Cable Without a Cable Needle

Jill explains how to work the C4B (cable 4 back) without a cable needle. The technique used for this 4-stitch cable will work for any cables where the stitches from the first part of the cable need to go to the back. To begin, the right needle is brought in front of the work and is inserted purl-wise into the third and fourth stitches of the cable. The first and second stitches are pinched, and all four stitches are removed from the left needle. The first and second stitches are placed back onto the left needle, followed by the 2 stitches from the right needle. The stitches have now been twisted properly for the C4B and can be knit as regular stitches.

For the C4F (cable 4 front), the cable is worked in a similar manner, but the right needle is brought to the back of the work. Once the right needle is behind the work, it’s inserted purl-wise into the third and fourth stitches of the cable. The first and second stitches are pinched, and all four stitches are removed from the left needle. The first and second stitches are placed back on the left needle, followed by the 2 stitches from the right needle. The stitches have now been twisted properly for the C4F and can be knit as regular stitches. Any cable that has the first part of the cable twisting to the front of the work will be worked in a similar manner as the C4F, with the right needle being brought behind the project.

Cabling without a cable needle does take some practice. Once this skill is mastered, for many knitters it is faster to use this technique than to cable with a cable needle.