Cable Notation Basics

I think of cabling as one of the quintessential skills in knitting. (How many of us were drawn to the craft by a gorgeous cabled sweater?) However, I find that many knitters are intimidated by the prospect of cabling because it either looks too difficult or the notation looks confusing. In reality, cabling is just knitting your stitches in a different order and there is a method to the cabled abbreviating and charting madness.