Faster, Easier Cabling: No Cable Needles, No Fear

Are You A Better Knitter Now Than 365 Days Ago?

What's on Sandi's Needles? — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:28:12 GMT

I'm glad you all liked the Leapfrogging Hearts cable (below, in the turquoise yarn) I designed for

re: Faster, Easier Cabling: No Cable Needles, No Fear

donnabrownhawley@gmail.com — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:54:36 GMT

I hope this non-cn cable method works - I have never found a good place to dock my cn and I'm tired of the dirty looks my cat gives me when I have to interrupt her nap to see if she is lying on it.

re: Faster, Easier Cabling: No Cable Needles, No Fear

tinyknitter — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 20:44:10 GMT

looks great going to try it immediately.

re: Faster, Easier Cabling: No Cable Needles, No Fear

alena@5 — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:30:46 GMT

Thank you Sandi! The tip has arrived just in time! I figured out my own way to do without a cable needle, but I like your method better and am going to give it a try tonight :)

re: Faster, Easier Cabling: No Cable Needles, No Fear

MissyCarole — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:18:21 GMT

Oh my God - this tip with fantastic photos is just what I needed at this time of my life. Thanks so much for sharing your excitement. Who would think? Thank you, Carole

re: Faster, Easier Cabling: No Cable Needles, No Fear

lickstone — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:44:23 GMT

If I'm knitting a small needle, I like to use a toothpick to cable with. Just the right size, not too bulky and the stitches slide on and off with ease.

Suzanne

re: Faster, Easier Cabling: No Cable Needles, No Fear

shellyhuls@gmail.com — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:49:41 GMT

I love cables and I think this is the reason why. Using the extra cable needle is such a pain! This method is great!

re: Faster, Easier Cabling: No Cable Needles, No Fear

debd94 — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:02:16 GMT

This method is brilliant! Thank you for sharing. I was put off cable knitting by my struggle to manage the cable needle. I'm going to try this method, which makes sense.

re: Faster, Easier Cabling: No Cable Needles, No Fear

NinaT — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:25:55 GMT

Awesome! I've been afraid to try cabling without a cable needle, but your pictures and method make it seem very easy. Thank you.

re: Faster, Easier Cabling: No Cable Needles, No Fear

KD Sandi — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:58:53 GMT

Jean01, this method is different from the Interweave 2009 method in terms of which needle is used for the stitch-switching manipulations. In the IK method, you slip cable stitches over to the right needle for ALL cable crossings, right or left. For the above method, you only slip stitches over to the right needle for right crossings. Cables with left crossings stay on the left needle for the stitch manipulations.

Isn't it interesting that for one job there are so many different techniques to get the job done!

re: Faster, Easier Cabling: No Cable Needles, No Fear

TammyT — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:00:27 GMT

This is the method I use and it works wonderfully. Thank you for posting this tutorial because I have tried to explain this method to other people online and it's hard to explain to someone unless you are SHOWING them. Now I can just refer them to your post!

re: Faster, Easier Cabling: No Cable Needles, No Fear

jean01 — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:13:39 GMT

This is identical to the interweave 2009 method with the only difference that you pinch the sts between your thumb and the needle instead of between your thumb and forefinger

however, your detailed pictures make the method clearer

My preference is for Kathleen Cubley;s method because the stitches that are briefly off the needle have already been knit so if a stitch is dropped it is more easily remedied.

Either method is easier for loose knitters. I think that either method is impossible for a tight knitter to execute for a 3x3 cable.

I am a 'firm' knitter so i prefer to use a cable needle when crossing 3x3. However, I used Kathleen's method on a couple of 7 ft scarfs with 2x2 cables at Xmas -- these would never have been knit with the slower method using an extra cable needle!!

re: Faster, Easier Cabling: No Cable Needles, No Fear

GraceJ — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:59:59 GMT

This much lauded method does not work for me. It has always been my experience that stitches get dropped or split and the entire situation is tense and unpleasant. I prefer to use a cable needle for med/large cables and for the 1x1 cables (think Koolhaas hat) I use my own method in which no stitches are EVER off the needles. (I have a video on youtube for that one)

re: Faster, Easier Cabling: No Cable Needles, No Fear

obxknit — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:54:02 GMT

You are amazing. I am working on the Great American Aran Afghan and it is a cable nightmare. Just tried your directions!!! Goodbye cable needle.

Thanks, Sandi!

re: Faster, Easier Cabling: No Cable Needles, No Fear

SBiswas — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:28:06 GMT

Sandi, thank you for a nice instruction with pic,now i have no problem with another needle because I always forget where I kept it last.....smile please !!