Product Description

Internationally acclaimed knitwear designer Fiona Ellis shares the meditative power of “mindful” knitting in this collection of 20 stunning cable designs. Enriched by notes from the author about the spark behind her creative process, Inspired Cable Knits is ideal for intermediate and returning knitters looking for a new approach to a traditional technique.

Fascinated by nature’s wonderful variety of patterns and textures, Ellis offers new twists on cable knits. Inspired by the beauty of sand rippled by the tide, the grooves and ridges of tree bark, jagged lightning bolts, and yoga poses—these patterns are beautiful and unique. Ellis, whose designs have been acquired by many top names in the fashion industry, explains cable knitting thoroughly and offers step-by-step instruction and charts for each pattern.

In this collection of 20 original, inspired designs, Ellis combines her extensive fashion expertise with her own creative approach. This unique selection of cable patterns ventures out of the predictable realm of vertical columns and constant repetition and into the spontaneous territory of a variety of natural designs. Each pattern is combined with easy-to-follow instructions, diagrams, and Ellis’s own thought-provoking “mindfulness” pointers to keep the mind engaged while the fingers are knitting. The four themes of change, nature, energy, and time present a range of captivating styles for the entire family. From sweaters to tank tops, yoga bags to pillows, wraps to scarves, each of the 20 patterns offers an opportunity to tune into a mindful approach to knitting.


The book’s 20 unique patterns are grouped according to the four themes that have shaped Fiona’s design philosophy: change, nature, energy, and time. This book encourages knitters not only to create everything from sweaters to tank tops, yoga bags to pillows, and wraps to scarves, but also to experience and think about the artistic process. Unwind with Fiona Ellis’s Inspired Cable Knits.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #232191 in Books
• Published on: 2006-02-14
• Released on: 2006-02-14
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 144 pages

Review
"Inspired Cables is a must-have for all those who knit with their hearts and minds, as well as with their hands." —Trisha Mlcolm, Vogue Knitting magazine

"Fiona Ellis’s fresh and imaginative take on traditional cable patterns will inspire novice knitters to master the simple process of crossing stitches and will give experienced knitters plenty of opportunity to fall in love, all over again, with this timeless technique. These sweaters are inspired indeed!" —Pam Allen, Interweave Knits magazine

About the Author
Fiona Ellis has been designing fashion knitwear professionally for over ten years. Her designs have been seen on the pages of premiere knitting magazines such as Vogue Knitting International and Interweave Knits. She also designs for leading yarn companies such as Classic Elite Yarns, Patons, and Berroco. Her design concepts have also been acquired by some of the world’s leading fashion houses. She lives in Toronto, Canada. This is her first book. Visit her website at fionaellisonline.com.

Lindsey Maier is a professional photographer and digital artist with a fresh approach to modern photography. She tackles each assignment with passion, intensity, and a sense of fun.

Customer Reviews

Pretty, somewhat limited
The experienced knitters said it all. It's a very beautiful book, but some of the pieces are kind of abstracted. I used to work in a yarn shop, and had trouble helping people pick substitute yarns, as mentioned. However, I'm probably going to have to make the hoodie in there someday... it's a nice combination of modern, simple design and form-flattering placement of cables. Plus, any publication that inspires knitters to knit cables is a good one, in my estimation, especially through such lovely photography.

inspired cable knits
i have always liked to do cables. so when i saw a sweater knitted from this book i decided to purchase it. i have started one of the patterns and have found it challanging which is what i was looking for. i plan to make several of the patterns in this book.

Some beautiful sweaters, but yarn and gauge info is missing
While I like many of the sweaters in the book, even as a very experienced knitter I find the instructions problematic. First, I would like to see a picture of the WHOLE SWEATER, front & back. Artsy little pictures of a small section just don't interest me. Secondly, since I frequently substitute yarn, I would like yardage and gauge in stockinette stitch info. I don't want to have to knit 1/2 of a sweater's front or back to find out if my yarn will work. And, even when gauge in stockinette stitch is given for a few of the projects, I would never be able to achieve the designer's gauge. For a dk yarn that would normally knit at 22 stitches to 4 inches, this designer knits 30 stitches to 4 inches. This makes it impossible for me to estimate the correct gauge for any of the sweates and makes the instructions pretty useless. Very frustrating.