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8 Cable Stitch Knitting Patterns

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In this post, you will see 8 cable stitch knitting patterns, that include simple beginner cables as well as more complicated designs.

Nearly all of the stitches in this collection will be seen in beginner cable patterns.

A great way to develop your knitting skills is to learn new stitch patterns.

Scroll down for the free patterns or you can grab your printer-friendly ad-free PDF Ebook here.

cable patterns

Cable Knitting

From a newbie knitter to the more advanced, having the knowledge of how to knit cables can make your knitting projects more interesting.

Mastering these stitches will allow you to explore various cable designs and give you the ability to add texture to your projects.

From sweaters, cardigans, accessories, and blankets many of these stitches are used time and time again.

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Cable knitting stitches

Cable Knitting Patterns

As well as being able to knit cable stitches you may also want to learn how to read a knitting chart, as many cable designs come with a chart.

To start putting your cable stitches into use, here are a few patterns you may want to look at:

cable stitch knitting patterns

Cable Stitch Knitting Patterns

Abbreviations / Knitting Abbreviations List

  • CO – Cast on
  • Cont – Continue(ing)
  • C4B – (K2 and 2) – slip the next 2 sts onto a cable needle and hold at the back of the work, K2 from left-hand needle, then knit the 2 sts from the cable needle.⁣
  • C4F – (K2 and 2) – slip the next 2 sts onto a cable needle and hold at the front of the work, K2 from left-hand needle, then knit the 2 sts from the cable needle.⁣
  • C6B – (K3 and 3) – slip the next 3 sts onto a cable needle and hold at the back of the work, K3 from left-hand needle, then knit the 3 sts from the cable needle.⁣
  • C6F – (K3 and 3) – slip the next 3 sts onto a cable needle and hold at the front of the work, K3 from left-hand needle, then knit the 3 sts from the cable needle.⁣⁣
  • K – Knit
  • P – Purl
  • Rep – Repeat
  • St(s) – Stitch(es)

Please note…

Where it says to work each stitch in the manner it presents – this means to knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches.

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cable stitch patterns

1. 4-Stitch Cable (To The Right)⁣

  • For symmetry work on a multiple of 7+3 sts + 1 edge st on each side.⁣
  • I co 25 sts for the sample.⁣
  • 1st row (right side of work): K1 (edge), *P3, K4*, rep from * to * to last 4 sts, P3 then K1 (edge).⁣
  • 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th rows: Work each st in the manner that it presents.⁣
  • 5th row: K1 (edge), *P3, C4B* rep from * to * to last 4 sts, P3, then K1 (edge).⁣
  • These last 6 rows form the pattern.⁣
4 stitch cable to the right

2. 4-Stitch Cable (To The Left)⁣

  • For symmetry work on a multiple of 8 sts + 1 edge st on each side.⁣
  • I co 26 sts for the sample.⁣
  • 1st row (right side of work): K1 (edge), *P2, K4, P2, rep from * to * to last st, K1 (edge).⁣
  • 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th rows: Work each st in the manner that it presents.⁣
  • 5th row: K1 (edge), *P2, C4F, P2* rep from * to * to last st, then K1 (edge).⁣
  • These last 6 rows form the pattern.⁣
4 stitch cable to the left

3. 6-Stitch Twisted Cable (To The Right)⁣

  • For symmetry work on a multiple of 9+3 sts + 1 edge st on each side.⁣
  • I co 32 sts for the sample.⁣
  • 1st row (right side of work): K1 (edge), *P3, K6*, rep from * to * to last 4 sts, P3 then K1 (edge).⁣
  • 2nd, and 4th rows: Work each st in the manner that it presents.⁣
  • 3rd row: K1 (edge), *P3, C6B* rep from * to * to last 4 sts, P3, then K1 (edge).⁣
  • These last 4 rows form the pattern.⁣
6 stitch twisted cable to the right

