We've been talking about cabling over a the BWAKAL - do you use a cable needle or not?  BWA yarn is great for cabling without because it is stiff and the stitches really stay right where you put them.  Here's how I cable without a cable needle:

1. Braided Cable over 6 stitches.  Ready for C4F, K2.

2. Slip first four stitches off the left needle.

3. With right needle, pick up two left stitches from behind the right ones.

4. With left needle, pick up two right stiches from in front of the left ones.

5. Bring left needle stitches in front of right needle stitches.

6. Slip right needle stitches onto left needle - cable complete.

7.  Knit across 4 cabled stitches.

8.  Completed Cable!

The concern when learning this technique is that you will drop stitches.  Just be careful not to pull or tug on the needles, which tends to bring the yarn through the loose stitch.  If you get nervous, just slip everything back to where it was, straighten it all out, and start over.  Wendy offers a tutorial with great photos - her technique is slightly different than mine.  She shows different types of cables, too.

That said, I miss the cable needle sometimes.  I liked to weave the cable needle into the knitting when I put it down until next time.  Who knew there were so many kinds of cable needles?  Snow clued me into the "flying bird" and Stephanie mentioned the grooved ones from Fibertech.  Cable needles are great for showing off.  People would always ask "what's that, what are you doing?" when using a cable needle.  (Sometimes that can be annoying...)

Well, hopefully I didn't bore you to tears!  Happy cabling!

 

Comments

[Colleen]

I'm still not sure which is easier when cabling, the cable needle (or in my case, a bent paperclip) or all those slipped stitches. I think that it really depends on what kind of mood I am in that day.

[Chris]

I have to use a needle (Brittany Cable Needle) on the current knit. The handspun just doesn't have enough umph for a 3x3 cable. But usually I just skip the cable needle. It's fun to see people's reaction when I show them. Horror! I also like to psych out my knitting students by taking the knitting from their hands and letting go of one of the needles to show them the needle isn't going anywhere. Their hands usually come up to try and craddle the dangling needle. I only do that with more than 5 sts on the hanging needle though. I am not that cruel! Or am I?

[Annie]

Thanks for the lesson. Your photos are great. I totally understand what you did.

[Norma]

I'm not ready to give up my training wheels -- I mean cable needle. It's my friend. ;-)

[Teresa C]

I love to cable sans needle. For softer slipperier yarns you don't have to slide all the sts off. For the same cross you just showed I will slip the first two sts to the right hand needle. Knit the next two sts. Insert left hand needle into the two slipped sts (the third and fourth on the right hand needle) and slide all four sts off needle (leaving the knitted sts loose) then quickly pick up the knitted sts with the right hand needle and knit the sts on the left. Cable finished.

As per usual: your sweater is turning out beautifully. I can't wait to see it finished.

[Suzanne]

I have become a real convert to Wendy's method of cabling without a cable needle (your method looks great, too). I have used that method on the last few Arans I have made. The thing I love about it so much is that it allows me to take my Aran knitting with me when I travel around to my kids' activities. When I used to use a cable needle (I always like the J-shaped needle), I didn't feel as comfortable carrying it around since I was worried about losing the needle, and it was always awkward to hold while knitting the non-cabled portion of the sweater. The only time I use a cable needle these days is when I have a lot of stitches involved in the crossing and using a cable needle feels easier than not.

[Kim]

Nice tutorial....very clear! I don't mind using a cable needle, but perhaps I will give this a try.

Your cables are looking lovely!

[travelita]

Thx for the lesson and your yarn is gorgeous. Pics were very informative, too. I love using a cable needle..sort of like a juggler with balls in the air. I amaze myself!! Especially with dpn's.

[MJ]

Ever since I discovered Wendy's tutorial, I've cabled without a cable needle. I used to use a small paintbrush, and later on a "J" hook, but I've found I'm faster wthout those tools. Great tutorial, looking forward to seeing your sweater when it's complete!

[Melissa]

I tried it and liked it! But am still a little slow with the technique.

[stephanie]

Wow - your photography is gorgeous! Now I really can't wait to knit Celtic Dreams. :) I tried Wendy's cable method and liked it. I will give yours a try too. I think it is like anything else - at bit wobbly at first - but I think it will go really fast for me once I get the hang of it. It probably does work best when using yarn that has some grab to it.

[Anne]

Here's my question - I haven't tried cabling without a needle (perhaps because I haven't seen a tutorial as clear as yours!) but I'd love to try it if it might help with my big cabling problem - I find that when I'm working a cable, whatever the last stitch is that gets knit always seems to get stretched out, so that it leaves an oversized loop on the back - it doesn't cause huge problems if I'm knitting flat, because I'll just purl it tightly when I go back, but if I'm knitting in the round, I can't really do that, and it probably messes up my gauge, too (although I haven't really checked). I've never quite figured out how to keep that from happening - maybe the cabling without a needle would work.

I have a flying bird, by the way, although I almost always use a DPN instead - it's easier to stick in my ponytail when I'm not using it. :)