Cute Cabled Table Runner

Cute Cabled Table Runner by Sharon Slarke

Project Overview

The Cute Cabled Table Runner is a casual knitted table runner designed to add style to your dining table. This intermediate-level knitting project measures approximately 43cm (17 inches) wide by 117cm (46 inches) long, making it an ideal accent piece for standard dining tables. The design features decorative stitch patterns sourced from volume three of a 1980s English knitting series called Creative Knitting.

Techniques and Stitches

This table runner employs cable knitting techniques to create visual interest and texture. The primary stitch pattern used throughout the project is Fancy Rib, which combines ribbed and decorative elements. The design incorporates cable stitches, including a specialized cable cross stitch abbreviated as Cr5. This particular cable technique involves slipping stitches onto cable needles, holding them to the front and back of the work, and then knitting in a specific sequence to create the characteristic twisted cable effect.

The pattern utilizes standard knitting abbreviations including yrn (yarn round needle) and ytf (yarn to front), which are essential for creating the decorative elements within the Fancy Rib pattern. The cable work requires careful manipulation of stitches across cable needles to achieve proper tension and definition in the finished piece.

Materials and Tools

This project calls for Aran weight yarn, specifically Patons (Australia) Washed Haze Aran in the recommended colorway, though any Aran weight yarn of similar fiber content and yardage will work. You will need 10 balls of 50g yarn, with each ball providing approximately 85 meters (93 yards) of fiber. The yarn composition is 60% cotton and 40% acrylic, offering a blend of breathability and durability suitable for a table runner.

Essential tools include:

• One pair of 4.5mm knitting needles (or the size required to obtain proper gauge)
• Two cable needles for managing cable stitches during construction

Gauge and Construction

Achieving the correct gauge is critical for this project. The pattern specifies a gauge of 20.5 stitches and 26 rows to 10cm (4 inches) when working the Fancy Rib stitch pattern using 4.5mm needles. Knitters should swatch before beginning to ensure their tension matches these specifications, as gauge variations will affect the final dimensions of the table runner.

A practical note included in the pattern addresses cable needle management: when slipping a single stitch onto a cable needle, it can easily slip off during work. The pattern recommends putting one end of the cable needle through the work itself to keep it stable and prevent dropped stitches during the cabling process.

Skill Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters who have mastered basic stitches and are ready to tackle cable work. The combination of ribbed patterns and cable crosses requires attention to stitch placement and cable technique, but the repetitive nature of the Fancy Rib pattern provides a manageable learning experience for developing these skills.