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Join Us for our Knit-Along and Get the Pattern Free!

November 13th, 2008 by Zontee

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Cable Luxe TunicLast month, we asked you which pattern you would like for our next knit-along. Although there were many votes for the Zen Coat and the Cabled Cashmere Sweater, the winner was the Cable Luxe Tunic!

Our KAL host will be Heather, a great freelance designer and knitting teacher. Please welcome her and introduce yourself!

Heather’s first post will be next Thursday, but in the meantime, go get your supplies, download and/or print the pattern (available for FREE only until November 27th ESPECIALLY for KAL participants), and get ready to knit with us!

No need to sign up or anything! Just follow along with the blog, and chat with us here, on Ravelry, or on Flickr. With all of the holidays coming up, we’ll be working at a leisurely pace, so jump in whenever you want!

We look forward to having you join us!

Related links:

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 13th, 2008 at 9:04 am and is filed under Community, Knit-Along, Knitting . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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  • Amy

    Love the pattern – thank you Lion Brand for offering this KAL. I’m going with Vanna’s Dusty Blue. I can’t wait to get started.

  • http://lionbrand.com Avis B.

    Thank you for putting this pattern on the web site. I have never been with a KAL but it looks to be alot of fun! I have started mine with a few tear outs, This is the most difficult pattern that I have attempted in knitting. I have won State Fair Awards for my crochet doilys. I am 51 and have been knitting since 8. I figured if I can knit socks, that with your help I can acomplish this! I have 27″ of the yoke done so far It is so beautiful!!!!!

  • Wanda

    I went with the Gold. It’s beautiful. I knitted my gauge swatch today… THREE times. I know I usually knit tighter than alot of people, but I never expected to have to go up 2 needle sizes. I’ll be knitting on size 10 needles for the main body of the tunic and size 9 circular for the yoke. This just goes to show how important your gauge swatch really is. My sweater would have be WAY TOO SMALL. Yikes!!

    Heather says: “Good job, Wanda – all that swatching will be well worth the effort!”

  • Syd Egan

    Hello, I have a question regarding the slip stitches on the back portion. Do you knit, purl,or slip those stitches on the opposite rows? I didn’t see it in the instructions. Thanks!!!!

    Zontee says: Hi Syd, on the other side, just work those slip stitches as they appear. (If they appear in a section of purls, purl them; if they are in a section of knit stitches, knit them.)

  • Sheila

    Okay I have knit and knit and knit on the yoke last Friday (10 repeats of the cable pattern so far) and was looking at the diagram and the yoke is supposed to measure 4 1/2” across the width of it. Mine doesn’t. I swatched and got perfect guage and everything. So what do you think? I have put it down until I figure out what to do. I know it is pulling in because of the cables but to lose 1 1/2″ in the width?! I was thinking about moving up to a aran or bulky weight and much larger needles.

    Heather says: “Hi, Sheila: The reason I did my gauge in stockinette stitch was because the pattern didn’t say which cable pattern would give the gauge. My cabled yoke strip was narrow as well. Each repeat of your cable pattern (16 rows) should measure just under 2 3/4″ – if you are close, I would stay with that and just knit to closest measurement of your strip ending with a row 2. Hope this helps!”.

  • Cheryl in NY

    Well, I ordered my yarn today, Wool ease in Sea Spray. Can’t wait to get started!

  • Sandi Remedios

    I see lots of questions, but not too many answers? Will there be answers or are other knitters expected to reply?
    I was interested in the query concerning substituting lighter weight yarns.

    Zontee says: Hi Sandi, Heather and I have been answering questions as fast as we can, both on this post and on the more recent one. I didn’t see a question earlier on substituting lighter yarns, but you can certainly substitute the yarn with any other category 4 yarn; Heather gives quite a few suggestions in her post. (Also see the Yarn by Weights Guide for more suggestions.) Please make a gauge swatch to ensure that you get the correct gauge on your new yarn.

  • Syd Egan

    Anybody can answer, so how did you all do the slip stitches on the back side, did you knit, purl, or slip them? Help, I want to continue knitting

    Heather says: “Hi, Syd: When you slip the stitches, slip as if to purl them (so they will not be twisted.) On the next row, knit or purl them normally as in the pattern. Hope this helps you.”

  • Sheila

    I haven’t done the back yet but typicall you hold the yarn in back and slip the stitch as if to knit it. Does this make sense?

  • Marcia F Havrilla

    Just joined this KAL. I am currently living in Brazil and Lion Brand is not available. Where can I get INFO on yardage of WOOL EASE? I have to substitute yarn, so it would be helpful if I knew how many yards there is in a skein of Wool Ease. Thanks for your help!

    Heather says: “Hi, Marcia: All the information about Lion Brand yarns can be found at the top of the homepage which says “Our Yarns”. It is a handy reference and easy to use. “Wool-Ease” has 197 yards (180 meters).”

  • Sheila

    Hi Syd and Heather – I misspoke when I said slip as to knit. I too meant slip as if to purl. Sorry about that!

  • Sheila

    Hi Heather – thank you for the response. I meant the width of the cabled yoke before turned horizontally (the 4 – 1/2″ width of the yoke which once turned is the vertical width). So the diagram shows it to be 4 1/2″ and I am getting 3″. What do you think?

    Heather says: “Hi, Sheila: That strip does roll in on the sides, and mine before I flattened it out, was about the width of yours. OK, now measure how long the distance is for every 16 rows of your pattern – it should be around 2.5-2.75″ Unless your repeat pattern is much smaller than this, you should be fine. Hope this helps!”

  • Syd Egan

    Thanks Heather for the info, so that stitch is a long stitch within the pattern, is there anyway to put a blown up picture of the back so I could see. I tried to zoom up the above pic but it won’t let me. Thanks, this is a beautiful pattern, I love it! Happy Thanksgiving all from Missouri, USA.

    Zontee says: Hi Syd, you can see many pictures of the Cable Luxe Tunic made by actual people on Flickr.com, so click here to flip through pictures.

  • Lora

    Ohhh, I cannot wait to get started! I am so glad that this tunic won!

  • Tia Rowe

    Hi. I wanted to knit this for the kal group on Ravelry, but after reading the NUMEROUS remarks about the pattern being poorly written and not matching the pictures, I am concerned. Has the pattern been fixed so I know that it will look like the picture? I would hate to buy $120 of Malabrigo and find out the pattern wasn’t fixed.

    Please write back soon!

    Heather says: “Hi, Tia – Corrections have been made to this pattern by our technical editors. Good luck with your sweater!”

  • Miriam K. Sokoloff

    Sewandquilt wrote- You’re tempting me! I’m a very cold person, and would need to convert the neck into something higher like a turtleneck. Would your experts be able to help me with that? How many extra skeins would I need.

    Heather says: “Hi, Miriam – If you are using Wool-Ease, one more skein should be plenty to lengthen the neck.”

  • Bunny Brink

    Hello to all. I was wondering if I wanted to make a X-large sweater; the cast on amount would change wouldn’t it? I can’t seem to figure this part out. Can some one help me with this. Thanks,

    Heather says: “Hi, Bunny – Don’t worry that all of the sizes have the same amount of stitches cast on for the cable strip. The length of this strip is what is important to make the length for the XL size.”

  • Bunny Brink

    Hi Heather, Thanks. That helps alot. I guess I will get started on my swatch.

  • Cecelia

    I’m a cable freak. I love this sweater. This is my Christmas holiday project. I couldn’t make up my mind what color to pick, so I’m using Blush Heather at top,Rose Heather for the strip, and Dark Rose for the rest.

    Heather says: “I would love to see pictures of your multi-color cable tunic!”

  • Sue

    What do you mean by knit in the knit rows and purl in the purl rows–do you mean what the stich was in the row before (k or p) or what the stitch is facing you?

    Heather says: “Hi, Sue – I think you are referring to the even-number rows (wrong side) of the cable yoke strip? What that row is saying is knit those stitches that appear as knit stitches and purl those that appear as purl stitches. Hope this helps you.”

  • Wanda

    Wow, Cecelia. That sounds like it will be a pretty color combination. I can’t wait to see pictures of yours. I hadn’t even thought about making the sections in different colors. I purchased the gold only. Hmmm… wonder what else I have in my stash?? HeeHeeHee.

  • June Scheuermann

    I have admired this pattern for a while, and have worked with cables in the past, even tho I voted for the Zen Coat, down loaded that pattern and purchased the Wool-Ease in Cranberry to work on in FL mid-Dec to mid-Jan. So, I downloaded this pattern and Wool-Ease in Purple. Can you tell I’m a Red Hatter? It arrived today and I’ve completed the swatch(es) and need to go up one needle size. I’ve started the yoke the yoke and completed the first repeat. I’m looking forward to the KAL, but may not be able to keep up while in FL. Sure is warmer there han here in IN at this time of year!

  • Phyllis Jensen

    I am anxious to try this knitl-along. I have the pattern, yarn and knitted swatch with needles.

    grandma-p

  • Teri

    This is my first KAL. I am excited about it. I have finished the yoke but am nervous about starting the back. I have appreciated reading the comments from other and being able to see pictures. That has given me some confidence. Thanks.

  • Sharon Desserud

    I am not sure if this has been addressed somewhere…but I am allergic to wool and some other fibres so I don’t think I can knit with Woolease, let alone, wear it. Do you have other suggestions for yarn choices or substitutions? I was thinking of a cotton but not sure it will hang right once made and it doesn’t drape the same way. I also considered an acrylic…seems a shame to knit a beautiful pattern in an acrylic. I would love some suggestions/help.

    Zontee says: Hi Sharon, Heather suggests some other yarns in her first post. Please take a look for more ideas.

  • Connie

    I have joined this KAL, love the pattern! and this is my first KAL. I have just finished the yolk and was wondering- would it be a good idea o block it before going on? It would be the easiest to do it now, and it would then be its right size rather than the scrunched shape it is in currently. I hope someone is answeing questions over the weekend, oherwise I might just decide for myself….my gut says block now….

    Heather says: “Hi, Connie: The cable yoke strip does curl on the edges, and what I did was to just dampen the strip with a spray bottle, shape it a little and let it dry completely. It made the piece lay flatter and was easier to work picking up stitches.”

  • Teri

    I am having trouble with the increases on the back. I don’t seem to be able to understand what I am suppose to do. Can someone simplify it for me! And is there an easy way to keep track of the rows for the different cables?

    Heather says: “Hi, Teri: There are increases done at the edges of the back at the beginning to create the shaping under the arms. As well, the tunic flares out by increasing in the purl stitches between the cables. Just take this sweater row by row and the pattern will tell you where you will need to do these increases. As for keeping track of your cable patterns, you can mark down on a piece of paper what row you are on for each of the two cable patterns, or you can use stitch markers to indicate which row you are working.”

  • Ginny

    I am knitting the back now. I’m not sure when to start the increase row after SHAPE WAIST. The Shape armhole section says that the stich # should be 98 at the cast on 4 at each startine edge but to start the increases in the center after row 2 of center cables 2nd rep: I am past that section by the time I have 98 stiches on the needle.

    Heather says: “Hi, Ginny: All of those increases for your size (small) should be done by row 11 and the waist shaping starts after row 14 of your work (one repeat of center cable pattern plus 2 rows). If you are only a couple of rows or so after this point, then I would start your waist increasing now. Hope this helps you!”

  • Teri

    Glad to know I am not the only one having trouble with the increases in the back. Ginny just seems to be able to put in better terms. Heather, your answer to Ginny helps me also! Thanks.

  • Connie

    I did spray it, and let it dry, and yes it was way easier to measure it before going on. I am now at the line where it says shape waist. In my pattern, because of the difference in rows for the 3/3 cable, and the 4/4 cable, I am on a 7 row for the 3/3, and a 3 row for the centre 4/4 cable. The pattern says Im supposed to be on a 3 row for both, or am I supposed to jump to a 3 row, or maybe its a misprint?

  • Connie

    I havent noticed anyone else having this same problem, so maybe I am have mixed up somewhere else? I am making my sweater in a baby blue wool/acrylic blend and decided to work in the round…dont appreciate too much sewing afterwards.

  • Susanne

    I’m considering using a stashed cotton/alpaca that’s more of a DK size that gets about 21 stitches over 4 inches. I would need to rewrite the pattern somewhat. But if I wanted the size 40, do you think if I just used the pattern as is for size 1X or 2X it would work? Or should I reconfigure the arithmetic? I have loved this pattern from the first time I saw it.

    Heather says: “Hi, Suzanne: If the yarn you are using is dk weight, you may just want to see how it looks at the gauge in the pattern. Since there are lots of cables, sometimes you can use a slightly lighter weight yarn. Try that first before redoing the math.”

  • Connie

    Try doing a swatch, and see what your fabric looks like knit with the needle size called for in the pattern. Try both a stocinette st, and also a swatch of cable. See if the tension comes close, and what the fabric looks like- lets face it this wouldnt look the same if it was lacey, but some DK are closer to WW, dependant on the yarn. If the fabric is Ok youre all set, if not, you can make your decisions as to how to proceed.

  • Miriam K. Sokoloff

    Connie–did you rewrite the directions for knitting in the round, or are you winging it? If you did rewrite them, would you be willing to share them?

  • Connie

    All I did was: Work following pattern for back until the 2 rows that direct you to cast on 4 stitches for underarm. Work the first row as directed, switch to a circular needle to work the second row. Put these stitches on hold for now. With a new ball of yarn, Work the front to the same spot, and when you begin your second row of the 4 stitch increase use the circular needle holding the back stitches so that now all your stitches are on the circular needle. Place a marker between the front and back for the middle of your new row, Place another different marker at the end of the row, so you will know when you have completed both front and back sections for each row. Continue in pattern working the front and back sections as one row. NOTE Work all your RS rows as in the pattern. Work the (backside image of all the wrong side rows.If the pattern says you purl, you would need to knit instead, for K you would P. If the pattern was on a chart, you could follow the chart, as the chart would say (K on RS rows, P on WS rows.) Someone else made charts if you cant figure it out by looking at your work. They can be found at the spot that all the other already made tunics are -noted in RED. see Zontees post Nov26. If I havent explained this clearly enough, just post again.

