How to Crochet Cable Stitch for Beginners

Crochet cable stitch creates raised twisted textures that resemble knitted cables. Using front and back post stitches, crochet cables add depth and structure to blankets, scarves, hats, sweaters, and decorative crochet projects. Although crochet cables may look complicated, they are created by crossing stitches in a different order using simple post stitches. This tutorial will show you how to crochet cable stitch step-by-step.

What is Crochet Cable Stitch?

Crochet cable stitch is a textured crochet technique created by crossing front post stitches over one another to form raised twisted patterns. Crochet cables resemble knitted cables and are commonly used for blankets, sweaters, scarves, hats, and home décor projects.

This is an intermediate stitch. You will need to know how to work post stitches and will have to concentrate fully because when crossing stitches, you are working them out of order. Not ideal to work while watching TV! In order to crochet a cable, you do need to know how to crochet post stitches.

Explore more beginner and advanced techniques in the full types of crochet stitches guide.

How to Crochet Cable Stitch (Step by Step)

Best Yarn for Crochet Cables: Smooth light-colored worsted-weight yarns usually work best because they make the cable texture easier to see. Dark, fuzzy, or heavily textured yarns can make it difficult to identify the stitch placement.

Special Stitches – Front and Back Post

A post is part of a stitch that goes up and down between the loops on the previous row. A crochet post can be either front or back, depending on where you put your hook when you make the stitch. When making a front post stitch, you move your hook from the front to the back of the work and then around the post of the stitch from the row before. This gives the work’s front a raised ridge.

Row 1 and 2: Double Crochet

1. For your practice swatch, make 15 chains. Turn.
2. On the third chain from your hook, double crochet. In every stitch, dc.
3. Turn, chain three (this counts as your first dc), skip the first stitch, and dc in each stitch until you reach the end of the row. Turn.

This will form your foundation of 2 rows of double crochet.

Row 3: Right Side

It’s now time to start the first half of the cable twist.

1. Chain 3, then double crochet in the following 4 stitches.

2. The next three stitches are skipped.
3. Fptr (front post treble crochet) into the next three stitches. Work loosely!

The first three fptr cable stitches should be slanted to the right. It’s now time to finish the cable twist.

4. Return to the first of the three skipped stitches and fptr into it.
5. Then fptr into the second and third stitches.

As a result, the stitches will slant to the left. Avoid pulling the stitches too tight. This will make inserting the hook through the post difficult. Keep working loosely! The first half of the cable is now complete.

6. Double crochet in the remaining stitches until the row is finished. Turn.

Row 4: Wrong Side

1. Chain 3 stitches, then double crochet in the following 4 stitches.

2. Bptr into the following six stitches.

3. Double crochet all the way to the end. (4dc) Turn.

Row 5 and Beyond

The crochet cable stitch is now finished. Repeat rows 3 and 4 as many times as necessary to reach the required length of your piece. Work two rows of double crochet to finish.

Is Crochet Cable Stitch Beginner-Friendly?

Crochet cable stitch is usually considered an intermediate crochet technique because the stitches are worked out of order. I find beginners often learn cables more easily after practicing front post crochet stitches first on small swatches.

Tips and Tricks for Crocheting Cables

1. START SMALL – Try doing a cable stitch on a small piece that you don’t care if you mess up and that you can rip out as many times as you need to finish the stitch. Start with small projects that don’t need to be sized so you can see how the stitches weave in front of and behind each other to make the cable’s textured detail. A dishcloth, a headband, or a pillow cover are all good things to try cabling on.

2. CROCHET LOOSELY – Use a slightly looser crochet gauge so you can move your hook to work in the post of the stitch in front of or behind the stitch as directed. When making long stitches, pull the yarn on your hook tight before making the next stitch to prevent holes and gaps. It’s a delicate balance between working loosely enough to allow your stitches to cross over, and not leaving any holes or gaps!

3. YARN CHOICES – Choosing the right yarn for your crochet cable project can make or break it. Choose smooth worsted weight yarns in a single color to make cabling easier. For a beginner, it can be hard to work with lightweight or bulky yarn because it can be hard to control. When you crochet with fuzzy, textured yarn, it can be hard to see where your stitches are and where to put your hook. Stay away from dark colors and yarns with different colors so you can see your stitches. Even though cables made with variegated yarn look great, you should wait to use them until you are more skilled at making cables.

4. COUNTING – Be careful when you count your stitches. Because you have to skip stitches and then work backward in the stitches you skipped, it’s easy to miss a stitch and lose track of how many you have done. At the end of each row, count your stitches to make sure you keep the right stitch count.

Crochet Cable FAQs

Crochet Cable Stitch Projects

Adding cables to a crochet project is a great way to give it texture and make it more interesting. Most of the time, cable stitches are used to make sweaters, Afghans, and other garments. Here are a few great crochet projects that can be made even better by adding crochet cables:

• Crochet Baskets
• Crochet Hat Patterns
• Baby Blanket Crochet Patterns
• Crochet Headbands
• Crochet Scarf Patterns

Try using your creativity and see what you can come up with!

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In Conclusion

Crochet cable stitch creates beautiful raised textures that resemble knitted cables using crossed post stitches and simple repeating rows. Although cables may feel challenging at first, the technique becomes much easier once you understand the stitch placement. With practice, crochet cables can add warmth, texture, and structure to blankets, scarves, sweaters, and many other crochet projects.