Cables aren't hard!
They look complicated, but you're really just knitting the stitches out of order. It's just knitting, with a twist.
This tutorial goes over Right and Left 2/2 Cables, but the same techniques can be used for larger cables as well. A 2/2 Cable uses 4 stitches total, 2 are slipped onto a Cable Needle (CN) and held to the front or the back (depending on which direction the cable is going) while you work the next 2 stitches. The 2 held stitches are then worked either from the CN or they are slipped onto the left knitting needle and then worked. (See, we used a total of 4 stitches.) To make a 5/5 Cable, you would be using a total of 10 stitches with this same technique. Just follow what your pattern tells you and you'll be fine.
Supplies Needed:
Yarn
Appropriately Sized Knitting Needles
Cable Needle
Swatching Prep:
Cast On a handful of stitches and knit a few rows in Stockinette Stitch
Featured Yarn in this Tutorial:
Alpacas at Willowbrook 100% alpaca Sport weight 2-ply
LEFT LEANING 2/2 CABLE (2/2 LC):
Step 1. Slip the next 2 stitches to your Cable Needle and hold it to the front of your work.
Step 2. Knit the next 2 stitches from the Left Needle as you normally would, leaving your Cable Needle dangling in front.
Step 3. Slip the 2 stitches from your Cable Needle back onto your Left Needle. This will remove the Cable Needle completely from your work.
Step 4. Knit the 2 stitches that were just slipped onto the Left Needle as you normally would.
Repeat steps 1-4 for each 2/2 LC (Left Cross).
RIGHT LEANING 2/2 CABLE (2/2 RC):
Step 1. Slip the next 2 stitches to your Cable Needle and hold it to the back of your work.
Step 2. Knit the next 2 stitches from the Left Needle as you normally would, leaving your Cable Needle dangling in back.
Step 3. Slip the 2 stitches from your Cable Needle back onto your Left Needle. This will remove the Cable Needle completely from your work.
Step 4. Knit the 2 stitches that were just slipped onto the Left Needle as you normally would.
Repeat steps 1-4 for each 2/2 RC (Right Cross).
Try It Out!
It's best to put a new technique into practice right away so that you can remember it in the future. Here are some of my patterns that use this technique.
