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swatch of fishtail cable knit stitch
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Fishtail Cable Knitting Stitch

This fishtail cable stitch consists of 2 cable stitches using 4 stitches each. On one row you'll create a right cable cross twist and then a left cable cross twist with a reverse stockinette stitch in the middle. You'll knit the cables back to back to create this beautiful cable knit stitch.
Prep Time15 minutes
Active Time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 45 minutes

Equipment

  • Knitting Needles (Recommended Size for Yarn)
  • Cable Needle
  • Darning Needle
  • Scissors

Materials

  • Any Yarn

Instructions

Knit flat using straight needles

  • CO 11 STS
  • Row 1 (WS): K1, P4, K1, P4, K1
  • Row 2 (RS): P1, K4, P1, K4, P1
  • Row 3 (WS): K1, P4, K1, P4, K1
  • Row 4 (RS): P1, C4R, P1, C4L, P1 (cable row)
  • Repeat rows 1 – 4 until desired length

Abbreviations

  • * – * – repeat between asterisks to end of round
  • BO – bind-off in pattern
  • CO – cast-on (long-tail cast-on method)
  • C4L – cable 4 left – slip 1 stitch to a cable needle and hold it in the front of your work, knit the next 3 stitches off your left needle and then knit the 1 stitch off the cable needle
  • C4R – cable 4 right – slip 3 stitches to a cable needle and hold it in the back of your work, knit 1 stitch off your left needle and then knit the 3 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
  • SL -slipped stitch
  • STS – stitches
  • WS – wrong side of work
  • WYIF – with yarn in front