Cable knitting, if done right, can result in a beautiful piece of knitted work. Cable knitting can be tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, and learn to count your stitches, you are set to get cabling.
Your finished project will have that extra flare of elegance and class, perfect for a winter accessory. But in order to get the most out of your cable knit project, you need to choose the right yarn that will make the twists stand out!
What is the best yarn for cable knitting? The best yarn for cable (Aran) knitting, is an Aran or DK weight yarn with high stitch definition, such as wool and other animal fibers, or cotton. Aran yarn usually has some texture and bulk to it and is often at least three ply.
In this article, we’ll talk more about cable knitting and choosing the best yarn for the job so keep reading for more!
What is Cable Knitting?
Plainly put, cable knitting is creating a pattern by twisting stitches and changing the order to the pattern to end up with a beautifully detailed piece.
When cable knitting, you use a cable needle to slip stitches onto, as you continue knitting and then picking up the stitches again when it is time to cable. You are just changing the order of the stitches in the row.
Stockinette stitches are the easiest to try for beginners, and also happen to be one of the most popular cable knitting patterns used.
The stitches are crossed over and swapped around every couple of rows to create neat and even twists in the wool.
Cable knitting doesn’t need to scare you off. You can achieve some wonderful cable jerseys, hats, and scarves with even the most simple of stitches. Practice makes perfect and once you have the right yarn and the right pattern, cable knitting will be a breeze.
Simple Cable Pattern Example
This is one of the easiest cable knitting patterns to try out. You need to know the basics of knitting – knit and purl – and you should be ready to go.
What you need:
- Yarn of your choice (we’ll talk about the best yarn for cable knitting down below)
- Knitting needles (size depending on your project)
- Cable needle to transfer stitches onto
Pattern:
- Work your pattern until you need to cable.
- Slip the next three stitches onto your cable needle and place the needle to the back of your work.
- Knit the next three stitches to the left of the needle.
- Pick up and knit the stitches from the cable needle.
- You will now have a twisted cable to your right.
- Work till you get to the cable section.
- Slip three stitches onto the cable needle and place it in front of your work.
- Knit three stitches to the left of the needle.
- Pick up and knit the stitches from the cable needles.
- Continue this until you have completed your project with the pretty cable knit!
Choosing The Best Yarn For Cable Knitting – What You Should Know
When we’re trying to choose the best yarn for knitting, especially cable knitting, there are a few things we really want to take into account.
These are some of the factors that I used when putting together my list down below.
Yarn Ply
In order to make the most of your stitches when cable knitting, you will need to choose the right yarn for your knitting project. The right yarn will make your cable knitting project stick out and really enhancing the twisting pattern.
Different ply yarns will all result in a different appearance of cable knitting, so it is important to know the different yarns. In general, the thicker the yarn, or the more plies the yarn has, the more defined the stitches will look. Therefore a yarn with a higher ply will look better when cable knitting.
- Single-ply: Single-ply yarn only has one twist in it. Patterns using single-ply will not have a large amount of definition, so it isn’t ideal for cable knitting. Single-ply is perfect for basic stitches for smaller accessories.
- Two-ply: Usually, two-ply is popular for baby yarn. It is super soft and does offer slightly more definition than single ply, but not enough to really make cable knitting pop. It is better used for basic stitches on baby jackets or the sort.
- Three-ply: Three-ply yarn has three twisted strands that make a great choice for cable knitting. The twisted cables stand out wonderfully on patterns and pieces when using three-ply yarn.
Fiber Content
When trying to decide the right fiber content for your project, you need to have the end result and use in mind. Wool and silky yarns are great for sweaters and scarves, but cotton yarns are better for dishcloths and fashion accessories. Knowing what you want from your yarn, in the long run, will help you better decide which one to buy.
Texture
Depending on what you want to make, different textures will give you different results. Simpler, classic yarns are better to use when cable knitting, as they won’t take away from the pattern and twists in the piece. More detailed yarn with added textures or patterns are always pretty to use but might hide the cable knit or take away from its beautiful detail.
