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The chunky braid cable stitch is a wide, plaited cable that looks like a five-strand braid of hair. Each panel is fifteen knit stitches between purl ribs, and every four rows a pair of six-stitch crosses weaves the strands over and under each other.
It's rated intermediate. The crosses are big, six stitches at a time, but there are only two kinds, front and back, in pairs on Rows 3 and 7. The other six rows are plain knits and purls.
The one thing that makes it work is the three stitches that sit out of each cross row. On Row 3 they're at the start of the panel; on Row 7 they're at the end. That shift is what turns two cable rows into a braid instead of a rope.
Watch: Chunky Braid Cable Stitch Video Tutorial
Watch Rows 3 and 7 back to back: the cable needle goes to the front on one row and to the back on the other, and the plain k3 swaps ends.
What You Need
Yarn: a smooth, light-colored yarn shows the braid best while you learn, because you need to see the six-stitch strands cross.
Needles: the size your yarn calls for, plus a cable needle. For six-stitch crosses a longer cable needle, or a double-pointed needle, keeps the held stitches from slipping off.
Abbreviations: K – knit; P – purl; C6F – cable 6 front; C6B – cable 6 back. Both are defined in the pattern.
Stitch multiple: multiple of 17 (k15 plus p2), plus 2 edge purls. The swatch casts on 36 for two braid panels.
Chunky Braid Cable Stitch Written Pattern
Cast on 36 stitches.
Rows 1 & 5: p2 *k15, p2, repeat from *
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8: k2 *p15, k2, repeat from *
Row 3: p2 *k3, C6F, C6F, p2, repeat from *
Row 7: p2 *C6B, C6B, k3, p2, repeat from *
C6F: slip 3 stitches to a cable needle and hold to the front of work, k3 from left hand needle, k3 from cable needle
C6B: slip 3 stitches to a cable needle and hold to the back of work, k3 from left hand needle, k3 from cable needle
Repeat Rows 1–8 until the swatch measures 6 inches, then bind off.
Step-by-Step: How the Stitch Works
- Set up the panels. Rows 1 and 2 establish two 15-stitch knit columns with purl ribs between and beside them. Think of each column as five strands of three stitches.
- Row 3: knit 3, then two front crosses. After the p2, knit the first strand plain. Then slip 3 to the cable needle, hold them in front, knit 3, knit the 3 from the cable needle. Do that again. Strands 2 through 5 have crossed, each pair leaning left.
- Rows 4, 5, 6: plain. Purl the panel on the wrong side, knit it on the right side.
- Row 7: two back crosses, then knit 3. Slip 3 to the cable needle, hold them behind, knit 3, knit the 3 from the cable needle. Repeat. Then knit the last strand plain. Now strands 1 through 4 have crossed, leaning right.
- Row 8 and repeat. Because the plain strand moves from the left end to the right end, every strand takes a turn going over and under. Over several repeats the five strands plait into a braid.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- Front on 3, back on 7. If both cable rows use the same direction you get a rope, not a braid.
- Keep the k3 on the correct end. Row 3 starts the panel with k3; Row 7 ends it with k3. Swapping them breaks the plait.
- Knit the held stitches firmly. Six-stitch crosses can gap. Give the first stitch off the cable needle a small tug so no ladder opens behind the cross.
- The right side is the braid side. Odd rows face you; mark the RS with a stitch marker.
What to Make With the Chunky Braid Cable Stitch
One braid panel down the middle of a scarf in worsted or bulky weight, with a few seed stitches each side, is the obvious first project; our guide to how to knit a scarf covers lengths. In bulky weight a single panel is wide enough for a headband or ear warmer. Two panels make a cushion front, and one braid is a strong center panel for a hat in aran weight.
Related Stitches
- Knit Cable Stitch — the basic rope cable, a good first cable
- Knit Horseshoe Stitch — a four-stitch cable with opposite crosses, one step easier
- Knit Braided Ribbing — the braid idea at rib scale
- Browse every knit stitch tutorial
Yarn for This Stitch
This cable is called chunky for a reason. A bulky weight yarn makes the braid stand up and knits a scarf fast, and a worsted weight keeps the same look at a wearable thickness for hats and sweaters. Darn Good Yarn's recycled silk, hand-dyed by artisans in India, comes in both.
If you'd like a new skein to practice on every month, Yarn of the Month sends three hand-dyed skeins with a knit and crochet pattern written for them, $29 a month plus shipping.
Chunky Braid Cable Stitch FAQ
What's the difference between a braid cable and a rope cable?
A rope cable crosses the same two strands in the same direction every time, so it twists. A braid cable alternates which strands cross and which direction they lean, so the strands weave over and under like plaited hair.
Can I knit the chunky braid without a cable needle?
You can, but six held stitches are a lot to rearrange on the needle without dropping one. Learn it with a cable needle or a spare double-pointed needle first.
How much yarn does it use?
Noticeably more than stockinette over the same width, because cables pull the fabric in. Swatch, measure, and buy a skein beyond your estimate.
