cables • The Knitting Vortex

Honeydip

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Sep 122023

Deeply textured honeycomb cables decorate the body and outer sleeves of this topdown seamless sweater. Victorian references style the bell shaped silhouette, with a high neck, slim sleeves, and fluted hem. Compound raglan shaping ensures a good fit for all sizes, while waist shaping further refines the silhouette. Construction: Honeydip is knit seamlessly from the top down using raglan construction, in a textured honeycomb cable pattern on the front, back, and along the outer sleeves, with smooth stockinette at the body side panels and undersleeves. Compound raglan shaping, in which the rate of body and sleeve increases varies depending upon size, is used to ensure a good fit across the entire size range. Stitches are cast on in the round at the neckline, the front and back neck are shaped with short rows, then the body is worked to the bottom of the armhole. Sleeve stitches are placed on hold while the lower body is worked with gentle shaping to the fluted ribbed hem which flows smoothly from the cables. Sleeves are then continued to . . .

Rib Run

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Mar 212017

There’s nothing more classic than a ribbed hat, and Rib Run adds just a little twist by morphing the ribs into twining cables that run from brim to crown. Techniques & Skills Used: Twisted German CO, knit/purl, cables, decreasing, working in the round; instructions for stitch patterns are both written and charted. Size: 18.75” brim circumference and 8.5” tall, unstretched, shown on a 22” head. The rib-based pattern is very stretchy and easily accommodates heads from 20 – 23” in circumference; to adjust the size further, go up or down a needle size. Yarn: Brim Collections Breakfast DK (100% merino wool; 230 yards/210m/100g), shown in Earl Grey; 1 skein, or approximately 175 yards of DK weight wool yarn. Other Materials: US 4 (3.5mm) 16” circular needle for brim and US 6 (4mm) 16” circular needle or size to match gauge for body; cable needle; Stitch markers (5); Yarn needle. Gauge: 25.5 st and 36 rows/4” in cable pattern, unstretched after blocking; 1 cable repeat of 24 st and 36 rows equals 3.75” wide and 4” . . .

Shadowling

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Jan 192016

A topography of shadow cables is knit as a flat rectangle and folded, then two short seams form this cocoon cardigan. Short rows shape the wide ribbed edging, creating a warm and dramatic shawl collar that hugs all the right places; an elegant applied I-cord neatly finishes the edges and cuffs. Construction: Shadowling is cast on provisionally and worked as a flat rectangle to the final body row, which is left live. The piece is folded horizontally and seamed, leaving armhole openings; stitches are picked up around the openings and worked in the round for long ribbed cuffs, and finished with applied I-cord. CO and final row stitches are then worked in the round in rib with short rows to shape the shawl collar, and the long edge also finished with applied I-cord. Instructions are written for the German short row method, but your preferred method may be substituted. Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, cable CO, knit/purl, cables, short rows, working in the round, applied I-cord; stitch pattern is both written and charted, with a link . . .

Pax Vobis

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Jul 102015

Let Pax Vobis bring peace to you, as rhythmic baby cables flow into a gentle A-line silhouette. Seamless topdown raglan construction and an intuitive cable twist stitch pattern enable serene and uncomplicated knitting. The cropped length, elbow sleeves and deeply scooped neckline are perfect with a summer outfit, and the lightweight yarn brings a whisper soft harmony. Construction: Pax Vobis is knit seamlessly from the top down using raglan construction. Stitches are cast on for front, sleeves and back, and the bodice is worked with allover Baby Cable twists easily created without a cable needle, stockinette sleeves and wide raglan style lines. Once established, the Baby Cable stitch pattern is very intuitive; both written instructions and charts (on p. 8) are provided for reference. Once the neck depth is reached, stitches are cast on for the front neckline and the body is joined in the round and worked to the bottom of the armhole. Sleeve stitches are placed on hold while the lower body is worked in stockinette, creating a slight, natural A-line shape below the . . .

The Fisher Queen

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Feb 242014

A modern take on the fisherman sweater, The Fisher Queen blends classic cable and rib elements with a non-traditional shape and construction. Heavily textured Mistake Rib, along with Honeycomb and Snake cables cover the front and back, while the fitted sleeves are worked in Rib. The slim modified dolman sleeves, scooped neck and curved hem bring updated details to the silhouette, mixing traditional and modern in a contemporary classic. Construction: The Fisher Queen is worked seamlessly from the top down; the shoulder saddles are knit first, with stitches picked up for front and back and worked flat to below the armhole, then joined to work in the round. Long, skinny sleeves are picked up and worked in rib, then finished with twisted rib cuffs, matching the hem and neckband. Techniques & Skills Used: backwards loop CO, knit/purl, cables, decreasing, short rows, picking up stitches, grafting. Body stitch patterns are both written and charted. Size: 31 (35, 39, 43, 47, 51, 55)” bust; shown in third size worn with 4” of positive ease. For a similar . . .

