The Cable crochet stitch is created by pulling up a loop in a stitch several stitches back and pulling it across the other stitches already created – a diagonal spike stitch. In this stitch guide I will show you how to crochet the Cable stitch with all the pictures that you need along with a video guide that you can follow along with too.

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The Cable stitch is not a true cable stitch, rather it gets it’s name from the spike stitch that is pulled across each set of double crochet, like a piece of cable. It is an unusual stitch in look, but is simple to make once you get the hang of how far you need to stretch that spike stitch to make a nice even cable that doesn’t squish the stitches it is wrapping itself around.

The Cable stitch would look good as a snood or even clothing and would certainly draw the eye with it’s distinctive look. I chose the Cable crochet stitch to feature as one of the squares in my patchwork blanket – the 50 Stitches as it was a more unusual stitch that I wanted an excuse to make.

This how to guide is part of Froggity Frog’s Stitch Vault collection. Have you seen all the other stitches in there? You can take a look here all the guides are free to access and maybe you will discover some new stitches to create for yourself.

The yarn I used in this stitch guide is Stylecraft Cotton Classique DK, a 100% cotton yarn. It’s a non mercerised cotton that is lovely and soft, but it can get a bit splitty if you frog it a couple of times. It does makes lovely cosy blankets though and is the yarn that got me hooked on cotton as my fibre of choice. I think I first got a ball of this yarn in a mystery bag I got off ebay, and it was a great yarn discovery for me.

I also used my trusty Clover Amour hooks which are perfect if you are looking for a good value ergonomic crochet hook that won’t cause your hand to ache if you are crocheting for long periods of time. I’ve tried many different crochet hooks over the years, but I always end up coming back to my trusty Clovers. They just sit so well in my hand and never let me down.

How To Crochet The Cable Stitch

Click here for the left hand video

The stitch guide below is written in US terms

Abbreviations

• Ch = Chains
• St = Stitch
• Sc = Single Crochet
• Dc = Double Crochet

You will need to chain a foundation row with a multiple of 4 stitches plus 2 (plus 1 for the turning chain).

Row 1. In the 3rd chain from your hook make a sc (the turning chain counts as your first stitch of the row). Make a sc in each stitch across.

Row 2. Turn and chain 1. Make a dc turning chain in the first stitch, which counts as the first double crochet of the row. Skip the next stitch and make a dc in each of the next 3 stitches. Go back to the skipped stitch and make a cable. You want to insert your hook into the loops, not in the chain space.

(Yarn over, insert hook into the skipped stitch you made before the 3 dc and pull up a long loop across the 3 dc so the loop is the height of the other stitches. Complete the stitch as you would a normal dc – this is your cable stitch)

*Skip the next stitch and make a dc in each of the next 3 stitches. Go back to the skipped stitch and make a cable* repeat the pattern between * and *

Finish the row by making a dc in the last stitch.

Tip – if your cable gets twisted, just run your nail down the middle and it will straighten itself out.

Row 3. Turn and chain 1. Make a sc in the first stitch. Make a sc in each stitch across.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 ending in a repeat of row 3 until you have the number of rows that you need for your project. Then you can cut off, weave in your ends and admire your beautiful handy work.

How To Add A Border To The Cable Stitch

For the Cable stitch you have both single and double crochet stitches in your rows. You need to make a single stitch into the side of each single crochet row and you need to make 2 stitches into the side of each double crochet row.

I always recommend that you make a round of single crochet stitches around your piece first before adding any border pattern that you have planned, as doing this just helps to even your stitches out and make a nice solid round to add any further stitches into.

I used the Cable stitch as one of the pieces in my very first crochet along The 50 Stitches – find out more about this free pattern here, and join in and access the entire pattern for free.

You can find more free crochet stitch guides here in Froggity Frog’s stitch vault. Come on over to our Facebook group – Froggity Frog’s Ribbit And Stitch and show us what you made with the Seed stitch. I’d love to see what you created with this crochet stitch. 

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