Horseshoe Cable Knitting Stitch Pattern

Learn how to knit the Horseshoe Cable Knitting Stitch in this video tutorial and add a beautiful cable stitch panel to your hand knitted sweater.

swatch of the horseshoe cable knit stitchPin

About the Stitch

This cable stitch is easier than it looks! It’s an 8-row repeat, but only 1 row has cable stitches. ;)

This horseshoe cable stitch consists of 2 cable stitches using 4 stitches each. On one row you’ll create a right leaning and then a left leaning cable stitch. You’ll create them back to back to create this beautiful cable knit stitch.

If you’re knitting a stockinette stitch sweater or hat and you’d like to add this cable pattern, having a few reverse stockinette stitches on either side of your cable will give it more definition, so it “pops.”

The Horseshoe Cable Stitch is also known as the Wishbone Stitch.

This is not a reversible pattern, meaning that the front and back are not the same.

There aren’t any increases or decreases, so you should always have the same number of stitches on the needles.

Skill level : Intermediate / Advanced Beginner

Yarn, Needles & Notions

Yarn Weight: Super Bulky
Yardage: 35-45 yds (32 – 41 meters)
Suggested Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick
Needle Size: US 11 (8 mm) Knitting Needles
Cable Needle
Darning Needle / Tapestry Needle/ Yarn Needle
Scissors

* I like using DPN’s for a small swatch, it’s easier on my hands than full length straight needles

Yarn Substitutions

You can use any yarn you’d like. To get the right gauge, start with the recommended needle size. If you’re stitches are too loose, use smaller needles and if you’re stitches are too tight use larger needles.


Video Tutorial

Music by Ben Sound

Horseshoe Cable Stitch Pattern Instructions

Knit flat using straight needles

CO 12 Stitches

Row 1, 3, 5 (RS): *P2, K8, P2*
Row 2, 4, 6, 8 (WS): *K2, P8, K2*
Row 7 (RS): *P2, C4B, C4F, P2* (cable row)
Repeat rows 1-8, until desired length

Checklist

Row 1 (RS): *P2, K8, P2*
Row 2 (WS): *K2, P8, K2*
Row 3 (RS): *P2, K8, P2*
Row 4 (WS): *K2, P8, K2*
Row 5 (RS): *P2, K8, P2*
Row 6 (WS): *K2, P8, K2*
Row 7 (RS): *P2, C4B, C4F, P2* (cable row)
Row 8 (WS): *K2, P8, K2*
Repeat rows 1-8, until desired length

Expert tip:
Place a stitch marker after the first 2 stitches and before the last 2 stitches, to separate the edge stitches from the cable stitches in the center.

Cable Stitch Inspiration

This cable stitch pattern looks amazing with all types off knitwear. Below is some inspiration:

Hats
Sweaters
Headbands
Blankets


Abbreviations

*– * – repeat between * asterisks
CO – cast-on (long-tail cast-on method)
C4B – cable 4 back – right leaning cable – transfer 2 stitches to a cable needle and hold it in the back of your work, knit the next 2 stitches and then knit the 2 stitches off the cable needle
C4F – cable 4 front – left leaning cable – transfer 2 stitches to a cable needle and hold it in the front of your work, knit the next 2 stitches and then knit the 2 stitches off the cable needle
K – knit stitches (example: K1 means to knit 1 stitch)
P – purl stitches (example: P2 means to purl 2 stitches)
RS – right side
WS – wrong side


Right Side Rows / Front of Work

swatch of the horseshoe cable knit stitch


Patterns Using the Horseshoe Cable Knit Stitch

knitted horseshoe cable headband on a faux fur blanketPin

Horseshoe Cable Headband Knitting Pattern

Horseshoe Cable Knitting Stitch Pattern

Learn how to knit the Horseshoe Cable Knitting Stitch and add a beautiful cable stitch panel to your hand knitted sweater.
This cable stitch is easier than it looks! It’s an 8-row repeat, but only 1 row has cable stitches. ;)
Prep Time15 minutes
Active Time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 45 minutes

Equipment

Materials

  • Any Yarn

Instructions

Knit Flat with Straight Needles

  • CO 12 Stitches
  • Row 1, 3, 5 (RS): *P2, K8, P2*
  • Row 2, 4, 6, 8 (WS): *K2, P8, K2*
  • Row 7 (RS): *P2, C4B, C4F, P2* (cable row)
  • Repeat rows 1-8, until desired length

Abbreviations:

  • *– * – repeat between * asterisks
  • CO – cast-on (long-tail cast-on method)
  • C4B – cable 4 back – right leaning cable – transfer 2 stitches to a cable needle and hold it in the back of your work, knit the next 2 stitches and then knit the 2 stitches off the cable needle
  • C4F – cable 4 front – left leaning cable – transfer 2 stitches to a cable needle and hold it in the front of your work, knit the next 2 stitches and then knit the 2 stitches off the cable needle
  • K – knit stitches (example: K1 means to knit 1 stitch)
  • P – purl stitches (example: P2 means to purl 2 stitches)
  • RS – right side
  • WS – wrong side