2/2 cable, are cables where two stitches cross in front of (or behind) two more stitches.
2/2 Cable – Left
Abbreviation: 2/2 LC
Slip 2 stitches onto a cable needle and hold in front, k2 then k2 from cable needle.
2/2 Cable – Right
Abbreviation: 2/2 RC
Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold in back, k2 then k2 from cable needle.
2/2 Cable – Left, without a Cable Needle
Abbreviation: 2/2 LC
To cable without cable needle: with right needle in front of left needle go into the third and fourth stitches, drop the first and second stitches off the left needle (to the back) and move the two stitches onto the right needle then pick up the dropped stitches with the left needle and return the 2 stitches from the right needle to the left needle and k2, k2.
2/2 Cable – Right, without a Cable Needle
Abbreviation: 2/2 RC
To cable without cable needle: with right needle in back of left needle go into the third and fourth stitches, drop the first and second stitches off the left needle (to the front) and move the two stitches onto the right needle then pick up the dropped stitches with the left needle and return the 2 stitches from the right needle to the left needle and k2, k2.
2/2 Knit/Purl Left Cable – Purl in Back
Abbreviation: 2/2 LCp
Sl 2 stitch to cable needle and hold in front, k2 then p2 from cable needle.
2/2 Knit/Purl Right Cable – Purl in Back
Abbreviation: 2/2 RCp
Sl 2 stitch to cable needle and hold in back, k2 then p2 from cable needle.
2/2 Knit/Purl Left Cable without a Cable Needle – Purl in Back
Abbreviation: 2/2 LC
To cable without needle: with right needle in front of left needle go into the third and fourth stitches, drop the first and second stitches off the left needle (to the back) and move the two stitches onto the right needle then pick up the dropped stitches with the left needle and return the 2 stitches from the right needle to the left needle and k2, p2.
2/2 Knit/Purl Right Cable without a Cable Needle – Purl in Back
Abbreviation: 2/2 RC
To cable without needle: with right needle in back of left needle go into the third and fourth stitches, drop the first and second stitches off the left needle (to the front) and move the two stitches onto the right needle then pick up the dropped stitches with the left needle and return the 2 stitches from the right needle to the left needle and k2, p2.
2/2 Purl/Knit Left Cable – Purl in Front
Abbreviation: 2/2 pLC
Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold in front, p2 from left needle then k2 from cable needle.
2/2 Purl/Knit Right Cable – Purl in Front
Abbreviation: 2/2 pRC
Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold in back, p2 from left needle then k2 from cable needle.
2/2 Purl/Knit Left Cable without a Cable Needle – Purl in Front
Abbreviation: 2/2 pLC
To cable without needle: with right needle go behind left needle and into the third and fourth stitches through the back leg, drop the first and second stitches off the left needle (to the front) and slip the two stitches onto the right needle then pick up the dropped stitches with the left needle and slip the 2 stitches from the right needle to the left needle and k2, p2.
2/2 Purl/Knit Right Cable without a Cable Needle – Purl in Front
To cable without needle: with right needle go in front left needle and into the third and fourth stitches through the back leg, drop the first and second stitches off the left needle (to the back) and slip the two stitches onto the right needle then pick up the dropped stitches with the left needle and slip the 2 stitches from the right needle to the left needle and k2, p2.
More cables: 1/1 Cables, 3/3 Cables, 4/4 Cables, 1/2 Cables
Pattern Specific Variations to 2/2 Cables
Sometimes, I include technique variations that are for specific patterns. I always include directions for specific techniques in the pattern itself, so be sure to also read any patterns you’re working on closely.
2p/2 LC Variation for Firenze
Slip 2 Stockinette stitches off the left needle and move the following 2 purl stitches onto the right needle. Pick up the dropped stitches with the left needle, then slip the 2 stitches back to the left needle and p2, k2.
2/2p RC Variation for Firenze
Put the right needle into the front of the 2 Stockinette stitches on the left needle (the 3rd and 4th stitches). Slip those Stockinette stitches to the right needle, removing the unworked stitches before them, then insert the left needle into the unworked stitches behind the Stockinette sts. Slip the Stockinette stitches back to the left needle and k2, p2.