Basic 4-Step Cable Knitting Stitch Pattern

Add a Basic 4-Step Cable Knitting Stitch to amplify your bold & cozy knitted blanket. Curl up with your new favorite blanket on movie night!

Swatch of the Basic 4-Step Cable Knit Stitch on a fur blanket.Pin

Welcome to Day 11 of the 21 Days of Cable Knit Stitches Series!
Previous -> Day 10: Open V-Stitch Cable Knit Stitch
Next -> Day 12: Side-by-Side Seed Stitch Cable Knitting Stitch

We’re going to take it easy today and use one cable knit stitch multiple times to create to this beginner cable knit stitch.

Learn how to knit the Basic 4-Step Cable Knit Stitch in today’s video tutorial + grab the FREE Headband Knitting Pattern!

About the Stitch

The Basic 4-Step cable stitch is a 6-row repeat, consisting of 1 small cable that shifts 2 stitches on every right side row.

Even though this cable stitch requires your full attention, it’s easier than it looks!

Create a knitted fabric of diagonals with this twisted cable knit stich.

It’s an 6-row repeat and all of the right side rows have cable stitches.

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

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: 75 yards (68 meters)
Suggested Yarn: Knit Picks The Big Cozy
Needle Size: US 15 (10 mm) Knitting Needles
Cable Needle
Darning Needle / Tapestry Needle / Yarn Needle
Scissors

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.

Basic 4-Step Cable Stitch Swatch Instructions

Knit flat using straight needles:

CO 12 STS

Row 1 (WS): *K1, P10* K1
Row 2 (RS): P1 *C4B, K2, C4B, P1*
Row 3 (WS): *K1, P10* K1
Row 4 (RS): P1 *K4, C4B, K2, P1*
Row 5 (WS): *K1, P10* K1
Row 6 (RS): P1 *K2, C4B, K4, P1*
Repeat rows 1 – 6 until desired length.

Note: CO in increments of 11 +1

Video Tutorial

In the video, I mention “a little to the left” reminding me of the dog in Gilmore Girls, but I couldn’t remember his name. It’s when Lorelai was dating Jason Stiles and the dog’s name is Cyrus.

*Check out some of my other Cable Stitch Patterns.

Basic 4-Step Cable Stitch Headband Pattern Instructions
(Free Knitting Pattern)

Knit flat using straight needles:

CO 14 STS

Rows 1, 3, 5 (WS): K1TBL, K1, P10, K1, K1TBL
Row 2 (RS): WYIF S1PW, P1, C4B, K2, C4B, P1, WYIF S1PW
Row 4 (RS): WYIF S1PW, P1, K4, C4B, K2, P1, WYIF S1PW
Row 6 (RS): WYIF S1PW, P1, K2, C4B, K4, P1, WYIF S1PW
Repeat rows 1 – 6 until it’s about 18” (46cm) long, or desired length.

To End:
End on a row 6
BO in the row 1 pattern
Sew the CO & BO edges together
To see how I do it, watch my video: How to Sew the Seam on a Headband

Headband Notes

The CO edge is the width.
I like using circular knitting needles or DPN’s (double-pointed needle) for a small swatch, it’s easier on my hands than full length straight needles.
You can use any category of yarn you’d like, just keep in mind that the thinner the yarn, the narrower your headband.

Cable Stitch Inspiration

This is one of my favorite stitches to create a thick & cozy fabric for just about any project!

Suggested Project Ideas:
Hats
Sweaters
Headbands
Scarves
Blankets
Shawl

Suggested Trim:
Garter Stitch
1×1 ribbing
Seed Stitch
Moss Stitch

Abbreviations : Knitting Techniques

* – * – repeat between *asterisks* to the end of the round
BO – bind-off in pattern
CO – cast-on (long-tail cast-on method)
C4B – cable 4 back – slip 2 stitches to a cable needle and hold it in the back of your work, knit the next 2 stitches off your left hand needle and then knit the 2 stitches off the cable needle
K – knit stitches (K1 means to knit 1 stitch)
K1TBL – knit 1 stitch through the back loop
P – purl stitches (P2 means to purl 2 stitches)
RS – right side of work
S1PW – slip one stitch purl-wise
STS – stitches
WS – wrong side of work
WYIF – with yarn in front

Right Side Rows : Front of Work

swatch of cable knit stitch

Wrong Side Rows : Back of Work

swatch of cable knit stitch

Basic 4-Step Cable Stitch Swatch Instructions (Download)

The Basic 4-Step cable stitch is a 6-row repeat, consisting of 1 small cable that shifts 2 stitches on every right side row.
Prep Time15 minutes
Active Time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 45 minutes

Equipment

Materials

  • Any Yarn

Instructions

Knit flat using straight needles:

  • CO 12 STS
  • Row 1 (WS): *K1, P10* K1
  • Row 2 (RS): P1 *C4B, K2, C4B, P1*
  • Row 3 (WS): *K1, P10* K1
  • Row 4 (RS): P1 *K4, C4B, K2, P1*
  • Row 5 (WS): *K1, P10* K1
  • Row 6 (RS): P1 *K2, C4B, K4, P1*
  • Repeat rows 1 – 6 until desired length.

Abbreviations : Knitting Techniques

  • * – * – repeat between *asterisks* to the end of the round
  • BO – bind-off in pattern
  • CO – cast-on (long-tail cast-on method)
  • C4B – cable 4 back – slip 2 stitches to a cable needle and hold it in the back of your work, knit the next 2 stitches off your left hand needle and then knit the 2 stitches off the cable needle
  • K – knit stitches (K1 means to knit 1 stitch)
  • K1TBL – knit 1 stitch through the back loop
  • P – purl stitches (P2 means to purl 2 stitches)
  • RS – right side of work
  • S1PW – slip one stitch purl-wise
  • STS – stitches
  • WS – wrong side of work
  • WYIF – with yarn in front