What do you think?
Rate this book
Cables Untangled: An Exploration of Cable Knitting
Beautiful, intricate, flowing, mysterious, iconic—cable knit sweaters are all that and more. They are classic, stylish wardrobe staples. For many of us, cables are the main reason we were compelled to learn to knit in the first place. But it’s necessary to be an ultra-advanced knitter to even think about knitting cables, right?
Not really. In Cables Untangled , widely published author, knitwear designer, and teacher Melissa Leapman demystifies this perennially popular technique, guiding the reader through the process step by step. Even if you’ve mastered just a few basic knitting techniques, you can turn out beautiful cables too!
A comprehensive resource book for knitters of all levels, Cables Untangled features over twenty cabled projects, from simple household items to clothing, fashion accessories, and gifts for virtually everyone on your list. Every project is beautifully photographed and includes useful detail shots of every piece of cabled fabric.
In addition to the projects, Cables Untangled includes an invaluable Cable Stitch Dictionary, giving you the tools to be a skilled and creative cable-knitter. Extra resources
• A guide to using knitting charts and understanding their symbols
• A comprehensive stitch library of both traditional and unusual rib, panel, and allover cable stitches, all clearly photographed and accompanied by easy-to-use charts
• Tips for designing your own projects
Throughout the book, Leapman relies on the techniques she has developed teaching her popular workshops—making the process easy and fun for anyone.
Here’s the book that will bring your knitting to a whole new level, help you impress family and friends with your beautiful creations, and open up a new world of creative opportunities. Without a doubt, Cables Untangled is an indispensable resource in helping you conquer—and enjoy!—cables. It’s the ultimate guide for beginners and seasoned knitters alike.
Not really. In Cables Untangled , widely published author, knitwear designer, and teacher Melissa Leapman demystifies this perennially popular technique, guiding the reader through the process step by step. Even if you’ve mastered just a few basic knitting techniques, you can turn out beautiful cables too!
A comprehensive resource book for knitters of all levels, Cables Untangled features over twenty cabled projects, from simple household items to clothing, fashion accessories, and gifts for virtually everyone on your list. Every project is beautifully photographed and includes useful detail shots of every piece of cabled fabric.
In addition to the projects, Cables Untangled includes an invaluable Cable Stitch Dictionary, giving you the tools to be a skilled and creative cable-knitter. Extra resources
• A guide to using knitting charts and understanding their symbols
• A comprehensive stitch library of both traditional and unusual rib, panel, and allover cable stitches, all clearly photographed and accompanied by easy-to-use charts
• Tips for designing your own projects
Throughout the book, Leapman relies on the techniques she has developed teaching her popular workshops—making the process easy and fun for anyone.
Here’s the book that will bring your knitting to a whole new level, help you impress family and friends with your beautiful creations, and open up a new world of creative opportunities. Without a doubt, Cables Untangled is an indispensable resource in helping you conquer—and enjoy!—cables. It’s the ultimate guide for beginners and seasoned knitters alike.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published October 24, 2006
7 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 27, 2007
This big, pretty coffee table kind of knitting book really is pretty. The lovely models frolic at a fun fair at the seaside in beautiful cabled sweaters (and one dog of an electric blue poncho). What makes for a good coffee table book, however, isn't so practical when one is trying to actually knit. Those big, glossy pages, for example, make the patterns hard to read. A big book doesn't travel well and it is hard to prop open while one is knitting. (That is why I typically photocopy the pattern I'm working on instead of trying to work from the book.)
I am also skeptical about some of the photographs. The sleeves of the Women's Simple Pullover, for example, appear to be artfully bunched under the model's right arm. Her left arm isn't even visible. I'm guessing those big, bell-shaped sleeves wouldn't look so graceful in real life and would probably be pretty uncomfortable to wear. (I hate having a lot of fabric under my armpit.) A real pattern shows the entire garment, front and back. Fantasy knitting porn uses a clothespin at the small of the back.
And speaking of the realms of fantasy, it takes an extremely willful suspension of disbelief to think high-wear items like the rug, purse, or pillow patterns in this book will be very durable in real life. An experienced person can explain that the rug will wear out first on the raised cables, the purse will fray at the bottom, and the pillows would be very difficult to clean and likely to pill. I know how frustrating it is to spend many hours on a project that is either short-lived or too precious to be used; hard experience has taught me to avoid those kinds of patterns.
