How to knit left-leaning cables without a cable needle

How to knit left-leaning cables without a cable needle

In this tutorial we’ll be reviewing a technique to knit left leaning cables without a cable needle. The main advantage of this technique is that it’s faster and more efficient than the traditional method of knitting cables, because you don’t need to pick up that pesky little cable needle whenever you want to cross a cable.

You’ll be needing:

  • Your knitting: yarn + needles
  • A cable pattern containing left leaning cables. In this tutorial I’ll be using a 4 stitch cable

Let’s cable without a cable needle

To make a 2/2LC (4 stitch left leaning cable) you need to follow the next 4 steps:

1) First, insert your right hand needle into the 3rd and 4th stitch on your left hand needle in the back of the stitches, from right to left

2) Then, take the 1st 2 stitches from your left hand needle and pinch them. The next 2 stitches will now be on your right hand needle

3) Next, place the pinched stitches back on your right hand needle. After that, place the 2 unworked stitches from your right hand needle to your left hand needle

4) Finally, knit the next 4 stitches on your right hand needle

Congrats! You have now successfully worked your 2/2LC

Other left-leaning cables

This technique can easily be adapted to other types of left-leaning cables like 1/1LC, 1/1LPC, 1/1TLC, 2/1TLC, etc. Just make sure that you substitute the knit stitches by ktbl or purls when necessary, and slip the right amount of stitches.

Here’s a little overview:

CableInstructions with cable needleInstructions without cable needle
1/1TLCSl1 to CN at front, ktbl1, ktbl1 from CNFirst, stick RHN in back of 2nd st on LHN from right to left. Then, take 1st st from LHN and pinch. After that, shift 2nd st to RHN. Next place pinched st back on LHN and place 1st st from RHN back to LHN. Finally, ktbl2
1/1TLPCSl1 to CN at front, p1, ktbl1 from CNFirst, stick RHN in back of 2nd st on LHN from right to left. Then, take 1st st from LHN and pinch. After that, shift 2nd st to RHN. Next place pinched st back on LHN and place 1st st from RHN back to LHN. Finally, p1, ktbl1
2/1LCSl2 to CN at front, k1, k2 from CNFirst, stick RHN in back of 2nd and 3rd st on LHN from right to left, take 1st st from LHN and pinch. After that, shift 2nd and 3rd st to RHN. Next place pinched st back on LHN and place 1st 2 sts from RHN back to LHN. Finally, k3
2/1LPCSl2 to CN at front, p1, k2 from CNFirst, stick RHN in back of 2nd and 3rd st on LHN from right to left, take 1st st from LHN and pinch. After that, shift 2nd and 3rd st to RHN. Next place pinched st back on LHN and place 1st 2 sts from RHN back to LHN. Finally, p1, k2
2/2LCSl2 to CN at front, k2, k2 from CNFirst, stick RHN in back of 3rd and 4th st on LHN from right to left, take 1st and 2nd st from LHN and pinch. After that, shift 3rd and 4th st to RHN. Next place pinched sts back on LHN and place 1st 2 sts from RHN back to LHN. Finally, k4

Abbreviations:

  • CN: Cable Needle
  • Sl: Slip (as if to purl)
  • K: Knit
  • Ktbl: Knit through back loop
  • P: Purl
  • RHN: Righthand needle
  • LHN: Lefthand needle

Now you can practice your new skill while knitting these designs: GizaGothic Arches, Hyggelig, Walking through a vineyard, and Naga Noda.

Good luck!

Ready for the next step? Try working a 6 stitch cable using this tutorial. You can find an overview of my other tutorials here.

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