Purlbed

Hand knitting › Cables

6-stitch cable

A bold rope of three stitches crossing over three, the classic Aran cable, on a purl background. As the 4-stitch cable but over 6: slip 3 to a cable needle in front (left-leaning cross) or at the back (right-leaning cross), knit 3, knit the 3 from the cable needle.

What you work it with

Hand knitting · Tools: Needles for the yarn, a cable needle, smooth wool or wool blend; stitch markers.

Symbol chart

One or two repeats of the stitch pattern, drawn as seen from the right side.
123456Purl on RS, knit on WSKnit on RS, purl on WSC6F: 3/3 left cross (hold 3 in front)Read from the bottom: RS rows (odd) right to left, WS rows (even) left to right.

Steps

  1. Set up: p2, k6, p2 (RS) and k2, p6, k2 (WS).
  2. Work 4 rows plain.
  3. Cable row (RS): p2, slip 3 to the cable needle in front, k3, k3 from the cable needle, p2.
  4. Work 1 WS row.
  5. Repeat steps 2–4 for a cross every 6 rows.

The full card

What it looks like
A bold rope of three stitches crossing over three, the classic Aran cable, on a purl background.
How it behaves
Strong draw-in and plenty of relief: the rope stands well proud of the background.
How it works
As the 4-stitch cable but over 6: slip 3 to a cable needle in front (left-leaning cross) or at the back (right-leaning cross), knit 3, knit the 3 from the cable needle.
Tools
Needles for the yarn, a cable needle, smooth wool or wool blend; stitch markers.
Parameters
Panel: 6 knit stitches between 2 purl stitches each side. Cross every 6th row (every 8th for a gentler rope).
Steps
1) Set up: p2, k6, p2 (RS) and k2, p6, k2 (WS). 2) Work 4 rows plain. 3) Cable row (RS): p2, slip 3 to the cable needle in front, k3, k3 from the cable needle, p2. 4) Work 1 WS row. 5) Repeat steps 2–4 for a cross every 6 rows.
Charting
Read from the right side. The six-cell bar is one C6F (3/3 left cross); the other rows are plain k columns on purl. WS rows are worked as the stitches face you.
Limits and common problems
A 3-over-3 cross is tight in thick yarn; a pointy cable needle helps. Work without a cable needle only once the move feels easy, as the dropped stitches can run.
Combines with
4-stitch cable, Braid cable (plait), 2×2 rib, Seed stitch (moss stitch)
Pieces and assembly
Aran sweaters, cabled hats and cushion covers. Place a marker at each side of the panel; a column of seed stitch between panels sets them off.

Written in our own words from machine manuals, knitting references and swatching. Knit a test swatch before a whole piece.

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