1/2 Cable and 1/2 Crossed Stitches

This is all about 1/2 cable or crossed stitches.  A 1/2 cable or 1/2 crossed stitches covers any technique where one stitch is crossed in front of two stitches. See abbreviations below.  Jill Wolcott Knits® puts the stitch numbers before the direction (LC or RC), but it might appear at the end of abbreviation in other patterns.  They are all the same.

The Left (L) or Right (R) direction given in these combinations (of any stitch number) is the direction that the front stitches are leaning when the cable or cross is complete.  That stitch is always kept to the front.

When there is no designation in the description of a cable, the stitch is to be knit; I put a “p” next to the number of a stitch it is to be purled.  This isn’t always part of the cable abbreviation, but will be in the description of how to work the cable.  I want to get a lot of information from looking at the abbreviation, so I put the “p” in.

1/2 Cable – Working with a Cable Needle

1/2 Left Cable 

• 1/2 LC.  The stitch to cross in front and to left (the “1” stitch) is the first stitch on the left needle.  It cross over stitches 2 and 3 (the “2” stitches) to the left.
  • 

    1/2 Cable stitches on the right needle, crossed. Technically they would not be on the needle, but this shows the positioning.

    The “1” stitch is put on a cable needle and held to the front (it is the crossing stitch).

  • The next two stitches on the left needle are worked .
  • 

    The stitches as they sit on the left needle before cable/cross.

    The stitch on the cable needle is either worked from the cable needle or returned to the left needle then worked.

  • The final order of the stitches is 1-2-3.

1/2 Right Cable 

• 

  1/2 Cable stitches on right needle, crossed. Technically they would not be on the needle, but this shows the positioning.

  1/2 RC.  The stitch to cross in front and to right (the “1” stitch) is the third stitch on the left needle.  It crosses over stitches 2 and 1 (the “2” stitches) to the right.

  • Stitches 1 and 2 are put on a cable needle and held to the back (to be crossed in front of).
  • The stitch on the left needle is worked.
  • The stitches on the cable needle are either worked from the cable needle or returned to the left needle then worked.
  • The final order of the stitches is 3-1-2

1/2 Cable – Working without a Cable Needle

The concept is the same as working a 1/2 cable with a cable needle, but the stitches are reordered onto the left needle, then  the stitches are worked in pattern.  The moves needed are similar to using a cable needle, but this requires thinking about the final order rather than holding stitches in the front or back.

There are instances where it isn’t really feasible, such as when there are a large number of stitches to cross and with tight or small stitches.

1/2 Left Cable 

• 

  1/2 LC.  The stitch to cross in front and to left (the “1” stitch) is the first stitch on the left needle.  It cross over stitches 2 and 3 (the “2” stitches) to the left.

  • Put the right needle into the back of the second and third stitches on the left needle.
  • The “1” stitch is going to be dropped off the left needle to the front and left hanging.
  • Move the two stitches over to the right needle.
  • Slide the left needle into the hanging stitch 1.
  • Move the two stitches from the right needle back to the left needle.
  • The stitches on the left needle are now in 2-3-1 order.
  • Work them all from the left needle.

1/2 Right Cable 

• 

  1/2 RC.  The stitch to cross in front and to right (the “1” stitch) is the third stitch on the left needle.  It crosses over stitches 2 and 1 (the “2” stitches) to the right.

  • Put the right needle into the front of the third stitch on the left needle.
  • Stitches 1 and 2 are going to be dropped off the left needle to the back and left hanging.
  • Move the “1” stitch over to the right needle.
  • Slide the left needle into the hanging “2” stitches.
  • Move the stitch from the right needle back to the left needle.
  • The stitches on the left needle are now in 3-1-2 order.
  • Work them all from the left needle.

1/2 Cable – Beyond the Basics

The main difference in working with or without a cable needle is this:

• With a cable needle moves stitches to a cable needle, then works the stitches onto the right needle.
• Without a cable needle the stitches are rearranged on the left needle, then worked in the new order.

To work some or all of the stitches as purls, I find it preferable to have the purl stitches designated in the abbreviation.  Working without a needle, I am looking at how to work each stitch after the crossing.  I think I have given the abbreviations differently in earlier patterns, but I have settled on this method:

A “p” is put next to the number to be purled.

• 1p/2 is to purl the “1” stitch and knit the “2” stitches.
• 1/2p would be to knit the “1” stitch and purl the “2” stitches.
• In the case of needing to both knit and purl on the “2” stitches:
• 1/2kp is to knit the “1” stitch and k1, p1 the “2” stitches (RC is k1, p1, k1, and LC is k2, p1).
• 1/2pk is to knit the “1” stitch and p1, k1 the “2” stitches (RC is k2, p1, and LC is p1, k2).
• 1p/2kp is to purl the “1” stitch and k1, p1 the “2” stitches (RC is k1, p2, and LC is p1, k1, p1).
• 1p/2pk is to purl the “1” stitch and p1, k1 the “2” stitches (RC is p2, k1, and LC is k1, p2).

Tips:  

1. The direction R or L tells you which direction to move the “1” stitch.
2. The “1” stitch is always crossed or moved in front of the “2” stitches.
3. A “p” in the cable number means that stitch is to be purled.
4. Stitches without a “p” are always knit.

1/2 Cable – Abbreviations

More cables: 1/1 Cables, 2/2 Cables, 3/3 Cables, 4/4 Cables