In the past year I’ve gotten to know designer Heather Zoppetti’s work through industry trade shows. I admire her patterns and attention to detail. I was excited, then, to see her book Unexpected Cables: Feminine Knitted Garments Featuring Modern Cable Knitting.

Unexpected Cables jacket

In her new book, Heather takes the magic of cables to new levels. Cabling may be an age-old technique, but she uses it to craft modern designs and silhouettes. In some designs she pairs cables with lightweight yarns and delicate details. In others, she uses bold cables and unusual construction. This gives the book a nice range of patterns. It is also well-balanced in terms of larger sweater projects, and smaller accessories such as socks and hats.

The book’s patterns are divided into three chapters:

In the first chapter, titled “Refined”, Zoppetti successfully bursts any notion that cables must be heavy-looking. She uses lightweight yarn and twisted stitch cables to give an updated, feminine flair, as in her pretty “Rapho Socks”:

Rapho Socks

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Chapter 2 includes projects that marry cables and lace. Heather’s versatile design sense is evident in the delicate detailing of the “Talmage Pullover”:

Talmage Pullover

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Her “Stevens Vest” is a fabulous circle vest that is high on my “Knit This!” list. It includes openwork alongside my personal favorite, reversible cables:

Stevens Vest

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Chapter 3, called “Abstracts”, features unexpected cable placement or construction. Here, the “Penryn Pullover’s” asymmetric cable lends a modem, sophisticated air to a V-neck sweater:

Penryn Pullover

Brilliant construction comes into play in the “Fulton Shrug”. The piece personifies the book’s concept of “unexpected” and “cables”:

Rapho Socks

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To me, cabling is a fun technique that adds variety and interest to my knitting life. In Unexpected Cables I’ve found plenty of patterns to keep me intrigued and entertained for a long time!

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To win this book, enter a comment here on this post by the end of the day on December 14th (midnight Eastern Time). Please include your contact information in your comment so I can let you know if you’re the winner. I’ll be conducting a random drawing. (One comment per person, please, with only one comment and email address per person.)

I can mail this book anywhere in the world as long as there are no postal or delivery restrictions.

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Publisher Info:

Unexpected Cables: Feminine Knitted Garments Featuring Modern Cable Knitting

By Heather Zoppetti

Interweave/F+W; $24.99

128 pages, available in print and digital editions