Pattern: Cabled Cowl



Show off your cabling techniques by combining six strand plaits and horseshoe cables (double cables) in this comfy cowl.




Finished Measurements:
12" long
10" diameter

Materials:

1 skein Lion Brand, Fishermen's Wool in Nature's Brown

Size 8 circular needle
Cable Hook
Stitch Marker

Gauge:

16 sts and 22 rows = 4" (10 cm)


Six strand plaits

Instructions:

CO 125 sts and join ends together to work in the round. Place a stitch marker between the first and last stitches to keep track of the beginning of the work.

Round 1: (K1, P1) 6 times, K1, (P3, K12, P3) 3 times, (K1, P1) 2 times, K1, (P2, K12, P2) 3 times, (K1, P1) 2 times, K1

Round 2: Repeat Round 1

Round 3: (P1, K1) 6 times, P4, K12, P6, sl 3 sts on cable needle and hold in front, K3, K3 from cable needle, sl 3 sts on cable needle and hold in back, K3, K3 from cable needle, P6, K12, P3, (K1, P1) 2 times, K1, (P2, sl 2 sts on cable needle and hold to front, K2, K2 from cable needle, sl 2 sts on cable needle and hold to front, K2, K2 from cable needle, sl 2 sts on cable needle and hold to front, K2, K2 from cable needle, P2) 3 times, (K1, P1) 2 times, K1

Round 4(P1, K1) 6 times, P4, sl 3 sts on cable needle and hold in back, K3, K3 from cable needle, sl 3 sts on cable needle and hold in front, K3, K3 from cable needle, P6, K12, P6, sl 3 sts on cable needle and hold in back, K3, K3 from cable needle, sl 3 sts on cable needle and hold in front, K3, K3 from cable needle, P3, (K1, P1) 2 times, K1, (P2, K12, P2) 3 times, (K1, P1) 2 times, K1


Horseshoe cables

Round 5Repeat Round 1

Round 6Repeat Round 1

Round 7(P1, K1) 6 times, P4, K12, P6, sl 3 sts on cable needle and hold in front, K3, K3 from cable needle, sl 3 sts on cable needle and hold in back, K3, K3 from cable needle, P6, K12, P3, (K1, P1) 2 times, K1, (P2, K2, sl 2 sts on cable needle and hold to back, K2, K2 from cable needle, sl 2 sts on cable needle and hold to back, K2, K2 from cable needle, K2, P2) 3 times, (K1, P1) 2 times, K1

Round 8(P1, K1) 6 times, P4, sl 3 sts on cable needle and hold in back, K3, K3 from cable needle, sl 3 sts on cable needle and hold in front, K3, K3 from cable needle, P6, K12, P6, sl 3 sts on cable needle and hold in back, K3, K3 from cable needle, sl 3 sts on cable needle and hold in front, K3, K3 from cable needle, P3, (K1, P1) 2 times, K1, (P2, K12, P2) 3 times, (K1, P1) 2 times, K1

Repeat Rounds 1-8, ten (10) times or until the piece measures 12"


Horseshoe cables, alternating directions


For those visual learners out there, below is a knitting chart to see the pattern across all stitches for the 8 repeating rounds:


Larger version available here.




Tips:


If you're feeling daring and want to throw that cable hook aside (or if you just can't find one), use this technique to pass your cables over without using a cable hook.

Keep your cables tight. When you finish knitting the stitches off the cable hook, keep your tension tight for the first knit from the circular needle as usual to prevent gaps in the cables.