How To: Cable Without a Cable Needle | Brooklyn Tweed

Drop your tools and expand your capabilities by learning how to cable without a cable needle! We show you how to work both right and left-leaning cables with only your knitting needles.
2:14 - Right Leaning Cable
4:00 - Left Leaning Cable
Featured yarn: Arbor (Vintner)
Shop yarn: brooklyntweed....
See our How-To playlist for more technique videos: bit.ly/3ipXq4g
Visit our Resources page for more knitting tips: brooklyntweed....
If you found this tutorial helpful, we’d love your support! Shop our breed-specific American wool yarns & thoughtfully designed patterns at BrooklynTweed.com.
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At Brooklyn Tweed we are passionate about wool, knitting and design.
We develop and manufacture breed-specific wool yarns that support domestic textile production. This means designing, sourcing, dyeing and spinning our yarns 100% within the USA.
We craft our knitwear designs with the same commitment to timeless quality that we apply to our yarns. Every pattern is meticulously drafted and edited to provide clear instructions that empower knitters to build new skills. Our design team explores the intersection of knitting traditions and contemporary style, to produce patterns that are a pleasure to knit and wear.
Learn more at: ‪@BrooklynTweed_Official‬
Visit us at: brooklyntweed....

[@elviraloewen4703]

The trick of checking for a possible "mis-cross" before setting the cable is REALLY helpful. Thank you for an excellent video.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much for watching! Happy cabling!

[@sunnyw4148]

thanks that finger addition makes it happen for me.

[@nancyvalanzola1479]

Omg! Did you see the light from the lightbulb that just turned on in my head when I watched this video??? A-mazing and thank you so much for this very visual description of what exactly is happening when knitting cables 🙌! Forever grateful!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

We visual thinkers need visual aids! So glad we could help shine a light on cables for you! :D

[@Richard-ky9lf]

Jared, it is great that you are demonstrating and teaching these lessons. The video quality, like everything you do, is exceptional. I hope you continue to do videos like this. The world needs to see more of you.

[@zarminaismail5820]

This is very good explanation. Esp when u showed it woth fingers as example was finally my eureka moment

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

We're so glad you found it helpful! Happy knitting!

[@leannetroxel6742]

Thanks for a clear and well paced tutorial. Your demonstration of how to hold the live stitches against the needle so they don’t “get away from you” was very clear and helpful.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Happy knitting!

[@anicesubject]

This is my favorite video about cabling without a needle. I tend to avoid cabling so when I go back to it, I tend to review this video. so many other tutorials for cabling without a needle have you leaving the extra stitches loose and I really appreciate you showing how to hold them so that they’re secure

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Happy cabling!

[@missmayflower]

You are such a good teacher. This will really help me with the Koolhaas hat.

[@Jesines94]

thank you so much its a simple but really good tip!!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're so welcome! Happy knitting!

[@jengmn]

This is a pure genius way of teaching this cable technique. Love this. Thank you.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much, Jennifer! Happy cabling!

[@zoedoodle9824]

This was a great clear and concise explanation. Thank you so much!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome! Happy cabling!

[@julielandy9162]

Well done!. Visual instruction with the finger crossing for direction is brilliant. Sometimes the simplest of things have the biggest impact. Thank you!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much, Julie! We love a good visual aid. Happy cabling!

[@cigale3100]

yeahh ! great explanations !! thank you !

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You are welcome! Happy cabling!

[@laurastrom9857]

The anchoring method against the needle works like a charm. I knit continental and it also works well for that method. Game changer for me!! Thank you.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much for watching, Laura! Happy cabling!

[@heatherrichardson3351]

Well done Thank you for your concise instructions :) I will never spend time looking for a cable needle again!

[@colleenverdon6315]

You are an excellent teacher, thank you so much!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much for watching! Happy knitting!

[@youtimeful]

So helpful and so clear. BT is incredible in all the cabled designs, this was a real insight into how you make these garments so beautifully. Thank you.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You are so welcome!

