So, flipping through a Japanese knitting book of pattern stitches one day, I came across a twisted rib and cable pattern that I thought would make a VERY handsome sock for DH…which it did.
If you’ve never seen a Japanese knitting book, let me tell you — very sensible system they have, those Japanese. Everything is graphical. Lots of little symbols for all kinds of stitches. Easy to understand.
Except that for this one particular pattern stitch, there was a pair of symbols used which I couldn’t find in any of my books. (Not even the book in which the pattern stitch appeared!)
Of course, engineers don’t give up that easily — nor do knitters, as the Yarn Harlot so rightly declaims. So, I eventually figured it all out, and made a few socks, and then wrote the pattern for my Kenkyo socks — which is available for sale at my friend Deb’s etsy shop, at fearlessfibers.etsy.com. These directions are provided as a complement to the stitch chart and directions in the pattern.
The Japanese method of working twisted cables does not require a cable needle, but it does require some needle acrobatics! Try it on a larger-gauge swatch before you attempt it at sock gauge, and keep your sts loose to facilitate learning the unusual movements.
(Note that you will probably need to tug your completed cables into shape a bit, due to the additional maneuvering.)
To do a twisted 3-st cable, right:
The 3rd st on the LH needle is a K. Insert RH needle into this st kwise, tbl.
Push the first two sts on LH needle toward the needle tip, making a space btw 2nd and 3rd st on needle.
Tip the RH needle to the right to catch the back leg of the 3rd st.
Pull this loop forward under the LH needle, through the space btw 2nd and 3rd sts, out to the front of the work.
Move RH needle around to back of LH needle.
Wrap working yarn around RH needle and K through this loop.
Take yarn to front of work. The first st on the LH needle is a K. P it normally and drop off LH needle.
Take yarn to back of work. The next st on the LH needle is a P. K it tbl and drop off LH needle.
Drop rem st of cable from LH needle.
To do a twisted 3-st cable left:
The 2nd st on the LH needle is a P. Take the RH needle to the back of the work, and K this st tbl.
Take yarn to front, leaving RH needle at back of work.
The 3rd st on the LH needle is a K. From behind, insert RH needle pwise into this st.
Push the first two sts on LH needle toward the needle tip, making a space btw 2nd and 3rd st on needle.
Tip the RH needle to the right to catch the front leg of the 3rd st.
Pull this loop back under the LH needle, through the space btw 2nd and 3rd sts, out to the back of the work.
Move RH needle around to front of LH needle and P through this loop. Or, slip the loop to the LH needle tip to make it easier to P it.
Take yarn to back of work. K the first st on LH needle tbl.
Drop all three sts off LH needle.
