Needle Knit Mock Cable Rib Stitch!

Inside: Instructions and fully captioned tutorial videos teaching how to needle knit the mock cable rib stitch. Includes free cowl pattern!

A cable with a twist.

I know. All cable have twists. But the mock cable rib stitch is a little different than a traditional cable.

Yes, it still uses a regular cable cross, but twisted stitches move as you work through the repeat. This creates a flatter cable. Instead of the more three dimensional rope cable, you get a flattened twist. I absolutely love the look of this stitch pattern!

The needle knit mock cable rib stitch pattern uses a multiple of 6+2 and a 6-row repeat. It’s ideal for scarves, blankets, sweaters, and, as I used in the pattern below, cowls. I’m showing it using a worsted weight yarn, but you can use this stitch pattern with any weight yarn and an appropriate needle size.

Here’s the loom knit version of the stitch pattern in a jumbo yarn:

To help you learn this design, I created a simple cowl pattern. I think the mock cable rib stitch resembles licorice twists, so I am calling this the Licorice Cowl. The full pattern and tutorial videos are below.

Enjoy learning how to needle knit the Mock Cable Rib Stitch!

Licorice Cowl featuring the Mock Cable Rib Stitch

By Kristen Mangus

An ad-free downloadable PDF of this pattern is available for purchase in my GoodKnit Kisses online store, Etsy or Ravelry at the links below:

The needle knit Licorice Cowl keeps you cozy in cables. This design uses the mock cable rib stitch to create the flattened twists. This project is knit as a flat panel then seamed. You can also knit to a longer length to make a scarf.

Pattern includes written instructions and links to fully captioned tutorial videos for right and left handed knitters.

MATERIALS

(Materials list may contain affiliate links to products I used to make this project. Using these links cost you nothing, but helps support GKK.)

Yarn
Medium (#4) worsted weight yarn
Yarn Bee Soft and Sleek in color Red (5 oz / 142 g 232 yds/212 m)

Needles
US 8 (5 mm) needles
Knitters Pride Karbonz circular needles used in samples.

Notions
Cable needle
Tapestry needle

ABBREVIATIONS
1/1RC = 1 over 1 Right Cross Cable
K = Knit
P = Purl
Rep = Repeat
RS = Right side
St(s) = Stitch(es)
WS = Wrong side

New to knitting? I’ve got a How to Knit Beginner Video Series to teach you ALL the basics.

GAUGE 23 sts x 25.75 rows in 4” in Mock Cable Rib st

SKILL LEVEL Easy

MEASUREMENTS 5.5” x 28” circumference (14 x 71 cm)

NOTES

The Mock Cable Rib stitch pattern is a multiple of 6+2 and uses a 6 row repeat.

1/1RC: 1 over 1 Right Cross Cable. Remove next st with cable needle and let hang to back of work. Knit next stitch. Next work st held on cable needle.

TIP: To make the 1/1RC without a cable needle: Place needle into both stitches at the same time as if to K2tog but slip both to right needle. Slide back onto left needle. Knit each stitch in the back of the loop. This twists them back to the correct direction. See video for demonstration.

INSTRUCTIONS

Cast on 32 sts.

Row 1 (WS): K2. (P4, K2) five times.
Row 2 (RS): K2. *K2, 1/1RC, P2. Rep from * to last 6 sts. K2, 1/1RC, K2.
Row 3: Rep Row 1.
Row 4: K2. *K1, 1/1RC K1, P2. Rep from * to last 6 sts. K1, 1/1RC, K3.

Row 5: Rep Row 1.

Row 6: K2. *1/1RC K2, P2. Rep from * to last 6 sts. 1/1RC, K4.

Rep Rows 1-6 until piece measures about 28” or until desired length (about 30 repeats total).

Bind off in pattern on WS row and sew ends together.

PIN IT!