Durrow cable

This is an interpretation of a knotwork design from the Book of Durrow, folio 124V. It is reproduced schematically and in a photographic plate in Celtic Knotwork by Iain Bain (Sterling, 1992, ISBN 0-8069-8638-7; originally published Constable, 1986). Once again, loops are open and closed using the technique taught by Starmore.

The design has a beginning and an end, with an optional repeat. With a single repeat, the pattern is 132 rows long (the repeat is 64 rows). My swatch was knitted with aran-weight yarn and 5 mm (US 8) needles for a length of about 23" and a width of 3 1/4", excluding the reverse stockinette borders. Each additional repeat should add about 11.5" to the length.

Like the Simple Celtic cable, there is an open-loop formation directly above a close-loop formation, separated by only one WS row. Therefore, slight pulling is evident between the rows, but not as severe as in the Simple Celtic, because the open-loop is offset from the close-loop below by one stitch.

This sample was knitted in Dunnose Head Farm's Falkland Pioneer Aran Wool on 5 mm (US 8) needles.

Note: unless the WS (even-numbered) row is indicated on the chart, simply knit the WS row as the stitches lie. All the WS rows where the stitches are simply knit and purl were omitted to reduce the size of the chart.

If you're having trouble printing this page, you can download/view a copy of the chart. There is also a graphic version of a chart for a mirror image, if you wish to create a symmetric design.









132  
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102  
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96  
  95
end repeat
94  
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72  
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40  
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38  
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32  
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begin repeat
30  
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8  
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4  
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2  
  1
 
 
 

Legend

knit

knit on RS, purl on WS

purl

purl on RS, knit on WS

no stitch

if you are knitting in this row, this stitch does not physically exist

make 2 (right side)

k1, k1b into the same stitch; then pick up the vertical strand running downwards between these two stitches just made, twist and knit

make 2 (wrong side)

p1, k1, p1 into the same stitch

cable 4 right

place next 2 sts on cable needle, hold to back; knit next 2 sts from left needle; knit 2 sts from cable needle

twist 3 right

place next st on cable needle, hold to back; knit next 2 sts from left needle; purl st from cable needle

twist 3 left

place next 2 sts on cable needle, hold to front; purl next st from left needle; knit 2 sts from cable needle

twist 4 right

place next 2 sts on cable needle, hold to back; knit next 2 sts from left needle; purl 2 sts from cable needle

twist 4 left

place next 2 sts on cable needle, hold to front; purl next 2 sts from left needle; knit 2 sts from cable needle

cable 5 right

put the first 3 sts on cable needle, hold to back; knit next 2 sts from left needle; slip purl st from cable needle back to left needle and purl it; knit 2 sts from cable needle

cable 5 left

put the first 3 sts on cable needle, hold to front; knit next 2 sts from left needle; slip purl st from cable needle back to left needle and purl it; knit 2 sts from cable needle

decrease 4

slip next two sts to right needle; pass first slipped st over second slipped st and off needle; pass remaining slipped st on right needle back to left needle; slip second st on left needle over first st on left needle and off left needle; slip next two sts to right needle; pass first slipped st over second slipped st and off needle; pass remaining slipped st on right needle back to left needle; slip second st on left needle over first st on left needle and off left needle; purl that rem st on left needle as usual.