5 Best Yarns for Cable Knitting
Choosing the right yarn will help you achieve a cable knit that stands out and looks detailed. Here are some of the best yarns to use for your next cable knit project:
Rank | Product | Key Features |
---|---|---|
1. | JubileeYarn Bamboo Cotton Blend | 50-50 cotton-bamboo blend, sport weight |
2. | Lion Brand Yarn Wool-Ease | 80% acrylic 20% wool, worsted weight |
3. | Bernat Pop! Blue Blaze | Acrylic, worsted weight |
4. | Lion Brand Yarn Heartland Yarn | Acrylic, worsted weight |
5. | Caron One Pound Solids Yarn | Acrylic, worsted weight |
1. JubileeYarn Bamboo Cotton Blend
This lightweight DK yarn is incredibly soft and slim, allowing you to create some wonderfully soft, yet detailed patterned pieces.
The yarn is soft and smooth, made with equal parts of bamboo and cotton. Other than Dreamy Blush, this JubileeYarn is available in 13 different colors.
Bamboo is a great fiber to use when knitting, it is a natural fiber that is durable and also wears well.
It has natural antibacterial properties, making it a wonderful option for baby clothing as well.
The resultant piece using this yarn will be very sturdy, with a little stretch, making it a great option for cable knitting.
2. Lion Brand Yarn Wool-Ease
Lion Brand is a trusted name when it comes to yarn and wools. They have this wonderful yarn available that is absolutely perfect for cable knitting.
Wool-Ease is a 4-ply worsted-weight yarn that can be used for a multitude of different projects.
The yarn is made from 80 percent acrylic and 20 percent wool. It is the warmth and softness of wool, but the easy care of acrylic yarn – the best of both worlds.
As it is a skein of 4-ply acrylic (blended with wool), it holds the cable knitting pattern well and keeps the twisted details well and for long. The color of the yarn is also such a bonus, it has a dusty pink tone which is finished with a few flicks of white to add texture and contrast. It will make a beautiful cable knit jersey, for a baby or an adult!
3. Bernat Pop! Blue Blaze
This 100% acrylic yarn has the brightest pops of color! It features 5 different distinct shades and has a whole host of different color balls to choose from.
The ball size is 140g and measures 256 meters / 280 yards. You will be able to create soft and durable cable knit projects with defined twists but with striped colors thanks to the distinct shades in the wool.
It is a 4-ply twist yarn that is versatile and durable. It will let the cable twists really stand out in the finished project, and the durability and ply of the wool will allow it to stay this way. The yarn is easy to clean, simply wash it in a washing machine on cool and it can be dried in the drier as well.
Bernat Pop! Is a great range of yarn, with so many different colors to choose from to make each pattern unique.
4. Lion Brand Yarn Heartland Yarn
Lion Brand has this other great yarn to use when cable knitting. It is 100% acrylic and comes in many different colors, all inspired by the natural beauty found in the American Landscape. This particular wool is colored after the tones found in the Guadalupe Mountains.
It is a wonderfully soft yarn made from premium acrylic. The yarn is slightly tweedy, which gives it added contrast and texture. When it comes to washing, it is easy to care for and can be machine washed and dried.
The yarn holds a pattern well and will make any cable knitting pop, letting the twists and twirls stand out wonderfully against the finished project.
With the Lion Brand Heartland Yarn, you are given all the softness you could want from wool, but also the durability and easy-care that makes it worth it.
5. Caron One Pound Solids Yarn
Caron One Pound Yarn is one of the most economical yarns to use. The worsted weight yarn can be bought in a wide variety of colors and shades, making it perfect to use across a wide range of products.
It is washable and dryable, made from acrylic fiber which is durable and long-lasting, as well as soft and smooth. The slight stiffness of the yarn allows for the cable knit to stand out on the project, looking perfectly detailed, showing off your hard work.
Final Thoughts
Blow your friends and family away with wonderful cable knit items that may seem so intricate and difficult to make, but with the right yarn and pattern, are fairly simple and great fun to do.
Remember that you need to spend a lot of time choosing the right yarn, as the right yarn can really make your whole project pop and look so detailed!
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