How to knit the Cable Stitch without a cable needle (Step-by-step tutorial)

[@trinitycolon2985]

i just want to say how well of an explainer you are. i never go to any other knitting videos. you are THE best! your videos are clear and make so much sense to me, thank you ❤

[@dalenefowler7890]

Thank you for all your very informative tutorials! I live in a remote part of South Africa and it is not possible for me to attend knitting workshops etc. Books are expensive here and often also hard to come by so your tutorials have really made a huge difference to my knitting life. Your efforts are very much appreciated🧡

[@NimbleNeedles]

even here in Germany, getting english knitting books, especially if they are a bit older can be veeeery expensive. And I do have to say, often I hear someone talking about a book, I look it up and it's like 120€ + shipping..and then I'm like...well maybe another time ;-) ;-)

[@nandimwepu8026]

Hello my fellow South African!

[@Whistlewalk]

Thank you!! I've been working on the courage to try to do this but you've made it look pretty easy, so here I go!

[@მეწამულიბადრიჯანი]

I had knit cables as shown in the video for my entire knitter's life (35+years). This year, I came across a video that proposed a slightly more convenient technique: slip stitches 1&2 purlwise *with the yarn in the front for a right-leaning cable and with the yarn in the back for a left-leaning cable,* knit stitches 3&4, cross the pairs of stitches exactly as shown in this video. Basically, the difference is in the sequence of actions: cross, knit4 vs knit2, cross, knit2; however, the latter way the stitches are less tense, & it's easier to cross them. I hope this will help someone. :)

[@etainne2001]

Well Norman, you've saved my Sanity again, Having done 40 rows using the cable needle and feeling fumblingly and stupid, but now i will finish feeling more beautiful and less clumsy.

[@NimbleNeedles]

awesome. and I agree big sweaters with tons of cables on a cable neede will drive you insane!

[@coveredingold4395]

Great tutorial, I was asked to do a sweater with many cables and knitting it with additional needle is so frustrating and slows me down so much. Thank you for saving me some time ❤

[@tanmarher]

Simply a wonderful teacher. Thank you Norman! 🌹

[@NimbleNeedles]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@queeneywarren9474]

I like this better than cable knitting I just came access your video much more explained than the other one I see you are the best teacher I haven't knit yet i'm wanted to learn more before I get started thank you very much ❤

[@ombrettad5749]

This is brilliantly risky! Thank you so much Norman. You make knitting so much fun.

[@NimbleNeedles]

That's because it is 🥰

[@tds603]

I love this method! I very much enjoy cabling and tried, in vain, to reduce that stretched out stitch. I didn't think there was any way around it. That is until I watched your video! I just tried this method on a pair of mittens I am currently making and it works! That stretched out stitch is gone! It is also a very helpful technique when I have temporarily misplace my cable needle...again. Thank you for another informative video!

[@NimbleNeedles]

awesome! always happy to help a fellow knitter along!

[@charissango4805]

Had to learn how to do cable stitches and your video is perfect! Not too long and straight to the point! ❤

[@debbie.mckenzie]

Wow you make this look so easy.

[@susanseno5699]

thank you Norman. You are indeed a gifted instructor! I am doing my first project with cables

[@NimbleNeedles]

Have fun!

[@frausisu7465]

Yes that is a little scary! I'm going to practice practice practice! Thank you Norman!😀

[@NimbleNeedles]

Well..and if it turns out to be a bit too difficult you can always go back to cable needles. I feel it's much easier with 1 or two stitches than 3. So, maybe start there :)

[@KittenBowl1]

I love this technique! I was wondering how to make cable stitches not to have a hole between a cable pattern and the purl stitches. I was pulling a yarn quite tight in an attempt to tighten up the tension so that I have no gap between the cabled stitches and the regular ones to no available. But with this technique I can have beautiful cabled scarves and mittens. I learned something new today! Yay! 😊 Thanks Norman!

[@trapease]

thank you for this! so clever and well-explained. plus, you use such lovely yarn in your tutorials.

[@NimbleNeedles]

Thank you! ☺️☺️

[@bethberchtold1225]

Thanks!

[@NimbleNeedles]

thank you so much for supporting my work, beth!

[@Ada-hj6lk]

You really helped me a lot, Norman! Thank you!!!

[@NS-kk5gr]

wow this is so elegant!😍

[@sandyvanburen]

Thank you so much for finally teaching me a way to do cables easier!!

[@NimbleNeedles]

You are so welcome, Sandy...once you learned it you'll never look back ^^

[@brigittesmith4358]

That is sooooo cool, Norman. Thank you for teaching this.

[@amorestperpe]

You make it look so easy

[@DreadlockPatriot]

Thanks Norman! 😘

[@ainoklippel]

Thank you so much! I’ve finished one crazy complicated sock with 19 different cables and lace. The second one is still waiting to be done. I’ve tried everything: cable needle, small bambu needle, dropping and picking up stitches, and knitting the stitches on the left needle before dropping them. The yarn is not stretching and the plys fall apart easily, so the cables have been slowing down the rhythm of knitting, making it hard to follow the pattern. Your method works so well that I’m happy to have the second sock to practice this.

[@NimbleNeedles]

Very happy to hear this...tho..if the yarn is so delicate..you sure it's suitable for socks?

