Sixty Second Refresher

How to Knit Cables

Step By Step

How to Knit Cables

Master the two-by-two cable crosses with a cable needle. 

There are four different types of two-by-two cable crosses:

  • Two-by-two left cross
  • Two-by-two right cross
  • Two-by-two left purl cross.
  • Two-by-two right purl cross

Two helpful hints to remember:

  1. If you are crossing left, you are going to be holding your cable needle with its stitches to the front.
  2. If you are crossing right, you're going to be holding the cable needle with its stitches to the back.

2x2 Left Cross Step 1: Two stitches to the front

Slide two stitches onto the cable needle and hold it to the front.

2x2 Left Cross Step 1

2x2 Left Cross Step 2: Knit next two stitches

Knit the next two stitches from the left needle.

2x2 Left Cross Step 2

2x2 Left Cross Step 3: Knit two stitches off cable needle

Knit the two stitches off of the cable needle.

2x2 Left Cross Step 3

2x2 Right Cross Step 1: Two stitches to the back

Slide two stitches onto the cable needle and hold it to the back.

2x2 Right Cross Step 1

2x2 Right Cross Step 2: Knit next two stitches

Knit the next two stitches from the left needle.

2x2 Right Cross Step 2

2x2 Right Cross Step 3: Knit two stitches off cable needle

Knit the two stitches off of the cable needle.

2x2 Right Cross Step 3

2x2 Left Purl Cross Step 1: Two stitches to the front

Slide two stitches onto the cable needle and hold it to the front.

2x2 Left Purl Cross Step 1

2x2 Left Purl Cross Step 2: Purl next two stitches

Purl the next two stitches from the left needle.

2x2 Left Purl Cross Step 2

2x2 Left Purl Cross Step 3: Knit two stitches off cable needle

Knit the two stitches off of the cable needle.

2x2 Left Purl Cross Step 3

2x2 Right Purl Cross Step 1: Two stitches to the back

Slide two stitches onto the cable needle and hold it to the back.

2x2 Right Purl Cross Step 1

2x2 Right Purl Cross Step 2: Knit next two stitches

Knit the next two stitches from the left needle.

2x2 Right Purl Cross Step 2

2x2 Right Purl Cross Step 3: Purl two stitches off cable needle

Purl the two stitches off of the cable needle.

2x2 Right Purl Cross Step 3

Cable tutorial intro image

Full How-To Video

How to Knit Cables

Recommended Tools

A few extras to make your project a little easier

bamboo cable needle made by Kinki Amibari in Japan
Bamboo Cable Needle - Notions

$12.50 CAD

$12.50 CAD

Size
bamboo grooved cable needle by kinki amibari
grooved cable stitch holder by KA

$9.50 CAD

$9.50 CAD

Size
Mini Scissors
Mini Scissors

$12.00 CAD

$12.00 CAD

Color

Selected Tools

Your bundle is empty.

Questions & Feedback

Got a question about the technique? Want to share what worked for you? Leave a comment! We’re here, we’re listening, and we’ll reply as soon as we can.