Cables are made when stitches in the knitted fabric cross over each other. You place a few stitches on hold by slipping them onto a cable needle, knit the next two or three stitches, then knit the stitches off of the cable needle. These traveling stitches may move to the right or to the left.
Cable needles are short, double-pointed needles made especially for the purpose of knitting cables. They usually have a notch, ridges, or a curved section to keep the stitches from falling off while you are manipulating the cable.
To make a left-crossing cable, you hold the cable needle in the front.
Crossing a four-stitch cable to the left:
1. Slip the next 2 stitches onto the cable needle and hold the cable needle in front of the work.
2. Knit next 2 stitches from left needle.
3. Knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle.
To make a right-crossing cable, you hold the cable needle in the back.
Crossing a four-stitch cable to the right:
1. Slip the next 2 stitches onto the cable needle and hold the cable needle in back of the work.
2. Knit next 2 stitches from left needle.
3. Knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle.