➊➋➑ Cable Symbols: How to Knit Each One

Cable symbols are an essential part of knitting patterns, serving as a visual guide to indicate where cables should be made. These symbols provide knitters with a standardized way to represent various cable techniques, making it easier to follow intricate designs.

By mastering the language of cable knitting, you’ll gain the confidence to tackle a wide range of cable patterns, from simple twists to more complex braids and weaves.

2 Stitch Cables	3 Stitch Cables
4 Stitch Cables	5 Stitch Cables
6 Stitch Cables	7 Stitch Cables
8 Stitch Cables	9 Stitch Cables

🌀 2 stitch cables	Language of knitting patterns

Abb	Explanation	How to knit
1/1 RC	1/1 right cross	Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold in back, k1, k1 from cable needle
1/1 RPC	1/1 right purl cross	Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold in back, k1, p1 from cable needle
1/1 RT	1/1 right twist	Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold in back, k1 through the back loop, k1 through the back loop from cable needle
1/1 RPT	1/1 right purl twist	Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold in back, k1 through the back loop, p1 from cable needle
1/1 LC	1/1 left cross	Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold in front, k1, k1 from cable needle
1/1 LPC	1/1 left purl cross	Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold in front, p1, k1 from cable needle
1/1 LT	1/1 left twist	Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold in front, k1 through the back loop, k1 through the back loop from cable needle
1/1 LPT	1/1 left purl twist	Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold in front, p1, k1 through the back loop from cable needle

🌀 3 stitch cables	Language of knitting patterns

Abb	Explanation	How to knit
2/1 RC	2/1 right cross	Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold in back, k2, k1 from cable needle
2/1 RPC	2/1 right purl cross	Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold in back, k2, p1 from cable needle
1/2 RC	1/2 right cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k1, k2 from cable needle
1/2 RPC	1/2 right purl cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k1, p2 from cable needle
1/2 RT	1/2 right twist	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k1 through the back loop, k2 through the back loop from cable needle
1/1/1 RC	1/1/1 right cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k1, slip 1 st from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to front, k1, k1 from cable needle
1/1/1 RPC	1/1/1 right purl cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k1, slip 1 st from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to front, p1, k1 from cable needle
1/1/1 RRC	1/1/1 center	Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold in back, slip next st to second cable needle and hold in front, k1, k1 from front cable needle, k1 from back cable needle

🌀 4 stitch cables	Language of knitting patterns

Abb	Explanation	How to knit
2/2 RC	2/2 right cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k2, k2 from cable needle
2/2 RPC	2/2 right purl cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k2, p2 from cable needle
1/3 RC	1/3 right cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k1, k3 from cable needle
1/3 RPC	1/3 right purl cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k1, p3 from cable needle
3/1 RC	3/1 right cross	Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold in back, k3, k1 from cable needle
3/1 RPC	3/1 right purl cross	Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold in back, k3, p1 from cable needle
1/2/1 RC	1/2/1 right cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k1, slip 2 sts from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to front, k2, k1 from cable needle
1/2/1 RPC	1/2/1 right purl cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k1, slip 2 sts from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to front, p2, k1 from cable needle
2/2 LC	2/2 left cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k2, k2 from cable needle
2/2 LPC	2/2 left purl cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front, p2, k2 from cable needle

🌀 5 stitch cables	Language of knitting patterns

Abb	Explanation	How to knit
2/3 RC	2/3 right cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k2, k3 from cable needle
2/3 RPC	2/3 right purl cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k2, p3 from cable needle
3/2 RC	3/2 right cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k3, k2 from cable needle
3/2 RPC	3/2 right purl cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k3, p2 from cable needle
2/1/2 RC	2/1/2 right cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k2, slip 1 st from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to front, k1, k2 from cable needle
2/1/2 RPC	2/1/2 right purl cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k2, slip 1 st from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to front, p1, k2 from cable needle
2/3 LC	2/3 left cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k3, k2 from cable needle
2/3 LPC	2/3 left purl cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front, p3, k2 from cable needle
3/2 LC	3/2 left cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k2, k3 from cable needle
3/2 LPC	3/2 left purl cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front, p2, k3 from cable needle
2/1/2 LC	2/1/2 left cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front, slip next st to second cable needle and hold in back, k2, k1 from back cable needle, k2 from front cable needle
2/1/2 LPC	2/1/2 left purl cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front, slip next st to second cable needle and hold in back, k2, p1 from back cable needle, k2 from front cable needle

