Guide to the Oval Cable Stitch: Elegance and Simplicity for Your Knitting Projects

The Oval Cable Stitch is a decorative knitting stitch that creates an intertwined effect by combining different cables.

Perfect for making scarves, sweaters, or accessories like blankets and cushions, the Oval Cable Stitch is also ideal for those with basic knitting knowledge who want to explore new techniques.

This stitch is perfect for adding an elegant touch to any piece: it creates a three-dimensional texture that catches the eye and adds movement to your work.

In this guide, we will explain step by step how to knit it using our detailed instructions.

How to Work the Oval Cable Stitch

Below is a step-by-step explanation of how to work the Oval Cable Stitch, but first, let’s take a look at what you’ll need.

Materials

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

• Knitting needles: you can use straight or circular needles, depending on your project (we will provide instructions for working flat with straight needles). Just make sure they are the right size for the yarn you’ve chosen. We used our 4mm (6 US) Beechwood Knitting Needles, light and pleasant to handle.
• Yarn: the Oval Cable Stitch works well with medium or fine yarns, in light or gradiend colors to highlight the pattern. We used our Alpa Cotton yarn (remember, we talked about it here!) in the “undyed” Pablo color, a natural and delicate choice.
• Cable needle: use a cable needle in the same size as your regular needles. A little trick? If you don’t have a cable needle, you can use a crochet hook instead. ;-)

Procedure

Now that you have all your materials ready, here are our instructions for knitting the Oval Cable Stitch.

Tip: Keep your stitches evenly spaced on the needle to prevent your work from becoming too loose in some areas.

Casting On Stitches: Start by casting on a number of stitches that is a multiple of 20 + 2 (for example, 42, 62, etc.).

Odd-Numbered Rows (Row 1 to Row 23):

• Work on the wrong side of the fabric.
• Knit 2 stitches, purl 8 stitches. Repeat from * to * until you are 2 stitches from the end, then knit 2 stitches.

Row 2 (and all even-numbered rows not specified):

• Knit all stitches as they appear (knit or purl depending on the orientation of the stitches on the needle).

Row 4 and 8:

• Work on the right side of the fabric.
• Purl 2 stitches, knit 8 stitches crossed to the right, purl 2 stitches, knit 8 stitches. Repeat from * to * until you are 2 stitches from the end, then purl 2 stitches.
• Note: To make 8 stitches crossed to the right: place 4 stitches on a cable needle behind the work, knit the next 4 stitches, then knit the 4 stitches from the cable needle.

Row 6, 10, 12, and 16:

• Knit the stitches as they appear.

Row 14 and 18:

• Purl 2 stitches, knit 8 stitches, purl 2 stitches, knit 8 stitches crossed to the right. Repeat from * to * until you are 2 stitches from the end, then purl 2 stitches.

Row 20 and 22:

• Knit the stitches as they appear.

Repeat the sequence of rows from 4 to 22 for the entire length of your project.

Chart for the Oval Cable Stitch

If you prefer, you can follow the instructions using the chart, which provides an immediate overview to help you navigate the knitting pattern.

Tips for a Perfect Result

The Oval Cable Stitch is a valuable addition to your repertoire of decorative stitches, but paying attention to a few details will help you achieve flawless results:

• Yarn Tension: maintain an even tension while working to avoid the cables becoming too tight or too loose.
• Practice with a Swatch: before starting a large project, knit a small swatch to get familiar with the stitch. This is crucial for understanding how the yarn behaves with this pattern and calculating the exact number of stitches to cast on for your project.
• Customize Your Cables: you can vary the width of the cables by changing the number of stitches crossed to suit your creative needs. An original idea? Try combining narrow and wide cables for an even more dynamic effect!

With a little practice, this stitch will allow you to create unique and original pieces. Whether you choose to make a cozy winter sweater or a decorative home accessory, the Oval Cable Stitch will be your ally for truly stunning projects.

Experiment and be inspired by its versatility! If you’d like to discover more decorative stitches, don’t miss the other guides on our blog and subscribe to our newsletter for updates!

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Happy knitting!