Springorchid Files

This iPad mini cover pattern contains written instructions without abbreviations for cables knitted flat to create a stretchy cover for Ebook devices 5-6 inches wide.

I designed this cover to protect my iPad mini from knocks and scratches. It is made up of a wild oak cable as a central panel flanked by a garter stitch edge.

The panel is basically 4 cables criss-crossing each other. The instructions for the cables are written without using abbreviations. I have not mastered all the standard cable abbreviations and yet do not want to constantly refer to the glossary.

The cover is knitted flat as a long rectangle, like knitting a scarf. It is then folded in half and the sides seamed. It is quite stretchy and will fit Ebook readers that are around 6 inch wide.

Materials

• 3.75mm / US No.5 knitting needles (straight or circular)
• 1 skein of bulky wool or acrylic yarn (7-9 WPI)
• Stitch markers
• Sewing needle to weave in the ends
• 1 cable needle

Gauge and Measurement

My gauge using 3.7mm needles and 9 WPI yarn is 18 stitches / 28 rows = 10 cm or 4 inches in stockinette stitch.

The bag, unblocked and unstretched, measures 10 cm wide by 22 cm long or 4 inches wide by 8.5 inches long

Body Knitted Flat

Cast on 36 stitches using cable cast on.

Row 1 (WS): K3, P3, Place marker, K2, P3, K4, P6, K4, P3, K2, pm, P3, K3.

Row 2: (RS): K6, shift marker, P2, K3, P4, K6, P4, K3, P2, shift marker, K6.

Repeat row 1 and 2 three more times ending with a WS row.

Wild oak cables start here (instructions in bold are for the cables):

Row 1: (RS): K6, sm, [P2, K3, P4, slip 3 to a cable needle and hold at front, k3, k3 from cable needle, P4, K3, P2], sm, K6.

Row 2 (WS): K3, P3, sm, K2, P3, K4, P6, K4, P3, K2, pm, P3, K3.

Row 3 (RS): K6, sm, P2, slip 3 to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle. P2. S1 to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3. P1 from cable needle. S3 to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle. P2. S1 to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3. P1 from cable needle. P2, sm, K6

Row 4: K3, P3, sm, K3, P3, K2, P3, K2, P3, K2, P3, K3, sm, P3, K3.

Row 5: K6, sm, P3, S3 to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle. S1 to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3. P1 from cable needle. P2. S3 to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle. S1 to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3. P1 from cable needle. P3, sm, K6

Row 6: K3, P3, sm, K4, P6, K4, P6, K4, sm, P3, K3.

Row 7: K6, sm, P4, S3 to a cable needle and hold at front of work, K3, K3 from cable needle. P4. S3 to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3, K3 from cable needle. P4, sm, K6

Row 8: Repeat Row 6

Row 9: K6, sm, P3, S1 to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3. P1 from cable needle. S3 to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle. P2. S1 to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3. P1 from cable needle. S3 to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle. P3, sm, K6

Row 10: Repeat Row 4

Row 11: K6, sm, P2, S1 to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3. P1 from cable needle. P2. S3 to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle. S1 to a cable needle and hold at back of work, K3. P1 from cable needle. P2, S3 to a cable needle and hold at front of work, P1, K3 from cable needle. P2, sm, K6

Row 12: Repeat Row 2

Row 1 to 12 make up one complete cable pattern. Repeat these 12 rows 7 more times. A total of 8 repeats.

Repeat Row 1 one more time followed by 3 more repeats of these 2 rows:

Row 1 (WS): K3, P3, Place marker, K2, P3, K4, P6, K4, P3, K2, pm, P3, K3. Place marker

Row 2: (RS): K6, shift marker, P2, K3, P4, K6, P4, K3, P2, shift marker, K6. Place marker

Bind off using the Russian Cast Off (knit 2 together through back loop) leaving a long tail sufficient to seam up the sides.

Sewing Up

Fold the knitted piece in half and pin in position.

Seam up the sides neatly. Learn how to seam garter stitch vertical edges with Knit Purl Hunter.

Weave in all the ends.

Lining and blocking are optional.

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Happy knitting!