Garter Horseshoe Cable Knitting Stitch Pattern
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Add some extra squish to the classic cable horseshoe knit stitch with this Garter Horseshoe Cable Knitting Stitch.
Welcome to Day 18 of the 21 Days of Cable Knit Stitches Series!
Previous -> Day 17: Large Circle Cable Knitting Stitch Pattern
Next -> Day 19: Interlaced Cables Knitting Stitch Pattern
Here’s another horseshoe stitch like the classic Horseshoe Stitch & the Seed Stitch Horseshoe Stitch. These are one of my favorite cable knit stitches. They’re easy to memorize and there’s so many stitch combinations!
Learn how to knit the Garter Horseshoe Cable Knit Stitch in today’s video tutorial + grab the FREE Headband Knitting Pattern below!
About the Stitch
This is a 10-row repeat, but only 1 row has cable stitches. For the rest of the rows, you’ll be creating that beautiful garter stitch texture.
This garter stitch horseshoe cable stitch consists of 2 cable stitches using 4 stitches each. On the cable row you’ll create a left leaning and then a right leaning cable stitch back-to-back, bringing the stockinette stitches together creating the horseshoe.
If you’re knitting a stockinette stitch sweater 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 Knitter
Yarn, Needles & Notions
Yarn Weight: Super Bulky Yarn
Yardage: 75 yards (68 meters)
Suggested Yarn: Cascade Yarns Lana Grande (100% wool)
Needle Size: US Size 13 (9 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.
Garter Horseshoe Cable Stitch Swatch Instructions
Knit flat using straight needles:
CO 12 STS
Row 1 (WS): K2, P8, K2
Row 2 (RS): P2, K2, P4, K2, P2
Row 3 (WS): K2, P8, K2
Row 4 (RS): P2, K2, P4, K2, P2
Row 5 (WS): K2, P8, K2
Row 6 (RS): P2, K2, P4, K2, P2
Row 7 (WS): K2, P8, K2
Row 8 (RS): P2, K2, P4, K2, P2
Row 9 (WS): K2, P8, K2
Row 10 (RS): P2, C4F, C4B, P2
Repeat rows 1 – 10 until desired length.
Video Tutorial
*Check out some of my other Cable Knit Stitches.
Garter Horseshoe Cable Stitch Headband Pattern Instructions
(Free Knitting Pattern)
Knit flat using straight needles:
CO 14 STS
Row 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 (WS): K1TBL, K2, P8, K2, K1TBL
Row 2, 4, 6, 8 (RS): WYIF S1PW, P2, K2, P4, K2, P2, WYIF S1PW
Row 10 (RS): WYIF S1PW, P2, C4F, C4B, P2, WYIF S1PW
Repeat rows 1 – 10 until it’s about 18” (46cm) long, or desired length.
To End:
Repeat rows 1 – 8
BO in the row 9 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 set of dpns 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
Suggested Project Ideas:
Slouchy Hat
Socks
Sweaters
Headbands
Scarves
Blankets
Shawl
Dishcloths / Washcloths
Suggested Trim:
1×1 Rib Stitch
Seed Stitch
Garter 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 – cable4back – 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 onto the right-hand needle
C4F – cable4front – slip 2 stitches to a cable needle and hold it in the front of your work, knit the next 2 stitches off your left hand needle and then knit the 2 stitches off the cable needle onto the right-hand 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 the work
S1PW – slip one stitch purl-wise
STS – stitches
WS – wrong side of the work
WYIF – with yarn in front
Right Side Rows : Front of Work
Wrong Side Rows : Back of Work
Garter Horseshoe Cable Stitch Swatch Instructions (Download)
Equipment
- Knitting Needles (Recommended Size for Yarn)
- Cable Needle
- Darning Needle
- Scissors
Materials
- Any Yarn
Instructions
Knit flat using straight needles:
- CO 12 STS
- Row 1 (WS): K2, P8, K2
- Row 2 (RS): P2, K2, P4, K2, P2
- Row 3 (WS): K2, P8, K2
- Row 4 (RS): P2, K2, P4, K2, P2
- Row 5 (WS): K2, P8, K2
- Row 6 (RS): P2, K2, P4, K2, P2
- Row 7 (WS): K2, P8, K2
- Row 8 (RS): P2, K2, P4, K2, P2
- Row 9 (WS): K2, P8, K2
- Row 10 (RS): P2, C4F, C4B, P2
- Repeat rows 1 – 10 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 – cable4back – 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 onto the right-hand needle
- C4F – cable4front – slip 2 stitches to a cable needle and hold it in the front of your work, knit the next 2 stitches off your left hand needle and then knit the 2 stitches off the cable needle onto the right-hand 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 the work
- S1PW – slip one stitch purl-wise
- STS – stitches
- WS – wrong side of the work
- WYIF – with yarn in front
