I’m Gonna Knit Cables Baby!

A Halloween Story with a Twist.

Gather round while I tell the story of a beginner learning how to knit cables. This tale is not for the faint of heart, the very young or non-knitters. Gird your loins but stay on the path as we explore some of the scariest moments in knitting. Here you will find dropped stitches, weird twists and turns and yes, even (dare I name it?) some unravelling. So, come with me on this journey if you dare but I warn you: No one will hear your screams!

How it Started

After doing some searching on Ravelry, I found the free and yet sinister sounding pattern called Staghorn Leg Warmers Knit Pattern. The patterns, photography and presentation on this site are beautiful but don’t let that lure you into the dangers of analysis paralysis where it is said that many knitters can be lost and never seen again (or is that the Ravelry site itself?).

I chose the yarn based on colour rather than content, because, well honestly I didn’t think I would have much success with this first attempt so didn’t want to splurge on expensive yarns at this point in my journey. I am still a fledgling knitter after all.

As was foretold earlier this year, after many detours down dark pathways, but I finally mastered the art of the magic loop for in-the-round knitting. I just have to remember that I am knitting around the outside of the loop and all is well. But now with cables, I will require injecting a third needle. Can this be done? Fear not dear reader and read on…

Preparation

So much more needs to be done to prepare for a successful adventure though. Before setting out, the instructions, written in the secret script of knitters, needed careful study and translation: YO, CB4, Ktbl, K2 pass YO, slip 2, CF4, P3, * etc. Each of these mysterious notations became clearer by consulting the YouTube Oracle and I was ready to begin.

The new ones for me were:

CB4 (Place 2 stitches on a cable needle BEHIND the work, then knit the next 2, then go back and knit the previous 2 from the cable needle for a total cable of 4 stitches wide).

CF4 (Place 2 stitches on a cable needle IN FRONT of the work, then knit the next 2, then go back and knit the previous 2 from the cable needle for a total cable of 4 stitches wide).

YO (Yarn Over) and Ktbl (Knit through the back loop) were also interesting variation but ones I could master I was sure.

I had all the ingredients and methods at the ready and had prepared as much as I could. I just needed to take the first stitch and begin.

The Adventure Begins

The journey started like so many other projects before it. Cast on the required stitches and make the cuff with a rib stitch. This is so satisfying with the larger worsted weight yarn (Number 4 medium) after working so long with fingering weight yarns.

The pattern starts with the bottom ribbing, but instead of the familiar Knit 1, Purl 1, it is Knit 1 “through the back loop”, Purl 1. This is literally exactly as it sounds and is not hard to do. Apparently the resulting ribbing that is more defined with less possibility for loose or messy stitching. Many of the online advisors suggest slightly different ribbing for the top and bottom and that may be good advice for me to follow.

As you can see from the picture, the ribbing does look a bit different which is kinda cool. Now on to the main event.

Cables

Okay, so the pattern consisted of 6 rows which creates one deep V cable. The rest of the pattern is made with the YO stitch which spans around the rest of the leggings. This YO is quite slow and tedious, but it makes a very cool looking pattern on the back.

The entire pattern is a set of 6 rows that completes the single cables. At the time of knitting, it seemed like it took FOREVER. The whole cable operation itself was simple in explanation but a bit fiddly in execution. I experimented with a few different cable needles, but found the one with a little dip in the middle (pictured above with the ribbing) worked best for me.

The recommended size is to repeat the full cable pattern (6 rows) about 13 times for the average size and then to complete with ribbing at the top. You can make the top ribbing as long as you want – longest if the cuff is turned down (which I did). The first legging (pictured) had a few whoopsies in the back YO pattern but the cables were neat and tidy.

I’m fascinated with the knitted cable though – so visually interesting! My purling on either side of the cable is loosey-goosey looking and needs improvement. Also, the back is definitely wonky in places and that is being kind.

I managed to make that one legging first and it was not too bad. But, leggings come in pairs! So I needed to make the same size again. Ahhhhhh! and this is where it all began to fall apart. Did I lose my cool and focus by the second legging or was it just the need to concentrate too long. I was knitting while watching TV, so that may also have contributed.

The Monstrosity I made

I made the second legging which actually turned out to look bad – really bad. I messed up one of the cables but for some ridiculous reason kept knitting anyway. In the end, the error was very obvious. Cables mess ups are very noticeable! In fact, I pointed out the mess to the recipient of the monstrosity so she would know it had to be redone. She saw the error (hard to miss) but put them on anyway for size. And horror of horrors! she didn’t care that they were so ugly. She said that they were warm and cozy and that is all she needed. Oh the humanity! She is wearing them!

The End

I’m ashamed to say I allowed the thing to live but I have committed to making a third legging to swap out eventually. I hope you didn’t find this harrowing tale too much. I have saved you the pain of the worst images of the disfigured cable at least and hopefully one day the thing will return and be reborn as something else less appalling.

A cautionary tale indeed!