Cabling Without a Cable Needle // Technique Tuesday

[@Sequoya]

I went on a road trip last weekend and practiced this technique. It’s more fun to cable this way and I’m halfway through a hat with lots of traveling cables. This was my 5th time knitting this pattern, and I’m so close to a finished product I can feel good about. Thank you Rox!

[@stitchknit72]

Wow, each time you slipped those stitches off into thin air, my whole body tensed up in fight or flight mode! But I sure do see the benefit. I love cables, especially traveling cables, and even more when combined with a lacy stitch pattern for balance. Thank you for all the techniques you share with us.

[@kerryrandall6618]

I feel tense too when stitches are off the needle, Roxy repeats the word 'pinch' I think I will need to say pinch aloud, the first few times I try this technique, to calm myself down.

[@peterzmom]

Right? I think I see a lot of practicing on swatches in my future, and getting the knack of "pinching", also I need to practice my fixing dropped stitches.

[@carolr4871]

You'd be amazed at how well stitches can hang out in mid air (even without pinching) so long as you don't stretch the fabric.

[@elysianfibres1642]

That was perfection, Roxanne. Thank you so much for the content you produce! It's original and inspiring. It's wonderful watching you knit, as well. Thank you!

[@bgummeson]

I can always count on you for clear demonstration of a challenging technique. I’ve been cabling a lot recently, and when doing right-crossing cables without a cable needle I have struggled with managing the loose stitches on the ‘behind’ side, especially with yarn that is a bit slippery. Pinching hasn’t been helping. With your encouragement to experiment, I have discovered what works for me. It does involve one or two extra steps, but I have been more successful if I transfer the stitches for the right-crossing cable from the left to the right needle, scoop the ‘behind‘ stitches onto the left hand needle, then grab the loose ‘front’ stitches with the right needle and transfer them back to the left needle, now ready for knitting. So when I am working a left-crossing cable, I begin by leaving the unworked stitches for the cable on the left needle and do exactly what you suggest, and for a right-crossing cable, I begin by moving the unworked stitches for the cable to the right needle. It eliminates the need to pinch stitches in the back and gives me much better control of the loose stitches at the front. The downside of course is extra steps.

[@bgummeson]

So far I’ve perfected this on only 2x2 ‘XO’ cables, and haven’t tried it on traveling cables.

[@jenniferbuck3467]

This was exactly the tutorial I needed. Simplified everything for me. 😊

[@irenesupica5571]

I knew there was a way to do cables without a cable needle. Watched your video, and did it! Worked like a charm! Thank you!

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Glad it helped!

[@tmyrose7396]

Wow, as a beginner when I came across learning how to cable I didn't have a cable needle so I found several different objects to use, I used a hook that is used to hang small plant containers or even coffee cups, another knitting needle, and even a pencil, just have to very careful your stitches don't come off but this way is even better and simple. Once I have learned a few more things about knitting especially reading patterns I will start making different things. I know one thing I need to do is learn how to hold my yarn. I can use my right and left hand at doing certain things and at times catch myself knitting the left way without even realizing I'm doing it then using my right hand. Roxanne,you are a patience teacher and not fast when showing us how to do things.I've seen a few videos and they go way to fast for us beginners

[@tira903]

Thank you so much....for the first time i managed to really read the cable Chart whithout reading the instructions .....and this method whithout a cable needle is perfect for me....thank you so much

[@TheSuzberry]

I think you are a genius. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Hugs.

[@peterzmom]

That is so neat. Thank you for being so generous with your knowledge. I have not cabled yet, but holding a cable needle looks so cumbersome and not as elegant. LOL, I love knitting because it is so calming to watch a expert knitter. I learned to knit Continental so that is why this technique is so much easier. I am so thrilled to be learning all the tricks first off. Thank you!

[@tmyrose7396]

no hook needed doing this,love it

[@annemcginn1086]

Very useful video, thank you. My issue with using a cable needle is that I spend a whole lot of time looking for the darn thing! I'll be trying your method out immediately, you also helped me figure out the chart thingy.😁

[@Islandflower66]

Omg this is so much easier for me with the C4B and C4F scarf I'm working on. Thank you! Way faster than fumbling with a cable needle for small cables.

[@cynthiayuskaitis6422]

Hello. I know how to k p, cast on, off. I can continental, Norwegian and English. I love the way you teach and describe the topics. I am learning to cable with a written pattern from a vintage book called Complete Afghan Book. Thank you for the great talk.

[@vasanthajanardhan4210]

Thanks for being innovative. Good demo.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Glad you liked it!

[@kukunamalia]

This is BRILLIANT, thank you! Cable rows go so much more quickly now. I find it even easier if my left-hand needle is one size smaller - makes it easier to manipulate the stitches. ^_^

[@carolr4871]

Lovely, clear demo. Thank you. I use the pinch method too. The reasons I prefer not to use a cable needle is that loading the cable needle takes more time and sometimes it falls out (if you don't use the locking kind). I notice you hold your left index finger out from your needle as you knit. I also hold my yarn in my left hand and used to hold my finger out like that, until it started causing tendon pain. Now I relax that finger (slightly bent) and rest it on the needle.

