Cables are created by using special cable needles to cross knit stitches in opposite directions. This process creates knitted structures that mimic knotwork and braids on the surface of the fabric. They are most commonly found on sweaters and kilt socks. Although they are one of the most visually interesting knit formations, beginners often find them intimidating. This tutorial teaches you how to knit a cable stitch with ease as well as how to work with a closely related structure called the twist.

Despite the visual complexity of cables, they usually are simple to create. It is helpful if you are experienced with making the basic stitches such as the knit and purl stitch. You need the following supplies to practice the sample cables and twists: size 8 knitting needles, set of cable needles, yarn needle and a ball of worsted weight yarn. It only takes a few minutes to create any one of the stitch definitions.The sample pattern takes 15 to 30 minutes to finish for the average knitter.

This how to article covers the basic stitches needed to make cables and twists as well as how to form various types. For those that have not worked with cables before, remember that when you slip stitches from your left needle to the cable needle that it is a direct transfer. Just slide the loops on to the cable needle then let them hang in front or back depending on the type.

• Cable Cast On:

1. Form a slip knot by making a loop in your left hand. Hold the tail of the working yarn under the loop. Push the needle through the loop and under the tail. Pull it back through. Tug the stitch tight. Leave a 6 inch tail.
2. Insert the second needle through the loop on the left needle. Yarn over and create a knit stitch.
3. Slip the loop from the right needle on to the left one.
4. Stick the right needle into the center of the two loops on the left needle.
5. Wrap the yarn over then pull up a loop.
6. Transfer the new loop on to the left knitting needle.

• Knit Stitch:

1. Place the yarn behind the knitting needles.
2. Starting with the right needle on the left side of the first loop, drag it down and behind through the loop on the left knitting needle. Now, the right needle is behind the left one.
3. Yarn over the right needle and slide the needle up taking up a new loop on the right needle.
4. Push off the old loop from the left knitting needle by dragging the right needle to the right.

• Purl Stitch:

1. Place the working yarn in front of the needles.
2. Starting with the right needle on the right side of the first loop, insert the right needle from right to left through the loop on the left needle. The right needle is in front of the left one.
3. Yarn over the right needle. Push the needle down and behind bringing up a new loop on the right needle.
4. Push off the old loop from the left needle.

• Long Tail Cast Off:

1. Make 2 normal knit stitches into the next two loops on the left needle.
2. Insert the left needle into the second loop on the right one.
3. Hook it up and pull it down over the first loop and off the right needle. There is only one loop left on the right needle.
4. Knit the next stitch.
5. Repeat the above steps 2 through 6 until you finish the row. Pull a 6 inch length of yarn through the last loop. Cut it and weave in the ends.

• Note: You can also use purl stitches instead of knit ones.

• Weaving in Ends:

Weave in the tail with the yarn needle by taking the yarn in and out of the purl bumps on the wrong side of the fabric.

• C2F (Cable 2 Front): Using the cable needle, slip the next stitch onto it and hang in front. Knit the next stitch on the left needle. Then, knit the stitch from the cable needle.

• C2B (Cable 2 Back): Using the cable needle, slip the next stitch onto it and hang in back. Knit the next stitch on the left needle. Then, knit the stitch from the cable needle.

• C3F (Cable 3 Front): Using the cable needle, slip the next two stitches onto it and hang in front. Knit the next stitch on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• C3B (Cable 3 Back): Using the cable needle, slip the next stitch onto it and hang in back. Knit the next two stitches on the left needle. Then, knit the stitch from the cable needle.

• C3L (Cable 3 Left): Using the cable needle, slip the next stitch onto it and hang in front. Knit the next two stitches on the left needle. Then, knit the stitch from the cable needle.

• C3R (Cable 3 right): Using the cable needle, slip the next two stitches onto it and hang in back. Knit the next stitch on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• C4F (Cable 4 Front): Using the cable needle, slip the next two stitches onto it and hang in front. Knit the next two stitches on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• C4B (Cable 4 Back): Using the cable needle, slip the next two stitches onto it and hang in back. Knit the next two stitches on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• C4L (Cable 4 Left): Using the cable needle, slip the next 3 stitches onto it and hang in front. Knit the next stitch on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• C4R (Cable 4 right): Using the cable needle, slip the next stitch onto it and hang in back. Knit the next 3 stitches on the left needle. Then, knit the stitch from the cable needle.

