Cable knitting

This narrow gauge should be considered when changing from the cable stitch to another type of knitted fabric.

If the number of stitches is not reduced, the second knitted fabric may flare out or pucker, due to its larger gauge.

Thus, ribbed cuffs on an aran sweater may not contract around the wrist or waist, as would normally be expected.

Conversely, stitches may need to be added to maintain the gauge when changing from another knitted fabric such as stocking to a cable pattern.

In such cases, the "inner" cables sometimes split directions, forming complex branching patterns.

A one-cable serpentine is simply a cable that moves sinusoidally left and right as it progresses.

A three-cable braid is usually a simple plait (as often seen styled in long hair), but can also be made to look like the links in a chain, or as three independent serpentines.

New cable patterns can also be inspired by pictures, scenes from nature, Celtic knotwork, and even the double helix of DNA.