meta Cable: a cable and lace knitting stitch pattern

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The word I drew from the words suggested on Patreon for this post is Cable, suggested by Molly, a Patreon supporter.

Because the word was cable, I decided that I would encode the word as a cable design, though I also decided that I would try to find a way to add lace in some of the spaces between the cables. This is the first time I’ve added lace to cables instead of adding cables to lace, but I think I managed pretty well! I wrote a few random thoughts about this process.

It always amuses me when the word of the month is a word about knitting, even though it can make it hard to search for my stitch patterns with names like that. I’ve tried to make that a bit easier by putting the word “meta” in the name of such stitch patterns. Other examples:

(The top two search results on each of those pages are the relevant results, though I hope the results underneath will also be of interest.)

Each month, my Patreon backers have the chance to suggest words for me to encode as knitting stitches. A random number generator helps me choose which word I will encode from these, and then I get to work, first turning the letters into numbers, then charting the numbers onto grids in various ways. Finally, when I make the chart into lace, I turn the marked squares into yarnovers and work out where to place the corresponding decreases. (I usually make lace; occasionally I make cables instead.) I also made a meta Cable charted design for any craft that uses a square grid for designing.

The stitch patterns are not meant in any way to look like the original words; the words are the seeds of my creativity.

Knitted sample of the meta Cable lace/cable design. Twisted lines in vertical bars sometimes move to the sides to make not-quite-diamond shapes filled with lace.
Chart showing how to work meta Cable lace by means of special symbols. Written instructions in blog post.
click chart to enlarge

Notes:

  • The 1/1 cable crosses with two knit stitches are the part that shows the code; I’ve highlighted them in pale blue; any cable crosses in the chart that aren’t pale blue have one knit stitch and one purl stitch.
  • Some of the cable crosses are mirrored across the stitch pattern; others are not. This is deliberate because of how the interlacing works in the design.
  • Because of the complexity of the design, and that there would otherwise be wrong-side 1/1 cable crosses, I felt it might be better to write this stitch pattern in the round.
  • This is a stitch pattern such as might be found in a stitch dictionary. It is not a pattern for a finished object.
  • Meta Cable is a multiple of 12 + 14 stitches and 30 rounds.
  • I’ve made a stitch map for meta Cable.
  • Designers, please feel free to use this in your patterns. I’d like credit but won’t be offended if people don’t give it.
  • My blog posts and free stitch patterns are supported by subscriptions on Patreon or donations to my Paypal tip jar in the sidebar. If you appreciate my work, please consider helping out. Thanks!

Abbreviations:

  • 1/1 LC: Slip next stitch to cable needle and place at front of work, knit 1, then knit 1 from cable needle.
  • 1/1 LPC: Slip next stitch to cable needle and place at front of work, purl 1, then knit 1 from cable needle.
  • 1/1 RC: Slip next stitch to cable needle and place at back of work, knit 1, then knit 1 from cable needle.
  • 1/1 RPC: Slip next stitch to cable needle and place at back of work, knit 1, then purl 1 from cable needle.
  • k: knit.
  • k1 tbl: knit 1 through the back loop to twist it.
  • k2tog: knit 2 stitches together as if they were 1. (Right-leaning decrease)
  • p: purl.
  • ssk: slip each of the next 2 stitches as if to knit, then knit them together through the back loop. (Or substitute your favorite left-leaning decrease)
  • yo: yarnover. Bring the yarn forward between the needles so that it will make a loop over the needle when the next stitch is worked. When there are two in a row, bring the yarn forward, wrap it once around the needle, and leave the yarn in front so it makes a second loop.

Round 1: k1‑tbl, p1, 1/1 LC, p1, k2tog, yo × 2, *ssk, p1, 1/1 LC, p2, 1/1 LC, p1, k2tog, yo × 2; work from *, ssk, p1, 1/1 LC, p1, k1‑tbl.

Round 2: k1, p1, k2, p1, k1, (k1, p1) in double yo, *k1, p1, k2, p2, k2, p1, k1, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, k1, p1, k2, p1, k1.

Round 3: k1‑tbl, p1, 1/1 LC, k2tog, yo, k2, *yo, ssk, 1/1 LC, p2, 1/1 LC, k2tog, yo, k2; work from *, yo, ssk, 1/1 LC, p1, k1‑tbl.

Round 4: k1, 1/1 RPC, k5, *k3, 1/1 LPC, 1/1 RPC, k5; work from *, k3, 1/1 LPC, k1.

Round 5: 1/1 RC, p1, 1/1 LPC, k2tog, yo × 2, *ssk, 1/1 RPC, p1, 1/1 RC, p1, 1/1 LPC, k2tog, yo × 2; work from *, ssk, 1/1 RPC, p1, 1/1 RC.

