I’m excited to share a review of a knitting pattern book from Sixth&Spring, along with an excerpted pattern for the Cable-Rib Beanie by Lisa Craig. There’s also a giveaway for readers in the United States and Canada, so read on for details!

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. A free review copy of Knit Noro Accessories 2: 30 More Colorful Little Knits was provided to me by Sixth&Spring. Although I accept free products for review, I do not accept additional compensation, nor do I guarantee a positive review. My reviews are based entirely on my honest opinions.

Book Review

Knit Noro Accessories 2: 30 More Colorful Little Knits is a multi-designer, hardcover pattern collection book by Sixth & Spring. (You can find my reviews of other books from Sixth & Spring here.) As the name suggests, the patterns are made using a variety of Noro yarns. The book opens with a brief introduction and then dives directly into the patterns. Each pattern includes two pages of photos before the pattern instructions and at least one other full page photo. The instructions include the designer name, short introductory text about the pattern, skill level, measurements, a detailed materials list, gauge, and instructions written in U.S. knitting abbreviations. Seven of the 30 patterns also include color, lace, or cable charts, and two patterns include assembly diagrams.

There is a broad selection of accessories designs, including:

• 9 shawls, ponchos, capes, and capelets,
• 7 scarves and cowls,
• 6 mittens, gloves, and fingerless mitts,
• 6 hats,
• 1 pair of socks, and
• 1 pair of boot cuffs.

There is also a range of pattern skill levels, including:

• 1 beginner,
• 16 easy,
• 12 intermediate, and
• 1 experienced pattern.

Knit Noro Accessories 2: 30 More Colorful Little Knits includes patterns by 24 designers. You can see all the designs here on the Ravelry source page for the book. My favorite designs are the Twice-Mitered Cowl by Theresa Schabes, the Zippered Capelet by Mari Lynn Patrick, the Tuck Stitch Scarf by Charles Voth (you can read my interview with Charles here), the Peruvian Chullo Hat by Matthew Schrank, and the Slanted Poncho by Sandi Prosser.

After the patterns, there is a Helpful Information section, which includes pattern abbreviations, skill levels, a knitting needle size comparison chart (U.S. and metric), information about gauge, a glossary of special stitches, and three written and illustrated technique instructions (for the Kitchener stitch, I-Cord, and provision cast-on). The book closes with a detailed index and list of Noro yarn distributors in the United States and Europe.

As with other books by Sixth&Spring, the photos are vibrant and well styled. The photographic eye candy definitely inspired me to pick up my needles. The colors of the Noro yarns are richly portrayed. The book has a clean graphic design that makes it easy to read, though I do think the font size for the patterns could have been a bit larger. The patterns are clearly written. As a hardcover, it would lay flat so you can knit and follow along with the pattern. Although there is a range of pattern skill levels in the book, because it doesn’t include any basic knitting tutorials, I would recommend it for advanced beginners or intermediate knitters who enjoy making accessories for women. (Yes, there are some unisex designs and patterns for men in this book, but probably not enough to satisfy someone looking for accessories for men.) And, of course, if you love Noro yarn, or fall in love with one of the many beautiful patterns in this book, then it would be even more enjoyable.

Cable-Rib Beanie

Knitting Pattern by Lisa Craig

Published in Knit Noro Accessories 2: 30 More Colorful Little Knits.

Pattern and Photo © 2017 Sixth&Spring Books and shared with permission.

Notes from Underground Crafter:

• This pattern uses standard U.S. knitting pattern abbreviations. You can find a master list of abbreviations here.
• This pattern also uses international stitch symbols. You can find a master list of knitting stitch symbols here.

This beanie combines cables and ribbing for a fresh look that is both fun and quick to knit.

Skill Level

• Intermediate

Knitted Measurements

• Circumference (slightly stretched) 17½”/44.5cm
• Length 7½”/19cm

Materials

• 1 1¾oz/50g ball (each approx 110yd/100m) of Noro Silk Garden (silk/mohair/lambswool) in #373 Blue/Sky Blue/Royal/Light Green
• One size 6 (4mm) circular needle, 16 “/40cm long, OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE
• One set (5) size 6 (4mm) double-pointed needles (dpn)
• Cable needle (cn)
• Stitch marker

Gauge

• 22 sts and 26 rnds to 4″/10cm over cable pat st (slightly stretched) using size 6 (4mm) needle. TAKE TIME TO CHECK GAUGE.

Stitch Glossary

• 3-st RPC: Sl 2 sts to cn and hold to back, k1, sl p st from cn to LH needle and purl it, k1 from cn.
• 4-st LC: Sl 2 sts to cn and hold to front, k2, k2 from cn.

Cable-Rib Pattern (multiple of 11 sts)

• Rnd 1 *P2, k2, yo, SKP, p2, k1, p1, k1; rep from * around.
• Rnd 2 *P2, k2tog, yo, k2, p2, k1, p1, k1; rep from * around.
• Rnd 3 *P2, k2, yo, SKP, p2, 3-st RC; rep from * around.
• Rnd 4 Rep rnd 2.
• Rep rnds 1–4 for cable-rib pat.

Hat

• With A and circular needle, cast on 88 sts. Join to work in rnds, taking care not to twist sts on needle, and pm to mark beg of rnd. Work 12 rnds in cable-rib pat.

Begin Chart

• Rnd 1 Work 11-st rep of chart 8 times around.
• Cont to work in this manner through rnd 8. Rep rnds 1–8 twice more.

Crown Shaping

• Note Change to dpn when sts no longer comfortably fit on circular needle.
• Dec rnd 1 *P2tog, 4-st LC, p2tog, k1, p1, k1; rep from * around—72 sts.
• Rnd 2 *P1, k2tog, yo, k2, [p1, k1] twice; rep from * around.
• Rnd 3 *P1, k2, yo, SKP, p1, 3-st RC; rep from * around.
• Rnds 4 and 6 Rep rnd 2.
• Rnd 5 *P1, k2, yo, SKP, [p1, k1] twice; rep from * around.
• Dec rnd 7 *P1, k2, yo, SKP, p1, k3tog; rep from * around—56 sts.
• Rnd 8 *P1, k4, p1, k1; rep from * around.
• Dec rnd 9 *P1, [k2tog] twice, p1, k1; rep from * around—40 sts.
• Rnd 10 *P1, k2, p1, k1; rep from * around.
• Dec rnd 11 *P1, k2tog, p1, k1; rep from * around—32 sts.
• Rnd 12 *P1, k1; rep from * around.
• Dec rnd 13 *K2tog; rep from * around—16 sts.
• Rnd 14 Knit.
• Dec rnd 15 *K2tog; rep from * around—8 sts.
• Cut yarn, leaving a long end. Pull through sts on needles once, then pull through sts again and draw up tightly to close top.

Finishing

• Weave in ends and block to measurements.

Find more knitting books from Sixth&Spring on Amazon:

Giveaway

Now that you’ve read my review and checked out the pattern excerpt, I bet you want to get your hands on a copy of Knit Noro Accessories 2: 30 More Colorful Little Knits. The nice folks at Sixth&Spring have offered up another copy as a giveaway to a lucky reader!

This giveaway is open to readers with mailing addresses in the United States and Canada, except where prohibited by law. Enter by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, August 23, 2017. One winner will be chosen at random from the entries submitted via the Rafflecopter widget. The winner will receive 1 copy of Knit Noro Accessories 2: 30 More Colorful Little Knits, courtesy of Sixth & Spring. Good luck!

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