🌀 6 stitch cables	Language of knitting patterns

Abb	Explanation	How to knit
3/3 RC	3/3 right cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k3, k3 from cable needle
3/3 RPC	3/3 right purl cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k3, p3 from cable needle
2/4RC	2/4 right cross	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k2, k4 from cable needle
2/4RPC	2/4 right purl cross	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k2, p4 from cable needle
4/2RC	4/2 right cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k4, k2 from cable needle
4/2RPC	4/2 right purl cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k4, p2 from cable needle
3/3 LC	3/3 left cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k3, k3 from cable needle
3/3 LPC	3/3 left purl cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front, p3, k3 from cable needle
2/4LC	2/4 left cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k4, k2 from cable needle
2/4LPC	2/4 left purl cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front, p4, k2 from cable needle
4/2LC	4/2 left cross	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k2, k4 from cable needle
4/2LPC	4/2 left purl cross	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in front, p2, k4 from cable needle
2/2/2RC	2/2/2 right cross	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k2, slip 2 sts from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to front, k2, k2 from cable needle
2/2/2RPC	2/2/2 right purl cross	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k2, slip 2 sts from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to front, p2, k2 from cable needle
2/2/2RRC	2/2/2 center	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back, slip 2 sts to second cable needle and hold in front, k2, k2 from front cable needle, k2 from back cable needle
2/2/2LC	2/2/2 left cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front, slip 2 sts to second cable needle and hold in back, k2, k2 from back cable needle, k2 from front cable needle
2/2/2LPC	2/2/2 left purl cross	Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front, slip 2 sts to second cable needle and hold in back, k2, p2 from back cable needle, k2 from front cable needle
2/2/2LRC	2/2/2 center	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k2, slip 2 sts from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to back, k2, k2 from cable needle

🌀 7 stitch cables	Language of knitting patterns

Abb	Explanation	How to knit
3/4 RC	3/4 right cross	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k3, k4 from cable needle
3/4 RPC	3/4 right purl cross	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k3, p4 from cable needle
4/3 RC	4/3 right cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k4, k3 from cable needle
4/3 RPC	4/3 right purl cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k4, p3 from cable needle
3/1/3 RC	3/1/3 right cross	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k3, slip 1 st from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to front, k1, k3 from cable needle
3/1/3 RPC	3/1/3 right purl cross	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k3, slip 1 st from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to front, p1, k3 from cable needle
3/4 LC	3/4 left cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k4, k3 from cable needle
3/4 LPC	3/4 left purl cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front, p4, k3 from cable needle
4/3 LC	4/3 left cross	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k3, k4 from cable needle
4/3 LPC	4/3 left purl cross	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in front, p3, k4 from cable needle
3/1/3 LC	3/1/3 left cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front, slip next st to second cable needle and hold in back, k3, k1 from back cable needle, k3 from front cable needle
3/1/3 LPC	3/1/3 left purl cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front, slip next st to second cable needle and hold in back, k3, p1 from back cable needle, k3 from front cable needle

🌀 8 stitch cables	Language of knitting patterns

Abb	Explanation	How to knit
4/4 RC	4/4 right cross	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k4, k4 from cable needle
4/4 RPC	4/4 right purl cross	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k4, p4 from cable needle
4/4 LC	4/4 left cross	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k4, k4 from cable needle
4/4 LPC	4/4 left purl cross	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in front, p4, k4 from cable needle
3/2/3RC	3/2/3 right cross	Slip 5 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k3, slip 2 sts from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to front, k2, k3 from cable needle
3/2/3RPC	3/2/3 right purl cross	Slip 5 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k3, slip 2 sts from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to front, p2, k3 from cable needle
3/2/3RRC	3/2/3 center	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back, slip next 2 sts to second cable needle and hold in front, k3, k2 from front cable needle, k3 from back cable needle.
3/2/3LC	3/2/3 left cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front, slip 2 sts to second cable needle and hold in back, k3, k2 from back cable needle, k3 from front cable needle
3/2/3LPC	3/2/3 Left purl cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front, slip 2 sts to second cable needle and hold in back, k3, p2 from back cable needle, k3 from front cable needle
3/2/3LRC	3/2/3 center	Slip 5 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k3, slip 2 sts from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to back, k2, k4 from cable needle.

🌀 9 stitch cables	Language of knitting patterns

Abb	Explanation	How to knit
3//3/3RC	3/3/3 right cross	Slip 6 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k3, slip 3 sts from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to front, k3, k3 from cable needle
3//3/3RPC	3/3/3 right purl cross	Slip 6 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k3, slip 3 sts from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to front, p3, k3 from cable needle
3//3/3RRC	3/3/3 center	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back, slip next 3 sts to second cable needle and hold in front, k3, k3 from front cable needle, k3 from back cable needle
3//3/3LC	3/3/3 left cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front, slip 3 sts to second cable needle and hold in back, k3, k3 from back cable needle, k3 from front cable needle
3//3/3LPC	3/3/3 left purl cross	Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front, slip 3 to second cable needle and hold in back, k3, p3 from back cable needle, k3 from front cable needle
3/3/3LRC	3/3/3 center	Slip 6 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k3, slip 3 sts from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to back, k3, k3 from cable needle.
4/1/4RC	4/1/4 right cross	Slip 5 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k4, slip 1 st from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to front, k1, k4 from cable needle
4/1/4RPC	4/1/4 right purl cross	Slip 5 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k4, slip 1 st from cable needle to left needle and move cable needle to front, p1, k4 from cable needle
4/1/4LC	4/1/4 left cross	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in front, slip next st to second cable needle and hold in back, k4, k1 from back cable needle, k4 from front cable needle
4/1/4LPC	4/1/4 left purl cross	Slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold in front, slip next st to second cable needle and hold in back, k4, p1 from back cable needle, k4 from front cable needle

While cable knitting can be challenging for beginners, with practice and patience, it can become a rewarding and enjoyable aspect of knitting.
If you're looking to elevate your knitting expertise and learn other techniques, these resources may be helpful to study:

1. Knitting Abbreviations
2. Lace Symbols
3. Brioche Symbols
4. Advanced Symbols