This is one of those little tricks that makes a huge difference to how fast and efficiently you can knit. Once you get the hang of it simple cables will barely interrupt your flow. For cables that involve multiple crossings at once or large numbers of stitches you’ll probably want the security of using a cable needle.
Start with a sticky wool so that the free stitches stay where you put them. With a bit of practice you’ll be slipping those stitches free and scooping them up again in one motion — cable needle freedom in any yarn!
If you knit socks, then learning how to darn a sock is a vital skill! Our free tutorial by Arounna Khounnoraj of Bookhou will teach you how to darn socks, sweaters, and any other knitwear that needs it.