We’ve all admired cable knitting with its beautiful twisting knit stitches that resemble rope. Learning to cable knit is not as daunting as it may seem. If you can count, knit, purl, and have a little patience with yourself, you too can learn to knit beautiful cables!
What exactly is cable knitting?
At its essence, cable knitting is knitting stitches out of order. Several stitches are removed from the left-hand needle to be held either in front or behind the work. Stitches are worked from the left-hand needle and then the removed stitches are worked to change the order in which you knit them. This makes the stitches look like they are going under or over each other, creating a cable effect. Frequently, cable stitches are surrounded by purl stitches. This makes the cable easier to see and appears to pop out of the garment.
Recommended Tools
When removing the stitches from the left-hand needle it is recommended to put them on a cable needle. Cable needles come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You should pick one that is close in size to the needle you are using. A double-pointed needle could be used as well. I prefer using a cable needle with a bend in it. The shape helps to keep stitches from accidentally falling off and keeps the ends from getting caught while working on the other stitches. Using a cable needle or double-pointed needle is not strictly necessary, but it is highly recommended so that stitches do not get dropped.
Click the button below to watch a video or read on to learn how to knit a 3 x 3 cable.
How to Knit a 3 x 3 Cable
A 3 x 3 Cable is worked over 6 stitches. 3 of the stitches are worked over another 3 stitches to create the cable.
Work the pattern as directed up to the stitches you will be cabling. In our example pattern, this happens in Row 4. To work Row 4, begin by purling 2 stitches. Then slip the next 3 stitches from the left-hand needle to the cable needle (cn) and hold them in front of your work. Knit the next 3 stitches on the left-hand needle. Then knit the 3 stitches from the cn. Alternatively, the stitches on the cn could be placed back on the left-hand needle and then knit. Purl the last two stitches. Then continue working the pattern as directed. That’s it, a cable has been formed!
3 x 3 Cable
Rows 1 and 3 (WS): K2, p6, k2.
Row 2: P2, k6, p2.
Row 4: P2, sl 3 st to cn and hold in front; k3, the k3 from cn, p2
Row 5: Repeat Row 1.
Row 6: Repeat Row 2.
Many beautiful and intricate cable patterns can be knit by varying the number of stitches worked and holding them in front or behind. Cable knitting may look complex, but once it is broken down into its basic steps, it is just uniquely combining knit and purl stitches.
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