Braided Cable Knitting Stitch Pattern

This Braided Cable Knitting Stitch is a woven braided cable where each branch of the cable is prominently defined.

Welcome to Day 3 of the 21 Days of Cable Knit Stitches Series!

We’re going to take yesterday’s basic braid cable and kick it up a notch! This pattern has 2 new stitches and lots of depth.


About the Pattern

This basic braided cable stitch consists of a total of 9 stitches that weave over and under each other. 

The cable stitch is worked in between reverse stocking stitch, which helps the cable “pop.”

If you’re knitting a stockinette stitch hat and you’d like to add a cable, having a few reverse stockinette stiches on either side of your cable gives it more definition, so it stands out.

This braided stitch is a more advanced version of the “Basic Braid Cable Knitting Stitch.”

This is not a reversible pattern, meaning that the front and back of your work are not identical.

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

Size US 17 (12mm) Knitting Needles
Approximately 75 Yards (68m) of a Super Bulky Yarn
I used Crazy Sexy Wool by Wool and the Gang
Cable Needle
Darning / 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, go down a needle size and if you’re stitches are too tight, go up a needle size.


Braided Cable Swatch Instructions

Sample panel of braid cable
Knit flat using straight needles:

CO 13 STS

Row 1 (WS): K2, P9, K2
Row 2 (RS): P2, T3F, T3B, T3F, P2 (Cabled Row)
Row 3 (WS): K2, P9, K2
Row 4 (RS): P3, C4B, P2, K2, P2 (Cabled Row)
Row 5 (WS): K2, P9, K2
Row 6 (RS): P2, T3B, T3F, T3B, P2 (Cabled Row)
Row 7 (WS): K2, P9, K2
Row 8 (RS): P2, K2, P2, C4F, P3 (Cabled Row)
Repeat rows 1 – 8 until desired length.

Knit in the Round:

CO 44 STS
Row 1 (RS): *P2, K9*
Row 2 (RS): *P2, T3F, T3B, T3F* (Cabled Row)
Row 3 (RS): *P2, K9*
Row 4 (RS): *P3, C4B, P2, K2* (Cabled Row)
Row 5 (RS): *P2, K9*
Row 6 (RS): *P2, T3B, T3F, T3B* (Cabled Row)
Row 7 (RS): *P2, K9*
Row 8 (RS): *P2, K2, P2, C4F* (Cabled Row)
Repeat rows 1 – 8 until desired length.


Video Tutorial

*Check out some of my other Cable Knit Stitches.

Headband Pattern (Free Knitting Pattern)

knit flat using straight needles:
CO 15 STS
Row 1 (WS): K1TBL, K2, P9, K2, K1TBL (1st row and all odd rows)
Row 2 (RS): WYIF S1PW, P2, T3F, T3B, T3F, P2, WYIF, S1PW
Row 3 (WS): K1TBL, K2, P9, K2, K1TBL
Row 4 (RS): WYIF S1PW, P3, C4B, P2, K2, P2, WYIF, S1PW
Row 5 (WS): K1TBL, K2, P9, K2, K1TBL
Row 6 (RS): WYIF S1PW, P2, T3B, T3F, T3B, P2, WYIF, S1PW
Row 7 (WS): K1TBL, K2, P9, K2, K1TBL
Row 8 (RS): WYIF S1PW, P2, K2, P2, C4F, P3, WYIF, S1PW
Repeat rows 1 – 8 until it’s about 18” (46cm) long, or desired length

To End:
Repeat row 1
BO in the following pattern: (RS): P3, K9, P3
Sew the CO & BO edges together
To see how I do it, watch my video: How to Sew the Seam on a Headband

Headband Pattern Notes

The CO edge is the width.
You can use any category of yarn you’d like, just keep in mind that the thinner the yarn, the narrower your headband.


Knitting Abbreviations

* – * – repeat between * to end of 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
C4F – cable 4 front – 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
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
T3B – twist 3 back – slip 1 stitch onto cable needle and hold it in the back of your work, knit the next 2 STS off your left hand needle and then purl the stitch off your cable needle
T3F – twist 3 front – slip 2 STS onto cable needle and hold it in the front of your work, purl the next stitch off your left hand needle and then knit the 2 STS off your cable needle
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

Braided Cable Swatch Instructions

This braided cable stitch consists of a total of 9 stitches that weave over and under each other. 
The cable stitch is worked in between reverse stocking stitch, which helps the cable "pop."
Prep Time15 minutes
Active Time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 45 minutes

Equipment

Materials

  • Any Yarn

Instructions

Knit flat using straight needles:

  • CO 13 STS
  • Row 1 (WS): K2, P9, K2 (1st row and all odd rows)
  • Row 2 (RS): P2, T3F, T3B, T3F, P2 (Cabled Row)
  • Row 3 (WS): K2, P9, K2
  • Row 4 (RS): P3, C4B, P2, K2, P2 (Cabled Row)
  • Row 5 (WS): K2, P9, K2
  • Row 6 (RS): P2, T3B, T3F, T3B, P2 (Cabled Row)
  • Row 7 (WS): K2, P9, K2
  • Row 8 (RS): P2, K2, P2, C4F, P3 (Cabled Row)
  • Repeat rows 1 – 8 until desired length.

Knit in the Round:

  • CO 44 STS
  • Row 1 (RS): *P2, K9* (1st row and all odd rows)
  • Row 2 (RS): *P2, T3F, T3B, T3F* (Cabled Row)
  • Row 3 (RS): *P2, K9*
  • Row 4 (RS): *P3, C4B, P2, K2* (Cabled Row)
  • Row 5 (RS): *P2, K9*
  • Row 6 (RS): *P2, T3B, T3F, T3B* (Cabled Row)
  • Row 7 (RS): *P2, K9*
  • Row 8 (RS): *P2, K2, P2, C4F* (Cabled Row)
  • Repeat rows 1 – 8 until desired length.

Abbreviations:

  • * – * – repeat between * to end of 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
  • C4F – cable 4 front – 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
  • 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
  • T3B – twist 3 back – slip 1 stitch onto cable needle and hold it in the back of your work, knit the next 2 STS off your left hand needle and then purl the stitch off your cable needle
  • T3F – twist 3 front – slip 2 STS onto cable needle and hold it in the front of your work, purl the next stitch off your left hand needle and then knit the 2 STS off your cable needle
  • WS – wrong side of work
  • WYIF – with yarn in front