Dropped Stitch Cable Knitting Pattern.
This knitting pattern creates a surprisingly open and airy fabric with a unique, almost laddered cable effect. The “cables” are not formed by traditional twisting of stitches, but rather by intentionally dropping elongated stitches, which creates vertical columns of openwork. The pattern cleverly uses a technique of wrapping the yarn twice around the needle for specific stitches, then strategically dropping these extra loops to form the elongated, open spaces. This results in a fabric that is both lightweight and visually striking, with a delicate, almost lace-like quality. It’s a perfect choice for projects where drape and breathability are desired, such as shawls, scarves, or summer tops.
The foundation of this pattern is the elongated stitch, created in Row 1. Instead of the usual single wrap of yarn around the needle, you wrap the yarn twice for each stitch (except the edge stitches). This creates an extra loop that is crucial for the dropped stitch effect. In Row 2, these elongated stitches are slipped onto a cable needle, and the extra loops are intentionally dropped, creating long, open strands of yarn. The remaining stitches are then purled, effectively “anchoring” these dropped strands and forming the vertical columns. Rows 3 and 5 are simple knit rows, and Rows 4 and 6 are purl rows, providing a solid background that contrasts with the openwork cables. The six-row repeat establishes the distinctive dropped-stitch cable pattern, with each repetition adding another set of open columns to the fabric. The dropped yarn gives this cable pattern a lacy feel.
Abbreviations:
- K: Knit
- P: Purl
- St(s): Stitch(es)
- cn: Cable Needle.
- RS: Right Side
Cast On:
Multiple of 6 + 2
Knitting Pattern:
Row 1 (RS): K1, *knit the next st wrapping the yarn twice around the needle (see Elongated Stitches); repeat from the * across, ending with k1.
Row 2: P1, *slip the next 3 sts onto cn, allowing the extra loops to drop, and hold in front, p3, allowing the extra loops to drop, p3 from cn; repeat from the * across, ending with p1.
Rows 3 and 5: Knit across.
Rows 4 and 6: Purl across.
Repeat rows 1 to 6 for pattern.
