How to Knit a Cable With Bobbles

The cable with bobbles is a very striking and elegant design bordered on both sides by a background of reverse stockinette stitch. It requires a knowledge of how to do knit-and-purl stitches and make a bobble, as well as how to twist and cable stitches to the front and back to create a beautiful cable with bobbles in the middle. Instructions on how to do some stitches will be included; however, a basic knowledge of how to cable and make a bobble would be useful. For those who love cabling, or who simply love a little challenge, this is a great stitch.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Yarn
• Knitting needles
• Cable needle

1. Choose the yarn you want to work with and needles that match the weight of your yarn. (See the yarn packaging for needle size suggestions.)

2. Begin the work. This particular design is a panel of nine stitches knit on a reverse stockinette stitch background. Cast on nine stitches plus the number of stitches you want on both sides of the design. For example, if you want a panel of 29 stitches total, then you would have 10 stitches on either side of your 29-stitch cable pattern.

3. Create the cable and bobble pattern as follows:Row 1: Purl until you reach the nine stitches that make up the center, purl 2, twist 5 right, purl 2, continue purling to the end of the row.Row 2: Knit until you reach the nine stitches that make up the center, knit 2, purl 2, knit 1, purl 2, knit 2, continue knitting to the end of the row.Row 3: Purl until you reach the nine stitches that make up the center, purl 1, twist 3 back, purl 1, twist 3 front, purl 1, continue purling to the end of the row.Row 4: Knit until you reach the nine stitches that make up the center, knit 1, purl 2, knit 3, purl 2, knit 1, continue knitting to the end of the row.Row 5: Purl until you reach the nine stitches that make up the center, twist 3 back, purl 3, twist 3 front, continue purling to the end of the row.Row 6: Knit until you reach the nine stitches that make up the center, purl 2, knit 5, purl 2, continue knitting to the end of the row.Row 7: Purl until you reach the nine stitches that make up the center, knit 2, purl 2, make bobble (see tips), purl 2, knit 2, continue purling to the end of the row.Row 8: Repeat row 6.Row 9: Purl until you reach the nine stitches that make up the center, twist 3 front, purl 3, twist 3 back, continue purling to the end of the row.Row 10: Repeat row 4.Row 11: Purl until you reach the nine stitches that make up the center, purl 1, twist 3 front, purl 1, twist 3 back, purl 1, continue purling to the end of the row.Row 12: Repeat row 2.

4. Repeat these 12 rows until your piece reaches the desired length.

5. Bind off, preferably using the basic bind-off.

Tips & Warnings

• Twist 5 Right: Slip next two stitches onto cable needle and hold at back of work, knit next three stitches from left-hand needle, then purl stitches from cable needle.
• Twist 3 back: Slip next stitch onto cable needle and hold at back of work, knit next two stitches from left-hand needle, then purl stitch from cable needle.
• Twist 3 front: Slip next 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold at front of work, purl next stitch from left-hand needle, then knit stitches from cable needle
• Make bobble: (Note: There are many ways to make a bobble so feel free to substitute another method if you know one) Knit 1 - purl 1 - knit 1 - purl 1 all into the next stitch, pass 2nd then 3rd and 4th stitches over first stitch and off needle (bobble completed).