In the directions for the cable swatches on level 2, it says to do reverse stockinette or garter stitch "between cables." I am doing a honeycomb pattern for one of my swatches. Is it OK to do the garter stitch just before and after the start of my 2 8-stitch repeats, or do I really have to do it before and after EACH 8-stitch repeat. This would completely disrupt the pattern but I know from level 1 that we are expected to follow directions exactly.

The reverse stockinette goes between the multiples, not the repeats.

The honeycomb design is an allover pattern that looks best with many multiples without intervening reverse stockinette.

But directions are directions. KISS.

Although a cable pattern I don't think that the honeycomb stitch pattern is usually thought of as a cable stitch pattern in the same way as patterns such as the horseshoe or braid. I would not suggest using the honeycomb for a cable stitch swatch but if you really want to use this pattern, I would ask the committee if it would be acceptable.