I’ve made more progress on the Braided Cable with Garter Stitch Bead socks, (boy, that’s a mouthful) and I’m just not that happy with it. The cables don’t look braided to me and they don’t match the picture in the book.
In the book the cables look poofy and happy, while my cables look kind of flat and sad. I’m not really sure why my cables aren’t coming out happy and keen. It could be the yarn. I hope it’s the yarn. If it’s not the yarn, then it’s me! It’s me and my terrible cable knitting skills!
Pause for composure.
I’m thinking of restarting the pattern in another yarn, but I’m really discouraged at this point and I might just start a scarf instead. I’d really like to have a successful cable knitting experience first though. I just need to get my game face on.
November 4th, 2006 at 2:02 pm
Hi!
The cables might look more braided if you cut out a row or two between the cables. I’m working on a scarf for my boyfriend and the “braids” are looking just like your socks. Once I cabled two rows early, and it looked much more braid-like. I’m not about to rip all the way back and start the scarf over, though.
-Lemma
November 4th, 2006 at 3:30 pm
Well, for what it’s worth, I think they look pretty darn cool, but I’ve never knitted a single cable, so I probably don’t know what the heck I’m talking about.
Flat might be better than poofy when it comes to socks. Just a thought.
I know how discouraging it is when something doesn’t seem to be turning out right. That seems to be the story of my knitting life!
November 4th, 2006 at 4:04 pm
It could be worse as cables go– does the yarn full up much more with the first washing and blocking?
November 4th, 2006 at 5:16 pm
Sorry you are having sock troubles too! For me it is the toe-up thing. Cables just take practice. Don’t give up on them, there are too many gorgeous patterns out there for them! :)
November 4th, 2006 at 7:48 pm
They look okay to me. I find cabled things look better after a wash/soak and a little blockage. I am absolutely MAD about that colorway of yarn, too. What is it? YUM! It’s like coffee, chocolate, gravy and red wine all together. What’s the word? Gawgeous!
November 5th, 2006 at 1:57 am
I don’t know - I think they look really nice. What book is the pattern from?
November 5th, 2006 at 2:38 am
I think your yarn is depressed, lol!
Seriously, my guess is either that the yarn or gauge is just too floppy (not usually the case with sock yarns though). If not, then you might try knitting the first stitch from the cable needle tighter (by pulling it harder). I’ve found this helps somtimes.
It’s funny how everyone says cables are so easy. And it true that the concept behind them is easy, but to get a nice looking cable is sometimes pretty hard (for me anyway).
November 5th, 2006 at 7:58 am
well it looks good to me but i can;t knit so… lol. i am thinking of asking a neighbour to teach me. she makes scarves all the live long day and i want to make scarves too.
November 5th, 2006 at 8:05 am
I think I agree with the first commenter: you might need to cut a row or two between the cable crossovers to make the braid look tighter. If you can’t stand this pattern any more, how about a simpler cable 6 stitch pattern that crosses only one way every 4 or 6 rows? Don’t give up, it’s actually a lot of fun!