Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Stitch Easy Cables on Fingerless Gloves

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Cable knitting is one of the basic skills of knitting that I think everyone should try once or twice. So many beginning knitters think that cable knitting is hard, and while it can be challenging when there are lots of twists and turns of different kinds in the same pattern, it’s actually not difficult as a concept.

All cable knitting asks of you is that you knit stitches in a different order than the way you normally would. This makes a twist that, through regular repetition, makes a cable pattern.

It’s a great idea to start learning about cable knitting with a simple pattern that includes just one or two cables across the work. That way you just have to focus on when and where to turn your cables one at a time, which makes it a lot easier.

The Thicket Fingerless Gloves from Mirella Moments are a good option for a first cable knitting project if you’re already comfortable working in the round. (And if you aren’t, why not learn two skills at once?)

These are fun because the cable is mirrored on each glove, with a right twist on one and a left twist on the other. That way in this one project you get plenty of practice with the mechanics of cables and you’ll be ready for a more complicated cable knitting project right away should you choose to try another.

This pattern uses worsted weight yarn and some in one size. The pattern doesn’t include a cable knitting tutorial but if you need more help than the description of how to do it, that’s easy to find elsewhere.

These mitts would be a great gift for that person who is always cold, too, so why not get a jump on your holiday knitting and whip up a pair?

The free pattern is available from Mirella Moments.

[Photo: Mirella Moments]

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Add a Little Lace to Your Knitting Patterns

If you’re new to lace knitting or just aren’t sure how to incorporate the technique into garments, check out these tops and sweaters that use lace as a decorative element.

The easiest lace out there is eyelets, and you can practice them plenty with this eyelet covered sweater from Knitcro Addict. It uses light/DK weight yarn and is worked in four pieces knit flat. It’s intended to be a little cropped and a little oversized, and includes sizes XS to XXL in the pattern.

If you’re in parts of the world where it’s getting colder as you read this, the Nora sweater from Bummbul might be a good choice. This is actually a great one for learning lace because it’s worked in super bulky yarn, which makes it easier to see what you’re doing and makes the lace super graphic. This one just comes in one size, with a 42 inch (106) cm bust, but that could fit a variety of people depending on how much ease you like.

Minimi Knit Design has a cute allover lace cardigan worked in one piece from the bottom up. It’s worked in lace weight mohair held double, which maybe isn’t the best for those new to lace (because it can be hard to rip out) but it sure is pretty. Sizes range to fit from 30 to 66 inches/76 to 168 cm bust measurements.

If you’d rather not have lace all over your sweater, you can knit the Lumi sweater from Originally Lovely, which has a chevron lace pattern on the yoke and is otherwise worked in reverse stockinette stitch. (It’s worked inside out so you don’t have to purl every stitch.) The pattern has 9 sizes from XS to 5XL and uses worsted weight yarn.

Or try the super romantic sookie blouse from Trust the mojo (available on Ravelry). This sweet top is started working flat from the bottom up and has a V-neck and I-cord edgings. The sleeves are worked separately in the round, and the pieces are all joined together to work in one piece to finish off the top. It comes in eight sizes and is available in English and French.

You can also pair lacy sleeves with an otherwise plain top, like on the Starflower Wrap from Annelise Driscoll Gingrow. This intermediate pattern makes a wrap sweater with generous lacy sleeves and a double wrap belt. The pattern has nine sizes, from XS to 5XL, and is available for free from Hobbi.