Doubt about pattern reading concerning cable knitting

#1

Hi!
I’m new to the forums, and knitting. I only picked it up a week ago, basically watching the videos on this site, and am very much into it. I came across a gorgeous pattern for a scarf, but I’m having trouble understanding the instructions for the cable knitting. I’d post the link but don’t have the privilege to do so, yet.

I have two questions:

  1. When looking at Row 19: “Rs Row 19: K1, P1, K4, P6, K8, C2B, K4, C2F, K8, P6, K4, P1, K1”, for the cable instructions “C2B, K4”, am I supposed to a) slip 2 stitches to the cable needle, hold it to the back, knit four stitches off the left hand needle, and then knit the two stitches on the cable needle, or b) slip 2 stitches to the cable needle, hold it to the back, knit two stitches off the left hand needle, knit the 2 stitches on the cable needle, and THEN just knit four regular stitches? This is very confusing to me. I tried going to the glossary but there’s nothing there about this kind of abbreviation.

  2. When reading instructions about “RS” or “WS” (I know RS means the visible side when wearing non-reversible garment) does it simply mean to flip the knitting over? Like, holding the left hand needle with the right hand and viceversa? I know this must be a very stupid question but quite honestly I can’t grab the concept.

#2

Usually the number in the cable is for the total number of sts in it, so C2B would be slip 1 st to the cn, hold in back, k1 from the L, knit 1 from the cn. It should define it in the pattern. After a few of these 2 st cables (also called R and L twists) you may find it easier to just take the single st off the needle and let hang while you knit the other one. It won’t drop as long as you don’t stretch the needles apart.

The RS/WS designations are just to tell you which is the outside or pattern row side of the piece and which the inside; the cable crosses will all be done on the RS. You turn the work at the end of the rows anyway, so you’re not doing anything different than regular knitting.

#3

Thanks so much for your reply.

So basically I should disregard the RS/WS instructions? I’ll copy the section of the pattern that uses these instructions:

Row 14 (Row A): P1, K1, P4, K6, P8, K4, P4, K4, P8, K6, P4, K1, P1
Row 15 (Row B): K1, P1, K4, P6, K8, P4, K4, P4, K8, P6, K4, P1, K1
Repeat rows A, B, A
Rs Row 19: K1, P1, K4, P6, K8, C2B, K4, C2F, K8, P6, K4, P1, K1 - This is the row everyone seems to have issues with - check out the walkthrough here
Repeat rows A, B, A, B, A
Rs Row 25: K1, P1, K4, P6, C4B, P4, K4, P4, C4F, P6, K4, P1, K1
Repeat * to * 42 times, or until whatever crazy length you like.
WS facing: Row A, B, A, B, A
Rs facing: K1, P1, K4, P6, K8, C2B, K4, C2F, K8, P6, K4, P1, K1
Repeat rows A, B, A, B, A

In this case should I just ignore the “WS” and knit as I would regularly?

#4

You need to pay attention to the WS facing direction here because it follows the ‘knit until whatever crazy length you like’ direction. You just want to make sure that you finish knitting a RS row so that you’re reeady to follow the directions:
WS facing: Row A, B, A, B, A
Rs facing: K1, P1, K4, P6, K8, C2B, K4, C2F, K8, P6, K4, P1, K1
Repeat rows A, B, A, B, A

The RS/WS designations are always helpful even if they only reassure you that you’ve followed directions correctly. Because this is a cable pattern and the cables are crossing on one side, it will be easy to see which is the RS.