I like the look of cables on a knit garment better than anything else, I think. I throw them in whenever I can manage it.





Chain Link Fence Socks, Winter 2008:


Socks for me, self-designed. I'll probably put them up here as a freebie, at some point.



Cabled Vest, Summer 2006:


A vest for myself, designed by me, knit with green Wool-Ease.



Return of the Aran Hat, Fall 2005:


I made this for J. You can see another interpretation down towards the bottom of this page.

The pattern is Kittiwake, from Alice Starmore's Aran Knitting, which I got out from the library. I reduced the number of repeats from 8 to 6 because I was working with worsted-weight yarn (Aruaucania Nature wool). It came out a smidge tight--if I were to make this AGAIN, I'd do 7 repeats.



Swirled Hat, Spring 2005:


The pattern's over here, although I went down a few needle sizes with the sport-weight yarn and increase the number of caston stitches to 135. I might've increased a *little* bit more, because while it's not uncomfortably tight, I do seem to be giving my head a very firm hug wearing this. I'm hoping the superwash yarn will ease up a smidge with wear.



Wedding Ring Earwarmer, Fall 2004:


The pattern is available here. I'd wanted to make something based on my wedding ring, which is a puzzle ring, for a while, but hadn't come up with a good context for it. I'm glad I found one. I like the way the cable came out, and it keeps my ears warm when I ride my bike.



St. Brigid sweater, winter/spring 2003/4:

A lovely, lovely pattern from Aran Knitting. I often prefer to design my own pretty things, as you may have noticed. Something needs to really strike me, if I get through the whole thing without making any changes. This was one of those patterns (although there was supposed to be a taller neck than that, but after three foolish looking attempts I gave up). A somewhat wider neckline looks good on me, anyhow.

I got the book out at my library and brought it back like a good girl, so don't ask me for the book. I can't afford it, either.



The Grey Disaster, Fall/winter 2003:

This was my first utter failure of a sweater, which was destined for my mom but now has been completely unraveled and lies in skeins in my yarn tub. Technique-wise, it was great. And laying on the floor like this, it's lovely (though it's difficult to see the cables, which go all the way up the center, and about 1/4 the way down over each shoulder.

The problem occurs when you actually PUT IT ON. The shoulder cables take on the look of epaulets, to the point that the first time I put the sewn-together sweater on, J said "wow, you look like a Klingon!"

Great. So now it's gone, and I learned an important lesson. DON'T DO A PATTERN THAT DOESN'T SHOW A SWEATER ON A PERSON. The book this was in had it on a hanger.



Kittiwake, Summer 2003:

This was my tentative foray into charted cables, before plunging headlong into a Aran sweater. It's perfect for that time of year when it's not cold enough to wear the Ugli Hat. The pattern "Kittiwake" is from Alice Starmore's Aran Knitting (out of print and insanely expensive. I took it out from the library). It used up the leftovers from Jeremy's sweater, seen below.

Oh, and just about this whole hat was made while sitting on the bus, or waiting for the bus--almost a month's worth of bus time. I love public transportation.



Sweater for Jeremy, Summer 2003:

Made this for J. It was my first experience with cables. Like I often do, I took a very plain pattern (from an el-cheapo booklet from Hanover Fabrics) and worked from that for the measurements, but putting my own pattern in it. He likes it, I like it. It's not too exciting, but he didn't want exciting. A good cable introduction.








Anyone interested in how I made any of these things: You have a few options. A: Figure it out on your own. B: Contact me (tjane1216, then the "at" symbol, excite.com), although if it's copyrighted (as in, I didn't just make something up), I'll only be able to direct you to a reference. C: Never find out what I did, and wonder forever.