Round 6: k2, p2, k2, (k1, p1) in double yo, *(k2, p2) × 2, k2, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, k2, p2, k2.

Round 7: 1/1 RC, p2, 1/1 LPC, k2, *1/1 RPC, p2, 1/1 RC, p2, 1/1 LPC, k2; work from *, 1/1 RPC, p2, 1/1 RC.

Round 8: k2, p3, 1/1 LPC, *1/1 RPC, p3, k2, p3, 1/1 LPC; work from *, 1/1 RPC, p3, k2.

Round 9: k2, p4, 1/1 RC, *p4, k2, p4, 1/1 RC; work from *, p4, k2.

Round 10: k2, p4, k2, *(p4, k2) × 2; work from *, p4, k2.

Round 11: 1/1 RC, p3, 1/1 RPC, *1/1 LPC, p3, 1/1 RC, p3, 1/1 RPC; work from *, 1/1 LPC, p3, 1/1 RC.

Round 12: k2, p3, k1, p2, *k1, p3, k2, p3, k1, p2; work from *, k1, p3, k2.

Round 13: k2, p2, 1/1 RC, p2, *1/1 LC, p2, k2, p2, 1/1 RC, p2; work from *, 1/1 LC, p2, k2.

Round 14: (k2, p2) × 2, *(k2, p2) × 3; work from *, k2, p2, k2.

Round 15: 1/1 RC, p2, k1‑tbl, yo, ssk, k2tog, *yo, k1‑tbl, p2, 1/1 RC, p2, k1‑tbl, yo, ssk, k2tog; work from *, yo, k1‑tbl, p2, 1/1 RC.

Round 16: k2, p2, k4, *(k2, p2) × 2, k4; work from *, k2, p2, k2.

Round 17: 1/1 RC, p1, 1/1 RPC, k2tog, yo × 2, *ssk, 1/1 LPC, p1, 1/1 RC, p1, 1/1 RPC, k2tog, yo × 2; work from *, ssk, 1/1 LPC, p1, 1/1 RC.

Round 18: p1, 1/1 LPC, k1, p1, k1, (k1, p1) in double yo, *k1, p1, k1, 1/1 RPC, 1/1 LPC, k1, p1, k1, (k1, p1) in double yo; work from *, k1, p1, k1, 1/1 RPC, p1.

Round 19: p2, 1/1 LC, p1, yo, ssk, k2tog, *yo, p1, 1/1 LC, p2, 1/1 LC, p1, yo, ssk, k2tog; work from *, yo, p1, 1/1 LC, p2.

Round 20: k1, 1/1 RPC, k1, p1, k3, *k1, p1, k1, 1/1 LPC, 1/1 RPC, k1, p1, k3; work from *, k1, p1, k1, 1/1 LPC, k1.

Round 21: 1/1 RC, p1, 1/1 LPC, 1/1 RPC, *1/1 LPC, 1/1 RPC, p1, 1/1 RC, p1, 1/1 LPC, 1/1 RPC; work from *, 1/1 LPC, 1/1 RPC, p1, 1/1 RC.

Round 22: (k2, p2) × 2, *(k2, p2) × 3; work from *, k2, p2, k2.

Round 23: 1/1 RC, p2, 1/1 LPC, p2, *1/1 RPC, p2, 1/1 RC, p2, 1/1 LPC, p2; work from *, 1/1 RPC, p2, 1/1 RC.

Round 24: k2, p3, 1/1 LPC, *1/1 RPC, p3, k2, p3, 1/1 LPC; work from *, 1/1 RPC, p3, k2.

Round 25: k2, p4, 1/1 RC, *p4, k2, p4, 1/1 RC; work from *, p4, k2.

Round 26: k2, p4, k2, *(p4, k2) × 2; work from *, p4, k2.

Round 27: 1/1 RC, p3, 1/1 RPC, *1/1 LPC, p3, 1/1 RC, p3, 1/1 RPC; work from *, 1/1 LPC, p3, 1/1 RC.

Round 28: k2, p3, k3, *k1, p3, k2, p3, k3; work from *, k1, p3, k2.

Round 29: 1/1 RC, p2, 1/1 RPC, k2, *1/1 LPC, p2, 1/1 RC, p2, 1/1 RPC, k2; work from *, 1/1 LPC, p2, 1/1 RC.

Round 30: k1, 1/1 LPC, 1/1 RPC, p1, k2, *p1, (1/1 LPC, 1/1 RPC) × 2, p1, k2; work from *, p1, 1/1 LPC, 1/1 RPC, k1.