Fish Moderne Scarf

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Jan 302014

Modern fishermen and women need to look stylish and stay warm when trolling about in winter. The fully reversible Fish Moderne scarf is worked in heavily textured Mistake and Twisted Rib, framing a wide ribbed cable. The generous length can be wrapped easily, while the thick and cozy fabric keeps out wind and weather. This scarf is a companion to the Fish Moderne Hat; purchase either one and automatically save 50% on the other! Techniques & Skills Used: Cable CO, knit/purl, twisted stitches, cables; this pattern is both written and charted. Size: 8” wide and 68” long, after gentle blocking. Yarn: Cascade Yarns Ecological Wool (100% wool; 478 yards/437m/ 250g), shown in 8010 Natural; 1 skein, or about 460 yards of heavy aran weight wool yarn. Other Materials: US 10 (6mm) needles, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (2); Cable needle; Yarn needle. Gauge: 21 st and 18 rows/4” in scarf pattern, after gentle blocking. One cable repeat is 3.5” tall and 3” wide. The ribbed cable and Mistake Rib compress the scarf fabric . . .

Silt & Stone

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Mar 042013

The world is made of silt and stone, the granular material and solid minerals suspended in water or settled on the earth. As sediment forms a shape, so do the Silt & Stone Hat and Mittens grow from a mixture of stitches that settle together. For the hat, the wide garter and cable brim is knit sideways and grafted, then stitches are picked up for the crown and worked in the round with decreases to the top. The result is a chunky hat with a little slouch, both warm and textural from its mixture of elements.For the mittens, the long garter and cable cuff is knit sideways and grafted, then stitches are picked up for the hand and worked in the round with a thumb gusset. The extended cuff both hugs the forearm and slouches warmly at the wrist, while the comfy mitten keeps all your fingers warm. Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, backward loop CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, picking up stitches, cables, grafting. Hat Size: XS (S, M, L); 15.25 (17.5, 19.75, 22)” brim circumference, unstretched.Mittens . . .

Lithos

Featured, New Release, Patterns, Sweaters 3 Responses »

Mar 022013

Named for the Greek word meaning rock, Lithos is a structured cardigan in which the cable and garter elements of the collar are formed together with the gently shaped raglan body. The unusual construction begins by working the wide braided cable and garter collar from the center back neck toward each shoulder, then stitches are picked up around the collar edge and integrated into the cabled fronts, while being worked seamlessly from the top down in one piece to the hem. The organic cable appears to travel around the front edge and neckline from one end to the other, although each side is worked from the top to the bottom. A traditional cardigan with contemporary construction, Lithos is sturdy and reliable on cold days. Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, raglan construction, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, picking up stitches, cables. Size: 30 (32, 34.75, 37.25, 40, 42.75, 45.25, 48.25, 51.25)” bust; shown in third size worn with 1” ease. Yarn: Knit Picks Biggo (50% Superwash Merino Wool, 50% Nylon; 110 yards/101m/100g); 6 (7, 7, 8, 9, 9, . . .

Alluvium

New Release, Patterns, Sweaters 2 Responses »

Mar 012013

Named for the free flowing organic matter which is eroded and reshaped into a new form by running water, Alluvium is a blanket-style cardigan with wide wrapped fronts, a cropped back, and a winding braided cable around the neckline and front edges. Cast on at one front edge, it is knit sideways around the body in one piece to the other edge, with afterthought sleeves worked from live armhole stitches. The comforting shape can be worn wrapped and belted or pinned, or left to wander freely; the shorter back and sleeve lengths reduce the bulk of the sweater and take off the chill without smothering you. A versatile and unstructured chunky knit, Alluvium is a transitional cardigan for the changing winter season. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, picking up stitches, cables. Size: 28.5 (31, 34, 36.5, 39, 42, 44.5, 47)”, based on the cross-back width doubled, and shown in third size. As this wrap cardi does not have a true bust circumference, choose a size based on cross-back measurement. Yarn: Knit Picks Biggo . . .

Melony, A Very Chic Cowl

Accessories, Patterns 1 Response »

Sep 262012

Part of the Very Chic series, Melony is a sideways-knit, cabled cowl which is made extra soft and scrunchy by dropping stitches between wide ribs. It is worked flat, with a provisional cast on which is grafted to the final row, to create a seamless circle. Fitted to hug the neck but stretchy enough to be comfortable, Melony is a chic little neckwarmer designed to keep out the chill. Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, knit/purl, cables, dropped stitches, grafting or optional 3-needle bind off; this pattern includes both a chart and written instructions, and a photo tutorial for grafting the cables. Size: 6” tall and 18” circumference, after gentle blocking. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Worsted (100% Merino Wool; 210 yards/100g); 1 skein, shown in Polar Morn. Other Materials: US 9 (5.5mm) 16” circular needle; Scrap yarn for provisional CO; Stitch markers (3); Cable needle; Yarn needle; Crochet hook (any size) to help with raveling; 5 non-slippery US 9 dpns or straight needles, preferably two different colors, for grafting. Gauge: 16 st and 20 rows/4” in . . .

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