Odd cable stitch

How-to Questions
1

Hi everyone! I am totally new to knitting and am still trying to understand the terminology. If anyone could help me, I would really appreciate it! Here goes my question:

The other day I found a pattern for a scarf that I would like to make, but I don’t know how to do its cable stitch. The directions give the following explanation:

BC (back cross, worked on 6 stitches): Slip 4 stitches onto cable needle and hold in back. Knit 2 stitches. Slip 2 purl stitches from cable needle to left needle and purl them. Knit 2 from cable needle.

And here are the directions:

Row 6: Slip 1, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K1
Row 7: Slip 1, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, K1
Row 8: Slip 1, P2, BC, P2, K1

So, for the back cross cable stitch, I understand that you move 2 knits followed by 2 purls onto the cable needle (so the cable needle ends up with 2 purls on the left and 2 knits on the right), then you knit 2 from the left needle onto the right needle. But then do you slip the 2 left-most stitches (so the 2 purls) back onto the left needle and purl them? And in what order would you move them onto the left needle? Or do you slip the 2 knits purlwise onto the left needle? Does that make any sense? I am so confused… :frowning:

Anyway, I would really appreciate any help! Thank you sooo much…

Emma

2

Slip the 4 stitches, like you said, on to the cable needle and hold in back.

Knit 2 from the regular needle.

Then slip the 2 purl stitches from the left tip of the cable needle onto the left needle (just transfer them) and leave the 2 knit stitches on the cable needle.

Purl the two that you just transferred and then knit the 2 from the cable needle.

This type of cable is easiest to work by using a double pointed needle for the cable needle, if you have one.

3

Ohh, that makes so much sense – Thank you so much, Ingrid!