BASIC CABLES
Abbreviations:
COCast On
KKnit
PPurl
BOBind Off or Cast Off
C6FSlip the next 3 stitches, purlwise, to a cable needle. Let the cable needle hang in the front of your work. The yarn must be behind the work. Knit the next 3 stitches. You want the 1st stitch to be a little snug. Now, using the cable needle, and making sure it has not twisted, K those 3 stitches. Make sure the last stitch is snug.
C6BSlip the next 3 stitches, purlwise, to a cable needle. Let the cable needle hang in the back of the work. The yarn should be between it and the working needles. Knit the next 3 stitches, make sure the 1st stitch is snug. Knit the 3 off of the cable needle, making sure the last stitch is snug.
Cast on 36 stitches.
Rows 1-4: Knit.
Pattern
Row 1: K3, (k1, p1) 3 times, p2, (k6, p2) twice, (p1, k1) 3 times, k3.
Row 2 and all even Rows: K3, (k1, p1) 3 times, k2, (p6, k2) twice, (p1, k1) 3 times, k3.
Note: Even rows on this block will no longer be shown in the instructions.
Row 3: Repeat Row 1.
Row 5: K3, (k1, p1) 3 times, p2, C6F, p2, C6B, p2, (p1, k1) 3 times, k3.
Row 7: Repeat Row 1.
Be sure to do a Row 8, then: Repeat Rows 1-8 six more times (7 times total).
Knit 4 rows.
B.O.
Every other cable you ever do is a variation of this basic cable. Once you master those 2 simple cross-overs, you can do them all, provided, of course, the pattern is correct.
Note that the abbreviation is C6B or C6F. C=Cable, 6=the total number of stitches in the cable, B or F=where to hold the cable needle. I have seen this cable done as C2F to C12F (or B).
Now, to the nasty, little chart. All of my charts are hand drawn, so bear with me. OK?
This chart does not include the 4 row borders on top and bottom, nor does it include the 3 stitch side borders.
The numbers on the right and left sides correspond to the rows of the pattern. These are the row repeats.
When I started working with knitting charts I found the phrasing, “k on front, p on back,” a little confusing. So this chart has both front and back rows. The written instructions show only Row 2 of the even rows, but I choose to include them all on the chart.
There are 2 funny looking rectangles in the middle of the chart. Those represent the cable twists. They need a little explanation.
Each rectangle is six stitches wide and 1 row tall. Each set of diagonals is 3 stitches. On C6F the diagonals appears to be over the other 3 stitches. On C6B, they are behind the other 3 stitches. The front and back instruction tells you what to do with the first stitches you come to. They also resemble the actual cable.
Careful!!The odd rows read left to right. The even rows read right to left, even though you will be working left to right. Yeah, I know, it’s a little confusing. That’s because the chart is a representation of only the front of the work.
You should be able to work back and forth from instructions to chart, until you really get the chart clicking. If you have any problems, contact me.