Knitting

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Review/Giveaway: Continuous Cables

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continuous cables book giveaway

Carolyn is getting this one!

This week’s giveaway, Continuous Cables by Melissa Leapman, is not a new book (it was published in 2008) but it’s a great one for learning how cables work and how to use them effectively and in different ways in projects.

Instead of dealing with straight, ropey cables like we are used to, her cables twist and turn to make circles, rings, swirls, cirlicues and Celtic-inspired designs on pillows, sweaters, blankets, baby projects and more. (Check out all the projects on Ravelry. Mine is the hardcover version and actually has a different cover.)

In addition, there is a stitch dictionary with more than 80 panels and motifs you can add to your projects or just play with in swatches.

There are a couple of beginner patterns in the book but I would say its better suited to people who have comfort with traditional cables and are ready to branch out into new twisty territory.

If you’d like a chance to win this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, February 19. Please only United States residents on this one — this book is heavy!

I’d love to know about your experience with cables, or with knitting more generally. Do you consider yourself a beginner, an expert or somewhere in between? Personally, I know enough to know I still have a lot to learn!

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

  1. Still have so much to learn! There is always new techniques coming out. I consider my skills to be intermediate and I love cables!

  2. My experience with cables isn’t very good, nor is it vast. They tend to be too tight for some reason and I haven’t been able to make them loose enough. I have to sort of pull really hard to get those stitches made. I’m definitely a beginner at cables and I would love to learn how to do them because I want to get more experience at making socks and using delicate cable patterns. It’s very challenging.

  4. I am like you I know enough to know I can still learn more. I have been knitting for years and the new patterns coming out are things I like to try before my hand get to bad to knit.. Thank you for the chance to win this book.

  5. I am always learning new techniques and ideas with cables. Love the look they give knitted items.

  6. I love cables. My very first item I knit was with lots of cables. I consider myself still a beginner…
    Still learning and conquering!

  7. I have been knitting a very long time-since my father taught me as a teenager! I have done a lot of different stitches, including cables-would love to experiment with new ideas!

  8. I’m a cable newbie and made my first cabled headband/ear warmer for my niece. My goal is to learn as many cables as possible for 2017.

  11. I love cables and have intermediate skills knitting them. I wish I could learn to understand them better so I could write cable patterns.

  12. I probably have advanced beginner skills and love cables! I would like to attempt advanced cables such as in this wonderful book!

  13. My grandmother taught me to knit & purl 55 years ago when I was only 6 yrs old.. Never made anything but just practiced when I stayed with her. I became disabled and picked up a pair of needles a couple years ago and I was amazed that I cast on and began knitting by total recall. I find that amazing considering how I no longer remember what I ate for dinner last nite but I remember how to knit. Since that time I am totally self taught. Am madly in love with cables. Would love to do an Irish pattern but I feel like I am all thumbs when I am doing them. I am not a smooth cable-maker but I never give up. They are well worth the effort!!!!!!

  14. I have knit cables several times and enjoy making cabled items. My knitting skills are intermediate. There are lots of new techniques to learn.

  15. I’ve only made 3 cable projects so far, but cables are so much fun! A lady in a coffee shop taught me how to do cables without using a cable needle and that really helped my speed. I know there is so much more for me to learn and this book would be a wonderful help. Thanks so much for the chance to win! 🙂

  16. There’s so much still to learn so I’d have to say I’m an intermediate newbie. : )) I love cables for the challenge (as I REALLY have to pay attention!) and the beautiful designs you can create with them.

  17. I would really love this book. I have learned to do “ordinary” cables but all these different types of cables, well I had no idea there were so many and the design on the front of this book is really beautiful. How I would love to be able to make something like that.

  18. I knitted a cable sweater for my boyfriend (now husband) when I was a teenager, almost 50 years ago. I would love to expand my knowledge of cables to such interesting shapes and designs, now that I am retired and have time to knit again.

  19. I love cables and I’m enjoying Ms Leapman’s square for the Knitterati Afghan. I’d love to have a copy of this book. 🙂

  20. I still consider myself a beginner even though I have made a few cabled projects because they were all accessories so didn’t require much staying power – but I would love to try some of the projects in this wonderful book!

  21. I love all kinds of knitting from lace, to cables, to plain stockinette or garter. I consider myself an expert. Would love to receive this book, and learn new ways to use cables.

  22. Hi, would love a chance at this book. I have a skill level of in between when it comes to cables. I love that it looks so complicated, but is a lot easier to do then I once thought. Happy knitting!

  23. I love cables. My very first knitting project was a fisherman sweater with lots of cables. A combination of ignorance and over-ambition. The sweater came out with some flaws, but very wearable. I still have it and love it.

  24. I’ve been exploring some interesting cables in a blanket I’m working on. I was just thinking I’d really like a book of motifs to figure out how to design my own cables. I’d love a chance at this book. Thanks!

  26. I’m not a cable newbie but I love the celtic knot look and I hadn’t seen this particular book until you posted this. Thanks for the chance to win!

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.