Menu
How To Cable

How to Cable

Diagram of cable, prior to cable crossing row

Cables in knitting are formed by crossing stitches, and creating a twist in the fabric.  Every cable pattern is basically just a variation on this theme.  This tutorial illustrates how to cable by knitting a very basic 6-stitch cable. As you see below, you will be knitting the leftmost 3 stitches first, then the rightmost 3 stitches, and this re-ordering of the stitches will form the cable crossing.

1. Knit (or purl) along until you reach the cable, then stop.
1. Knit (or purl) along until you reach the 6 stitches that form the cable, then stop.
2. Slip the first 3 stitches of the cable, one at a time, from the left-hand needle onto a cable needle. This cable is a front-cross cable, which twists to the left, and so you will just let the cable needle drop to the front of the work. If you were working a back-cross or right-twisting cable, you would drop your cable needle to the back of the work.
3. Knit the next 3 stitches from the left-hand needle.
3. Knit the next 3 stitches from the left-hand needle.
4. Lastly, knit the 3 stitches that were on hold on the cable needle.
4. Lastly, knit the 3 stitches that were on hold on the cable needle.

Then you’re done, and since you knit the 6 stitches out of order, you created the twisted in the knitted fabric which forms a cable!  Continue knitting as established, and your cable will show more clearly after a few rows.  Typically, you will only do this cable cross maneouver every few rows (for a 6-stitch cable, you will do a cable cross every 6th rows, for a 4-stitch cable, you will do a cable cross every 4th row, etc.)

This cable pattern is used in our free Northward Hat – download a copy today and try out your new cabling skills!

Emily Wessel

Hi! I’m Emily Wessel, I design fun-to-knit patterns and helpful technique tutorials. I live in Edinburgh, Scotland with my husband and two kids, where I like to run, knit, learn languages, and hang out with friends. I am co-founder and designer at Tin Can Knits - www.tincanknits.com

→ Emily Wessel

Related Posts

24 Comments

  1. Rita
    February 13, 2022 @ 9:10 am

    I am learning cable and chose AntlerToque Hat, I am understanding the cable stitch however I am trying to understand reading the pattern. The top have is written and bottom half chart. I usually knit from a written pattern, my question is the set up round is written as
    [k16,p3(5,3,5). is the 5,3,5 the hat size chosen? there and throughout pattern?
    Thank you

  2. Denise
    February 3, 2022 @ 6:55 am

    Gorgeous patterns and wonderful tutorial.

  3. Jeni
    February 3, 2022 @ 6:48 am

    I love ❤️ cables your directions were perfect I have made some gorgeous sweaters all sizes and all different cables I would love to see a sweater for a boy up to 2 years it’s hard to find patterns for boys in baby yarn 🧶 a 2 or 3 weight thank you

  4. Alice Castro
    January 2, 2022 @ 3:27 pm

    I am not sure how to move on in the antler mittens. Can you explain if the hand section for all
    Sizes is a total of 28 rows using the chart for child

    • Emily Wessel
      January 3, 2022 @ 2:20 pm

      This is a bit of a complex question, can you send us an email at tincanknits@gmail.com explaining the pattern and size you’re trying to knit, and specifically what your question is? We handle pattern support questions by email.

  5. Next Stitches | Tin Can Knits
    September 10, 2020 @ 6:00 am

    […] own colourwork yoke, check out our Strange Brew series here. Is it a new technique you desire? Learn to cable here and get started on a Northward hat or an Antler […]

  6. Cable Me Gently : baby booties | Tin Can Knits
    April 2, 2020 @ 2:24 am

    […] Want to knit this pattern, but are a bit intimidated by cables?  We have a great tutorial that will teach you all you need to know HERE. […]

  7. Mary Boone
    January 30, 2020 @ 9:24 am

    I’m trying to knit a cable 9 BF and I’m confused! Help!

    • alexaludeman
      February 4, 2020 @ 12:29 pm

      Hi Mary – Hmmm, have you checked the key and abbreviations section? I’m not familiar with that abbreviation

  8. Quick Hats! | Tin Can Knits
    December 13, 2019 @ 3:24 pm

    […] free pattern and a great introduction to cables if you haven’t tried them yet (and there is a cable tutorial here to help you […]

  9. Sheila
    October 29, 2019 @ 3:48 pm

    I don’t understand what ‘c4bdec’ and ‘c4fdec’ in the “Antler Toque” pattern mean. Are the decreases done in the k2tog and ssk only or are decreases being done within the cable itself?

    • alexaludeman
      October 30, 2019 @ 8:35 pm

      Hi Sheila – the decreases are within the cable itself. Instructions for those sts are in the abbreviations section of the pattern.

  10. knitting: skalbagge cabled hat for babies and toddlers - imagine gnats
    March 7, 2017 @ 10:52 am

    […] intro to cables by Tin Can Knits […]

  11. knitting: skalbagge cabled hat for kids - imagine gnats
    February 20, 2017 @ 2:32 pm

    […] intro to cables by Tin Can Knits […]

  12. knitting: skalbagge cabled hat - imagine gnats
    February 20, 2017 @ 10:17 am

    […] intro to cables by Tin Can Knits […]

  13. Let’s Knit an Antler Toque | Tin Can Knits
    February 9, 2017 @ 12:43 pm

    […] cabled before? No problem! Check out our full cable tutorial here. For the child size, I am working rounds 1-6 of the chart a total of 6 […]

  14. Old Dogs, New Tricks… 2016 is the Year to Learn Something New | Tin Can Knits
    January 19, 2016 @ 6:15 am

    […] you be learning fair-isle, casting on your first cable project, or learning to read a chart?  It doesn’t matter what your own ambition is, we (and the lovely […]

  15. Sea Inspired Socks | Tin Can Knits
    December 15, 2015 @ 12:03 am

    […] Knit Socks’. But maybe you’re looking to expand your skills, learn to read knitting charts, or learning to cable? We’ve got these tutorials, and an extensive list of resources on our HELP! […]

  16. On the first day of Christmas, Tin Can Knits gave to me… | Tin Can Knits
    December 14, 2015 @ 12:01 am

    […] Gauge: 18 sts & 24 rounds / 4” in stockinette stitch on larger needles Helpful Tutorials: how to cable, let’s knit a […]

  17. Focus on FREE | Tin Can Knits
    July 2, 2015 @ 5:50 am

    […] Cables aren’t as hard as you think.  As the game of thrones enthusiasts love to say: “Winter Is Coming” (of course it does every year), so cast on for a cushy cabled hat today!  If it’s your first time, check out our tutorial on how to cable. […]

  18. Northward – a free cable hat pattern! | Tin Can Knits
    June 30, 2015 @ 10:21 am

    […] cables aren’t that much more difficult than your standard knit and purl.  We’ve got a step-by-step tutorial here, so just download Northward and cast on […]

  19. How to Knit Lace – an introduction to lace knitting | Tin Can Knits
    June 23, 2015 @ 12:01 am

    […] of instructions which results in a lacy knitted fabric.  Just like other types of stitch patterns (cables, textures), a lace stitch pattern will have a stitch repeat (how many stitches wide is the pattern […]

  20. Knitting Apple Pie | Tin Can Knits
    October 2, 2014 @ 10:56 am

    […] you haven’t cabled before check out our in-depth tutorial on cabling here. Here is how you cable over […]

Discover more from tin can knits

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading