Cable techniques serve as a clear and concise guide that pattern designers use to show where cable movements—from simple twists to more complex braids and weaves—should be worked, allowing knitters to read and follow the instructions more easily.
This article presents 128 cable techniques, including symbols, names, and explanations of how they work, helping you understand the “language of cable knitting” in both written instructions and charts.
| 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
| 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
| 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 1 st to cable needle and hold in back, p2, k1 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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, k3 from cable needle. |
🌀 9 stitch cables
| 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 |
Cables are interesting techniques to explore, but using a cable needle to assist the movement can sometimes take extra time. To learn how to work these techniques without a cable needle, see: 48 Common Techniques.
