Cable 2 Front (C2F) and Cable 2 Back (C2B) are the common names used to describe 1 stitch crossing over 1 stitch to form a mini cable.
Many patterns and designers also use the names 1/1 Left Cross (1/1LC), 1/1 Left Cable, or 1/1 Left Twist (1/1LT) for C2F; and 1/1 Right Cross (1/1RC), 1/1 Right Cable, or 1/1 Right Twist (1/1RT) for C2B.
There are three methods to work Cable 2 Front and Cable 2 Back without a cable needle: Reorder, Drop, and Twist. See the pros and cons of each method and choose the one that feels easiest for you.
Compare 2-Stitch Cable Methods
Compare 2-Stitch Cable Methods
| Criteria | Reorder Method | Drop Method | Twist Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Form the cross stitches by slipping and reordering them, then knit. | Form the cross stitches by dropping and picking-up, then knit. | Form the cross stitches directly on the needles while knitting them. |
| Stitch security | High — both stitches remain on the needle at all times. | Low — easy to lose the stitch if not careful; sometimes it rebels and ruins everything. | High — stitches stay on a needle, very low risk of dropping. |
| Speed | Slowest — reordering stitches involves multiple steps, so it takes the most time | Fastest — but comes with a bit of danger. | Moderate — no slipping or reordering needed, yet requires dexterity so it takes a bit of time. |
| Difficulty | Beginner-friendly and intuitive. | Fairly easy — just be careful not to lose the stitch. | A bit tricky — requires dexterity. |
| Criteria | Reorder | Drop | Twist |
|---|---|---|---|
| How | Slip & reorder | Drop & pick-up | Knit 2nd, then 1st |
| Security | High | Low | High |
| Speed | Slowest | Fastest | Moderate |
| Difficulty | Easy | Easy — be careful | Tricky |
How to work Cable 2 Front
Reorder medthod
Steps 1–3: Reorder the stitches
Step 1: Hold the yarn in back, insert the right-hand needle knitwise into the first stitch on the left-hand needle, then slip it onto the right-hand needle.
Step 2: Repeat the same step with the second stitch.
Step 3: Insert the left-hand needle into the front of the two slipped stitches on the right-hand needle from right to left, then slip all stitches onto the left-hand needle at once.
Steps 4–11: Knit the stitches
Step 4: Insert the right-hand needle into the front loop of the first stitch on the left-hand needle from left to right.
Step 5: Wrap the yarn counter clockwise around the right-hand needle.
Step 6: Pull the new stitch through the stitch.
Step 7: Drop the stitch off the left-hand needle.
Steps 8–11: Repeat steps 4–7 with the next stitch.
📷 Click to see step-by-step photos
Drop medthod
Step 1: Hold the yarn in back. Insert the right-hand needle purlwise into the first stitch on the left-hand needle, and slip it onto the right-hand needle.
Step 2: Knit the next stitch.
Step 3: Insert the left-hand needle into the front of the slipped stitch on the right-hand needle from left to right.
Step 4: Drop the two stitches off the right-hand needle.
Step 5: Insert the right-hand needle back into the loose stitch.
Step 6: Knit the slipped stitch.
📷 Click to see step-by-step photos
Twist medthod
Option 1: Simple way
Step 1: Hold the yarn in the back. Insert the right-hand needle into the back loop of the second stitch on the left-hand needle from right to left.
Step 2: Wrap the yarn counter clockwise around the right-hand needle.
Step 3: Pull the new stitch through the stitch.
Step 4: Do not slip any stitches off the left-hand needle — keep both stitches in place. Insert the right-hand needle into the front loop of the first stitch on the left-hand needle, from right to left.
Step 5: Wrap the yarn counter clockwise around the right-hand needle.
Step 6: Pull the new stitch through the stitch.
Step 7: Drop both stitches off the left-hand needle.
📷 Click to see step-by-step photos
Option 2: More challenging way, but with a better result
Step 1: Hold the yarn in the back. Insert the right-hand needle from back to front between the first and second stitches on the left-hand needle.
Step 2: Insert the right-hand needle into the front loop of the second stitch on the left-hand needle from right to left.
Step 3: Wrap the yarn counter clockwise around the right-hand needle.
Step 4: Pull the new stitch through the stitch.
Step 5: Do not slip any stitches off the left-hand needle — keep both stitches in place. Insert the right-hand needle into the front loop of the first stitch on the left-hand needle, from right to left.
Step 6: Wrap the yarn counter clockwise around the right-hand needle.
Step 7: Pull the new stitch through the stitch.
Step 8: Drop both stitches off the left-hand needle.
How to work Cable 2 Back
Reorder medthod
Steps 1–2: Reorder the stitches
Step 1: Hold the yarn in back, insert the right-hand needle knitwise into the first two stitches on the left-hand needle, then slip both stitches onto the right-hand needle at once.
Step 2: Insert the left-hand needle into the front of the two slipped stitches on the right-hand needle from left to right, then slip all stitches onto the left-hand needle.
Steps 3–10: Knit the stitches through the back loop
Step 3: Insert the right-hand needle into the first stitch through the back loop on the left-hand needle from right to left.
Step 4: Wrap the yarn counter clockwise around the right-hand needle.
Step 5: Pull the new stitch through the stitch.
Step 6: Drop the stitch off the left-hand needle.
Steps 7–10: Repeat steps 3–6 with the next stitch.
📷 Click to see step-by-step photos
Drop medthod
Step 1: Hold the yarn in back. Insert the right-hand needle purlwise into the front of the 2nd stich on the left-hand needle.
Step 2: Drop the two stitches off the left-hand needle.
Step 3: Insert the left-hand needle into the one loose stitch.
Step 4: Insert the left-hand needle into the stitch on the right-hand needle from left to right, and slip it back onto the left-hand needle.
Step 5: Knit two stitches.
📷 Click to see step-by-step photos
Twist medthod
Step 1: Hold the yarn in the back. Skip the first stitch, insert the right-hand needle into the front loop of the second stitch on the left-hand needle from left to right.
Step 2: Wrap the yarn counter clockwise around the right-hand needle.
Step 3: Pull the new stitch through the stitch.
Step 4: Do not slip any stitches off the left-hand needle — keep both stitches in place. Insert the right-hand needle into the front loop of the first stitch on the left-hand needle, from left to right.
Step 5: Wrap the yarn counter clockwise around the right-hand needle.
Step 6: Pull the new stitch through the stitch.
Step 7: Drop both stitches off the left-hand needle.
📷 Click to see step-by-step photos
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