[@ainoklippel]

Good question! It’s a novel kind of merino and lyocell mix from Novita. It’s called woolly wood. Not sure how long it will last, but we’ll see. I’ve heard that some other kind wool/lyocel sock wools from the same brand have been wearing out within a week. These look and feel good at least before the first wash. It’s going to be a present for someone with sensitive skin. I also like the idea of plastic free socks.

[@EugeniaRedmond]

another amazing video, thank you Norman! I've become such a fan

[@annasmith3600]

Thank you Norman! Very helpful ☺️

[@cindymuthike6516]

Thanks Norman😊am feeling confident to try

[@NimbleNeedles]

Awesome. And don't hesitate to come back if you have a question

[@cindymuthike6516]

@@NimbleNeedles you're very kind, I appreciate it 🙏🏾

[@MarceBr.]

Omg Norman, this one is soooo scary hahaha, I think I’ll need more practice to even try it hahahaha, btw ICH LIEBE DICH!!!, I can see all the hard work you put in every second in each video, I hope we (your fans) give you back all the care and love you deserve as well, if I knit today is thanks to you, all your tips, your lessons and cuteness… thank you sooo much

[@NimbleNeedles]

you are very welcome, Marcela. And definitely practise it a bit..maybe with a stiffer/fuzzier yarn first. Then it will be easier as the stitches are very unlikely to unravel.

[@pamsimmons6428]

This was great to learn💯🤗🙌🏾👏🏾

[@thesilverpen]

I have very clumsy fingers, so I have to use a cable needle or other device to hold the stitches. On some knits the yarn is easier for me to hold, though, so I can finger cable those.

[@NimbleNeedles]

That's okay as well Whatever works ☺️

[@blackmoon9793]

I love my little aluminum cable needle to bits, but I'm scared to take it on a plane because it looks like you could use it to pop someone's eye out like a grape. This is such a wonderful solution!

[@rosegaither]

Looks beautiful, but scary

[@pc8863]

Your videos have given me the courage to try techniques that always felt out of reach before. Six months on and I can cable without a cable needle most of the time. The only time that is still confusing is when 2 cable needles are used and stitches are pulled to the front and back at the same time. Is there any way to do those without cable needles as well? The times I’ve tried haven’t gone very well. 😁

[@NimbleNeedles]

well, you'd have to shuffle stitches around twice. It'S certainly doable but hm...for most a cable needle WILL be easier.. just like when you have..say a 4x4 cable. Then again, I a no big fan of these cables as they take out all stretchiness.

[@pc8863]

@@NimbleNeedles Thank you for responding. It’s very kind of you. The “double shuffling” method seemed to be the only way I could see it working, too. For me, that is an accident looking for a place to happen (and it did the times I tried it). Oh well, that’s okay. Guess my cable needle will be getting some use.

[@Dotfsh]

What. A. GAME CHANGER!

[@NimbleNeedles]

it sure is, isn't it? before I learned this technique many years ago, big cable projects jsut scared me because they woul take foreeeever.

[@Dotfsh]

@@NimbleNeedles wow! Thanks for the reply! I love your videos!

[@susanphillips7211]

Great vid! Thank you!

[@maggirambus7086]

Hi Norman ! I think you just changed my life! Have a question my attempts at cables have appear really tight, do I need to knit them looser?

[@NimbleNeedles]

hm...well maggi..how could I possibly answer this? It's entirely up to you! if you don't like the way they look, sure knit them looser :P

[@Kecicim]

thank you that was helpful

[@snowpixxie6673]

How many stitches should we cast on? A multiple of 2? Also, how do we work the wrong side? Same pattern as the right side?

[@NimbleNeedles]

this is just a tutorial for the technique. this is not a knitting stitch pattern as seed stitch etc. So, your questions, don't reaallly make sense. You work the wrong side in pattern.

[@miliniumo147]

Is it possible to do a 4x4 cable?

[@NimbleNeedles]

possible yes. Do, however, know that it will restrict your fabric quite a bit in that position.

[@alisharo58]

Just verifying: the working yarn stays towards the back? No need to ever bring it to the front with this technique? Thank you!

[@NimbleNeedles]

nope - except you want purl cables ^^

[@corinneholmes4114]

Amazing!

[@NimbleNeedles]

Thanks, Corinne.

[@lenaraullo5263]

Hi Norman, is it the same as Left Twist and Right Twist? Í‘m having difficulty with LT and RT that I create Ladders.

[@NimbleNeedles]

Yes, that's the same technique..just a different name 😊

[@lenaraullo5263]

@@NimbleNeedles Thank you.

[@lindastevens6686]

Awesome!

[@NimbleNeedles]

Glad you like my little video :)

[@coloursinnature5484]

🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁

[@yarra352]

Cable needle tip for the ladies: I stick mine under my bra strap or in my cleavage 😂 nearly gave my friend a heart attack when he droped by (he is an EMT) "there's a needle sticking out of your chest!" 😂

[@NimbleNeedles]

😂😂

[@soniahazy4880]

🙏🤩🧩🎼🎼🦋🛸🌈

[@dhborregales]

This is just like witchcraft!

[@silverlake8105]

🧶🙏🏻🍀🕺🏼

[@NimbleNeedles]

Thanks 🥰❤️🧶