How to Crochet a Cable Stitch

Crochet cables make any project look sophisticated and high-end. This beautiful technique can be used on anything from blankets to scarves to headwear.

Learning how to crochet cables may initially seem intimidating, but it is actually pretty simple once you get the hang of it.

Below, I’ll show you how to make one type of crochet cable stitch with both a written and video tutorial.

What is a Crochet Cable?

Crocheted cables are made by skipping a specified set of stitches, then crossing front and back post stitches to create the twisted look of a cable.

There are multiple ways to ultimately create a cable stitch.

In this tutorial, I focus on describing only one of the ways. Here, I create cables by using the front post double crochet stitch (abbreviated as FPdc), which I find is the easiest way to learn how to crochet cables.

Stitches that are worked around the front and back post of other stitches create that iconic twist in the yarn or cable!

The Stitches Used in Crochet Cables

To be able to create crochet cable stitches in this tutorial, you will need to know how to front post double crochet (FPdc) and single crochet.

Front Post Double Crochet (FPdc)

Yarn over (YO) the hook, pick up a loop from front
Insert your hook from right to left under the designated stitch
*yarn over, draw through two loops, repeat from * twice.

Single Crochet (sc)

Insert the hook from front to back in the second chain from the hook or designated stitch
Bring the yarn over the hook and pull the yarn back through the chain (or stitch) from back to front (2 loops on hook).
Yo and pull through both loops on the hook.

Cables can be created with taller stitches as well, like the back or front post treble crochet, the back post double crochet, or any other crochet stitch that uses posts. Remember: the front and back post stitches are what creates the signature cable stitch look.

What are Posts?

Many of our easy crochet patterns don’t utilize posts, but when creating cables, we have to. When working with post stitches, you crochet around the stitch instead of through the loops at the top.

There are front post and back post stitches, the name of which determines how you insert your hook.

The hardest part of crocheting cables is knowing where you need to insert your hook. Front post stitches go from front to back to front, while back post stitches go opposite… from back to front to back.

Supplies for Crochet Cable Stitches

To crochet cables, you will need only need two crochet materials or tools to get started, which are yarn and a regular-old crochet hook. While the cable stitch looks complex, it is more technique than the use of other supplies like specialty hooks.

Yarn

For this example, I am using Lion Brand Heartland, which is a four weight yarn. If you’d like to also use this yarn, the color is called Capitol Reef. However, you can use any yarn you’d like with this crochet cable tutorial.

Heartland

Patterns Using This →

Crochet Hook

For these instructions, I will be using a hook with the size of I-9 5.5 mm. Be sure to match the hook size with the yarn weight if you chose a different yarn than I did. My favorite hooks are Tulip Etimo, which I’ll link up below.

Need help finding the hook size? You can usually find the suggested hook size on the yarn label of the yarn you are using.

Ready to get started?

Scroll on down to find the detailed tutorial on how to create a crochet cable stitch! If you require any further assistance, please feel free to email me.

Basic Crochet Cable Stitch Pattern

Skill Level: Intermediate

Materials

Yarn: Heartland by Lion Brand
Crochet Hook: I-9 5.5 mm

Crochet Stitches & Abbreviations

sc = single crochet
fpdc = front post double crochet
sk = skip
st (s) = stitch (es)
ch (s) = chain (s)

Notes

All patterns and tutorials are written in standard US terms
Use a starting ch in a multiple of 6 plus 3
- This means you’ll crochet a chain in a multiple of 6 then add 3 more chains to that multiple.
The number at the end of the foundation row shows the stitch count for that row and every row in the written instructions.
Ch do not count as sts
* Asterisks show a repeated stitch pattern.
IMPORTANT: Always skip the sc behind the FPdc you just made

Written Instructions

Foundation Row: Ch 21, 1 sc in the second ch from the hook, 1 sc in each ch across, turn (20)

Row 1: Ch 1, 1 sc into each st across, turn.

Row 2: Ch 1, 1 sc into each st across, turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, *FPdc around the post of the next sc 2 rows below

1 sc next st, FPdc around the post of the next sc 2 rows below, sc into the next 3 sts, rep from *, turn.

Row 4: Ch 1, 1 sc into each st across, turn.

Row 5: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sc, *FPdc around the post of the next FPdc 2 rows below, sc into the next st, FPdc around the post of the next FPdc 2 rows below, sc in next 3 sc, rep from * across, turn.

Row 6: Ch 1, 1 sc into each st across.

Row 7: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sc, *sk next 2 sts, work a FPdc around the post of the next FPdc 2 rows below

sc into the second sk st, FPdc around the post of the last skipped FPdc,

sc into next 3 sc (see pic below on where to start this), rep from * across, turn.

Row 8: Ch 1, 1 sc into each st across.

Row 9: Ch 1, sc in the next 2 sc, *FPdc around the post of the next FPdc 2 rows below, sc into the next st, FPdc around the post of the next FPdc, sc in the next 3 scs, rep from * across, turn.

Repeat rows 4 – 9 to complete the pattern

Crochet Cable Video Tutorial

This video starts with row 9

Patterns that Use Crochet Cables

There are a handful of free tutorials on our site that creates cable crochet patterns. They may not all use this particular style of cabling, but hopefully, our tutorial gave you the skills you need to understand cables enough to create a beautiful pattern using them.

What is a Crochet Cable?