Opinions please. I am getting ready to do an afghan that has cable stitches in it so, I am wondering how it might work out if I do mock cable instead of using a cable needle. Does the mock cable work out to look the same as using an actual cable neede?
Would love to hear your opinions. I find the cable needle awkard to use. If I do use the cable needle, how do you know what size you should use? Thanks for your ideas!
You should use a cable needle (or you can use a dpn, skewer, chopstick, anything short and straight) that’s smaller than your working needle. The mock cables make use of twisted sts over just 2 sts, so may not look the same. If you don’t have more than 6 sts in your cable, you can look for cabling without a cable needle. There’s a video on the Advanced Techniques page under Decorative Stitches, and a couple tutorials online elsewhere.
I’m not sure what you mean by mock cable.
You can make cables w/out using a cable needle - there’s a video on the video page, probably advanced techniques. And there are several other good tutorials just a google away.
If you usa a cable needle, you probably want one several sizes smaller then the needle size you’re using. There are many types of cable needles, it’s totally personal preferance which is better/easier to use.
I think if you want a cable larger than 2 stitches you’ll need to do regular cable which usually involves a cable needle. Mock cables are usually narrow and don’t have the impact of regular cables.
This is one type of mock cable. They are usually used in multiples or in addition to regular cables or another pattern.
http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/babymockcablehat.htm
http://web.archive.org/web/20060820135047/www.knittingwisdom.com/patterns/scarves/pattern-instructions/mock-cable-scarf.htm
Bigger chunky cables are going to require a cable needle.
Thanks everyone. Looks like it will have to be the cable needle since this is a C10.
So the knitting needle is a size 10 and from what you all have said I should use a cable needle smaller than that. I have one, just not sure what size it is. Will have to try to find the package it came in, if not will just get another one. Thanks for all the advice.
Not too small or it’ll just fall out of the stitches. I like straight wooden cable needles, but some people prefer U or J hooks which can be any size because they loop around the stitches.
Jan: The cable needle I have is the U shape, so any size of that type will be okay?
I think so since all you are doing is looping it through the stitches to hold them. I don’t believe they come in other sizes actually anyway. The only time you’d need a certain size is if it’s a straight cable needle. Those can slip out if they are too small.
Most cable needles aren’t sized except maybe as small, med or large. The U shaped one should be just fine.
If you are finding the u-shaped cable needle akward, I would highly suggest getting a wooden one, or use a dpn (a small size 8 dpn would work). I had tried a j-shaped, and one w/a small “hump”, and didn’t like either, but I got the swing of things using a dpn, now own a set of wooden, grooved cable needs, and enjoy cabling a lot!
Thanks for the information. Going to give cables another try with what I have but may wind up switching to the wooden ones. I feel like wood would grab the stitches better too. Thanks!