SPINE STITCH

STITCH OF THE MONTH – February 2016

The Spine stitch is worked as an all over cable pattern creating an appealing 'spine' texture. Each stitch on the right side row is cabled resulting in a dense fabric that has less drape.

Working a one-over-one cable is the simplest of cable stitches and can be worked without a cable needle. This technique is referred to as a cable-type crossed stitch.

Spine Stitch

(Multiple of 4 stitches)

Row 1 (RS)  *C2B, C2F; repeat from * to end

Row 2          Purl

These 2 rows form the Spine Stitch

Abbreviations

C2B  Cable 2 Back  

C2F  Cable 2 Front

Directions

Cable 2 Back: Knit second stitch on left needle through the back loop, then knit first stitch through the back loop. Drop both stitches from left needle. 

Cable 2 Front: Knit second stitch on left needle through the front loop, then knit first stitch through the front loop. Drop both stitches from left needle.

STAGHORN CABLE

STITCH OF THE MONTH - May 2015

The Staghorn Cable is a dramatic stitch pattern that is easy to produce. It's a wide pattern that is worked over 16 stitches against a reverse stockinette stitch background. 

It is important to check the gauge as cable patterns tend to pull the work in so the stitch gauge will change as cable patterns are added to the fabric.

The pattern can also be reversed which will result in an upside down Staghorn Cable pattern.   

STAGHORN CABLE
(Worked over 16 sts)
Row 1 (WS) and every WS row:  Purl
Row 2:  K4, C4B, C4F, k4
Row 4:  K2, C4B, k4, C4F, k2
Row 6:  C4B, k8, C4F
These 6 rows form the Staghorn Cable.

Reversed Staghorn Cable
Row 1 (WS) and every WS row: Purl
Row 2:  C4F, k8, C4B
Row 4:  K2, C4F, k4, C4B, k2
Row 6:  K4, C4F, C4B, k4
These 6 rows form the Staghorn Cable.

Abbreviations
C4B - Cable over 4 stitches to the back. This is worked by sliding 2 stitches from the left needle onto a cable needle. Move the cable needle to behind the left needle. Knit the next 2 stitches from the left needle and then knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle.
C4F - Cable over 4 stitches to the front. This is worked by sliding 2 stitches from the left needle onto a cable needle. Move the cable needle in front of the left needle. Knit the next 2 stitches from the left needle and then knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle.
WS - Wrong side.

RIBBING WITH MOCK CABLE

STITCH OF THE MONTH - October 2014
Ribbing with Mock Cable is a wide rib pattern that features a slanted mock ribbing pattern in vertical columns. The ribbing creates elasticity through the width of the fabric and the mock cable creates slanted mock cables that are knit by crossing 2 stitches rather than using a cable needle to move the 1 stitch to the back. 

It can be used on edgings such as cuffs and hems, or in a pattern where shaping is necessary such as at the waist.

Ribbing with Mock Cable
(Multiples of 7 + 2 stitches)
Row 1 (RS)   P2, *C2B, k3, p2; repeat from * to end
Row 2 (and every WS row)  K2, *p5, k2; repeat from * to end
Row 3           P2, *k1, C2B, k2, p2; repeat from * to end
Row 5           P2, *k2, C2B, k1, p2; repeat from * to end
Row 7           P2, *k3, C2B, p2; repeat from * to end
Row 8           K2, *p5, k2; repeat from * to end
These 8 rows form the Ribbing with Mock Cable.

Abbreviations
C2B   Cross 2 Back - Knit 2nd stitch on needle through back loop and then knit the first stitch slipping both stitches off the needles at the same time.
RS     Right side
WS    Wrong side

SIX STITCH CABLES

Stitch of the Month - October 2013

Cables add a wonderful texture and interest to knits. The cables are created by crossing one set of stitches over another with the use of a cable needle (or double-pointed needle) producing a twist in the fabric. Cable patterns can be simple in form or feature complex pattern designs. They are usually worked as stockinette stitches over a reverse stockinette stitch background. It is important to note that cables pull the work in so the stitch gauge will change as cable patterns are added to the fabric.  

Cables that slant to the right are created by moving the stitches on the cable needle to the back. The cables that slant to the left are created by moving the stitches on the cable needle to the front.

The six-stitch cables patterns shown are worked over 6 rows and include a six-stitch cable variation.

Stitch pattern shown from left to right: 1. Six-stitch cable variation slant to left, 2. Six-stitch cable variation slant to right, 3. Six-stitch cable slant to left, 4. Six-stitch cable slant to right.

Six-Stitch Cable (Slant to the right)
Row 1 and 3 (RS):  Knit.
Row 2 and all WS rows:  Purl.
Row 5:  C6B.
Row 6:  Purl.
These 6 rows form the pattern.

Six-Stitch Cable (Slant to the left)
Row 1 and 3 (RS):  Knit.
Row 2 and all WS rows:  Purl.
Row 5:  C6F.
Row 6:  Purl.
These 6 rows form the pattern.

Six-Stitch Cable Variation (Slant to the right)
Rows 1, 3, 7, 9, 13 and 15 (RS): Knit.
Row 2 and all WS rows:  Purl.
Rows 5 and 11:  C6B.
Row 16:  Purl.
These 16 rows form the pattern.

Six-Stitch Cable Variation (Slant to the left)
Rows 1, 3, 7, 9, 13 and 15 (RS): Knit.
Row 2 and all WS rows:  Purl.
Rows 5 and 11:  C6F.
Row 16:  Purl.
These 16 rows form the pattern.

Abbreviations
C6B - Cable over 6 stitches to the back. This is worked by sliding 3 stitches from the left needle onto a cable needle. Move the cable needle to behind the left needle. Knit the next 3 stitches from the left needle and then knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle.
C6F - Cable over 6 stitches to the front. This is worked by sliding 3 stitches from the left needle onto a cable needle. Move the cable needle in front of the left needle. Knit the next 3 stitches from the left needle and then knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle.
RS - Right side.
WS - Wrong side.