• C5F (Cable 5 Front): Using the cable needle, slip the next 2 stitches onto it and hang in front. Knit the next 3 stitches on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• C5B (Cable 5 Back): Using the cable needle, slip the next 3 stitches onto it and hang in back. Knit the next 2 stitches on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• C5L (Cable 5 Left): Using the cable needle, slip the next 3 stitches onto it and hang in front. Knit the next 2 stitches on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• C5R (Cable 5 right): Using the cable needle, slip the next 2 stitches onto it and hang in behind. Knit the next 3 stitches on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• C6F (Cable 6 Front): Using the cable needle, slip the next 3 stitches onto it and hang in front. Knit the next 3 stitches on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• C6B (Cable 6 Back): Using the cable needle, slip the next 3 stitches onto it and hang in back. Knit the next 3 stitches on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• T2F (Twist 2 Front): Using the cable needle, slip the next stitch onto it and hang in front. Purl the next stitch on the left needle. Then, knit the stitch from the cable needle.

• T2B (Twist 2 Back): Using the cable needle, slip the next stitch onto it and hang in back. Knit the next stitch on the left needle. Then, purl the stitch from the cable needle.

• T3F (Twist 3 Front): Using the cable needle, slip the next two stitches onto it and hang in front. Purl the next stitch on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• T3B (Twist 3 Back): Using the cable needle, slip the next stitch onto it and hang in back. Knit the next two stitches on the left needle. Then, purl the stitch from the cable needle.

• T3L (Twist 3 Left): Using the cable needle, slip the next stitch onto it and hang in front. Purl the next two stitches on the left needle. Then, knit the stitch from the cable needle.

• T3R (Twist 3 right): Using the cable needle, slip the next two stitches onto it and hang in back. Knit the next stitch on the left needle. Then, purl the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• T4F (Twist 4 Front): Using the cable needle, slip the next two stitches onto it and hang in front. Purl the next two stitches on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• T4B (Twist 4 Back): Using the cable needle, slip the next two stitches onto it and hang in back. Knit the next two stitches on the left needle. Then, purl the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• T4L (Twist 4 Left): Using the cable needle, slip the next 3 stitches onto it and hang in front. Purl the next stitch on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• T4R (Twist 4 right): Using the cable needle, slip the next stitch onto it and hang in back. Knit the next 3 stitches on the left needle. Then, purl the stitch from the cable needle.

• T5F (Twist 5 Front): Using the cable needle, slip the next 2 stitches onto it and hang in front. Purl the next 3 stitches on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• T5B (Twist 5 Back): Using the cable needle, slip the next 3 stitches onto it and hang in back. Knit the next 2 stitches on the left needle. Then, purl the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• T5L (Twist 5 Left): Using the cable needle, slip the next 3 stitches onto it and hang in front. Purl the next 2 stitches on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• T5R (Twist 5 right): Using the cable needle, slip the next 2 stitches onto it and hang in behind. Knit the next 3 stitches on the left needle. Then, purl the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• T6F (Twist 6 Front): Using the cable needle, slip the next 3 stitches onto it and hang in front. Knit the next 3 stitches on the left needle. Then, purl the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• T6B (Twist 6 Back): Using the cable needle, slip the next 3 stitches onto it and hang in back. Purl the next 3 stitches on the left needle. Then, knit the stitches from the cable needle individually.

• Sample Pattern:
• Cast on 10 stitches.
• Round 1: Knit 2, purl 2, cable 2 back, purl 2 then knit 2.
• Round 2: Purl 2, knit 2, purl 2, knit 2 then purl 2.
• Round 3: Knit 2, purl 1, twist 2 back, twist 2 front, purl 1 then knit 2.
• Round 4: Purl 2, knit 1, purl 1, knit 2, purl 1, knit 1 then purl 2.
• Round 5: Knit 2, purl 1, knit 1, purl 2, knit 1, purl 1 then knit 2.
• Round 6: Purl 2, knit 1, purl 1, knit 2, purl 1, knit 1 then purl 2.
• Round 7: Knit 2, purl 1, twist 2 front, twist 2 back, purl 1 then knit 2.
• Round 8: Purl 2, knit 2, purl 2, knit 2 then purl 2.
• Repeat rows 1 through 8.