[@goals8735]

Oh man! My heart dropped at seeing those stitches not on a needle lol very brave 😆 ill have to give it a try...probably with a life line first lol

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Try it out and let us know how you get on! :D

[@angelawhite7870]

This is so great-thank you! This way also helps me wrap my brain around what’s happening within the pattern better, if that makes sense, i.e., I often struggle with understanding which way to go (front or back) with a left or right-leaning cable. Definitely going to try this out!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Hollis_has_questions]

I love this, wonder why I never thought of it. The pattern I’m currently working has lots of little cables and a few big ones, so I CANNOT WAIT! Thank you so much, Jared and BT!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Hi Hollis! Let us know how you get on - it's so much faster without a cable needle!

[@thestationarynomad]

By far the best tutorial on cables that I have come across. Thank you!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much! Happy cabling!

[@tennesseetrout]

Superbly taught. Thank you.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thank you Jim!

[@wildsheepc]

This blows my mind! To be honest it seems kind of dangerous for me personally because sometimes I have trouble keeping hold of even normal stitches on the needle, but I'd definitely like to get a swatch of this going and give it a practice. What I especially like about it is that it requires a better understanding than I currently have of what is happening conceptually, rather than just needing to focus on remembering the abbreviations (C4B, T3F, etc) and what I'm supposed to do for them. That is what has slowed me way down in my cabling projects so far. Thank you for this!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks for watching, Heather! Give it a go with a nice woolly yarn so your stitches stay put and see what you think! It's definitely helpful when you can see what your cables are doing with a glance rather than trying to remember "ok, this weird twisty symbol means what again?" Happy cabling!

[@mkawa1566]

Your video explains C4B the best

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad you find our explanation useful! Happy knitting!

[@GM-wv1kj]

Love how he teaches, thank you!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much! Happy knitting!

[@svndfyyve8120]

Very easy to follow instructions. Thank you

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ainahstar6001]

Thank you. Great description of which goes where for rt and lt leaning!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Happy knitting!

[@jojoirish8523]

So smart! I'm cabeling right now!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

We love a good speedy cable! Which cable pattern are you working on?

[@sosoawak]

Thank you for the clear explanation .. as i am a super super beginner on knitting so i am still struggling with all these stitches that i need to learn how to do without any additional tools and working only on my circular needle

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks for watching and happy learning! You can always use a cable needle at first until you are comfortable manipulating your stitches - and practically ANYTHING can serve as a cable needle! (A pen cap, a bobby pin, a twist tie, whatever you have handy!)

[@sosoawak]

@@BrooklynTweed_Official thank you for the ideas and suggestions .. i am planning to try on a baby romper that pattern say to use 4 needles and cable needle but i am waiting a response from the pattern designer if i can do it with circular needle as it’s all i have in my hand to knit atm. Thank you again for your response I really appreciate it.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

@@sosoawak You're very welcome!

[@gyanushresthacharya4302]

Thanks for teaching

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Our pleasure! Happy knitting!

[@maryduggins]

This was SO helpful! THANK YOU!!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're so welcome! Happy cabling!

[@jacquelinelombard5029]

Great instructions as always 😊

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks for watching! Happy cabling!

[@judithburke3637]

Brilliant so clear and a beautiful swatch x

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thank you so much!

[@verienaisaacs7876]

Thank you so much!❤

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thank you for watching! Happy knitting!

[@judithburke3637]

That is brilliant thankyou again so much x

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You are so welcome! Happy cabling!

[@stephaniemiller8229]

BEST description and explanation I’ve found on KZbin for doing cables! I SO appreciate your clear and easy to understand tutorial. I’m so glad I came upon this video. Thank you!🥰

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much, Stephanie! We're glad you found this helpful. Happy cabling!

[@yulei4668]

Thank you! 🙏

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're so welcome! Happy cabling!

[@emmari0601]

Wonderful! Thank you SO much!!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome! Happy knitting!

[@MyHobbyNest]

Thanks for sharing this video! ❤️❤️❤️

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You are so welcome!

[@juliebrowne2674]

Fantastic

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@pooja_2023]

Too good!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@mycrazyfamilyid]

This is what I've always done. When I learned how to cable I was too poor to even afford a cable needle, so I made do.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

That is knitting dedication!

