Chain Link Cable Knitting Pattern
Raised chain links running up the fabric. It looks difficult, but it's just a little tab knitted on three stitches and a cable crossed around it.
Look closely and you'll see chains running up this fabric, with each link standing out in relief. It looks hard, but it's easy to make. It's also quite thick, so it's very warm. It's great for sweaters and children's jackets.
Stitch count
Each chain is 9 cable stitches with a 3-stitch purl gap, so work in multiples of 12, plus 3 for the edges. I teach it on 27; the swatch is 51.
What you'll need
- Any wool. A thick wool makes it extra cosy
- Knitting needles to suit your yarn
- A cable needle
Rows 1–8: the base
- Row 1 (RS):right side
Knit 1 (edge), purl 2. *Knit 9, purl 3.* Repeat, ending with knit 9, purl 2, knit 1.
- Row 2 (WS):wrong side
Slip 1, knit 2. *Purl 9, knit 3.* Repeat, ending with purl 9, knit 2, purl 1. On every wrong-side row, work the stitches as they appear.
- Rows 3–8:
Repeat rows 1 and 2 three more times (8 rows in all).
Row 9: the chain link
Slip 1, purl 2. Then, for each 9-stitch cable:
- 1:
Knit the first 3 stitches, then knit the middle 3. Turn.
- 2:
Working only on those middle 3 stitches, knit a little tab: purl 3, turn, knit 3, turn, purl 3, turn, knit 3, turn, purl 3. That's 6 rows on the middle 3 stitches (knit, purl, knit, purl, knit, purl).
- 3:
Slip the first 3 stitches back onto the left needle. Put the middle 3 (the tab) on the cable needle and hold it in front.
- 4:
Cross the two outer groups of 3: bring the left group across to the right side. You can cross in either direction, but always cross the same way.
- 5:
Put the stitches back on the left needle with the tab's 3 stitches in the middle, then knit all 9.
- 6:
Purl 3 (the gap), and repeat for the next cable. End with purl 2, knit 1.
- Row 10 (WS):wrong side
Slip 1, knit 2. *Purl 9, knit 3.* Repeat, ending with knit 2, purl 1.
Repeat these 10 rows. For longer chains, work 12 rows (cross after 10 plain rows instead of 8), whatever suits your project.
Where to use it
Because it's thick and warm, I'd use it for sweaters, children's jackets, cushions and bags. I'm going to use it in one of my own projects soon.
- chain link cable
- cable knitting
- cable stitch pattern
- textured knitting
- warm sweater
- kids jacket
- hand knitting
- wool
