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Continuous Cables: An Exploration of Knitted Cabled Knots, Rings, Swirls, and Curlicues
RANDOM HOUSE-Continuous Cables features step-by-step instructions on the general technique; 20 patterns; and more than 100 cable stitches for closed-ring cables. The detailed instructions make cable knitting accessible and easy to understand. This book also explains the often-daunting symbols knitters find on charts for knitted cables. Projects Simple Pillow; Simple Hat; Fireside Afghan; Stowe Cabin Throw Rug; Sage Tunic; Honeysuckle Sleeveless Shell; Baby Blocks; and more! 192 pages. Made in USA. "
192 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 10, 2011
First let me state my qualifications to review this book: I've been knitting for over 30 years, and have taught at two shops.
This lovely book is part pattern collection, part stitch dictionary. I'm sorry I did not stumble across this 2008 release sooner. I'll probably make some of these one day. (I may make the blocks for my grandson.) Some pattern authors are married to their abbreviations to the point of obscurity, that fault is not found here. What I read of the patterns I liked a lot, except that Leapman does not seem to share my prejudice for working in the round whenever possible. She has written these so one only needs one or two sets of straight needles. (I think we're intelligent enough to work a collar in the round without saving one seam for last.) Her caps are worked in the round.
This book reads very well for a how-to guide. The explanations are complete, detailed, and readily understandable. The illustrations are well-drawn and large enough to see clearly. There are photographs of everything charted.
A beginner might be better off starting with the book to which this is a sequel, Melissa Leapman's Cables Untangled: An Exploration of Cable Knitting. I have not seen it, but if it is as well done as this one, it will be great. I'm planning to check it out of the library to see if I wish to buy it. (My current favorite cable reference is the old version (out of print) Harmony Guide.)
I really liked that this book is organized so that every chart has its symbols defined on the same page. There is no need to flip back and forth from a glossary. Some might be intimidated by the fact that the dictionary section relies on charts and not line-by-line written instructions. Should you be one of those, give this a chance. There are detailed directions for the design element accompanying each glossary item. For instance, instead of just saying "M = M1" or "M = Make 1" as some do, it says, "M = M1 Knitwise = Insert LH needle under the horizontal strand between two sts from front to back and K it through back loop." This is also taught more completely with illustrations and complete paragraphs in the beginning of the book. The same is true from the simplest twists and cables through the most complicated cables where one needs two cable needles. (Should one find this too intimidating, perhaps Barbara G. Walker's Charted Knitting Designs: A Third Treasury of Knitting Patterns will help.)
Instructions on these moves, and the section on what a chart is and how it is to be read, would work well for any instructor's class. I know that should I return to teaching, this could be a powerful reference. It would also be a great text for a class on this topic.
There is even a lesson on how to execute a cable without a cable needle. I found it excellent, though it lacks Candace Eisner Strick's technique for slipping some of the stitches knitwise and later working them through the back loops in order to ease execution. I learned the technique in a class I took from her. I have not seen her books, but perhaps one can find it in Sweaters from New England Sheep Farms: 26 Original Patterns in Hand-Dyed and Natural Colored Yarns or in Strick-ly Socks.
Back to the topic. Melissa Leapman assumes one has never made anything more complicated than a ribbing. The tone is neither paternalistic nor condescending, but confidence-inspiring. I really liked that several of the more complicated instructions, such as how to increase one stitch into five invisibly, suggest that one has a friend read the steps as they are attempted, so that there is no need to go back and forth from looking at the printed page to looking at one's needles.
In short, I suggest all yarn shop owners, knitting teachers, and knitwear designers should own a copy of this; everyone else could check it out of the public library to see if they would want to buy it.
Enjoy!
This lovely book is part pattern collection, part stitch dictionary. I'm sorry I did not stumble across this 2008 release sooner. I'll probably make some of these one day. (I may make the blocks for my grandson.) Some pattern authors are married to their abbreviations to the point of obscurity, that fault is not found here. What I read of the patterns I liked a lot, except that Leapman does not seem to share my prejudice for working in the round whenever possible. She has written these so one only needs one or two sets of straight needles. (I think we're intelligent enough to work a collar in the round without saving one seam for last.) Her caps are worked in the round.
This book reads very well for a how-to guide. The explanations are complete, detailed, and readily understandable. The illustrations are well-drawn and large enough to see clearly. There are photographs of everything charted.
