Cable Cast On Tutorial

A Cable Cast On is a good way to cast on stitches in the middle of your knitting.  Often a pattern asks you to be knitting along and then says, cast on some number of stitches. I almost always use a Cable Cast On in that situation. This example comes from our Baby Bloomers Project Journal.

First, turn the work so the wrong side (or inside) is facing you. Insert the right needle between the first and second stitch of the left needle. 

 

Knit a stitch onto the right needle, just like you normally would., except do not remove anything from the left needle.

Now there's a stitch on the right needle.

Without twisting it, place that stitch onto the left needle.

 

It looks like this:

Repeat the steps for however many stitches you're casting on. Insert the right needle between the first and second stitches of the left needle. (The first of those stitches is the one you just cast on.)

Here is what 10 stitches cast on look like (after turning the work so the right side is facing):

A couple of tips: 

Cast on loosely. It gets really difficult to deal with a Cable Cast On if the stitches are too tight.

Also, make sure you keep track of how many stitches you have cast on. It can be kind of tricky to determine which is the first cast on stitch!

Comments

[Linda]

Great closeup photos of the cable cast on. Thanks!

[kaycee]

Best closeup knitting photos ever! Thanks!

[Hannah]

Absolutely fantastic tutorial! Just saved me!!!! Your photos are amazing. Almost as good as having someone sitting with you showing you how to do it!!! Thanks

[Bridget]

amazing photos - and this saved me on my project!

[Devonne]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I am able to continue with my project tonite! I was stumped as my pattern directions failed to mention you need to turn your work in order to add the stitches properly and then proceed to knitting the additional stitches on the stitch holder. Just added one more technique to my beginners repetoire!

[Andrew]

Thanks for the tutorial. This is helping a lot with the Lucha Libre pattern, from Son of Stitch and Bitch, that I started.

[Jeri]

Where do you go from there? How do you start knitting from that point? Do you turn and work from the inside (back)? I'm trying to knit on an edging for a shawl and I have to knit and then join the edging to the shawl with a ktog, but I don't know how to work in the correct direction. Thanks for your help. Your pictures are the best I've ever seen.

[Cheryl]

Very good instructions!!!!

[Beth]

Hi, I reviewed 10 other videos and tutorials before finding yours. I needed to learn to cable cast on in the middle of a row to complete my picot bind off edge. Your tutorial did the trick and I am on my way to finishing my shawl. Thank you so much for making these instructions so clear.

Beth

[Glo]

Excellent tutorial for another beginner . .

[Frances]

Thank you! Just what I needed and so nicely photographed too. Thanks for sharing your talents. Happy new year!

[Melissa]

Thank you! This is just what I needed...very clear instructions and pictures :)

[Jane Brayton]

Thank you for such good pictures and instructions for the cable cast on!!

[Pixie]

Great tutorial! So clear and closeup and concise that it works as well as a video! Thanks to my sister for finding this for me! I needed it for the heel of a slipper bootie.

[Rachel]

I've got a pattern which starts with a picky edge and the very beginning if the pattern says:
*Cast on 5 stitches using cable cast on...

How would you do this without any stitches already present? Would you cast on 2 normally, then do the remaining 3 as a cable cast on?

Thanks!

[purl bee]

Hi Rachel.
Great question! If you are doing a Cable Cast On at the beginning of a project and do not already have any stitches present you begin in the same fashion as you would a Long Tail Cast On. And by that I mean, make a slip knot to create your first stitch. For Cable Cast On, however, you will put it on your left needle rather than your right. Knit into the stitch and Cable Cast on your second stitch. From here on out, you will place your needle between the two stitches closest to the needle's tip to cast on the remaining stitches. I hope this helps! -Laura

[I Rabideau]

Phew! This is sooo helpful! I am glad I clicked on the red "cable cast on". Hopefully I will be able to finish my daughter's top for Christmas!

[Kristen]

Thank you SO much! I looked everywhere and yours were the only instructions that I was able to follow! Now I can continue with my project!

[fiddlewitch]

thank you so much for the clear explainy. other sites didn't tell me to flip the work, so i was feeling quite stupid...

[brooklynbecca]

Super helpful! Thanks!