Comments on: A Better Way to Knit Cables? Give ‘em a Right Hook! http://knitforbrains.net/techniques/knitting-cables/a-new-and-better-way-to-knit-cables/ Smart Man Knitting Smart Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:49:05 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Eric http://knitforbrains.net/techniques/knitting-cables/a-new-and-better-way-to-knit-cables/#comment-26 Eric Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:38:25 +0000 http://knitforbrains.net/?p=214#comment-26 Thanks for the link. I tried this and while I'm sure I need more practice, after four trials of this technique I'm not so sure it's less precarious or easier than the other pinch method. The slip-knit-pinch-swap-knit approach it uses does add a tiny bit of breathing room during the pinch and swap part, but there are still loose loops that can come undone if not careful. I found it touchy. Again, a lot of practice would make this easier. Make yourself a cable practice swatch about thirty stitches wide and do lots of them to see if this method will work for you. I'm not crazy about it as my crochet hook method is easier from the start and definitely more secure. Another thing I found is that where Grumperina says to put the yarn in front, for Portuguese style you would not do that or you get a yarnover. Leave the yarn on top / in back as for a knit stitch as usual in the Portuguese style. Knit the second set of loops. This will also leave a sort of float behind the slipped stitches. You may want to pinch that in your pinch-swap to deter the loose loops from pulling out. The float will disappear when you knit the remaining set of loops. I have <a href="http://knitforbrains.net/?p=231" rel="nofollow">another post</a> on yet another way of doing a cable, this time with a third straight needle, that is pretty handy. It sounds ideal for when you have a lot of cables to do. Thanks for the link. I tried this and while I’m sure I need more practice, after four trials of this technique I’m not so sure it’s less precarious or easier than the other pinch method. The slip-knit-pinch-swap-knit approach it uses does add a tiny bit of breathing room during the pinch and swap part, but there are still loose loops that can come undone if not careful. I found it touchy. Again, a lot of practice would make this easier. Make yourself a cable practice swatch about thirty stitches wide and do lots of them to see if this method will work for you. I’m not crazy about it as my crochet hook method is easier from the start and definitely more secure.

Another thing I found is that where Grumperina says to put the yarn in front, for Portuguese style you would not do that or you get a yarnover. Leave the yarn on top / in back as for a knit stitch as usual in the Portuguese style. Knit the second set of loops. This will also leave a sort of float behind the slipped stitches. You may want to pinch that in your pinch-swap to deter the loose loops from pulling out. The float will disappear when you knit the remaining set of loops.

I have another post on yet another way of doing a cable, this time with a third straight needle, that is pretty handy. It sounds ideal for when you have a lot of cables to do.

]]> By: eightoclock http://knitforbrains.net/techniques/knitting-cables/a-new-and-better-way-to-knit-cables/#comment-25 eightoclock Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:53:10 +0000 http://knitforbrains.net/?p=214#comment-25 Thanks for sharing over on Ravelry! This basic idea of "rearrange and then knit" has been around for quite a while. Actually, the last Interweave Knits had an article on exactly this, although they didn't use a crochet hook for the rearranging. As an idea, there's one more method you might try. http://www.grumperina.com/cables.htm It's a bit more elegant and involves fewer steps. With this method there is no extra implement, and you actually work half the cable before the rearranging. There's a pinch involved, but the pinch is done on stitches that have already been worked, and so they're way looser and less precarious. Thanks for sharing over on Ravelry!

This basic idea of “rearrange and then knit” has been around for quite a while. Actually, the last Interweave Knits had an article on exactly this, although they didn’t use a crochet hook for the rearranging.

As an idea, there’s one more method you might try.

http://www.grumperina.com/cables.htm

It’s a bit more elegant and involves fewer steps. With this method there is no extra implement, and you actually work half the cable before the rearranging. There’s a pinch involved, but the pinch is done on stitches that have already been worked, and so they’re way looser and less precarious.

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