How to Cable 4 Front (C4F)

The Basic Cable
Twisting To Create Texture

A basic cable is formed when you swap the order you work stitches along a row. Depending on where you hold the stitches (front or back) creates a different direction of the twist.
For the basic cable stitches, you knit all the cable stitches.

All cable instructions include a number. The number represents to total number of stitches involved in the entire cable. Usually you will divide this number in half to know how many stitches to 'hold to front' or 'hold to back'. 

Advanced Cabling
For more advanced cabling, you knit some and purl some of the cable stitches. You may also have reversed stockinette stitch (Rev St st) as the background to the cable.

Cable Front
When performing a 'Cable Front', slip half the number indicated (ex: slip 2 stitches in a C4F instruction) onto the cable needle. Then hold this needle to the front of your work (the side facing you). You will then knit the other half of the stitches (ex: knit next 2 stitches) from your left hand needle. Finally, knit the 2 stitches you slipped onto the cable needle from the other end of the cable needle. It's important to knit the stitches off the other end of the cable needle so as not to create an unintended twist or hole in the work.
How to Cable without a cable needle
cable without a cable needle
How to cable without a cable needle
Once you've mastered the cable stitch, you may not even need the help of a cable needle anymore!
Alternate Step: How to Cable 4 back (C4B)
c4b
How to cable four back (C4B)
The C4B (cable four back) stitch means you hold the stitches to the back of the work while cabling.
The Cable Needle
cable needleThe cable needle
There are more than one type of cable needle, but these tools are helpful for cable knitting. They are not the same as a stitch holder.
Advanced Step: Knitting an Icord
icordHow to knit an icord
The knitted icord is like a knitted tiny tube. It has many uses including drawstrings on small knitted bags.

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