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How To Knit A Simple Cable

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Hi my friends!

Today I’d like to share with you how to knit a simple cable. I wrote this post several months ago for I Like Knitting Magazine’s blog and thought that some of you may find it useful.  Cables were always intimidating to me until I finally tried them out and realized how easy they are to complete. Cables are classic, yet they have also become oh so very trendy! You can find them on everything from knitwear to blankets.  I especially enjoyed making them on my Endless Cables Knit Blanket!

Endless Cables Super Chunky Throw
Endless Cables Super Chunky Throw Pattern – See how cables are so fun and pretty?! This blanket is made with very simple cables.

The knit cable that I will show you today is a simple 8 stitch left twist cable. By simply using knit and purl stitches, and learning how to make a cable row, you can enjoy making patterns with cables.

You will need:

Yarn (I’ve used Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick Super Bulky)
Knitting Needles (I’ve used US Size 15 Knitting Needles)
Cable Needle (you can see it pictured below)

How to Make a Simple 8 Stitch Cable:

**You can see how to do it with this picture tutorial, but you can also found the written pattern below.

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I’ve knit cast on 12 stitches. I will work a few rows (as seen in the pattern below) and then do my cable row.
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I’ve placed my stitch markers 2 stitches in, with 8 stitches inside the place markers (these 8 stitches will make up my cable).

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Knitting my next row, I will now prepare to make my cable row as I’ve reached my stitch marker.

Slide off the first four stitches of the cable section onto the cable needle.

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With the four stitches held in front on the cable needle, knit the following four from your knitting needle just as you normally would.

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Now slide the stitches from your cable needle back onto your knitting needle. (Some people knit them right off of the cable needle. That’s fine too!)

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Now knit those four stitches just as normal off of your needle.

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Finish your row. Congrats, you’ve finished your cable row! The rest is easy.

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Continue the pattern. This one has 9 rows of stockinette between each cable row.

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Make another cable row as the pattern calls for. You can see that you’re forming a beautiful cable! It’s that simple!

Abbreviations:
K – knit
P – purl
4/4 LC – this means the left stitch cable. Slide 4 stitches onto cable needle, hold in front, and knit the next four off of your knitting needle, then knit four off of your cable needle or slide them back onto original needle to knit from there.
Pattern for this 8 Stitch Cable with Left Twist:
Knit cast on 12 stitches
Row 1 Knit across (Place stitch markers two stitches in on both sides)
Row 2 K2, p8, k2
Row 3 & 4 Repeat rows 1 & 2
Row 5 K2, 4/4 LC, k2
Row 6 K2, p8, k2
Row 7 Knit across row
Row 8 & 9 Repeat row 6 & 7
Row 10 & 11 Repeat row 6 & 7
Row 12 & 13 Repeat row 6 & 7
Row 14 Repeat row 6
Row 15 K2, 4/4 LC, k2
Repeat rows 6 -15 as many times as you’d like to make your cable longer.

Cables look complex, but they are quite easy, don’t you think? I hope that you can enjoy making cables in some of your knitting projects!

Feel free to share your projects with me on my Facebook page or tag me on Instagram @mamainastitch!

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17 Comments

  1. Hello Jessica ! Hope all is well with you to . I am going to have to try this pattern soon like you cables intimidated me to gut you make this look easy.Right now i am working on some other things and making some jewerly projects to .Started making gifts for Christmas Have to start early I got four grown children and eight grand children in the eight grands there is two set of twins that my older son has. So i am very busy and this past weekend my youngest to children had there birthdays one oct 15 the other oct 17 you little one is sooo pretty your very blessed Five is a wonder full age so full of learning I bet she loved her birthday party that what life about well i hope all is well you have a great week

    1. Hi dear Cindy!

      I love to hear about your family and how lucky they are to have you in their life! Your jewelry projects are surely gorgeous. How funny that your children’s birthdays were nearly the same as my daugther’s birthday. And yes, she did indeed love her birthday party. She was talking about in months ahead of time. Ha ha! Thanks for writing your sweet note Cindy. Have a great week yourself!

  2. Jessica thanks a lot for the cable tutorial, I will try this because I have never be able to do it, thank you for all the lovely knitting partners I don’t know how to crochet. Again I am in Colorado Springs and I will love for us to get in touch. thank you for everything …

    1. Hi Febe! Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know that you’ve enjoyed the patterns! Isn’t this a pretty place that we live?! I really love it here. How about you? And of course, you’re welcome for the patterns!

  3. Thank you Jessica, for all your encouragement! I’m eager to give this a try, just because you make it look super easy. There’s something gratifying when learning something new. I’m allready giving myself a pat on the back for wanting to learn. Keep up the great work!

    1. Hi Loraine! I’m so glad that you think this cable looks doable for you! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and let me know!

  4. Thank you, Jessica, for this great tutorial. I am a crocheter and new to knitting but always wondered how this is done. You’ve given me the motivation to do this. Your explanation is simple and great. Thanks.

    Love your instagram feed. Thanks so much for the Follow .

    1. Hi Cheryl! I love Instagram and I’m so glad to see you there. I’m happy that you find this clear enough that you think you could try it out. Makes me happy. Have a great weekend!

  5. Thank you for this great tutorial Jessica.

    I’m an avid seamstress/clothing designer that has fiddled with yarn in the past… mainly crochet when my 21yr old was a baby. Recently I started craving a yarn project and chose to embark on knitting a ribbed cowl in the round. (My first actual knitting project, I’m so excited!) I’ve always been smitten by cable knit and now can’t wait to create something with this new knowledge.

    I’m assuming that doing less than 9 stockinette rows between the cable rows will give me a shorter looking cable. In other words, not so elongated? I’ll play around with it but do you have any suggestions on how many rows between… 6?

    Thanks again for sharing this tutorial.

    1. Hi Christie! Thanks for taking the time to comment! Congrats on your ribbed cowl as well! You can certainly play around with the number of rows in between. I think this cable may look more elongated than it does in real life though, so I’d start by just trying a row or two fewer. Have fun!

  6. I tried this, and it was so easy. I am already going to incorporate the cable stitch into a scarf, for which I just purchased yarn!

  7. Hi
    Just loved your pattern for Easy Winding Cables wrap …. but it has cables! I’ve just gone through this tutorial to get a feel for cables and think I may be able to tackle the wrap. Thought of making the cable strips then sewing them together to make a throw using a double knit cotton/silk mix yarn? I’ve been doing a lot of crotchet the past few years so this will be a good change.
    I live in Johannesburg, South Africa, so we are heading into winter now. Best season to do blanket projects because they keep you warm as you work. 🙂

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