Cabling without a cable needle, on the wrong side — Sarah’s way

Dec 18, 2015 by

Cables are one of my favourite things to knit. I still remember the day, as a fairly new knitter, that I discovered a photo tutorial for cabling without a cable needle, and I carried a dog-eared printout around in my knitting bag for months. Working cables from the wrong side of your work can be a little more interesting, since usually the main cable you’ll see in your work isn’t facing you. It’s always ok to peek at the right side as you work by tilting it towards you!

Now, my cabling-without-a-cable technique is a little different to Ysolda’s. I work the stitches as I move them, while Ysolda would rearrange all the stitches first before working them. It’s completely down to personal preference, so I’d recommend having a look at Ysolda’s Technique Thursday post on Cabling with a cable needle too. The cables used in this tutorial are the ones used in Hiraeth, the lovely squishy scarf from Knitworthy 2. 

This is what I’m starting with, the right side shown on the left and the wrong side which will be facing me when working on the right.

C2B [k1, p1]

Work along the row until you're ready to work your cable.
Work along the row until you’re ready to work your cable.
Bring your yarn between the needles to the front. 
Bring your yarn between the needles to the front. 
Slip the purl stitch from the left to right needle, and then move the yarn to the back, wrapping the purl stitch as you do so.
Slip the purl stitch from the left to right needle, and then move the yarn to the back, wrapping the purl stitch as you do so.
Knit the next stitch.
Knit the next stitch.
Insert the tip of the left needle into the back of the second stitch on the right needle from left to right (the slipped stitch).
Insert the tip of the left needle into the back of the second stitch on the right needle from left to right (the slipped stitch).
Here comes the fun bit! Slide the right needle tip out of the first two stitches. The slipped stitch will now be on the left needle and the knitted stitch be hanging loose at the front. Reach round and catch this stitch with the right needle tip. You can now purl the stitch on the left needle.
Here comes the fun bit! Slide the right needle tip out of the first two stitches. The slipped stitch will now be on the left needle and the knitted stitch be hanging loose at the front. Reach round and catch this stitch with the right needle tip. You can now purl the stitch on the left needle.
This is what the completed C2B [k1, p1] will look like from the right side.
This is what the completed C2B [k1, p1] will look like from the right side.

C2F [p1, k1]

With the yarn at the back, slip the first (knit) stitch on left needle to the right needle.
With the yarn at the back, slip the first (knit) stitch on left needle to the right needle.
Bring the yarn between the needles to the front, wrapping the back of the slipped stitch as you do so.
Bring the yarn between the needles to the front, wrapping the back of the slipped stitch as you do so.
Purl the next stitch.
Purl the next stitch.
Move the yarn to the back, and then from the front of the work insert the left needle tip into the second stitch on the right needle (the slipped stitch) from left to right.
Move the yarn to the back, and then from the front of the work insert the left needle tip into the second stitch on the right needle (the slipped stitch) from left to right.
Slide the right needle tip out from the first two stitches on the needle. This will leave the slipped stitch on the left needle and the purled stitch hanging loose at the back.
Slide the right needle tip out from the first two stitches on the needle. This will leave the slipped stitch on the left needle and the purled stitch hanging loose at the back.
Catch the loose purled stitch with the right needle tip.
Catch the loose purled stitch with the right needle tip.
Knit the first stitch on the left needle.
Knit the first stitch on the left needle.
This is what the completed C2F [p1, k1] will look like from the right side.
This is what the completed C2F [p1, k1] will look like from the right side.