The ability to make distinctive textures in crochet is one of the things we love about the craft. Using your hook in different ways can completely change the aesthetic of a design, whether that is a bobble-type stitch, a shell or even something as simple as working back over your yarn.  

One stitch we find particularly interesting is the Cable Stitch. This stitch, also known as the three-treble crossover, should not be confused with the knitted cable (this can also be emulated in crochet). However, it is a crossed stitch that gives the illusion of knitted cables simply by working over the top of your work. It sounds complicated but it's really not. If you can do a treble crochet then you can definitely do a Cable Stitch.

The Basics

The thing that is really striking about the Cable Stitch is the illusion it gives of being complex without actually being difficult to achieve. It can be used in a wide range of projects, whether that is simple dishcloths, scarves or blankets. It is a fairly dense stitch, however, so that is something to keep in mind if you're making something that needs to drape.  

You will need to start with a chain. This can be any length but to ensure you have enough spaces to complete the cable will need to be in multiples of 4 plus 2 extra stitches to do so. In this case the chain is 16 plus 2, giving a total of 18 chains.

Let's have a go

Remember:

Keep your crossed stitch loose to ensure your stitch doesn't look squashed

Step 1:

Double crochet row

This stitch has a right side, and as such you always want the right side facing when working it. to do this you'll need a 'filler' stitch between to make up the wrong side of the work. You can use any basic stitch you desire, but here we've used a simple repeat of double crochet. Start in the 2nd chain from the hook with a dc. Then make 1 dc in each stitch to the end of the row. This will give you 16 stitches in total. Turn your work.

Step 2:

Chain 3

You should now be back to working on the right side as you begin the process of creating your cable stitch. This has a number of stages but you will start by chaining 3. This will count as your first stitch and will put your work at the right height for this row.

Step 3:

Skip stitch

The next step will see you skip a stitch. This will be used later when you work back across your stitches to create the cable.

Step 4:

3 trebles

In the next 3 consecutive stitches make 3 trebles.

Step 5:

Insert hook into missed stitch

To make the Cable Stitch you must work back across the 3 trebles you have just made. To do this you will yarn over and place your hook into the stitch you missed in step 3. Essentially, you will make a treble crochet here, but instead of working into the next stitch as you would normally, you're working into the missed stitch.

Step 6:

Cable Stitch

Pull the yarn through. You should have 3 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through 2. Yarn over and pull through the remaining 2 loops to complete the treble.

Step 7:

Cable stitch

You now should have completed the Cable Stitch, which should look like the photograph. To continue the row, repeat from Step 3 until you reach the last stitch.

Step 8:

Finishing the row

When you reach the end you should have one stitch left. This is needed to give your work a straight edge. Make a treble crochet in this stitch. Turn.  

To move onto the next row, you will need to 1 ch to make the height. Then dc in all stitches to the end of the row. Repeat the pattern from Step 3 to continue.

Happy making!

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