A beginner might be better off starting with the book to which this is a sequel, Melissa Leapman's Cables Untangled: An Exploration of Cable Knitting. I have not seen it, but if it is as well done as this one, it will be great. I'm planning to check it out of the library to see if I wish to buy it. (My current favorite cable reference is the old version (out of print) Harmony Guide.)
I really liked that this book is organized so that every chart has its symbols defined on the same page. There is no need to flip back and forth from a glossary. Some might be intimidated by the fact that the dictionary section relies on charts and not line-by-line written instructions. Should you be one of those, give this a chance. There are detailed directions for the design element accompanying each glossary item. For instance, instead of just saying "M = M1" or "M = Make 1" as some do, it says, "M = M1 Knitwise = Insert LH needle under the horizontal strand between two sts from front to back and K it through back loop." This is also taught more completely with illustrations and complete paragraphs in the beginning of the book. The same is true from the simplest twists and cables through the most complicated cables where one needs two cable needles. (Should one find this too intimidating, perhaps Barbara G. Walker's Charted Knitting Designs: A Third Treasury of Knitting Patterns will help.)
Instructions on these moves, and the section on what a chart is and how it is to be read, would work well for any instructor's class. I know that should I return to teaching, this could be a powerful reference. It would also be a great text for a class on this topic.
There is even a lesson on how to execute a cable without a cable needle. I found it excellent, though it lacks Candace Eisner Strick's technique for slipping some of the stitches knitwise and later working them through the back loops in order to ease execution. I learned the technique in a class I took from her. I have not seen her books, but perhaps one can find it in Sweaters from New England Sheep Farms: 26 Original Patterns in Hand-Dyed and Natural Colored Yarns or in Strick-ly Socks.
Back to the topic. Melissa Leapman assumes one has never made anything more complicated than a ribbing. The tone is neither paternalistic nor condescending, but confidence-inspiring. I really liked that several of the more complicated instructions, such as how to increase one stitch into five invisibly, suggest that one has a friend read the steps as they are attempted, so that there is no need to go back and forth from looking at the printed page to looking at one's needles.
In short, I suggest all yarn shop owners, knitting teachers, and knitwear designers should own a copy of this; everyone else could check it out of the public library to see if they would want to buy it.
Enjoy!
September 27, 2011
I'm not crazy about the woman's butt on the cover, but 32 pages of the basics of cabling, 20 projects, and a 50 page stitchionary make this a worthwhile book. The projects are extremely nice. Many of the cables are Celtic designs. Leapman produces high quality books. For intermediate to advanced knitters.
July 21, 2014
If you like Celtic knots and want to learn how to add them to your knitting projects, this is the book for you. The patterns are written both in text and in charts. I agree with other reviewers that the clothing patterns seem a bit bulky, but there is a cute bag pattern at the end that I am excited to try. Plus, the book includes a stitch dictionary so that you could add cables to any plain pattern. The pictures are very nice for most projects, but I would have liked to see some additional angles on the throw rug and afghan. This is the first knitting book that I have felt compelled to purchase after borrowing it from the library, so that should be some indication of how much I liked it.
November 6, 2009
It's a great book for explanations and instructions on how to do cabling and how to read a chart. It's very informative in that aspect and gives a whole glossary in the back of different cable patterns and explains in detail how to use the patterns in an afghan. The only thing I didn't care for in the book was the projects. Most of them were a bit advanced for someone that is just beginnging to cable or they were kind of old-fashioned.
September 24, 2010
Love the closed cables presented in this book are great. Not too taken on the patterns but with the stitch dictionary you are able to make your own. Have purchased for mum as I know she will love it.
December 31, 2008
Okay, I absolutely love this book and can't wait to make something. Cables are what make knitting fun!!
April 6, 2009
I like this book better than "Cables Untangled". More complex knotwork, horizontal cables. Very nice.
April 12, 2010
This book has so many nice patterns and a stitch dictionary that is very easy to use. I checked it out from the library but I may have to buy it one of these days.
August 8, 2011
Some really nice cable designs. Good basic instructions on how to design your own continuous cables (i.e. circular or closed cables).
March 10, 2012
Some lovely cables. I can't wait to start some of the projects.
March 2, 2013
Horizontal cables
April 28, 2013
The patterns are so-so, but the glossary of motifs is nice, and the general strategies for knitting continuous cables.
September 4, 2013
Clear instructions, but the patterns appear thick and bulky.
June 13, 2011
New way of knitting cables. Always like Melissa's patterns.
July 21, 2015
i love cables so I enjoyed looking at this. I didn't find anything I want to knit though.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews