Showy Cable! A New Way to Knit Faux Cables
There are an amazing number of ways you can use the Showy Decrease and every time I think I’m done … pop! Another one comes to mind.
I had planned on announcing the Showy Cable several months ago until I swatched the first Showy Garter sample and was completely side tracked by how much fun that is.
The Granite Lake Shawl took much of my time and we are by no means done with Showy Garter projects but the Flat i-Cord strap top that’s about to be announced is definitely a summer project and since it uses the Showy Cable it’s jumped up in line.
Whenever there’s a new announcement about a Showy Decrease application, I like to stop and review all the other ways we’ve already discussed, just in case you’re a new reader or forgot one along the way.
The Lost Cowl
The Showy Cable
Nuance announcements always come with a tutorial and simple project. That’s the case here with this cowl. It uses the same cable pattern as the Dubhlinn Summer Top that’s coming next.
I love the Showy Cable for a number of reasons:
- Like other faux cables it doesn’t add a lot of bulk but it does add more depth that the alternatives.
- It can be knit with either right or left leaning “cables”
- You can knit it at varying widths
- It can be knit with or without eyelets.
- They can be joined with a beautiful smooth double decrease.
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Swatch for the Dubhlinn Summer Top
To say I’m enthusiastic about this version of the Showy Decrease is an understatement (shocking, I know). There are about 6 projects already knit with this technique and I have even more sketched out. One of my favorites is the yellow hat in the collection above. It will be announced this fall.
How Does the Showy Cable Work?
If you’ve knit anything with the Showy Decrease, you won’t be surprised to hear that it’s very simple. Let’s take a look at the very first Showy Decrease tutorial chart we discussed. It shows how to add lines and texture to stockinette.
OK, now lets break up the lines, add some ribbing and … ta da … the Showy Cable.
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The chart here illustrates the right-leaning eyelet cable. You can see how we break it up with a rib pattern.
The cowl pattern includes right and left leaning eyelet cables and a mirror cable with center join. The sweater adds right and left leaning standard cables which simply use a different, non-eyelet increase. You can see them in the yellow swatch above.
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The Cowl
Silky Merino Version
Summer may seem like a strange time to knit a cowl (with a shout out to all our Aussie followers where it’s winter), but in this size it’s perfect. Small enough to take along on any trips and in a merino blend (silk or bamboo) it won’t be too hot to knit.
The design is also easier to learn since it is knit in the round. All the Showy Decreases are alway right there in front of you. There’s no wrong side to deal with.
Size
The cowl is really more of a turtle neck and only 16″ around. I tucked the gradient version into my pocket and used it all Spring when the weather got a bit chilly. The blue is the same but in a DK weight yarn and knit up a bit larger with an 18″ circumference. You can use a bulkier yarn or add a repeat or two for a true cowl.
This purple knit with Mini Mochi. Sadly discontinued but still available online and there are so many new gradients available.
The Lost Cowl: There’s a photo up top just below the yellow swatch showing a blue cowl I knit several months ago. It’s missing! I quickly knit up another with blue silk merino but can’t find the first anywhere. In the first version, I added a few Knit 1 Back and Front increases to give it more flair. This time around I used the Knotted Bind Off for the same impact. The Cascade Venezia has great stitch definition that shows off the cables quite nicely.
Cast On and Bind Off Edges Add Flare
The pattern includes tutorials for the Woven Cast On and Knotted Bind Off. A small project like this is the perfect time to try them. They add form and function since the edges are more flexible which is needed to get the smaller cowl over your head. The 2-strand Knotted Bind Off, one of my favorites, really does flare the end out with it’s bulk.
Future idea
What’s Next
This teaches you everything you’ll need for the Dubhlinn Summer Top and also for the more complicated pattern designs coming this winter.
Take a look at the chart for something I’m swatching now. We’re going have a lot of fun with this.
Dubhlinn Shell
Download the Free Pattern
If it’s a tutorial, it’s free! It’s only on the blog right now so share it with your knitting friends. It will be included with the Dubhlinn Summer Shell on Ravelry but blog readers can download it now so you can try out the new Showy Cable technique. I can’t wait to hear how you like it.
I’ve added the pattern to the Free Downloads page on our website. Once the pattern shows on your browser, hover the mouse over the center lower screen and a download button with appear. Enjoy! 
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