[@coolkumquats]

Thanks for this! I’m trying my first cable project and I don’t have a cable needle. I was making do with a regular third needle, but this technique will be much easier. It was also helpful just to see you knitting the different cable styles! I watched a few tutorials, but you kept it simple and I think I understand the concept better now. I prefer keeping a pattern in my head over trying to follow one on paper, but it means I have to completely understand how the stitches work or it (literally) falls apart!

[@jrunke6776]

Thank you for this detailed tutorial.

[@cris001kay]

that was fantastic! the video and your knitting. thank you so much for sharing your knowledge - it's inspiring. Nice sweater, too!

[@theovalentine2656]

Thank you so much. Very helpful. Gave me exactly what I was looking for.

[@airsawatsawatdang8736]

love you Roxanne. Thank you so much :D

[@watercolordaisy]

So clear. Thank you!

[@MockMessMonster]

This was very helpful! Thank you for sharing!

[@RoxanneRichardson]

You are so welcome!

[@amorestperpe]

I wish I could quit my day job and just come knit with you.

[@monicabuch3827]

Thank you for sharing this awesome tutorial😊

[@isiefranklin7199]

Your guidance is helpful. I am a continental knitter, knitting my stockinette from the back, and in purling, using the opposite wrap direction, a method commonly used by European knitters. Learned to knit from my Austrian Mom --Franzisca. So, do you have a video for cabling without a cabling needle that would be helpful to me? Thanks,

[@yolandemujinga1526]

Thank you very much to let me know how to use cable needle is helpful

[@sandraleyland8748]

At last. Some one who makes sense and isn’t trying to make silly jokes.

[@gnat127]

This was so great! Thank you!

[@elizabethscott3218]

Moving the stitches around on the needles causes my anxiety of dropping stitches to surge. I also felt like I was stretching the stitches more without a cable needle.. But then again, I probably just need to practice.

[@Val-ee4hd]

I saw a video somewhere on youtube showing to knit through the back of a stitch in the TB3 type stitch and then knit the front ones and when they were done and pulled it off the needles it twisted. Wish I could find that one again.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

You can probably find the same or similar technique amongst the various methods shown in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpfMlqCcr6Z8o80

[@thijack]

I use a crochet hook. It works well

[@vuvu9578]

Thank you

[@RoxanneRichardson]

You're welcome

[@sunrhyze]

I'm wondering if you have already addressed the issue of cables just being plain difficult to make, physically. I find it strenuous to make each cable stitch, (especially the right leaning ones), and I know I'm a tight knitter but I can't just magically become a looser knitter and I'm wondering if there's anything I can do. Every cable is like a battle. I've tried cabling without a needle and I'm not intimidated by moving the stitches around, but it doesn't make it physically easier to knit the stitches. I've ordered a few different kinds of cable needles, with high hopes for the thin metal U-shaped one, but if that doesn't work I'm going to be out of ideas.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Without being able to see your knitting, and the result of your cables, it's hard to know for sure what might help you or to know why your sts are tight in general. (Whether it's from unintentional twisting of the sts or how you're managing the yarn as you knit, or how your manipulating the needles.) If you post your question in my Ravelry group (there's a link in the video description), along with a photo (create a project page in your Ravelry notebook and upload a photo), we can see what your fabric looks like and perhaps come up with a diagnosis and some suggestions about what to do.

[@weddinglady38]

what size needles do you use ? And, what PLY wool? I'm Australian. I have one pattern that says cast on 28 sts, for a scarf, that is so so narrow? How many stitches is decent for a good wide scarf?

[@RoxanneRichardson]

28 sts would be narrow if using fingering weight (4-ply) and 3.0mm needles. It would be plenty wide if using bulky weight (12 ply) and 6.5mm needles. Thinner yarns need smaller needles and create tiny stitches. Thicker yarns need larger needles and create large stitches. The number of stitches you need for a scarf of a particular width depends on your gauge (sts/inch). Multiply gauge by the desired width to determine cast on number.

[@excuseme2770]

See I’m much too lazy to use a cable needle… i knew I wasn’t the only one

[@sharonrose1002]

Would love to see demonstrated English style.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

The hand you hold the yarn in to knit sts is irrelevant for this technique. At 4:42, I dropped the yarn, because I didn't want that to distract from what was important: the process used to re-order the sts.

[@sharonrose1002]

@@RoxanneRichardson my eyes are drawn to your continental knitting; I guess I am distracted.

[@enacrt]

I've seen people using toothpicks

[@KS-ts3le]

If your a tight knitter, your taking a big chance of dropping the Stiches , that’s no fun on a cable. Stupid idea!

[@RoxanneRichardson]

The great thing about knitting is that there are always multiple ways of getting to the same end point. If a technique doesn't work for you, that doesn't mean it's stupid. It means that another choice will likely work better *for you.* At the same time, the choice that works best for you will not work well for another knitter.

[@mamaboz]

To much talking...Just show how to do the stitch.

[@sheryltisdale]

Thank you