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Giveaway: Norah Gaughan’s Knitted Cable Sourcebook

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Norah Guaghan's Knitted Cable Sourcebook

Congratulations, Alosim!

I have long been inspired by Norah Gaughan’s innovative knitwear designs and her approach to knitwear. She seems to come at things from a different direction, in a way that can make other knitters’ heads spin, but it always turns out to be logical, amazing and fun to knit from one of her patterns.

Her Knitted Cable Sourcebook has more than 150 stitch patterns — the vast majority are original — and 15 projects to use them in. But what’s really cool is that each stitch pattern is given with its Stockinette equivalent, which means you can easily substitute different stitch patterns in the projects here, or add a cable panel to a project by just subbing the cable in for that number of Stockinette stitches.

This is a really great book that is sure to inspire the cable knitters out there to try some new things and get creative when adding cables to patterns.

If you’d like a chance to win my copy of this book, leave a comment on this post between now and the end of the day Sunday, February 5. I’d love to know how you use cables in your knitting projects!

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

 

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

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Comments

  2. I too love knitting cables and enjoy making up my own designs with them. Thank you for the giveaway chance.

  3. I so in love with Norah’s designs. I’ll browse Ravelry for project ideas and add a bunch to my favorites list and then when I go back and review…. they all are from Norah! I’ve been knitting for over 40 years and believe that I have finally found a designer that gets me. I can’t wait to play with the cabling in some of my favorite sweater patterns using the SSE.

  4. Oh wow. I’ve been dreaming of a fabulous cabled cardigan for a couple of months now. This would be the perfect source book!

  5. The first thing I ever knit had cables in it. A scarf with 3 cables down the center.
    Love cables!

  6. Aran, cables, I love them. I use designs based on traditional Celtic patterns and develop my own too for sweaters, cushions and scarves. They really are my favourite thing to do and any new inspiration would be great.

  8. I love Nora Gaughan and cables and this book sounds fantastic. Thanks for doing the giveaway!

  9. Knowing that you quite often offer the books that you review in giveaways, I’ve been waiting for this one since November! Thanks for the giveaway. I designed my own sweater with three kinds of cables and twisted ribs. It’s my all time favorite.

  10. I like cable knitting, my favourite jacket has a 5-cable design on the back 🙂 I would like to win this book to improve my cable-knitting skills!

  13. I love to knit for my grandchildren and their parents. I would really find this book so helpful and interesting because it would mean I could devise my own patterns for them which would be so exciting to make. Ever hopeful!

  15. I love how cables can make a project more interesting to knit & to look at! I knit small things, mostly, I love cables gloves & hats, and even socks. This book looks really good, & I love Norah Gaughan’s designs.

  16. I’ve only recently started doing cables. Currently in a baby blanket I’m making, and I’ll be making some cabled cushion covers for our couch cushions next!

  17. I love cables but never add cable panels to a project by just subbing the cables in for that number of Stockinette stitches. Instead, I wait patiently until I find knitting patterns that include cables.

  20. I don’t love knitting cables but I love the way they look. And I love all of Norah’so designs. Just beautiful. Thanks for this great giveaway!

  21. I usually go simple with cables, easy cross-over, on scarves. It would be lovely to have a whole book of cables to try out! 🙂

  22. I love cables. To me they’re the ultimate potato chip knitting. Just one more cable cross before I go to bed…

  25. I’d love to be cranking out cabled sweaters but so far my cabling accomplishments only reach as far as hats and the occasional sock. Thanks!

Have you read?

Book Review: Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit & Crochet Blankets

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four. 

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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