  • Connie

    Is everyone else ending up on a row 3 for the 3/3 cable at the waist increase row? (I ended up at a row 7) If so I have made a mistake somewhere, although I have double checked, I cant figure out where. If I cant figure it out Im afraid that Im gonna end up with a hole thats too small for the sleeve or something.

    Heather says: “Hi, Connie: You are right about that first increase row is row 7 of the 3/3 cable (and it is row 3 of the Center cable). I will note this in my next post and the pattern will be corrected as well. Thanks for bringing this up and good luck with your tunic.”

  • Connie

    Suzanne -Im interested to know if your yarn is knitting up OK. It sounded perfect for this project, a special yarn for a wonderful pattern.

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  • Syd Egan

    I have completed all increases on my back, now working in pattern to get to the 17 length. I do agree that there could have been a much better way to write up the instructions, and it would have probably been better to knit the body in the round, no seams and less chance to make mistakes and not match other pieces. Anyone else agree?

  • Trish

    Syd
    There are some variations of this on Ravelry, some have made it differntly, you might want to check with those that made on circular needles.
    Ravelry.com

  • Joan

    I’m knitting a large in Dark Heather Rose and have completed the yoke. i used a provisional cast on and then did a three needle bind off to join the two ends. Now I am desperately trying to pick up the correct number of stitches as stated in the pattern, but seem to be having some problems getting enough stitches picked up. Am also trying to decide whether or not to knit the sweater in the round to avoid having to sew seams at the end.

    I also noticed that the pattern has the cables all going in the same direction while the picture of the tunic has the cables facing the center cable. Which is correct?

  • Connie

    Syd If you are going to work in the round you need to wait until after your underarm cast on stitches- the stitches at the edge of the rows before that would need to join on the sleeve edge. The yolk edge where you pick up stitches would be above the breast area. If you go towards the arms on almost every garment, you will be able to see this- follow the seamline to the underarm. (If you start knitting in the round immediately your garment wont work. Am I making sense here?

  • Connie

    The posts for the knit along have changed. If you click on #88 it will take you to the new blog post and the more recent posts.

  • Connie

    Sorry- it doesnt work anymore to click on 88-but there is a new thread under Heather’s new post -Step by Step

    Zontee says: #88 does still work. You have to click on the orange “Lion Brand Notebook” text to go there (orange text is usually a link on our blog). You can also always click “knit-along” under the Categories on the right-hand bar of the blog to see all knit-along related posts.

  • Christine

    Connie-You make me feel very far behind! Yikes-I’ve only just completed the yoke and now I need to block it.

    One question-does this pattern run true to size or is it generous? It’s so hard to tell just by reading the measurements on the pattern. I’d like to hear what others think before I continue on.

    Thanks!

  • TRACIE

    I was glad when the cable luxe sweater was announced as the kal. I am a bit slower than most of you, as I am trying to finish Christmas gifts as well. I am enjoying the pattern; it is a challenge and is a welcomed change from scarves and mittens. I haven’t knitted a sweater in a long while. This is intended for me. I hope to catch up with all of you after the Holidays.

  • Susanne

    Connie, I’m so sorry I’ve been busy with other stuff and haven’t even started yet : ( I have two weeks off of work and hope to at least swatch. I’ll keep you posted.

  • http://www.idazecco.com Ida N Zecco

    I have been on multiple business trips since December, and am just getting “on the ball!” I just bought this pattern, through download.

    Can I knit this completely on circular needles? Sorry, didn’t follow the whole chain. And, I see that there may have been corrections to the original pattern. If I downloaded this today, do I have all the corrections?

    Thanks, Ida

  • Ann B

    Ida, you can knit this on circular needles. And if you downloaded the pattern today yo ushould have all the corrections incorporated.

  • Sandra Peters

    I had to order more yarn in order to finish the yoke – now completed. I made my sweater in sage = it is beautiful. I admired the pattern for a long time and when it came down to a KAL, I decided that it meant I was to finally make it. I must have ripped back the back at least five times before I got it right, but after those attempts, things went smoothly, if a bit slow, due to Christmas knitting projects, but it was worth the wait. I have so enjoyed it – can’t wait for the next project. As an aside, I have just about one third of the Tree of Life afghan finished. Your Wool Ease yarn has got me knitting in wool, for the first time and now I can regret how many years I have used synthetic yarns.

    Again, a huge thank you for this KAL and on to the next project.

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