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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

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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.

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  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

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  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?

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      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.

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