The Horn Cable is a fairly simple cable stitch that uses two 4-stitch cables to create an interesting fabric. It’s worked over a panel of 16 stitches with a background of reverse stockinette and uses Cable 4 front and back stitches to create a dense fabric. This stitch would be a lovely stitch pattern to use for a sweater, hat, scarf and / or a blanket.

There is a chart below for reference, as well as a video link above to help you. And, if you’d like to see a fun time-lapse video I made while working on this stitch, simply scroll to the very bottom of this post.

 

 

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Materials needed

(listed below is what I used to create the sample of the Horn Cable stitch pattern)

  • Paintbox Yarns Simply DK yarn in color Light Grey (#104), approximately 21 yds
  • Size 6 / 4 mm knitting needles
  • Cable needle
  • 2 stitch markers (optional)

Stitches and abbreviations used

K: Knit

P: Purl

PB1: Purl through the back loop

RS: Right side

St(s): Stitch (es)

C4b: Cable 4 back – slip next 2 sts from left hand needle to cable needle, hold to back, k2 from left hand needle, then k2 from cable needle

C4f: Cable 4 front – slip next 2 sts from left hand needle to cable needle, hold to front, k2 from left hand needle, then k2 from cable needle

WS: Wrong side

X: Times (example: 3x = 3 times)

Notes:

  • To make this stitch a little easier and to keep track of the panel, try inserting stitch markers between panels. This way it’s easier not to not get confused as to where the background of reverse stockinette section and the cable panel is.
  • To help minimize the gap of the cable, I give a light tug on the stitch afterward and it helps to close up the gap a bit.
Pin of the knitted Horn Cable from Handmade by Stacy J
Here’s a pin for your Pinterest board 🙂

Directions

(worked over panel of 16 sts with background of reverse stockinette). Directions are for the cable panel only.

  • Row 1 (RS): K4, c4b, c4f, k4
  • Row 2 and all WS rows: Purl
  • Row 3: K2, c4b, k4, c4f, k2
  • Row 5: C4b, k8, c4f
  • Row 6: Purl

Repeat rows 1-6 to desired length.

Chart showing how to knit the Horn Cable stitch created by Handmade by Stacy J

I hope you enjoyed learning this stitch as much as I did. Please tag me @handmadebystacyj when posting on social media – I’d love to see your makes!

Stacy J

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