Free knitting patterns for blankets, clothes, accessories that feature cables that look like animals, plants, musical instruments, and more.
To get the knitting patterns, scroll down the page to the individual pattern you want and click on the link to that pattern.
These patterns are not my designs but links to other designers who have generously shared their patterns. If you have questions about how to knit a specific pattern, please contact the designer directly.
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Free Patterns
Viridescent Mitts
Fingerless mitts inspired by the growth of new plants using twisted stitches, simple increases and decreases, and cables. Uses less than one skein of the recommended Fingering weight yarn. Sizes XS (5.5" wrist), S (6" wrist), M (6.5" wrist), L (7" wrist). Designed by Emma Jaeger.
Cabled Sunburst Washcloth
Sun-inspired wash or dish cloth with easy zigzagging cable rays and a picot sunburst edge. Uses less than one skein of the recommended Aran weight yarn. Size 9.5” diameter, from inner edge of picots, blocked. Designed by Kendra Nitta for Knit Picks.
Trilobite Hat
For fossil lovers, here's a hat featuring a trilobite in relief in cable design. Designed by Hannah Mason for Knitty. Aran weight yarn.
The Beat Goes On
A heartbeat cable forms the design on this infinity scarf cowl. A great gift for someone you love or those interested in heart medicine. Designed by Emma Galat. Fingering weight yarn.
Cat Cable Sweater
Pullover with cabled cat motif around the yoke. You could easily use this motif for other knitting projects. Aran weight yarn. Designed by Bracadabra. Pictured project by krickett
Fancy Fingerless Gloves
Fingerless mitts with a cable design that creates a 3 dimensional block look. Sizes Small, Medium, Large. Sport weight yarn. Designed by Mari-Liis Hirv for Pattern Duchess.
Anchors Aweigh Sweater
Nautical themed child's sweater with a cable anchor motif and rope cables. Sizes child 6, 8 and 10. Sport weight yarn. Designed by Deniss A. Saganai.
- Get the free knitting pattern on the Internet archive
- See the Ravelry page
- See more Nautical Knitting Patterns
Moth Wings Fingerless Mitts
Fingerless mitts knit flat with cable wings on garter stitch with daisy eyelet motifs. DK weight yarn. Designed by You-Shan Feng for Knitty as Nachtfalter.
Bunny Rabbit Cable Washcloth
Dish or wash cloth featuring a rabbit in cables. You could easily use this motif for other knitting projects. DK weight yarn. Designed by The Knit Guru.
Owl Fingerless Gloves
Fingerless mitts with a cute owl cable knit in the round. Designed by Janis Frank. Aran weight yarn. Web version is free.
- Get the free knitting pattern - web version
- Buy the PDF knitting pattern at Lovecrafts
- See more Cable Creature Knitting Patterns
Pineapple Afghan
Cable blanket features cable pineapples, the symbol of hospitality and belonging. Worsted weight yarn. Size 48" x 53". Designed by Craft Yarn Council of America. Pictured project by rowwise
Thumper Mitts
Fingerless mitts with a cute bunny cable. Designed by Karen Hoyle. DK weight yarn.
Isla Cloche
This hat features two knit flowers created with cabled leaves and bobble blossoms. Designed by Tanis Gray. Pictured project by tkuksha. Aran weight yarn.
More Free Patterns
Toukulele Hat
The cable pattern in this hat creates a ukulele or acoustic guitar motif, making it a great gift for the musicians in your world. It is a fast knit using one skein of Aran/Heavy Worsted weight yarn greater than 150 yards. Sizes S[M,L]; shown in size M. Designed by Angela Acito for Knitty.
Flutterby Mitts
Fingerless mitts with cable and bobble butterfly and cable cuffs. Sport weight yarn. Designed by Karen Fournier.
DNA Scarf
This scarf features a cable modeled after the double helix of DNA. Designed by June Oshiro. Pictured projects by heatherashley and 1les
Meet Me in the Woods Hat
Beanie featuring a cable pine tree motif. Uses just one skein 81 - 109 yards (74 - 100 m) of Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Cori Gardner.
Winding Way Mitts
Fingerless mitts with double winding cable. Uses one skein 100 - 150 yards (91 - 137 m) of Sport weight yarn. Designed by Cheryl Beckerich for Cascade Yarns.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- Get the recommended Cascade Yarns ® Cascade 220® Sport yarn
Tree of Life Blanket
Miniature version of Nicky Epstein’s classic Tree of Life Afghan designed for babies featuring intertwined cable trees, a garden of lace and bobble flowers, and a tulip bud lace border. Size 26 x 34 in. (66 x 86.5 cm), including border. Worsted weight yarn.
- Get the free knitting pattern - download link is below kit info
- Get the original Tree of Life Afghan Knitting Pattern
Owl Hat and Bag
Cable owls decorate this beanie hat and drawstring bag. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Noreen Hunter-Talbot. Pictured projects by LucysMomMarlene and SusanK
Autumn Oak Hat
Quick hat with a leaf motif in cable and lace. The pattern includes both written and charted instructions. Quick knit in one skein 75 - 98 yards (69 - 90 m) of Super Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Rachel Brockman for Universal Yarn.
