Cable Stitch

cable stitch

Also Known As

  • Cross over stitch
The cable stitch is another type of crossed stitch. Instead of two adjacent stitches switches places, two groups of stitches switch places. Generally, cables are symmetrical but you will see asymmetrical ones. Cable stitches differ from each other by the number of stitches in the width, the number of rows between crossings, and the number of background stitches between crossings. Cable stitches also can decrease the width of the fabric by up to 1/3 of Stockinette stitch.

There are limitations on the knitting board with cable stitches. Large cables (greater than 6-stitch width) are difficult to do. Some loomers choose to setup the row ahead of time with an elongated stitch which will work but it is not considered appropriate by needle knitting standards because the stitch is too loose. How you choose to work cables is an individual choice. Because some loom knitters are entering their fabric into judging contests, only the needle knitting standard way is presented below.

Directions
Video

See crossed stitches to determine which group of stitches is front and which is back in the cable stitch.

  1. Move the wraps that will be front onto a cable needle or stitch holder.

  2. Move the wraps that will be on bottom over to the empty pegs in the same order they are currently.
    You may have to step each wrap over peg by peg depending on how tightly you wrap.
  3. Place the wraps you are holding on the cable needle or stitch holder onto the now empty pegs in the same order that they were originally.
    You may have to step each wrap on and more over peg by peg depending on how tightly you wrap.
  4. Wrap and knit off the row as usual.