Well, I finally did it, I learned to do cables without a cable needle. It is so easy, I’m shocked that they even make cable needles! I’m working on the Celtic Cable Cap, using a cable needle. Once I get going, I go pretty quickly. However, everyone on Ravelry (if you aren’t on yet, go get on the waiting list!) keeps raving about how easy it is to cable without a needle, and how the needle only slows you down. Well, except for the few people who love their U shaped aluminum needles, and say that they are afraid of dropping stitches.
So, given how everyone says it easy and faster, and the fact that there are some who are afraid to do it, I had to try it myself. I mean, I don’t want to be left behind while “all the cool kids are doing it”. At the same time, I like a challenge, so if some people are saying it’s hard, or scary, then I’ve got to try it myself, just to see if I can do it.
Guess what…
It is super easy.
I love my Brittnay Birch Cable Needles, and I doubt I’ll be tossing them with my old metal needles and acrylic yarn, but I doubt I’ll be reaching for them unless I get into some crazy hard cabling.
So for all the nay-sayers who are saying, “Nay!” Here is a great articleon how to cable without a needle. I saw some other articles explaining it, but they tend to do the complete cross, then knit the whole mess. That seems complicated, and tight. Grumperina’s method has you slip the first half that would normally go on the cable needle, then knit (or purl) the second half. Then you do the cross, and knit (or purl) the rest. It’s easier to do than describe. Go have a look at the pictures, you’ll get it.
I’ve been cableless for a while, it’s good stuff. It is worth keeping cables around, because if you get into some of the heavier braided stuff, it calls for 2 cable needles. Theoretically possible with none, I imagine, but I found it most comfortable to use one to hold some stitches while needlelessly cabling the other bits.