Knitting Directions for Cable Stitches
Sometimes referred to as fishermen sweaters, Aran sweaters originated on the Aran Islands of Ireland in the early twentieth century. Raised intricate stitches, like the cable stitch, are trademarks of these sweaters and are tied to the various Irish clans. Each stitch in an Aran sweater pattern has a specific meaning. The simple cable stitch depicts a fisherman's ropes and the hope of a successful day of fishing. Whether or not you have any interest in fishing, the cable stitch is simple to learn and adds texture and beauty to your knitting projects.
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Instructions
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1
Cast on 24 stitches. Knit one row, purl one row, and repeat (four rows total).
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2
Knit eight stitches. Slip the next four stitches onto the cable needle and place behind your work out of the way. When you put the cable needle to the back, you are making a right cable, which means that as you look at the cable, the right side appears to go behind the left.
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3
Knit the next four stitches. Bring the cable needle forward and knit the four stitches from the cable needle. You have completed one eight-stitch cable. Knit to the end of the row. Purl the next row.
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4
Knit one row, purl one row and repeat until you want to make the next cable stitch. Repeat steps 2 and 3.
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5
Knit one row, purl one row and repeat (four rows total). You have completed a two-twist cable.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you would like to make a left cable, bring the cable needle to the front of your work rather than to the back as described in step 2.
Cable stitches are always worked across an even number of stitches. Try a four-, six- or ten-stitch cable.
Fewer rows between cable stitches gives a tightly twisted look, while many rows between cables gives a loosely twisted look.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Factory fabric with elements of decorative knitting image by Luckybargee27 from Fotolia.com
