Unexpected Cables: Feminine Knitted Garments Featuring Modern Cable Knitting

by Heather Zoppetti

Take knitted cables from heirloom to vavoom!

In Unexpected Cables author Heather Zoppetti has crafted a fresh, modern, flattering collection of 18 knitted garments. She perfectly captures the essence of the iconic knitted cable and makes cabled designs decidedly fashion-forward!

The book features 3 Refined, Lace, and Abstract.

   • Refined cables explore classic Aran cables using lightweight yarns, twisted stitches, and feminine shapes.
   • In the Lace section, Heather challenges knitters to marry together these two popular knitting techniques with spectacular results.
   • The Abstract section focuses on unusual construction, direction, and texture in cabled projects that have edgy, urban feel.
Sleek garment shapes, an interesting mix of cables and lace, and unusual construction converge to bring the generations-old tradition of cable knitting squarely into the here and now. Knitters will delight in making these intriguing, accessible creations!

Genres: Knitting

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 2015

About the author

Heather Zoppetti is a Philadelphia based software engineer and technical writer.

She's published two hand-knitting titles (Everyday Lace, 2014, and Unexpected Cables, 2015), as well as several DVDs and other stand alone patterns. Her patterns have been published in many Interweave publications such as Knits, Knitscene, and Jane Austen Knits, and by yarn companies such as Manos del Uruguay, Baah Yarns, The Alpaca Yarn Company, Reywa Fibers, and Universal Yarns.

Heather was the owner and founder of Stitch Sprouts, a company dedicated to helping your stitches grow. From 2012 to 2022, Stitch Sprouts distributed the highest quality yarns, patterns, and books to yarn stores across the United States.

When she's not typing away at code or text, she's knitting, painting, or performing some other needle witchcraft like cross-stitch. She loves coffee, cats, and the Oxford comma.

Reviews

[Haley Mathiot · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of cable patterns for knitters who are bored with other cable patterns. There are lots of patterns out there but when you’ve been knitting for any length of time, you feel like you’ve seen it all, and you’d really like to see something new. Remember when sideways-knit sweaters became a thing? I remember. But now even that’s a “same-old same-old.”

These patterns are a combination of different ways to use cables with interesting construction techniques. There are some simple, some complex. And don’t get me wrong, not all of them are “the new big thing.” But they are all really nice patterns. There’s also a good combination of lace-weight all the way up to medium weight. nothing bulky, but some really nice warm sweaters and hats.

I’d definitely recommend this book to someone familiar with cables (the book doesn’t include pages of instruction like some do, it assumes you know how to make cables if you buy an advanced cable book), but also wants something unique and interesting.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting cables. Nothing for me.

[Ria F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great patterns! Picked the book up because of the Fulton Shrug on the cover. Really love it, but I would never wrap my neck like that. I may however make Steven's Vest, Safe Harbor Cowl and Rapho socks.

Love all the patterns! Well written, while I haven't actually tried knitting the patterns yet, reading through them, they seem easy to follow.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing in this book piqued my interest.