Cabling Without a Cable Needle

I used to think cabling was an obnoxiously slow process, and I could never find the darn cable needle when I needed one. Then I discovered that I don’t actually need one, and my knitting life was changed forever. Cabling is one of my favorite knitting techniques, and since I’ve been on a serious cabling kick lately, I figure I’ll share the magic. Here are two simple cables you can make without a needle:

Right Leaning 4-Stitch Cables

Step 1

Skipping over the first 2 stitches in your cable, insert the right needle into the front of the 3rd and 4th stitches as if to purl.

Step 2

This is the heart-stopping part, at least the first couple times you do it. Pinch your first 2 stitches tightly, then pull the left needle out of all 4 stitches. As long as you’ve got a good pinch, I promise your stitches will not unravel.

Step 3

Slip the 2 pinched stitches back onto the left needle as if to knit.

Step 4

Slip the other 2 stitches back onto the left needle (also as if to knit), then knit all 4 as normal.

Left Leaning 4-Stitch Cables

Step 1

Skipping over the first 2 stitches in the cable, insert the needle into the back of the 3rd and 4th stitches as if to purl.

Step 2

Pinch the stitches tightly and (gulp!) pull the left needle out of all 4 of them.

Step 3

Slip the pinched stitches back onto the left needle as if to knit.

Step 4

Slip the remaining 2 stitches back onto the left needle (also as if to knit) and knit all 4 as normal.

Et voilà! Cable needle, thou art obsolete. 😉

Need a project to practice on? Try my Crush.