How to knit cables without a cable needle

You want to knit cables and don’t have a cable needle at hand? Or you have a cable needle and can’t handle it? Knitting cables without a cable needle is no art. I’ll show you how to knit cables quick and easy without a cable needle.

In my example, I show you symmetrical cables consisting of four stitches. These cables are also called 2/2 RC or 2/2 LC. Of course, you can also knit asymmetrical cables with this technique, such as 3/1 RC or 1/3 LC.

TIP: The proposed technique is easier to use if you use pointed needles.

In my video, I show you step by step how to knit cables without a cable needle.

How to knit a right-leaning cable without a cable needle

In the right-leaning cable, the left half of the cable stitches goes over the right half.
In my example, I have a cable with four stitches. The left half – 2 stitches – pass over the other 2 stitches of the cable before work.

Step 1
With yarn in front, slip the first half of the cable as if to purl.

Step 2
Knit the second half of the cable.

Step 3
Insert the left needle from behind into the 3rd and 4th stitch on the right needle.

Step 4
Make sure you have tension on the thread. Now pull the right needle out of the first four stitches and resume the first and second sts with the right needle.

Step 5
Knit the picked up stitches from the left needle.

TIP: With a right-leaning cable with only two stitches, you don’t need to slip the stitches or either use a cable needle.

Step 1
Knit in the second stitch on the left needle.

Step 2
Work the first stitch on the left needle and drop the two stitches from the left needle.

How to knit a left-leaning cable without a cable needle

In the left-leaning cable, the right half of the cable stitches goes over the left half.
In my example, I have a cable with four stitches. The right half – 2 stitches – pass over the other 2 stitches of the cable before work.

Step 1
With yarn in the back, slip the first half of the cable purlwise.

Step 2
Knit the second half of the cable.

Step 3
Insert the left needle from the front into the 3rd and 4th stitch on the right needle.

Step 4
Make sure you have tension on the thread. Now pull the right needle out of the first four stitches and resume the first and second stitches with the right needle.