Check this out!

This is Unexpected Cables: Feminine Knitted Garments Featuring Modern Cable Knitting by Heather Zoppetti (Interweave/F+W; $24.99), new this month. You can look at all eighteen patterns on Ravelry here.

The book is divided into three sections: Refined, Lace, and Abstract. The author says in her foreword:

Refined is the most traditional section. Projects in this chapter take the classic Aran and make it more modern by using lightweight yarns, delicate twisted stitches, and feminine shapes. The Lace chapter uses the unexpected pairing of cables and lace in delightful garments and accessories. Abstract focuses on unusual constructions, directions, and textures. Patterns in this chapter have a modern and edgy feel.

My favorite from the Refined section:

This is Maytown, a vest knit from sportweight yarn. I love the unique mesh look of the beautiful center cable.

From Lace:

I love the Safe Harbor cowl. Worked in worsted weight, it would be a lovely quick knit and would make a great holiday gift knit from a luxury yarn.

And from the Abstract section:

Penryn: a pullover worked in DK weight. I love the asymmetrical cable that is woven and then closed at the top.

The book has beautiful photos and nice big cable charts. The sweater designs are presented in a nice range of sizes and the instructions look clear and easy to follow. A glossary in the back of the book contains step-by-step illustrated instructions for some techniques used in the book.

Who’d like my copy?

To be entered in the drawing to win my review copy of Unexpected Cables: Feminine Knitted Garments Featuring Modern Cable Knitting leave a comment on this blog post by 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, October 18, 2015. A winner will be chosen at random at that time.

Crazed Scandinavian Cowl

I am now more than two-thirds done with the knitting. Thank you for all your lovely comments about this design. I will make the pattern available, but first I have to finish my prototype, write up the pattern, and test it.

Loki

Loki has consented to have a photo of his paw floof posted.

This weekend I hit the halfway point on my Crazed Scandinavian Cowl. Here is a photo of it when it was a bit past halfway.

It is getting to be a bit large to carry around, so it is now delegated to at-home knitting only. I need to find something else for commuter knitting.

Meanwhile, I do believe Loki has started studying drama. Here he is, in the middle of rehearsals for the role of Camille:

“Woe is me.”

My Crazed Scandinavian Cowl is coming along nicely:

At this point I have over one-third of it knit. It’s so much fun to knit because, as I mentioned in my last blog post, no two panels of motifs are the same. Having something new to knit for each panel doubles the fun!

Want to know more about my colorwork process? Jaala of KnitCircus and I did a mini-interview, which is posted on the KnitCircus blog today. Go read it and learn my dark secret!

In other news, Loki is still adorable.

Welcome to October! One of my favorite months . . , it means that we are looking at the end of hot weather soon here in the DC area.

Bunny Girls!

Dottie and Inga welcomed October by trying on their Halloween costumes.

Inga is dressed as a Dalek, while Dottie is the TARDIS. If you are not familiar with Doctor Who, these costumes will mean nothing to you. But trust me, this is hilarious.

Book Giveaway

My review copy of  New Lace Knitting: Designs for Wide Open Spaces by Romi Hill is going to Hilda D., who has been emailed. Thank you to everyone who left a comment entering the giveaway.

Now on the Needles . . . 

This!

This is the start of a new cowl design I’ve doodled up. I’m calling it “Crazed Scandinavian” because I charted out over 600 rows of Scandinavian-style motifs. No two panels are alike. Some are made up by me, some are traditional Scandinavian motifs, and some are combinations of the two. The yarn is Elsa Wool fingering weight woolen spun Cormo in two natural shades.

The yarn is beyond fabulous to knit, as I expected it to be. And I love the two colorways together — there is enough contrast to make the design stand out, but it still is a pretty subtle effect. Since the charted design will be incredibly busy, I like having the colors low key and muted.

Loki loves that the weather is turning cooler. It means he can enjoy snuggling on the couch between his two favorite humans!

I’ve got another great book to review:

This is  New Lace Knitting: Designs for Wide Open Spaces by Romi Hill, (Interweave/F+W; $24.99; September 2015), a collection of 19 garments and accessories that incorporate traditional lace patterns in modern pieces.

Romi starts the book with a listing of her 10 Golden Rules for lace knitting, commonsense advice that anyone knitting lace would do well to follow. The patterns are in these following sections: Waves and Ripples, Diamond Fantasia, Leaf and Trellis, Twin Leaves, Wind and Shore, and Twining Lilies.

In the Waves and Ripples section, Neoma’s Shawl caught my eye:

This shawl is knit from fingering weight yarn and incorporates the very traditional feather and fan pattern into a two-color shawl that incorporates some short row shaping.

In Diamond Fantasia, I fell for the Town Square Shawl:

This is a triangle shawl knit in laceweight yarn, that is knit in a non-traditional manner — there is no center spine. I love how the diamond theme appears in different ways in different sections of the shawl.

In Twin Leaves, I love the Silver Birch Slouch beret.

This is knit from DK weight yarn and can be made lined or unlined

Next up, the Leaf and Trellis section. I think this denim skirt, Hope Valley Flounce, is fantastic!

Not that I could wear a skirt like that . . .

In Wind and Shore, my favorite is the Williwaw Cardigan.

Knit from fingering weight yarn, it uses the traditional Print o’ the Wave lace pattern, but turns it on its side!

And last is Twining Lilies. Check out the lovely Bright Moment Cardigan.

This is worked in fingering weight yarn and is actually not very difficult to knit.

You can check out all the patterns from the book on Ravelry, here.

There’s a nice glossary of terms and techniques in the back of the book.

The book is a nice, well-rounded collection of projects: not all shawls, not all sweaters, not all accessories. But a nice assortment of all three.

Who’d like my review copy?

To be entered in a drawing to receive my copy of New Lace Knitting: Designs for Wide Open Spaces by Romi Hill, leave a comment on this blog post by 11:00am Eastern Time Sunday, October 4, 2015. A winner will be chosen at that time.

Thank you . . . 

. . . for all the nice comments about my finished cardi and the quickie zipper tutorial I posted last Sunday. Come back this Sunday to see Dottie and Inga’s Halloween costumes!

Meanwhile . . . 

. . . Loki practices for the Olympic Napping Team.