4. 6-Stitch Twisted Cable (To The Left) ⁣

  • ⁣For symmetry work on a multiple of 9+3 sts + 1 edge st on each side.⁣
  • I co 32 sts for the sample.⁣⁣
  • 1st row (right side of work): K1 (edge), *P3, K6*, rep from * to * to last 4 sts, P3 then K1 (edge).⁣⁣
  • 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th rows: Work each st in the manner that it presents.⁣⁣
  • 7th row: K1 (edge), *P3, C6F* rep from * to * to last 4 sts, P3, then K1 (edge).⁣⁣
  • These last 8 rows form the pattern.⁣⁣
6-Stitch Twisted Cable (To the Left) ⁣

5. 6-Stitch Cable (To The Right)⁣

  • For symmetry work on a multiple of 9+3 sts + 1 edge st on each side.⁣
  • I co 32 sts for the sample.⁣
  • 1st row (right side of work): K1 (edge), *P3, K6*, rep from * to * to last 4 sts, P3 then K1 (edge).⁣
  • 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th rows: Work each st in the manner that it presents.⁣
  • 7th row: K1 (edge), *P3, C6B* rep from * to * to last 4 sts, P3, then K1 (edge).⁣
  • These last 8 rows form the pattern.⁣
6-Stitch Cable (To the Right)⁣

6. 6-Stitch Cable (To The Left) ⁣

  • For symmetry work on a multiple of 9+3 sts + 1 edge st on each side.⁣
  • I co 32 sts for the sample.⁣
  • 1st row (right side of work): K1 (edge), *P3, K6*, rep from * to * to last 4 sts, P3 then K1 (edge).⁣
  • 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th rows: Work each st in the manner that it presents.⁣
  • 7th row: K1 (edge), *P3, C6F* rep from * to * to last 4 sts, P3, then K1 (edge).⁣
  • These last 8 rows form the pattern.
6-Stitch Cable (To the Left) ⁣

7. 12 Stitch Cable

  • This pattern is shown on 20 sts.
  • 1st (right side of work) and 5th rows: Knit.⁣
  • 2nd and every alternate row (4 and 6): Work each st in the manner that it presents.⁣
  • 3rd row: C6B (K3 and 3), C6F (K3 and 3).⁣
  • These last 6 rows form the pattern.
12 stitch cable

8. Cells

  • For symmetry work on a multiple of 8sts +1 edge sts on each side.⁣
  • For this swatch I CO 34 sts⁣
  • 1st (right side of work) and 5th rows: knit all sts.⁣
  • 2nd and every alternate row: work each st in the manner it presents.⁣
  • 3rd row: K1 (edge) *C4B, C4F, rep from * to last st, K1 (edge).⁣
  • 7th row: K1 (edge), *C4F, C4B, rep from * to last st, K1 (edge).⁣
  • These last 8 rows form the pattern.⁣
honeycomb cable

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2 Comments

  1. how do you do a turn in a cable using just three stitches? the pattern says to put 2 stitches on a cable needle and hold behind then knit the next stitch, p, knit the two stitches off the cable needle. I’m making a fisherman’s sweater and I have 131 cast on stitches I tried doing what it says but then I don’t have enough stitches for the rest of the pattern. It’s that p stitch in the cable that is screwing things up. The next row at the same place as the cable has only 3 stitches. This cable cluster is call CB3 It is in the first row after the waist band so if I don’t get it right the whole sweater will be off. if I take the two stitches and hold them behind on the cable needle, then knit the next stitch, then p the next stitch I would need 132 stitches, but all the other rows use the 131 stitches I have cast on. If I take the two stitches and put them on the cable needle and hold them behind and knit the next stitch then purl that same stitch I have increased a stitch and have one two many stitches for the next row. Please help me figure this out. The whole rest of the pattern say P1 or Purl 8 this part of the pattern just says purl. It is very confusing.

    1. Hello Cindy,
      When you knit C3B, this is right-leaning cable/cable 3 back.
      C3B means you’ll be twisting 2 stitches over 1 stitch in a cable knit.
      The number 3 stands for how many stitches there are in total in the cable.
      You can place one stitch onto a cable needle and place it at the back of the work, then knit the next two stitches on the left-hand needle, then place the stitch you had on the cable needle back onto the left-hand needle, and then knit that stitch.
      This creates a cable twist.
      As for your pattern instructions, perhaps contact the pattern designer?
      I hope that helps!
      Louise