Reversible Cables

Most cables are worked in stockinette over a background of reverse stockinette--and for good reason: cable strands formed of knit stitches stand out strongly against neighboring purl stitches, creating a fabric with lots of three-dimensional textural interest. In short, the cables "pop."

But turn your average cable over to its reverse side, and you see muddled, indistinct depressions in a field of knit stitches. It may be fine for the inside of a pullover, but it's hardly something you'd want to see in an afghan thrown on the back of the couch, or in a scarf tossed about by the breeze.

Reversible cables are different in that they look equally appealing on both sides of the fabric. This class covers two methods for creating reversible cables, both made popular by Lily Chin: ribbed cables, and cabled ribbing. Ribbed cables, also known as "ribbles," use ribbing and garter instead of stockinette and reverse stockinette, and result in cables that are the same on both sides of the fabric. Cabled ribbing uses ribbing and special cable crosses to let you do something amazing: knit a different cable pattern on each side of the fabric!

This class lets you practice reversible cables by knitting a pair of scarves. It also covers the nuts-and-bolts of making these scarves look good: how to cast on in a mix of knit and purl, how to bind off in pattern, and--for that perfect finishing touch--how to minimize stitch irregularities through blocking.