Because I'm working on the Log Cabin socks from Handknit Holidays, I wanted to show how I do cables without a cable needle. I used to spend my life losing cable needles so this method is much faster. (I do occasionally use a cable needle for some really complex cables, a la Alice Starmore.)

There are four steps to cabling without a cable needle. This is a 6 stitch cable where the 3 stitches are held in front (a left-leaning cable).

1.Start by dropping the first 3 stitches off the needle. Just let them hang there for a brief moment - don't worry they won't go anywhere. Then gently transfer the next 3 stitches to the right needle. Here you see the three stitches hanging loose and the right needle is starting to pick up the next 3 stitches.



Now all three stitches have been transferred to the right needle and the three stitches to be cabled are still hanging loose.




2. Transfer the 3 stitches hanging loose to the left needle in sequence without twisting the stitches.




3. The scary part is over! All stitches are accounted for. Transfer the 3 stitches on the right needle to the left needle. Here you see all the stitches back on the left needle.




4. Knit across all 6 stitches normally and you're done.

To do a 6 stitch cable where the stitches are held in the back (right-leaning), you transfer the first 3 stitches to the right needle and let the next 3 stitches hang loose.




Gently transfer the 3 stitches moved to the right needle back to the left needle with the 3 loose stitches not on needles still hanging out in front of the work. Pick up the three loose stitches with the right needle (in sequence, untwisted) and put them back on the left needle. Knit normally across the 6 stitches.