Cable Knitting 101
What Is Cable Knitting?
Cable knitting is a textured technique that produces twisted columns or braids by crossing groups of stitches. You slip a number of stitches onto a cable needle (or hold them in front/back), work the next stitches from your holding needle, then return and work the held stitches. The order and direction of those crosses determine whether the cable leans right or left.
A note for our Left Handed friends: Left-handed mirror knitters always create a mirror image of what right-handed knitters make. That means when you work a 2/3 Left Cable Cross, for example, your cable will actually lean right—and that’s exactly as it should. You don’t need to swap directions anywhere: just proceed with your left-cable crosses leaning right and your right-cable crosses leaning left.
The Basic Cable Technique
Slip to Cable Needle: Transfer the specified number of stitches onto your cable needle.
Position the Cable Needle:
Right-leaning (Right Cross, RC): Hold the cable needle to the back of your work.
Left-leaning (Left Cross, LC): Hold it to the front.
Work from Holding Needle: Knit (or purl) the next stitches from your holding needle.
Work from Cable Needle: Then knit (or purl) the stitches from the cable needle.
Knit-Only Cable Examples
1/1 Right Cross (1/1 RC)
How to:
Slip 1 stitch onto your cable needle; hold to back (RC) or front (LC).
Knit 1 stitch from your holding needle.
Knit the slipped stitch from the cable needle.
2/2 Right Cross (2/2 RC)
How to:
Slip 2 stitches onto your cable needle; hold to back (RC) or front (LC).
Knit the next 2 stitches from your holding needle.
Knit the 2 slipped stitches from the cable needle.
2/3 Right Cross (2/3 RC)
How to:
Slip 2 stitches onto your cable needle; hold to back.
Knit the next 3 stitches from your holding needle.
Knit the 3 slipped stitches from the cable needle.
Cables Involving Purl Stitches
2/1 Left Purl Cross (2/1 LPC)
How to:
Slip 2 stitches onto your cable needle; hold front.
Purl 1 stitch from your holding needle.
Knit the 2 slipped stitches from the cable needle.
2/1 Right Purl Cross (2/1 RPC)
How to:
Slip 1 stitch onto your cable needle; hold back.
Knit the next 2 stitches from your holding needle.
Purl the slipped stitch from the cable needle.
Cable Without a Cable Needle
You can work cable crosses using only your holding needle—no cable needle required. This speeds up your knitting and keeps your tools to a minimum. The basic steps are:
Slip the required number of stitches onto the tip of your holding needle without knitting them.
Use the tip of your holding needle to lift one group of slipped stitches over the other group, forming the cross right in place.
Knit or purl all stitches in the order indicated by your pattern to complete the cable.
1/1 Right Cross (No Cable Needle)
How to:
Slip 1 stitch onto the holding needle.
Knit the next stitch from your working needle.
Knit the slipped stitch from the holding needle.
2/2 Cross (No Cable Needle)
How to:
Slip 2 stitches onto the holding needle.
Knit the next 2 stitches from your working needle.
Knit the 2 slipped stitches from the holding needle.
2/3 Left Cross (No Cable Needle)
How to:
Slip 3 stitches onto the holding needle.
Lift the next 2 stitches on your working needle and cross them in front of the 3.
Knit all 5 stitches in order.
How to Fix Cable Mistakes
Before frogging back, try these detailed steps:
Spot the Error Row: Identify where the twist went wrong.
Ladder Down:
Thread a lifeline or spare needle through all live stitches.
Carefully drop the stitches above the problem row so a ladder forms.
Untwist & Re-Cross:
Pull apart the ladder at the error row.
Use a crochet hook or cable needle to re-cross the stitches correctly (RC vs. LC).
Ladder Up:
Re-thread each dropped stitch onto your needles in order, ensuring the new twist holds.
Tension Check: Gently tug your fabric to even out the cable’s tension before continuing.
Ready to cable like a pro? May we recommend the Willow Hat & Headband, available exclusively in Knitrino for iOS and Android devices. To get this project, open Knitrino or click the button below from your phone. 📱 New to Knitrino? Scan the QR code with your phone.
