My Cable Needle Guide – What You Need To Know

Knitting cables looks beautiful but complicated! A cable needle is a handy little tool to make it easier to create cables in knitting. I share the best ones for your projects.

Knitter’s Pride Dreamz Cable Needles

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From the popular Dreamz brand, manufactured by the USA based knitting tools and notions company Knitter’s Pride. These are great quality cable stitch holders. Perfect for using with knit needles when you make cables.

Features

• Made In India
• Pack Of 3 – US 3, (3.25 mm),US 6, (4.0 mm), & US 9 (5.50mm)
• 4″ Long
• Plastic

Pros

• Smooth tapered tips which means you won’t poke yourself
• The ridges along the surface keeps the stitches from falling off
• Lightweight and easy to manage
• Can hold parallel to your working needles when you knit the stitches off
• Durable wood
• Great for bulky yarns
• Different colors are appealing to the eye and make it easier to identify the sizes
• Easy to order with an affordable price and delivery

Cons

• Hard to work with if you are not confident cabling with a straight cable needle
• Some found the grooves snagged the yarn

Boye Metal Cable Knitting Needles

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This set includes three metal needles with pointed ends to prevent yarn splitting and a nice weight. Super smooth, so they won’t catch, but they may be too slippery for beginner knitters. They’re sturdier than plastic options.

• Pack Of 3 (3, 4.5, 4.81 inches long) The range in diameter the J Shape is suitable for bulky yarn. The V Shape and the straight with the bend in the middle is for lighter weight yarns

Pros

• These are made of aluminum so they are long lasting
• The anodized surface is smooth so your yarns won’t snag
• Variety of diameters and lengths allows for different yarns and projects
• Sharp points helps with getting into stitches

Cons

• The J Shaped version can be a bit awkward at first
• Some products were reported to have nicks in the surface

Looking for something similarly cheap? Try a Cable Needle from Susan Bates.

Recommended Cable Needle Comparison Chart

FAQs About Cable Needles

What Is A Cable Needle?

A cable needle in knitting is a small needle with a bend in the middle and a point at either end. They’re plastic, metal, or aluminum.

What Do You Use Cable Needles For?

You use cable needles for holding the stitches that need to be crossed while you knit the cable.

How Do You Hold A Cable Needle?

You hold a cable needle in your dominant hand and insert it into the stitches you need to hold in the back or the front when working a knitted cable.

How Do You Use A Cable Needle?

Here is how to use a cable needle to do cabling knitting in this excellent video tutorial from Lion Brand.

Why Are Cable Needles Bent?

Cable needles are bent because the bend in the middle of the needle keep the stitches from falling off.

Are All Cable Needles The Same Size?

No, cable needles aren’t all the same size. They come in different variations to suit yarn thicknesses and knitting needle sizes.

What Are The Types Of Knitting Cable Needles?

The types of knitting cable needles are straight cable needles and bent cable needles and J Shaped cable needles. Straight cable needles are more common, and bent cable needles are for more intricate patterns, as the curve creates a tighter, more complex pattern.

Can You Do Cables Without A Cable Needle?

Yes, you can do cables without a cable needle. With practice, you can move stitches around so they cross each other. For simple cables I find it easier to rearrange stitches than to use a cable needle.

How To Cable Knit Without A Cable Needle

Here’s how to cable knit without a cable needle. You’ll love or hate this method, as it takes practice. So be patient when learning! Cables Without a Cable Needle – Roxanne Richardson has an excellent tutorial on how to create cables without a cable needle.

How To Work A Back (Right Twist) Cable Without A Cable Needle

• Pass the RH needle tip in front of the 1st and 2nd sts.
• Insert it into the 3rd and 4th sts on the LH needle.
• Remove the LH needle from all 4 sts.
• (The 1st and 2nd sts are just hanging out, in back).
• Pass the LH needle tip behind the 3rd and 4th sts.
• Insert it into the 2nd and 1st sts.
• Slip the 3rd and 4th sts from the RH needle tip back to the LH needle tip.
• Knit across the four rearranged stitches.

Note: The same technique can work for turns that twist 3 over 3 or 2 over 4 twists.

How To Work A Front (Right Twist) Cable Without A Cable Needle

• Rearrange the stitches on the left-hand needle by passing the right-hand needle tip in front of the first three stitches.
• Insert it into the fourth, fifth and sixth stitches on the left-hand needle.
• Remove the left-hand needle from all five stitches.
• Pass it behind the fourth, fifth and sixth stitches.
• Insert it into the first three stitches.
• Slip the first three stitches from the right-hand needle tip back onto the left-hand needle and knit across the rearranged six stitches.

If you’re working a twist (with purls) rather than all knits, the process is the same. Rearrange the stitches on the left-hand needle and work them across.

Tips For Knitting Without Using A Cable Needle

• Working without a cable needle is best for six or fewer stitches.
• Keeping the stitches relaxed and tensioned correctly is key.
• Pointy needle tips are best.
• This technique works best with woolier yarns.
• Avoid slippery yarns.

What Can You Use Instead Of A Cable Needle?

You can use household items instead, like a bent smaller paperclip, an extra straight knitting needle, the tip of an interchangeable circular needle, small double pointed needles, a bent safety pin, a needle comb, a fine crochet hook, a skewer, or a toothpick.

Does Cable Needle Size Matter?

Yes, cable needle size matters. If the needle is too big, it creates saggy stitches.

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