1 Chapter -7 Creating Cables by Toolika Gupta

Chapter -7 Create Cables

Now that we are done with our basic knitting and have mastered the art of creating simple

knits, we need to move on, and acquire the skill of creating cables. Trust me, it is very easy.

Once you learn this manipulation of stitches, the world is in your hands. You can create

almost anything.

Figure 1 CABLES

Cables are formed by crossing over of stitches. When knitting in a row, if we reserve 2, 3 or 4

stitches by holding on to a cable needle and first knit the next few stitches before going back

to the reserved stitches, we form cables. The cable needles are short double pointed needles

(please refer to Chapter -3). All the cables follow this basic technique. Creativity lies in

manipulation of this technique. Some basic rules:

1. Cables usually involve even number of stitches.

2. Some cables are right handed and some are left handed, alternatively known as Front

or Back Cables.

3. 6FC – denotes that 6 stitches are involved in creating this cable and that the cable

needle is held in front while knitting.

4. 8BC – denotes that 8 stitches are involved in creating this cable and that the cable

needle is held at the back while knitting.

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5. Usually cables are done on a purl stitch background so that the cables stand out more

clearly.

Figure 2 Cable needle holding 3 stitches to the front

Cable -1 Front Cable with 6 Stitches:

Instructions:

1. Cast on 24 stitches or any number with a multiple of 10 and add 4 to it.

2. Row 1- P4,* K6, P4, repeat from *

3. Row 2 – K4,*P6,K4, repeat from *

4. Row 3 – P4, *slip 3 stitches on to the cable needle (see fig.2), and let it

hang in the front of the work, Knit the next 3 stitches, now Knit the three

stitches on the cable needle (6CF),P4, repeat from *

5. Row 4 – Same as Row 2

6. Row 5 – Same as Row 1

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7. Row 6 – Same as Row 2

8. Row 7 – Same as Row 1

9. Row 8 – Same as Row 2

10. These 8 rows form a repeat, with the cable formation happening at Row 3

11. Knit rows in multiples of 8.

12. Cast Off.

Notes:

1. Cable formation is happening at Row 3. 3 stitches are being crossed over

3 stitches, so it is a 6 stitch cable.

2. Pay attention while knitting and count the number of rows.

3. It is important to be careful and keep count.

4. A purl background raises the cable stitch formation. Thus here we have 4

purl stitches between two cables, and we end with 4 purl stitches as well.

5. You can keep the cable needle at the back as well and it will give another

variation.

Figure 3 A 6F Cable

Notice in the figure above that a purl background makes the cables stand out.

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Figure 4 A variation - Cable with Rib

Notice in the figure above that it is a variation of cable with Rib stitch in between the two cables. Yet,

the stitch next to cable stitches is purl, again to highlight the cable.

Now that you know how to create cable, the variations are endless.