[@mariamatos3944]

Would love to see from the beginning love that sample!!!😊Awesome tutorial peace Brooklyn Williamsburg s

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rachel-o1c]

Amazing! Thank you for this!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome!

[@B.C.NaturalDisasters]

Do you cross over every row? Because I tried crossing every row but by the 3rd row it was too twisted and tight so I couldn't do it anymore

[@Anerol3.2]

Thank you for the tutorial! Do you switch the directions of the cables when you flip sides, or do you copy the previous direction?

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're so welcome! Great question - generally you'll be working your cable crosses just on one side, so you'd just keep doing them the same direction :)

[@skraterfield]

this seems so much simpler than w/ the cable needle. My needles keep getting tangled up w/ the thread and w/o extra hands one or another needle falls out while I'm messing with the cable needl.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

It's definitely our preferred method for non-slippery yarns! Happy cabling!

[@Sereneskies23]

I would love to know the pattern for this piece, it’s just exquisite.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much! It's not a perfect match but it's quite similar to our Bracque hat: brooklyntweed.com/products/bracque (we LOVE a good cabled hat!)

[@sandradearing604]

brilliant!

[@brunchparty]

Is the same process goes for all the rows? And we dont cable knit on purl side, right?

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Correct, in most patterns you won't have cables on the non-public side (although there are some, like our Vesta scarf by Norah Gaughan, where you're cabling on both sides!) Happy knitting!

[@diligomusic]

Great video! Is there a pattern for this? I think it would be a beautiful scarf! Thanks!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks Dan! We love a good cabled scarf pattern! (We have lots!) For something with a double rope cable as seen here, check out our Byway or Kirkwood patterns as a starting point: brooklyntweed.com/products/byway brooklyntweed.com/products/kirkwood

[@diligomusic]

@@BrooklynTweed_Official thank you! I'll take a look.

[@ravennevar8840]

Is there a tutorial on this actual pattern? I would love to know how to knit this as a scarf or square

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Check out our Woven Roots Scarf for a similar look! brooklyntweed.com/products/woven-roots-scarf

[@ravennevar8840]

@@BrooklynTweed_Official Awesome, thank you so much! I really appreciate it.

[@craftsandnails]

I just moved to France and i couldnt bring the cable needles so this is very very helpul..may i ask you how many rows/stitches between the crosses? (Seems 6 to me)Because the size of the cable looks perfect for the hat a customer just ordered. Thanks!! Merci

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You've got it, that looks like 6 rows! Happy knitting!

[@cassideal]

Welcome to France - I live here too and am finally getting around to using cables. This clear, instructive video was just what I was looking for!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

@@cassideal We love a good cable! (Check out our First Cables Hat pattern if you are looking for a nice project to get started with! brooklyntweed.com/products/bt-by-bt-first-cables-hat )

[@craftsandnails]

@@cassideal merci beaucoup my husband is very intrigued about the cable knitting hihi. Bon dimanche!!

[@Hareem-ru6rb]

How do we cast on in this method?

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Great question! It'll depend on your pattern - you might use a ribbed cable cast on or tubular cast on to match the stitch pattern that you'll be working. A plain cable cast on can be a nice choice!

[@SticksTwine]

Those needles look great - can I ask what brand they are? I suspect I know but curious if I'm right :-)

[@contactjoy4140]

FYI ...... use contrasting needles and yarn so it can be seen!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

We will keep that in mind for our next shoot!

[@leighabresch8143]

Please identify what yarn you are using for your samples. Thanks.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Hello, thank you for your question! This swatch is in Arbor Vintner.

[@kristinenyman5377]

How do you cast off with this cable?

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Hi Kristine! Often with a cabled pattern you'll transition into ribbing at the edges so that your hems will lay flat, in which case you'd bind off in your ribbing pattern.

[@kristinenyman5377]

Thank you. My pattern doesn't include a ribbing so I casted off with cable cast off k2t where there were cables so it doesn't buckle. I love how clear your video on cable without a cable needle was. Thank you.