Fall in love with the twists and turns of these cable knitting patterns.

When you talk to people about knitting, one of the first things they’ll think of is the beautifully patterned, cable sweater. It’s a staple in everyone’s winter wardrobe, and a must-make for every knitter. But cables can feature on all sorts of projects: hats, bags, headbands, scarves, blankets - if there are stitches, there can be cables!

How to knit cables

When it comes to pattern instructions, you’ll most commonly see abbreviations such as CF and CB, followed by a number. These letters mean cable front and cable back - which refer to the direction you need to move your stitches once they have been transferred onto a cable needle. Cable front means to bring the needle to the front of your work, and cable back means to take the needle to the back of your work.

The number next to these abbreviations indicates how many stitches your cable is going to be worked across. You should put half of the number of stitches onto your cable needle when working a cable, this is what makes the famous twisting shape of a cable. 

For example, CF4 means cable front 4 - your cable is made up of 4 stitches here, so you will put 2 stitches on your cable needle, and sit this needle at the front of your work. Knit the other 2 stitches from your left hand needle, on to your right hand needle. Now you will knit the 2 stitches on your cable needle, on to your right hand needle, creating a left-leaning cable twist!

You can also follow our video tutorial to learn how to knit cable stitches.

Put your cabled twists to the test, and find your perfect pattern to add cabled knitwear to your wardrobe:

Cable sweater knitting patterns

A cable sweater is a must-have for every knitter’s handmade wardrobe. Discover a mix of chunky, and delicate, designs, choose your favourite and cast on!

Cable hat knitting patterns

If you’re looking for something a little smaller to start with, cable stitch hats and headbands are a great choice. You can build your cable confidence one twist at a time.

Cable scarf and cowl knitting patterns

Layer up your knits by adding a cable scarf or cowl to your outfit on a chilly day.

Cable accessories knitting patterns

Cables aren’t just for hats and sweaters! Knit up something a little different with these accessories.

Are you a cable fan? Share your photos with a community of crafters on Instagram and Facebook.