Yesterday the KOARC and I created a short video demonstrating how to knit a 4-stitch cable without a cable needle. Here it is:
Size Matters
In the comments, Tan asked:
Is Cromarty one of the sweaters with only one size given?
Yupperdoodles, it is. One size given: 45″ around.
But it occurs to me that it would not be too difficult to resize it. If you wanted to make it smaller, you could take out one or two of the smaller side motifs. Another cool way would be to reduce the 9-stitch plaited cable to a 6-stitch plaited cable.
To make it larger, add a smaller motif or two. Or make the small 4-stitch cable on each side a 6-stitch cable.
I’ve gotten a couple of questions as to where Lucy’s Cozy Cushions were purchased: I bought online from Drs. Foster & Smith. Here’s a direct link to the kitty Cozy Cushions.
Here is Lucy, excited over the prospect of a second, new Cozy Cushion!
On some Rowan kits (old intarsia kits), where the first size given was too big for me, I used a smaller size needles to reduce the total sweater size. Going down one size doesn’t seem to make that much difference in the pattern, and when the yarn is thin enough and there are a lot of stitches, this can cut at least one to two inches. On some occasions, I’ve repositioned the design, but in the sweater you’re showing, cutting one of the side cables would probably be a better bet. It is hard to tell, but if there are two stitches around the vertical column between the cables, you could cut that to one stitch.
Thanks for the video. I might give that technique a try if I can overcome my need for the “security blanket” of a cable hook. And thanks again for the closeup view of the cables. I’m adapting that idea on my current project.
Wow, great video. But what impressed me the most is watching your hands. I had read in your book of how you are a left handed thrower, but I had never seen another left handed thrower! I am too a left handed thrower and also do not hold the yarn, but pick it up for each stitch. It felt sort of comfortable to watch you knit!
On Lucy’s recommendation, we bought Pumpkin one of those mats. She loves it! I am thinking of getting her a second one, too. But, right now, she hauls it around with her in the living room. I love the Cromarty!
How fascinating to see your throwing technique! I was thinking “what in the world is she doing? I thought we were going to see a cabling demonstration here!” heh We do the cabling part the same way. It make me feel almost famous!
You make it look so simple! But I guess that’s what practice does. I’ve tried the method in the past, and will have to try it again.
Thanks!
I knit exactly liek you do. I sort of grab the working yarn with both fingers, rather than wrapping it around one and using only the index. BTW, how is the log cabin blanket going? you haven’t mentioned it in a very long while.
I swear my cats were peeking over my shoulder to make sure I clicked the link to the cat beds. When I turned around, one ran and the other resumed pointless licking.
Oh! Excellent! Thanks! But I where was Lucy’s cameo appearance?
*whew* I read something somewhere a few days ago about how someone learned how to do cabling without a cable needle using a different method than they used that was so much faster and I started to worry that the way I did it was the “slow” way, but what you showed is exactly what I do.
I have a question though about more complex cable crossings, like some of the center crossings in the Rogue knotwork where the middle stitch stays the middle stitch, but two stitches on either side of it cross (I think, at least; I don’t have the pattern in front of me). I managed to do it with a cable needle in one direction, but it was very futzy. Do you also do these more complex cables without a cable needle and if so, can you shoot another video to show us your technique?
The technique and efficiency of motion that a skilled and quick knitter effortlessly brings to bear, turning fibre into fabric or garment with only the aid of two needles is, for me, the real magic of knitting.
I have always found efficient knitting captivating to watch and as I follow your blog, have often wondered at how your hands might work since clearly, your knitting, demonstrates great skill and speed!
It was so fascinating to watch your hands in action! Thank you for the helpful and gratifying tutorial!
Thanks for the video, I have always wanted to learn how to do cables without a cable needle. You make it look so easy.
Iris In Germany
Awesome video! Thank you, I spent a lot of time cursing the cable needle on my Fetchings (first cables ever), now I won’t have to. I feel much better about casting on for the second of the pair.
Hi Wendy,
Thanks for the video. I cable without a needle for a few years now, but I think I might try your version. I learned my version from a combination of several internet sources, and put in a bit of just my caution. What I see from you seems faster to me, and maybe even less prone to loosing a stitch. I think I’d never done any cabling if I’d had to stick with the cable needle. Just too much fussing around.
Just for a clarification of terminology – not criticising your way of knitting, I’d never do so to any knitter – the way you are knitting is *not* continental. I think I remember you mentioning that your way of knitting might be continental, but you weren’t certain.
I’m from the continent (German), and even if there are non-continental German knitters, what you are doing is not the continental way. In Germany the “normal” way (the one that usually has no adjective) is what English speaking people call continental. Your “normal” or “English” way was called by my Mother “catholic”, but I don’t know whether this can count as a technical term.
I was always marvelling why you hate to rib – now I know. You are still throwing the yarn, even if you do it with your left hand. A continental knitter will *not* throw the yarn. For continental knitting you are holding your hands and yarn much like in crochet, and you use your right hand knitting needle much like a crochet hook. Actually when I learned how to knit as a child I wondered why knitting needles had no hooks – would have been much easier in my eyes then. (BTW there is portugese knitting, which is done with 2 tunesian crochet hooks – it is available on YouTube, looks funny, and again different from what I do).
One advantage of Continental knitting is that ribbing is much easier to do than in English knitting. You don’t have to do all those yarn forward/backward moves before you can do the actual stitch. I taught myself how to knit continental as to be bilingual in knitting, too, but stopped when I tried ribbing. It was just too much fuss! So I can do a bit of continental knitting, but I sternly refuse to do ribbing that style. In continental knitting you just put the needle tip behind the yarn when you are doing a purl, and in front when doing a knit stitch. This motion is done together with the motion of poking the tip of the needle into the stitch, so this is much easier to accomplish, and one flowing motion. As I see things in continental you have to pick up the yarn, pull it in front of your work, poke the needle into the stitch, throw the yarn, pull the loop through and get the stitch to the right needle. Some of these moves can be easily combined, but not the part of pulling the yarn in front / to back in ribbing. It is always a seperate movement.
So all of this is not to criticise anybody for their knitting style – this is something I can’t do, because which ever way people are knitting, most of the time their work will yield wonderful knitted items. What I was saying was just for a friendly discussion of ways of knitting, and the differences there are, and why *I* choose to still prefer Continental over English style.
If you want to find videos on the mentioned styles just put “knitting continental” or “knitting portuguese” in the search box at YouTube.
Chris
It is fascinating to see you knit! Thanks Wendy and KOARC for the video.
Thanks for the link on the Cozy Cushions. I just got the dog version for my pups!
I’ve been reading your blog for a while but have never commented before.
I was inspired by Lucys love of her Cosy Cushion to purchase a UK equivalent for my chilly cats! They love them! They fight over who will get to sit on the one nearest the radiator and the cushion has replaced the back of my sofa as the favourite coveted snoozing spot. Thank you for the idea. There is a picture of my cats snuggled up together on their cushion on my blog, if you’d like to see.
Thanks again for the idea,
Mithranstar
The video is great- similar to Annie M.’s method. My question to you is this: how do you knit so friggin’ fast?!
Those are some incredible cables on Cromarty! I love celtic knotwork, and love to see it in knitted garments.
Oh My!!! Actual footage of “The Wendy” knitting. I just may have to watch that again!!
Wendy, I’m so glad you mentioned down-sizing Cromarty. I had held off making it for a long time because of the width, and I just bought some yarn figuring it couldn’t be too hard to down-size — and there you go giving me tips on how to do it! Now I can’t wait for my yarn to arrive…
O.K., now I really know that I am a knitting geek when I actually enjoy watching someone’s knitting technique so much that I watch it a second time through just for the pleasure of it! It was fun seeing how you hold your yarn and knit with it in the video. I had already gotten the hang of your wonderful cabling without a cable needle technique a couple of years ago, so I really was watching this just for the joy of seeing it.
any way to slow down the video for those of us who have trouble following it – ???/ looks cool, but goes fast for us novices.
any way to slow down the video for those of us who have trouble following it – ???/ looks cool, but goes fast for us novices.
Great video, thank you. I find I can learn much more easily when viewing the process than reading about it. This was very helpful.
Thanks to Lucy’s endorsement, the Ladies are each getting their own Cozy Cushion!
I’m pretty sure taht “older cats” will be very happy.
Thanks so much for the video. Your non-cable needle method has a little more grace & less risk than mine. Since I’m thinking of doing Shedir again, perfect timing.
Wendy – Thanks for the cable video! Your fingernails are beautiful!
Thanks for the great video. I’m going to try that out tonight on a chemo hat I’m working on.