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Learn to Knit Cables with These Basic Patterns

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Cable knitting is, to me, more of a winter project, but I don’t really know why. I guess I associate cables with big, warm sweaters covered in cable patterns (even though I’ve never knit one of those) so they feel like something you should want to make in the winter. But the truth is, cables are for all times of year.

Cable knitting is a technique that seems complicated until you know how it works. Cables are made by working stitches out of order from the way they are presented on the needle. To make that work, you hold some stitches temporarily (on a cable needle or spare double-pointed knitting needle) then you work some stitches from the left hand needle, then you work the stitches from the cable needle.

Whether those stitches were held to the back of the front, how the stitches of the cable and the stitches around them are worked (knit or purl) and how often the cable is twisted determine how a cable looks. So just like regular knitting can do a lot of things with just knit and purl stitches, cables can look a lot of different ways just by changing up a few basic moves.

If you’ve never knit cables before, it’s a great idea to start with some swatches of basic cables before embarking on a cabled project.

This post from Handy Little Me includes eight basic cables, including cables worked on 4 or 6 stitches and twisted to the right or left, a 12-stitch cable you might see called staghorn cable, and one she calls cells that you might find elsewhere called a honeycomb cable.

Once you’ve worked a few of these with cables turned in different directions, you’ll be ready to take on some cable knitting projects. I love a project like this hat as a first cable project because there’s only a little bit of cabling to do, or check out this collection of skill-building cable knitting patterns.

[Photo: Handy Little Me]

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Summer Headband Knitting Patterns

Some knitters have trouble coming up with projects they can both knit and wear when it’s warm outside. Especially if you’re not ready for garments (thought tank tops and summer tops are great first garment projects!) it might seem like there’s nothing to do when it’s hot outside.

One way to remedy this situation is by knitting headbands. Headbands are great any time of year to keep hair out of your face and make you look a little more pulled together without any effort. Wider headbands double as ear warmers when it gets colder, but skinnier ones are great throughout the year.

A couple of great examples are from designer Elly Donner, who has a set of headband knitting patterns on Ravelry you can buy individually or as an ebook. Homebody, shown here, is worked in garter stitch (the ties are crocheted but you could also use I-cord), while Slipstream uses slipped stitches and garter ridges, and Sounds of Spring has little cables. The patterns use DK weight yarn and are a great way to use a little leftover yarn from another project.

I also recently came across the lovely Plush Braided Headband by Yevgeniya Li. A free pattern on Ravelry, this wider design is covered in lush cables for a sleek and fancy look. It uses worsted weight yarn and you can customize the length for a perfect fit.

Celeste Knitwear’s Spikelet is a simple twisted headband with columns of eyelet lace to keep it from being too heavy. It’s worked flat and sewn together to make the twist, and uses DK weight yarn. It has three sizes available.

This skinny lace headband from Lusi Knits is another cute choice. It calls for fine weight cotton yarn, but you could use heavier yarn if you have it on hand to make a wider headband (or use any fine yarn you have available). It uses ties to customize the fit.

And if you want to go super basic but still really cute, try the easy ring headband from Lulu Pattern. The sample is knit pretty wide, but you could make a narrower version if you want, and the little ring turns it from a plain loop into a bow with very little extra work. It calls for worsted weight yarn but you could also use whatever weight you like for this one to change up the look and size.