I got the book “At Knit’s End - Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much” from the library and there was a little snippet in there that reeeeally interested me. She mentioned something about doing cables WITHOUT a cable needle, and that once mastered it is way faster and more efficient. But she didn’t say how. Anyone know???
By the way, I HIGHLY recommend this book. It is so funny and so true. A great fun read. 
From what I understand, you’re really just slipping the stitches off the needle and holding them with your thumb instead of putting them on the cable needle.
I googled and found this: http://wendyknits.net/knit/leftcable.htm
Looks simple enough, haven’t tried it yet though!
I’m thinking you just have to careful not to tug on the work too much or the sts will unwind. :?? Personally though - I like my cable needle 
I agree. I like the security. I’m sure that the moment I free up those stitches, the cat will jump on my lap and all will be lost!
Yep 
And for some reason, non-knitters get extra dazzled when they see a cable needle in the mix. And let’s not even mention dpn’s! :lol: It just makes me feel all extra special and phenominal and stuff … :rofling:
:roflhard: How true, how true! Knitting on dpns dazzles the crowd!! :roflhard:
I don’t know if you looked at the link I gave, but it seems like the stitches that are dropped are put back onto the needle as soon as they are off, so I wouldn’t think you’d need to worry too much about it unraveling. I’ll have to give it a try! 
The last cable project I did involved cotton…so I wasn’t about to try it. But my next will be wool, and I’m definitely going to give it a try!
Kewl - let us know how you like it. The only reason I mention the unraveling is because when I used a cn shaped like this, my sts would fall off and unravel. Maybe it was so easy for them to unravel b/c I’m a tight knitter :?? Anyhoo … I use this shape now and love it because I can hook on my collar when I’m not using it.
Well, I did it and I like it!! Only problem is that I’m a bit of a tight knitter and I find it challenging to get the second needle through 3 stitches but once I do it works great. Now to see if it’s actually faster or not.
Worked for me too!!! No for fumbling with cable needles… Woo HOO!
i learned cables w/o a cable needle because my cats ALWAYS TAKE MY DAMN CABLE NEEDLES!!! :mad:
If you do a search for “cables without a cable needle” you might be able to find more threads that have links to other resources. I find it’s easier than fumbling with the needle anyway, especially for small cables. For the largerones (that i stink at) i use the cable needle.
good luck!
I usually do knit without a cable needle, so long as the cable isn’t too wide. I’ll use one for a 6/6 cable, for example.
However, for my Aran Afghan, one square required THREE cable needles to make one cable. :shock: The pattern doesn’t reallly say 3 cable needles, it tells you to use one CN and 2 DPNs which are used as CNs.
Wowwie!! :shock:
Hi!
I saw an episode of Knitty Gritty where Annie Modesitt did this.
Since I have NO experience whatsoever doing cables, it’s over my head, but there is a segment on the KG site about it here: www.diynet.com/diy/na_knitting/article/0,2025,DIY_14141_3594971,00.html
Maybe this will help?
HTH!
Anyone familiar with this method of cabling (ie. no cable needle) care to take a crack at this one???
(I’m thinkin’ I’m better off just using a cable needle but thought I’d throw it out there anyways…)
Slip next 6 sts onto cable needle, hold at back of work
K3
Slip first 3 sts from cable needle onto left needle, P3
K last 3 sts from cable needle
:??
Um - I don’t understand the question … :?? I would just use a cable needle for this one. I’m sure you could try the wendyjohnson technique. 
But me likes me cable needle, or should I say, me cable “hook”. :lol:
I’d be scared to try this one without a cable needle too. With 6 stitches hanging loose at one time I’d be SURE to lose at least ONE. :rollseyes:
I’m with ek - I 
my cable hook.
Happy Cabling!! :happydance:
Mary
Yeah, I am currently using a cable needle for that one, but I’ve been experimenting with the ‘cables without cable needle’ concept lately and was just wondering if the one above was even possible without.
