Technique - Cable Knitting

Learning how to work cable knits opens you up to hundreds of pattern options from classic fisherman sweaters to elaborate aran designs. The method is fairly straightforward and the sort of thing you can add to your skill set once you're very comfortable with knitting and purling.

You will need an extra needle to work a cable pattern - either a specialized cable needle or a double pointed needle that is the same size or a bit smaller than the other needles you're using. This extra needle will always be referred to as "cable needle" in this explanation!

Pass Stitches To The Front
In this example I'm passing 2 stitches to the front of the work - the method is the same with any number of stitches.

1. Knit to the point where you need to pass stitches.

2. Place the stitches to be passed onto the cable needle.

3. Slide the stiches about to the center of the needle so they don't accidentally slip off, and place the cable needle to the front of the work.

4. Knit the number of stitches the number of stitches the pattern calls for, just as you normally would, as though the cable needle isn't there.

5. Slide the stitches to the other end of the cable needle (from where you added them.) Knit the stitches from the cable needle.

6. Continue knitting the rest of your pattern as usual.



Pass Stitches To The Back
In this example I'm passing 2 stitches to the back of the work - the method is the same with any number of stitches. It's a bit easier to see what's happening when passing stitches to the front (as shown above) so practice that first.

1. Knit up to the point where you need to begin passing stitches.

2. Place the stitches to be passed onto the cable needle.

3. Slide the stiches about to the center of the needle so they don't accidentally slip off, and place the cable needle to the back of the work.

4. Knit the number of stitches the number of stitches the pattern calls for, just as you normally would, as though the cable needle isn't there.

5. Slide the stitches to the other end of the cable needle (from where you added them.) Knit the stitches from the cable needle.

6. Continue knitting the rest of your pattern as usual.

Make sure that you:
- don't allow the cable needle to twist
- monitor your tension so that gaps don't form between stitches

That's it! Practice on some swatches before you start working on a real project.