The Very Easy Guide to Cable Knitting: Step-By-Step Techniques, Easy-to-Follow Stitch Patterns and Projects to Get You Started

by Lynne Watterson

This very easy guide opens up the wonderful world of twisted stitches to knitters of any ability, even complete beginners.

It is an indispensable introduction to all kinds of stitches, from simple mock cables to intricate bobble-textured plaits, for both cable panels, accents, and all-over repeats.

Learn the basic techniques and practise the stitches with clear instructions and step-by step photos – then use your skills to make 13 specially designed projects, from giant-cable throws that stitch up quickly on large needles, to snuggly hats and scarves and more adventurous accessories and home comforts.

Each stitch pattern is featured in both written and chart form so you can get used to using either method when working from other commercial patterns. So whether you’re a knitting novice or a dab hand, cables have never been easier to make.

This is a reissue of the previously best-selling published book The Very Easy Guide to Cable Knitting (9781844485314).

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Marie Segares · Rating 4 out of 5]

After I had the basic knitting stitches down, I really wanted to explore cables. They were still a bit of a mystery to me, so I decided to check out The Very Easy Guide to Cable Knitting by Lynne Watterson. This book is set up using a conversational "lesson" format. Although it relies on the use of illustrations, rather than photos, to demonstrate techniques, I found it easy to follow along with. The book starts with knitting basics, so theoretically, a complete beginner could rely on this book to teach him/her knitting as well. I wouldn't recommend it though - I find that a lot of people have difficulty learning from illustrations. Then there are three chapters on cables: Mock cables, Cable panels, and Cable patterns. Each chapter includes several projects that are progressively more difficult. There are also several detailed lessons in the final chapter on finishing techniques. The photographs of the cables and the projects are quite lovely and the book is a real pleasure to look through. Although I am not much interested in making the projects, I refer to the book as a stitch guide for cables all the time.

I have one minor complaint (or perhaps it is a suggestion?). The book talks you through everything, and then suddenly uses various cable abbreviations without explanation. After a bit of searching, I did find that all of the abbreviations are listed in the back and clearly explained there. It just interrupted the flow of the "lesson" when I was a total cable newbie. Overall, I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars as a cable book in general and 5 out of 5 stars as a newbie's cable book.

[Mckinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stitch patterns.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had some great cable knit projects and patterns.

[PoligirlReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a novice knitter, and would like to know more about cable knitting. This is a very pretty and informative book. Watterson gives a good overview of basic knitting before moving on to cables. I had no idea there were so many types of cable stitches. I will say that the color pictures work better than the illustrations in understanding the techniques. There are some neat patterns. My goal is to do the hand muff one. This book would've been given more stars had she given advice or a guide on the level of difficulty for each type of cable stitch/pattern.

[Emmalee · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a bunch of neat patterns (along with projects in this book) Some of them are "mock cables" which produce some really nice textured designs. The book covers everything from the basics, making tassels/pompoms and how to knit cables. It also briefly goes over how you would design cables. I would still consider myself a beginner knitter, and this book is really good at explaining how to knit cables. The book also includes a brief overview of how to read a pattern correctly.