2/2/2 Cables Without a Cable Needle – Speed Up Your Stitches
- Shaina Scott
- Aug 9
- 3 min read
Cables add beautiful texture to your knitting, but sometimes the process of stopping to grab a cable needle for every twist can slow your momentum. If you’re working a project with lots of 2/2/2 cables—like the intertwining vines of the Clematis Scarf—learning to work them without a cable needle can save you time, keep your rhythm, and make the knitting feel more fluid.
In this post, we’ll walk through the process of knitting a 2/2/2 cable without a cable needle—step by step—so you can decide if this technique is for you.
What is a 2/2/2 Cable?
A 2/2/2 cable is a six-stitch cable where the stitches are divided into three groups of two. Depending on the pattern, these groups might cross to the left or to the right, creating an intricate braided or woven effect.
Traditionally, you’d slip the four of the six cabled stitches to two separate cable needles in groups of two (held either to the front or back) then work across each of these stitches in the order given in your pattern. Without a cable needle, we simply rearrange the stitches on the needle itself before working them—no extra tools needed.
Why Go Without a Cable Needle?
Speed: No stopping to pick up and set down a tool.
Flow: Keeps you “in the zone” for cable-heavy patterns.
Portability: Fewer things to lose when knitting on the go.
That said, if you’re working at a very loose gauge or with slippery yarn, a cable needle can still be the safer option.
How to Work a 2/2/2 Cable Without a Cable Needle
For a Left Purl Cross (2/2/2 LPC):
Slip the next 6 stitches purlwise onto the right needle.
With your left needle tip, reach in front of the work and insert it into the first 2 slipped stitches from left to right.
Carefully slide all 6 stitches off the right needle, then immediately catch the 4 loose stitches (formerly stitches 3, 4, 5, and 6) with the right needle tip, inserting it from right to left.
Place stitches back on the left needle in their new order, and knit 2, purl 2, knit 2 across them.
For a Right Purl Cross (2/2/2 RPC):
Slip the next 6 stitches purlwise onto the right needle.
With your left needle tip, reach in back of the work and insert it from left to right into stitches 1, 2, 3, and 4 (the first 4 slipped stitches).
Carefully slide all 6 stitches off the right needle, then immediately catch the 4 loose stitches (formerly stitches 5 and 6) with the right needle tip from right to left.
Place stitches back on the left needle in their new order, and knit 2, purl 2, knit 2 across them.
Tips for Success
Tension is key—keep your stitches snug but not tight to prevent dropping them.
Practice on a swatch first before trying this in your project.
Pinch the base of the stitches with your fingers as you rearrange them to reduce the risk of dropped stitches.
Mastering cables without a cable needle can make knitting large, complex cable motifs much more enjoyable. Once you’ve practiced a few times, you may find yourself wondering how you ever managed without it!
💡 Want to try your new skill right away? The Clematis Scarf pattern is full of 2/2/2 cables and is the perfect place to put your speedier technique into action.
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