Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Cable Courage

Like so many of you, I love to crochet.  But then I came across this in blogland recently and became entranced by these lovely, lovely knitted pillows.



You can see the post here at Mias Landliv.  Really gorgeous stuff throughout Mia's blog, right?!  This one really caught my eye because I've wanted to learn how to knit cables for the longest time, but was intimidated by them.  Lately I've also been appreciating colors like the pale hues of pink, and grey, in all its varying tones.  So this photo captured it all for me...I'm drooling over this loveliness as I write.

I have basically not been able to function since discovering this pillow.  In order to cure myself of this, I knew exactly what I had to do.  DROP EVERYTHING - including the granny blanket I've been working on as a birthday gift - and get to my knitting needles straight away!


Dropped this project like a hot potato...


 And taught myself how to knit basic cables...


...from this beautiful knitting book.  It's a treasure trove of classic patterns, stitches and techniques.  Not sure why I was afraid of trying because cables really aren't that difficult.  Discovering this made me very happy!

The cable sample I knitted above will become a 14" x 14" pillow.  Now that I have the courage to knit cables, I'm heading to my special sacred stash for the next one...


I wish you could feel the softness of this blend (extrafine merino/ microfiber/ milk / silk).  For someone who works with acrylic most of the time, this yarn is a real treat!  Supremely luxurious in every sense.  I cannot wait to get this on my needles!

Before signing off, I wish to send a heartfelt hug to the lovely and talented Andrea at Apples and Pears, who passed along this award to me...


Thanks a million, Andrea, you're the best :-)

I believe I'm supposed to convey this to 7 bloggers with less than 100 followers.  I have 3 at the top of my mind to whom I would like to send this award:


Sending you wishes for creative happiness today :-)

18 comments:

  1. Oh now I'm tempted by those gorgeous cushions too! I know how to knit but find it incredibly s-l-o-w, Might be something to do with my technique, anyway am seriously thinking about having a cabling moment. :o)

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  2. Congrats on knowing how to do cable stitches! I'm just learning how to knit and it's frustrating without someone(in the flesh)showing me how! By now I know how to cast on but doing the knit stitches is very trying. Sometimes it's ok then not. I need to practice more on the tension(if only someone actually showed the correct way). I can't wait to see your finished cable pillow! And love those yarns!

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  3. Josie, Wow thank-you so much, that is such a nice surprise!!! I am smiling as I write this :)!!! Before I even saw that, I saw the cushions, lovely and your cable is amazing! I am doing a knit and design course and have yet to attack cables, I have been knitting for years and have tried them but not properly made anything using them. They look so nice though. For a sample piece I recently used a pattern for a mock cable and it was easy and looked nice. Now I need to tackle the real thing.

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  4. Congratulations on your award, well deserved. I've never tried cables, I must learn. I love the colours you have chosen for your next project and the yarn looks so soft.

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  5. Oh Josie, so beautiful! I'm also teaching myself how to knit but I've never tried cables, your cable work is such an inspiration to me! Love your yarn, it's softy and sweet!
    Congrats on your award my friend, you definitely deserve it, enjoy!!!
    Take care and hope you have a great day! x

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  6. Josie I forgot to say, congratulations on the award given to you! Have a lovely day!

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  7. I LOVE cables! And that blanket is looking gorgeous xx

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  8. I too am entranced by those cushions, but unfortunately I suspect that I will have to just stay that way, or go out and buy some, cos I really don't think I could make them!

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  9. Your cable looks amazing! I am in total awe of your knitting prowess...(why can't I knit?!)

    I can't wait to see your finished cushion :-D


    xh

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  10. Cor! Those cables of yours are smashing! They look so scary and complicated. I'm soooooo glad my monthly teach yourself to knit magazine arrived this morning, only the first issue so I'm to learn casting on and knit stitch but I'll be raring to go once the cable chapter arrives now I've seen this post of yours.
    xxx

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  11. Okay, I'm so impressed! Beautiful job on the cables. Those pillows really are to die for. But I really love your granny too! Please don't let her hybernate long.

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  12. Wow, Josie your pillows are gonna be gorgeous! I can't wait to see them. I can imagine your yarn's softness, what a treat. Thanks so much for the award, that was so sweet of you. I'll get to posting about it next week. Amazing cables, too.

    I truly hope your kitchen will be finished lickety split. One and a half weeks seems kinda short. It is really disrupting to everyone's daily routine to have the kitchen be unusable. At least your kids are teens so they understand. It's also easier to get food out when they are older. We gutted our kitchen (in my first marriage, which seems like another lifetime ago) when our kids were little, I think my son was 3. He was an incredibly picky eater and it was so hard to feed him with just microwave and take-out food. Now he loves to cook and eats just about anything. I loved that kitchen when it was finished and it wasn't extravagant by any means just new, fresh and what I picked out esp. the songbird tiles. We had to sell it when we got divorced and I still miss that kitchen, boo, hoo.

    I just wrapped up for the night working on the kitchen cabinets and there's not too much more to go, yeah! You're right about houses always being a WIP! Hope you're having a productive weekend and get to try a new restaurant!

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  13. Wow,they look great.Well done for receiving an award

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  14. I've always been told that cables are easier than they look, yet it is so true they seem to intimidate knitters. Good for you to tackle them and doing a lovely job of it too. There are so many things that one can make using that stitch and pillows are just the tip of the ice burg, YOU GO GIRL! ♥

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  15. P.S. Congrats on the award as well :)

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  16. The cables are coming along great Josie! And the yarn looks great, so lovely soft and beautiful colors...
    Have a lovely week ahead,
    love Maaike

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  17. That does look like special yarn! Maybe some day I'll give knitting a try....

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  18. Uh oh, where are you? I hope the renos are moving along smoothly and you are gonna have a pleasant holiday weekend! Hugs, Annie

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