Learning how to knit a cable decrease is as easy as k2tog. This tutorial walks you through how to make a Cable Forward Decrease and a Cable Back Decrease — structurally, they're worked the same way, just mirrored. This tutorial picks up right where our How to Knit Cables for Beginners post leaves off, so we recommend reviewing that post first if cables are new to you.
Cable Decrease Video Tutorial
How to Decrease a Cable Forward
This tutorial assumes you're working from the previous How to Knit Cables tutorial.
Cable Row (4-row repeat): K4, p5, C4F, p6, C4B, p5, k4
To add a Cable Forward Decrease, the beginning of your row will look as follows: K4, p5, (begin decrease) slip 2 stitches onto your cable needle and hold your stitches forward, k1, holding your cable needle and working needle together, knit together the stitch on your cable needle and the next stitch from your working needle, then knit the remaining stitch off of your cable needle.
How to Decrease a Cable Back
The Cable Back Decrease is worked the same way as the Cable Forward Decrease, with one exception: hold the cable needle to the back of your work instead of the front.
Picking up where we left off with the Cable Forward Decrease:
p6, (begin decrease) slip 2 stitches onto your cable needle and hold your stitches back, k1, holding your cable needle and working needle together, knit together the stitch on your cable needle and the next stitch from your working needle, then knit the remaining stitch off of your cable needle.
Finish your row with: p5, k4.
Stay Tuned
We have many more tutorials in the works! Try our Seersucker Stitch Tutorial next, or follow along with our latest Knit Along.
Looking for a pattern to practice your cable stitch on? Check out this free bag pattern, created with Patons Canadiana New Generation yarn.
Be sure to follow us on social media — happy crafting!
