How do I get started?
Use a combination of simple stitches to form foundation rows
Let’s make a practice piece with 12 sts and two colours – we used DK cream (A) and pink (B), with a 4mm hook. Cable fabrics often use post stitches in various lengths depending on how far they’ll travel – for simplicity, we’ll use htr as the base stitch and dtr for all post stitches.
Step 1 To work Row 1 (RS): using A, ch11, ch2 (counts as htr throughout), htr in 3rd ch from hook, htr in next ch, 2htr in B, 4htr in A, 2htr in B, 2htr in A. Now the cable strands are set, you’ll work all A
sts into A sts, and all B sts into B sts, making it easier to keep track. Step 2 For Row 2 (WS), turn and remember to strand the yarn across the front of the row (the WS). Using A, ch2, htr in next A st, 2BPdtr in B, 4htr in A, 2BPdtr in B, 2htr in A. Turn and you’ll see that the back post sts have raised the cable strands on the RS of the fabric.
Step 3 To work Row 3 (RS): using A, ch2, htr in next A st, 2FPdtr in B, 4htr in A, 2FPdtr in B, 2htr in A. The FP sts have continued the raised cable strands on the RS.