Last Saturday was a ‘Guild Saturday’. I love Guild Saturdays although at the moment there’s still a certain amount of trepidation and lots of adrenalin as L and I are getting accustomed to being the ones running the meeting. Fortunately, we seem to have got off to a good start. This year’s programme includes offering a technique session or short talk at every meeting. Thankfully, there are many skilled and knowledgeable members who’re willing to share their expertise with others.
The first technique of the year was “cabling without a cable needle”. Yes, I know, many people can do this already. I’ve always got scared at the pull-the-needle-out-of-your-knitting bit and left well alone. I clearly wasn’t the only one as several Guild members had put their names down for this at the information-gathering session in December. The Inner City branch* is a wonderful group of knitters and crocheters and we had three members who kindly volunteered to show small groups the wonderful trick of cabling without having to use an additional needle. So we sat around the tables, shifting stitches, holding our breath and pulling out needles and, really, once you see someone do it in real life and have a go yourself, it isn’t that hard at all!
J, who was teaching the group I was in, did point out that she found 6-stitch cables too wide and that really slippery or splitty yarns make the technique harder too.
I know exactly where this trick will come into its own – socks! Particularly, if like me, you knit socks on DPNs, not having to manipulate another little needle is a godsend.
Please excuse me while I browse cabled socks on Ravelry…
*The Inner City branch of the Knitters’ Guild NSW meets on the second Saturday each month. You can find out more about the Guild here.
soknitsome 
I know it’s possible to knit cables without cabling needles, but I just get heart palpitations thinking of intentionally slipping the stitches off the needles! It’s not that I can’t fix a slipped stitch, it’s just one of those emotional things. I guess practice makes perfect? 🙂
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I think so. I’m sure I’ll find it a bit nerve-wracking when I first try it on a sock!
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Socks were my main concern actually, because the stitches are small! I’d be fine with chunky…
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Yes they are but the needles are thinner too!
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You mean the cabling needles or the regular ones? I don’t think that would bother me, it’s just having tiny stitches “lost” without a needle… They could unravel so easily 😳
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Regular ones. You just need to pinch the stitches firmly before removing the needle. Of course theory’s easier than practice!
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Oh my, yes, I think I’d still have a heart attack 😁
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I’ve tried cabling without a cable needle several times, but am always defeated. Maybe I’ll give it a other try. Thanks for sharing.
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Do, perhaps with different yarn than previously…
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I am really itching for a knitting group… lucky you!
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I’m extremely lucky here – I belong to two different groups and one meets weekly. 🙂
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Hooray for you on this successful meeting. I’ve never tried that. I’ll need to YouTube it. Do you find crossing cables this way produced tighter or more loose stitches?
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The crossed stitches were a bit tight but you can stretch them a bit as you stick the needle in to transfer. Once you knit the next row, it’s fine. Yarn type may make a difference too.
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Handy technique, isn’t it? I particularly like it for traveling stitch patterns.
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Indeed. Now I know how to do this, there’ll be no stopping me!
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I do need to try this, even though the thought scares me!!
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Like many things, it’s not as hard as you think it’s going to be. Give it a try!
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I always envy your ability to attend knitting groups. The idea of learning something every meeting sounds like a very good one! Good luck with the socks. I find that because of the tighter tension/gauge when knitting socks and the use of superwash wool that they can slip a lot more easily than in looser gauge knitting. It’s a wonderful technique though!
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I am very fortunate when it comes to knitting groups. They’ve been a real lifeline here. I hadn’t thought specifically about how the kind of knitting you’re doing affects the technique. I guess I’ll just have to practise a bit. 😉
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Funny, I’m sitting here knitting and cabling without a cable needle and reading your post! Practice does make perfect. And a slightly less splitty yarn is helpful, too. My current cables are 2×2, and I’ll go as big as 3×3, but not more. I think the main thing to remember is to pinch underneath the stitches before you slide the needle out, so the stitches can’t drop/run. I have a couple YouTube videos on cabling without a cable needle; you can access them through the Tutorials page (listed on the top of my blog).
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Our teacher did stress the importance of making sure we held the stitches before removing the needle. Your tutorials are great. I hadn’t looked at them before.
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Great post, Sally. Thank you. I, too, have some trepidation before the meetings but so far, so good.
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Thank you. You seem so calm and collected. But I guess a little bit of trepidation will keep us aiming high!
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I reading this as I sit and cable 8 its without a cable needle. It can be done, but best to use wool in worsted weight and not move too much while cabling!! Sometimes I even hold my breath. LOL
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Wow, that sounds daring. No wonder you have to hold your breath!
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Brave but worth the effort! Right? I am going to try that tonight. Would save so much time if I can get it to work.
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Definitely worth trying. Good luck!
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