
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.




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!
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
February 14, 2022 @ 2:04 am
Yes, the bracketed size range p3 (5, 3, 5) means that the number of stitches you purl here depends upon the size you’re working. So for the littlest size, you work p3. For the next up, p5, then the next size up p3, and the biggest, p5. We have a tutorial that goes into more detail on how to read multi-size patterns, check it out here: https://blog.tincanknits.com/2020/10/08/reading-multi-size-knitting-pattern-instructions/
February 3, 2022 @ 6:55 am
Gorgeous patterns and wonderful tutorial.
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
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
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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I’m trying to knit a cable 9 BF and I’m confused! Help!
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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?
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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