A cable is made by knitting stitches out of order: some are held on a cable needle while you knit the next ones, so the columns cross. This 6-stitch rope cable crosses every 8 rows and sits between 2 purl stitches, which make it pop.
| Stitch count | Flat: multiple of 8 + 2. In the round: multiple of 8 |
|---|---|
| Level | Intermediate |
| Curls at the edges | No (the purl background keeps it flat) |
| Reversible | No |
| Yarn use | About 25–30% more than stockinette |
| Good for | Hats, scarves, cushion covers and aran sweaters. |
How to knit simple cable flat
- C6F (cable 6 front): slip 3 stitches to a cable needle and hold in front, k3, then k3 from the cable needle.
- Rows 1, 5 and 7 (right side): p2, *k6, p2; repeat from * to end.
- Row 3 (right side): p2, *C6F, p2; repeat from * to end.
- Rows 2, 4, 6 and 8 (wrong side): k2, *p6, k2; repeat from * to end.
- Repeat rows 1–8.
How to knit simple cable in the round
- Rounds 1, 2 and 4–8: *p2, k6; repeat from * to end.
- Round 3: *p2, C6F; repeat from * to end.
- Repeat rounds 1–8.
Chart
Tips
- Cables pull the fabric in, so a cabled piece needs more stitches than plain stockinette for the same width.
- Holding the cable needle in front makes the cable lean left; in back (C6B), it leans right.
- No cable needle? A spare double-pointed needle or even a pencil works.