Heirloom Bunny Baby Blanket
Stacylynn Cottle designed this adorable blanket with cable and bobble bunnies to grow with the child from crib to toddler bed and possibly beyond.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the recommended yarn at Etsy
- See more Baby Blanket Knitting Patterns
Brea Bag
Norah Gaughan‘s crescent shaped bag features a simple cable pattern repeated four times that come together to form a design that resembles a lotus flower according to the designer but looks like a butterfly to me. Pictured project by Enpunto
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get more knitting patterns by Nora Gaughan
- See more Butterfly Knitting Patterns
Butterfly Cabled Blanket
Joan Barnett designed this breathtaking cable afghan for Red Heart with 4 different cable patterns and a Bramble Stitch border. 58 x 66″ (147.5 x 167.5 cm). Pictured project by laudanum1964
Owl Baby Vest
Pullover v-neck baby vest with cable owls. To Fit Age: 9-12 months. Designed by Jodi Haraldson. DK weight yarn. Pictured projects by the designer and ltegethoff. Available in English, French, and Spanish
Ivy Fingerless Mitts
Fingerless mitts with ivy vines in cables, lace, and bobbles. 3 Sizes. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Sarah V. Miller.
Hoot Cardigan
Baby cardigan sweater with cable owls knit top down all in one piece. Sizes Newborn, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months. Uses just one skein 210 yards (192 meters) of Worsted yarn for Newborn and 3 months. Designed by Brenna Kotar. Note: This pattern is written for more experienced knitters and is not very detailed.
Busy Street Hat
This beanie features a row of houses in slipped stitches and cables and a big happy sun on the crown. Designed by Nurturing Fibres. DK weight yarn.
Patterns for Purchase
Stag Head Pullover
Norah Gaughan's sweater design features a cable deer complete with antlers. Sizes 36½ (40, 43½, 47, 50¾, 54¼, 57¾, 61¼)". Pictured project by snoodfox. Worsted weight yarn.
Feather Scarf
Scarf knit with a cable pattern of feathers that looks just as good on the reverse side. Aran, worsted weight yarn. Designed by TheWarmHouse. Available in English and Dutch.
Carpette Bag
Drawstring bag with a fish motif created with twist stitches and cables. Size 33”/7.5cm depth, 10”/25.5cm high, 10”/25.5cm wide.. Sport weight yarn. Designed by Christine Guest
Glencoyne Dale Celtic Cable Shawl or Throw
Cabled sea creatures resembling stylized fish or whales flow the length of this knitted work of art inspired by a stone carving near Ullswater. Designed by Susanne Daum. DK weight yarn.
Owlie Shawl
Asymmetric triangular shawl worked sideways from the long end in garter stitch with a line of cable owls along one edge. 3 sizes - toddler, child and adult. Quick knit in bulky yarn. Designed by Heather Corcoran.
Sparrow Reticule
Drawstring bag with a bird motif created with twist stitches and cables. There are both complete charts and complete written instructions. Size 3”/7.5cm depth, 9”/23cm high, 10”/25.5cm wide. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Christine Guest
Top Owl Baby Blanket
Designed by TheLonelySea, cables form owl motifs in this baby blanket. Two sizes -- 61cm x 86cm/ 24in x 34in. 76cm x 117cm/30in x 46in. in chunky weight yarn
Perennial Hat
Slouchy beanie with a cable sprouting plant motif growing up one side. Designed by Alana Dakos. Uses one skein (125 yards) of worsted weight yarn.
Owl Slouchy Hat and Owl Pompom Hat
Two hat patterns featuring a cable motif that looks like an owl, one a slouchy style and the other a beanie with pompom. Knitted FLAT on 2 needles and sewn up the back. Sizes toddler, child and adult. Quick knit in Chunky/Bulky weight yarn. Designed by TheLonelySea
Woodwrae Cowl
This cowl features an all-over repeating key (angular spriral) cable pattern, ideal as an introduction to Celtic-style cable knitting. The size of this cowl can easily be adjusted by varying the number of horizontal and vertical repeats of the cable chart. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Lucy Hague.
Beaded Arches Mitts
Elegant fingerless mitts with a cable pattern inspired by the arches in Gothic buildings. Designed by Dots Dabbles. Uses approximately 45 to 60 grams of fingering weight yarn.
Papillon Baby Cardigan
Baby cardigan jacket with cable butterfly on back. Sizes Baby 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months. Designed by Melissa Leapman. DK weight yarn.
Baby Cardigan with Owls
Cardigan with cable owls on sleeves and hem. Charted and also fully written instructions. Sizes 0-6m, 6-9m, 9-12m, 12-18m, 2 yrs, 3 yrs. Designed by OgeDesigns. DK weight yarn.
Rosalind Franklin DNA Shawl
Watson and Crick's work on DNA structure built upon earlier work by a female scientist by the name of Rosalind Franklin. This shawl is a tribute to her, an asymmetrical shawl featuring a DNA double helix cable. Designed by verybusymonkey. Pictured projects by Nadeshda and SueHauser
