Bond Buzz, Issue #50
November 24 , 2008
Free from Bond America

Welcome to another issue of the Bond Buzz!

With all the activities around turkey-roasting and pie-making this week, I know you’ll welcome in the end of the week when you can take a deep breath and a much-deserved break to spend time with your Sweater Machine. And with all the chatter about personally made gifts and with all the tunic sweaters, elongated vests and knitted dresses that are in fashion today, this is a great year to be a Sweater Machine owner! Or to give a Sweater Machine!

It’s also a great time of year for cables – and they’re everywhere.  But for this issue, I wanted to show how you could use all-over cables (meaning without doing any purl, drop-and-latch-up stitches).  So for the technique project it’s just a simple all-over cable pillow, a great way to practice – and would help you get a jump on your holiday gift-making.

Cables
Since there is no difference between the cabling technique of working all-over cables and working more traditional, vertical cables, there isn’t much technique to show you other than how the knitted fabric will look on both the right and wrong sides when it’s done.

So here’s the Cabled Stitch Fabric technique Kathy Perry used to create the Cabled Pillow using Caron’s One Pound.  Note: please see chart for easier knitting.

The cables are done in a staggered manner, without reforming side stitches, so that knit side will have an all-over wavy appearance.

2x2 left cross cable: Remove 4 selected stitches using two 2-prong transfer tools.  Cross stitches and replace on needles so that left stitches are under right stitches.

2x2 right cross cable: Work as above with right stitches under left stitches. 

• Cast on the required number of stitches called for in the instructions and work the pattern to complete the number of rows specified.  (Multiple 4 stitches + 2 selvage.  Knit side is RS.)
• K 2 R.
• Beg LHS, using two 2-prong transfer tools, skip 1 st, *work 2x2 left cross cable, skip 4 sts: rep from * across, end skip last 5 sts.  Put needles into FWP and K across row slowly. K 3 rows.
• Beg LHS, using two 2-prong transfer tools, skip 5 sts, *work 2x2 right cross cable, skip 4 sts: rep from * across, end skip last st. Put needles into FWP and K across row slowly. K 3 rows.
• Repeat steps 3 and 4 for pattern.

Here’s how the cabled fabric will look from the wrong side, as you’re facing the machine.

And here’s how it will look on the right side.

Here’s the pattern for the cabled fabric pillow:

CABLES AND KNOTS PILLOW
designed by Kathy Perry

FINISHED SIZE: 14" square/35.5 cm x 35.5 cm

YARN
Caron International's One Pound (100% acrylic; 16 oz/453.6 g, 812 yds/742 m skein): 4 ounces
Shown in: #580 Soft Sage

KEY PLATE
USM/ISM KP#4 or appropriate tension to obtain gauge
Suitable for USM/ISM/Bond Classic or 6.5 to 9 mm knitting machine

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
2-prong transfer tools (2)
14" pillow form
Yarn needle

GAUGE
In Stockinette stitch, 14 sts and 20 rows = 4”/10 cm
In Cabled Fabric stitch, 16 sts and 21 rows = 4”/10 cm

STITCHES USED
Stockinette stitch (St st)
Cabled Fabric stitch
Note: See Bond Buzz #33 for technique to create i-cord that is used to embellish pillow.

NEEDLES REQUIRED 58

PILLOW

BACK (Done in St st)

• Using closed CO Method, CO 49 sts. COR. RC=000.
• K to RC=071.
• Bind off back stitch.

FRONT (Done in Cabled Fabric stitch)

• Using closed CO Method, CO 58 sts. COR. RC=000.
• K 2 R.
• Start Cabled Fabric stitch. Work to RC=073.
• Bind off back stitch

FINISHING

• Weave in ends. 
• Seam 3 sides of pillow. Insert pillow form and close rem side.
• Make an 80 " cord. 
• Decorate pillow with cord and knots following picture.
  

To put your new-found cable-fabric knowledge to use, here’s a wonderful cable-fabric-trimmed jacket. Kathy has used an elongated triangle-shaped cable grouping almost as slight fitting darts or princess line in both the fronts and back.

Enjoy!

Cari Clement
Bond America

P.S. As a subscriber to Bond-Buzz, I'd like to invite you to subscribe to the FREE e-mail newsletter—Caron Connections from Caron® International. Just visit the Caron site (http://www.caron.com) and enter your email address. It's that easy. As a subscriber to Caron Connections, you'll receive monthly emails filled with the latest inside scoop on Caron's new fashion yarns and free patterns.