This super cute, fun stitch (pictured below) is actually a cable, but there's no cable needle required to make it! The zigzag is just one variation of twisted cable stitches.
Check out the video tutorial below from Berroco and my written patterns to learn both the zigzag (or, twists on the diagonal), as well as the standard 1 x 1 left and right twists.
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Watch the right twist and left twist video tutorial by Berroco Knit Bits:
Materials
Yarn in any weight
Knitting needles in the size indicated on your yarn label
Cable needle
Yarn in any weight
Knitting needles in the size indicated on your yarn label
Cable needle
Abbreviations
co - cast on
st - stitch
k - knit
p - purl
tbl - through the back loop
k2tog - knit 2 stitches together
co - cast on
st - stitch
k - knit
p - purl
tbl - through the back loop
k2tog - knit 2 stitches together
Written pattern
The below patterns are for a right twist and a left twist without the use of cable needles. Knitting the patterns as written will create stacked twists that look more like traditional cables. By simply offsetting your twisted stitches by one on every right-side row, you can create twisted stitches that form a left- or right-leaning line or ridge in your knitting, as shown in the photo above the written pattern. In the patterns below, begin Row 1 on the wrong side of your knitting.
The below patterns are for a right twist and a left twist without the use of cable needles. Knitting the patterns as written will create stacked twists that look more like traditional cables. By simply offsetting your twisted stitches by one on every right-side row, you can create twisted stitches that form a left- or right-leaning line or ridge in your knitting, as shown in the photo above the written pattern. In the patterns below, begin Row 1 on the wrong side of your knitting.
Left Twist
co 12 st
Row 1 (and all odd rows): p12
Row 2: k5, (k the second st on your left-hand needle tbl, leave it on the needle. Then, working the first and second st on the left-hand needle, k2tog tbl), k5
co 12 st
Row 1 (and all odd rows): p12
Row 2: k5, (k the second st on your left-hand needle tbl, leave it on the needle. Then, working the first and second st on the left-hand needle, k2tog tbl), k5
Repeat Rows 1 & 2
To work Left Twist on the diagonal, knit one more st in each even row before beginning the twist
To work Left Twist on the diagonal, knit one more st in each even row before beginning the twist
Right Twist
co 12 st
Row 1 (and all odd rows): p12
Row 2: k5, (k2tog and without dropping the stitches from the left-hand needle, k the first st), k5
co 12 st
Row 1 (and all odd rows): p12
Row 2: k5, (k2tog and without dropping the stitches from the left-hand needle, k the first st), k5
Repeat Rows 1 & 2
To work Right Twist on the diagonal, knit one less st in each even row before beginning the twist
For example (Left Twist on the diagonal):
co 12 st
Row 1 (and all odd rows): p12
Row 2: (k the second st on your left-hand needle tbl, leave it on the needle. Then, working the first and second st on the left-hand needle, k2tog tb), k10
Row 4: k1, (k the second st on your left-hand needle tbl, leave it on the needle. Then, working the first and second st on the left-hand needle, k2tog tb), k9
Row 6: k2, (k the second st on your left-hand needle tbl, leave it on the needle. Then, working the first and second st on the left-hand needle, k2tog tb), k8
co 12 st
Row 1 (and all odd rows): p12
Row 2: (k the second st on your left-hand needle tbl, leave it on the needle. Then, working the first and second st on the left-hand needle, k2tog tb), k10
Row 4: k1, (k the second st on your left-hand needle tbl, leave it on the needle. Then, working the first and second st on the left-hand needle, k2tog tb), k9
Row 6: k2, (k the second st on your left-hand needle tbl, leave it on the needle. Then, working the first and second st on the left-hand needle, k2tog tb), k8
Continue in this way, knitting one more stitch before beginning your twist, until the twist occurs over the last two stitches in your row. Then, switch to your right twist to zigzag your cable as follows:
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Next Row: k9, (k2tog and without dropping the stitches from the left-hand needle, k the first st), k1
Next Row: k8, (k2tog and without dropping the stitches from the left-hand needle, k the first st), k2
Next Row: k8, (k2tog and without dropping the stitches from the left-hand needle, k the first st), k2
Continue in this pattern until the right twist zigzags back to the start of your row.