Wednesday, August 20, 2008

CABLES-They're easier than you think!!

A dear friend of mine took one of my sweater classes which happened to have cables on it. In making her cables, she criss crossed them. How? When you are taking your knit stitches off the cable needle, you need to slip them purl wise. The first stitch you slipped is the first stitch you will knit off the cable. Well, she knitted her last stitch off her cable needle. When she learned that she was doing it incorrectly, she had to continue cabling in that fashion to finish the sweater.

So, how can you make sure that you don't knit off your last stitch? Take a dark color of nail polish or a permanent marker and paint on the tip of one side of the cable needle. Personally, I prefer a straight needle instead of the "J". The painted tip should be on the right side as you are transferring your stitches from your needle to the cable needle. Now, when you are knitting the stitches off the cable needle, you'll know from which side to knit.

Cables really are easier than you think. I'm sure the first time we held knitting needles in our hands, we had no idea what we could do with them or what we could create!! Don't be afraid...just practice it. With each cable you make, the prouder you will feel!

Happy Cabling, my friends!

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