Still, I thought the instructions and illustrations in the book were lucid and I will recommend the Simple Hat and Scarf Set and the Reversible Scarf to friends and students.
What I particularly like about this book is the "dictionary" of cable stitches. These are very useful and they are printed on easy-to-read non-glossy paper.
I'd be interested in reading other books by this author.
I am also skeptical about some of the photographs. The sleeves of the Women's Simple Pullover, for example, appear to be artfully bunched under the model's right arm. Her left arm isn't even visible. I'm guessing those big, bell-shaped sleeves wouldn't look so graceful in real life and would probably be pretty uncomfortable to wear. (I hate having a lot of fabric under my armpit.) A real pattern shows the entire garment, front and back. Fantasy knitting porn uses a clothespin at the small of the back.
And speaking of the realms of fantasy, it takes an extremely willful suspension of disbelief to think high-wear items like the rug, purse, or pillow patterns in this book will be very durable in real life. An experienced person can explain that the rug will wear out first on the raised cables, the purse will fray at the bottom, and the pillows would be very difficult to clean and likely to pill. I know how frustrating it is to spend many hours on a project that is either short-lived or too precious to be used; hard experience has taught me to avoid those kinds of patterns.
Still, I thought the instructions and illustrations in the book were lucid and I will recommend the Simple Hat and Scarf Set and the Reversible Scarf to friends and students.
What I particularly like about this book is the "dictionary" of cable stitches. These are very useful and they are printed on easy-to-read non-glossy paper.
I'd be interested in reading other books by this author.
August 28, 2008
This is not the type of knitting book I typically go for but I love it! Not only does hit have some beautiful patterns, it also has a stitch dictionary in the back. Before this book I balked at "charted" patterns and cables in general, but now I'm cabling all the time and have a hard time with patterns that aren't in charts.
And a note to all who might be interested: The beginners scarf and hat set that is shown in the book in pink cashmere (if you find and buy the yarn its $290 min) works out beautifully in Red Heart Soft yarn (cuddly and just as cute!) If size 10 needles are used, Red Heart Soft can also be used for the sampler afghan shown on the front of the book. A more recent discovery has demonstrated Bernat Softee Chunky guages perfectly for the blanket and has enough bulk for the cables to really stand out.
And a note to all who might be interested: The beginners scarf and hat set that is shown in the book in pink cashmere (if you find and buy the yarn its $290 min) works out beautifully in Red Heart Soft yarn (cuddly and just as cute!) If size 10 needles are used, Red Heart Soft can also be used for the sampler afghan shown on the front of the book. A more recent discovery has demonstrated Bernat Softee Chunky guages perfectly for the blanket and has enough bulk for the cables to really stand out.
December 8, 2020
The very first sweater I made was going to be all stockinette stitch, but by the time I got to the front, I was so bored I had to put in a big ole cable. Even though I didn't know how to do a cable, I wanted one there. So I bought a cable needle and I slipped stitches onto it, and held them in the front....then in the back...then in the front....then in the back. As cable knitters know, this produces an ugly-ass cable: it is precisely the wrong way to cable. Lesson learned!
This would be a good book for the cable-ignorant to learn from. It explains cables thoroughly, and has designs that range from easy to experienced, with emphasis on easy and intermediate. There's a large stitchionary, which is usually the most important part of any knitting book.
This would be a good book for the cable-ignorant to learn from. It explains cables thoroughly, and has designs that range from easy to experienced, with emphasis on easy and intermediate. There's a large stitchionary, which is usually the most important part of any knitting book.
August 3, 2020
Beautifully done and very clear cut!
March 3, 2023
Very difficult to follow
October 15, 2016
This is my go-to source when I know I want cables or texture but don't know which ones. The heart of this book is the cable stitch pattern dictionary, and what makes it not just special but BETTER THAN THE INTERNET is that the patterns (and pictures) are arranged according to the mumber of stitches in the repeat. If you want an 8-stitch cable, or a texture with a multple of 4 stitches, or an intertwined cable panel exactly 24 stitches wide, all the patterns that meet your criteria are grouped together.
Yes, there's a how-to section, complete with nomenclature and chart-reading instructions; yes, there are projects for everyone you know and every room in your house; yes, there's even a how to design cables section. But all those you can find on the Web. I got this book after days of online frustration trying to find a dozen cables exactly 8 stitches wide.
Yes, there's a how-to section, complete with nomenclature and chart-reading instructions; yes, there are projects for everyone you know and every room in your house; yes, there's even a how to design cables section. But all those you can find on the Web. I got this book after days of online frustration trying to find a dozen cables exactly 8 stitches wide.
August 18, 2008
From the book flap:
Here's the book that will bring your knitting to a whole new level, help you impress family and friends with your beautiful creations, and open up a new world of creative opportunities.
This is an excellent book -- there are projects and patterns for every skill level and clearly-written charts and instructions. It includes not only patterns, but other excellent resources - e.g. a cable stitch pattern dictionary and tips for designing your own projects. This is probably my favorite addition to my knitting bookshelf this year!
Here's the book that will bring your knitting to a whole new level, help you impress family and friends with your beautiful creations, and open up a new world of creative opportunities.
This is an excellent book -- there are projects and patterns for every skill level and clearly-written charts and instructions. It includes not only patterns, but other excellent resources - e.g. a cable stitch pattern dictionary and tips for designing your own projects. This is probably my favorite addition to my knitting bookshelf this year!
July 13, 2009
The patterns seem to be pretty much basic to me. As a new knitter curious about cables, Melissa does a wonderful job with pics chosen. But I was very dissapointed in the fact that the patterns were not given specific names. If I want to find that pattern elsewhere, I can't just look it up, I have to physically look at every single pattern pic out there before I find the right one. But, having the book, why would you have to look elsewhere?
January 15, 2015
I prefer the second book about cables by this author, Continuous Cables: An Exploration of Knitted Cabled Knots, Rings, Swirls, and Curlicues, to this one. The projects in this book have large, chunky cables that are probably great for someone who is just starting with cables, but they are a bit busy for my taste.
January 26, 2008
Currently making the sampler afghan that's on the cover, but I actually want to make about 4 other designs from the book. They've got great, very accessible projects that are good if you're hankering for a more labor-intensive design than just another scarf. And the instructions are very simple and easy to understand - it takes the mystery out of cabling.
July 11, 2008
wow! I didn't even realize how many types of cables existed! Beautifully done. I'm learning how to read the chart patterns so I can start trying to knit different cables. Knitting is such a great challenge, both mentally and in patience-building.
January 21, 2009
I've read some of this, and the patterns look pretty good, but I haven't made anything from it yet. The first sweater I ever made was from a Melissa Leapman pattern, and her instructions were very easy to follow.
Read
September 8, 2011good illustrations of lots of techniques
unique cable patterns for pillows, afghans
two-color pillow (narrow stripes, cables)
celtic knots
reversible cable scarf
cute small bag
includes big pattern dictionary
unique cable patterns for pillows, afghans
two-color pillow (narrow stripes, cables)
celtic knots
reversible cable scarf
cute small bag
includes big pattern dictionary
February 19, 2016
LOVE this book! I've made several items from it, including the blanket on the cover, which is GORGEOUS and one of my favorite things I've ever made :) I'm usually more of a crochet person, but I absolutely love knit cables, and this book is full of beautiful ones!
August 21, 2016
I have not made any of the projects yet in this book. I would consider this the end all book if you want to learn how to make cables though. This book also includes a cable stitch dictionary in the back, which is really nice.
April 5, 2008
An awesome book that I would not mind owning one day, these cable designs were so lovely I felt like abandoning everything to just start knitting something from this book.
April 15, 2008
A good explanation of how to knit cables with a great stitch library of cables in the back.
I didn't really love any of the patterns, but there is a cute throw pillow I'm going to try.
I didn't really love any of the patterns, but there is a cute throw pillow I'm going to try.
November 12, 2009
Love this book - it has a huge cable dictionary in the back and some beautiful patterns to go with it. I like three of the sweater patterns and will be trying the Cotton Raglan pattern this spring.
June 20, 2010
Good Reference book for cables
August 21, 2010
goood patterns
September 4, 2011
Very nice cable patterns for items ranging from sweaters to hats to afghans. And a nice basic cable stitchionary.
March 12, 2012
Absolutely stunning photographs of complicated cables!
July 16, 2016
I use this book during all of my cable classes. It is so easy to come up with swatches from the cable samples in the back, fantastic book!
August 12, 2015
Includes stitch patterns. Variety of projects including for children, men and women.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews