter!

  22. Autumn is my favorite season! It’s the relief of cooler weather (and rain, yay!) but I love the autumn colors and the way it smells, too. It’s just a good time of year. 🙂

  26. I love fall, every thing about it. The clean smell of the air. There is just a feeling of great flowing energy. The colors of the trees. The leaves rustling in the wind, such a relaxing sound. The birds that chirp early morning are louder and sing longer. The sunsets are so colorful. The cooler air & wind keep the bugs away. Friends sit n chat more with larger cups of relaxing hot beverages while snuggling themselves in fibre gifts we’ve made them. Scarves and sicks and sweaters are everywhere on everyone, so much eye candy to try to remember to make. Then the cable thing….I fell in love with fisherman’s cable knit sweaters as a child as nan knit them. She said it was too hard of a skill to teach me. So I always watched her but never learnt how.
    Now I crochet more and am starting weaving too. I know only the basics in knit. But vowed to learn cables in knitting this year.
    It is neat but wonky that’s for sure but interesting. Fear has kept me from learning before now.I have about 100 or more cable patterns saved to try someday. Love cables.

  31. I’m working on cabled top right now, my first one, and I wish I had more knowledge and ideas!

  32. My favorite thing about fall is being able to wear my favorite sweater and jeans and walking through the woods. Seeing all the fall leaf colors, hearing the crunch of dried leaves as I walk the path. Love going through the corn mazes.

  33. Love the fall season……..and colours!! Cooler days…. Mother Nature providing for all the wildlife. Have been knitting for almost 50 years, and cables are still one of my favourites. They take more time and concentration, but the results are always well worth the effort. 🙂

  35. My favorite thing about Fall is sitting by the fire with some yarn….crisp air….sweaters and scarves.

  38. I love planning what I’M going to knit for my nephew and grand-nephews, for Christmas. This is when I START knitting for gifts, in the fall.

  39. I love the fall! Getting ready for the holidays, chilly weather, getting out all of my sweaters (after having had triple digit summers in GA…) I LOVE to do extremely complicated cabling and take on at least three projects a year that are gruelingly (?) hard! I would love to have this book. Thanks for the great giveaways!

  40. Where I live, it’s too hot to go hiking in the summer so we eagerly await fall when we can resume hiking.

  45. I love fall knitting… Getting a new sweater for winter. I also love this book – my copy was “borrowed” and never returned.

  50. I love going trick or treating with the kids and I love the changing colors of the leaves on the tree.

Have you read?

Totoro Knitting Patterns

We’re a big Studio Ghibli household, and while they are sometimes very protective of their copyrights (as evidenced by the number of patterns on Ravelry that were removed from the service when it received a takedown notice back in 2021), there are still a fair number of Totoro knitting patterns (as well as other designs I’m sure we’ll get to someday). Let’s check them out!

Yaya Labs has a cute plush Totoro that looks like it might stand up on its own. The pattern is available on LoveCrafts, and it calls for DK or light worsted weight yarn in four colors. The pattern is considered advanced but it does include a photo tutorial. It stands 10.6 inches or 27 cm tall.

A similar pattern can be found a Shino Craft, which doesn’t have the leaf hat but does include little hands, and the legs aren’t as separate from the body. This one calls for sport weight yarn and is knit flat on two needles. 

All Made Here has a Totoro pouch that is super cute and looks pretty easy to knit. It measures 14 by 18 cm and is rated for advanced beginners. You can get the pattern when you subscribe to updates or follow the designer on Instagram. 

Stitch Totoro on a sweater with the Totorogenseren sweater from Anna-Sofia Vintersol. This free download on Ravelry uses worsted/aran weight yarn in two or three colors. The pattern comes in nine sizes, with a chest measurement ranging from 77 to 149 cm. 

The Forest Spirit Fair Isle Jumper from Kraft with Kindrex features a row of Totoros on the circular yoke, along with other little colorwork designs. The design includes three sizes, with chest measurements ranging from 91 to 101 cm. It calls for 4 ply (that’s fingering/sock weight in other parts of the world). 

Or you can stitch Totoro as part of a project with more Ghibli characters, as on the Magical Anime Knit Sweater (a longtime bucket list item for me) from The Bearded Sewist. This on has a circular yoke and rows of different characters including Totoro, Ponyo, soot sprites, Calcifer and more. The pattern comes in four sizes and is rated intermediate/advanced. It calls for DK weight yarn and you can grab a copy on Ravelry. 

Or try Katharina Kuntz’s Anime Scarf, also on Ravelry. This one is a double knit scarf worked in fingering weight yarn in two colors, with allover designs from Studio Ghibli movies. She started by knitting the movies in chronological order but gave that up after she realized all her favorites would be in the middle and therefore not visible when worn. You can probably rearrange the motifs further somewhat if you want to showcase your favorites.