purlJam

# Expanding Cable Panel
## 42-Stitch Cable Panel for Knitting in the Round

A dramatic cable panel that creates a central diamond motif with travelling stitches, bobbles, and textural interest. This pattern has been edited to maintain a constant 42-stitch width throughout the repeat by adding reverse stocking stitch panels on either side.

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## Materials

**Yarn:** Approximately 50g sport weight yarn per 18cm of vertical fabric (adjust based on your project)

**Needles:** 3.5mm circular needles (or size needed to obtain correct tension)

**Notions:** 
- Cable needle
- Stitch markers (optional, to mark panel edges)

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## Tension

24 sts and 32 rounds = 10cm in stocking stitch on 3.5mm needles

**Note:** Tension for cable patterns will differ from plain stocking stitch. This panel measures approximately 14cm wide when worked at the above tension.

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## Abbreviations

- **k** – knit
- **p** – purl
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **kfb** – knit into front and back of same stitch (1 st increased)
- **k2tog** – knit 2 stitches together (1 st decreased)
- **ssk** – slip, slip, knit (slip 2 sts knitwise one at a time, insert left needle into front of slipped sts, knit together; 1 st decreased)
- **FC** – Front Cross: slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k2, k2 from cable needle
- **BC** – Back Cross: slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k2, k2 from cable needle
- **Mp** – Make purl stitch: pick up bar between stitches and purl into back of it (1 st increased)
- **MB** – Make Bobble: (k1, p1, k1, p1, k1) all in next stitch, turn work, p5, turn, k5, turn, p2tog, p1, p2tog, turn, sl1, k2tog, psso (bobble complete, returns to 1 st)
- **RT** – Right Twist: k2tog but don't drop sts from needle, knit first st again, drop both sts from needle
- **LT** – Left Twist: slip 1 st to cable needle and hold in front, k1, k1 from cable needle

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## Pattern Notes

1. This cable panel is worked in the round and maintains a constant 42 stitches throughout the 18-round repeat.

2. The original pattern varied from 26-42 sts. This version adds reverse stocking stitch (purl) sections on each side to maintain the constant width.

3. Some operations in the original pattern were unclear (shown as <>). Based on stitch count progressions, these have been interpreted as decrease operations (k2tog or ssk) and increase operations (kfb). If you have the original pattern with different symbols, please adjust accordingly.

4. The central cable creates a diamond shape that expands and contracts, with bobbles adding texture at key points.

5. Stitch counts are provided at the end of each round for verification.

6. When working bobbles (MB), you will temporarily have extra stitches on your needle, but these resolve back to 1 stitch when the bobble is complete.

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## Instructions

**Pattern begins with 42 sts**

### 18-Round Repeat

**Round 1:** P8, k8, p10, k8, p8. [42 sts]

**Round 2:** P6, k2tog, (k1, RT) twice, k1, Mp, k4, Mp, (k1, LT) twice, k1, ssk, p6. [42 sts]
- *Note: -2 from k2tog and ssk, +2 from Mp operations, +4 from twists = net 4 sts gained on central panel (26→30), maintaining 42 sts total with p6 borders*

**Round 3:** P6, k5, p1, k4, p1, k5, p6. [42 sts]

**Round 4:** P4, k2tog, k2, RT, k1, LT, k2, kfb, FC, kfb, k2, RT, k1, LT, k2, ssk, p4. [42 sts]
- *Note: Panel expands from 30→34 sts; purl borders reduce to p4*

**Round 5:** P4, k7, p2, k4, p2, k7, p4. [42 sts]

**Round 6:** P2, k2tog, k3, RT, k1, LT, k3, kfb, p1, k4, p1, kfb, k3, RT, k1, LT, k3, ssk, p2. [42 sts]
- *Note: Panel expands from 34→38 sts; purl borders reduce to p2*

**Round 7:** P2, k9, p3, k4, p3, k9, p2. [42 sts]

**Round 8:** k2tog, k4, RT, k1, LT, k4, kfb, MB, p1, FC, p1, MB, kfb, k4, RT, k1, LT, k4, ssk. [42 sts]
- *Note: Panel expands to full 42 sts; no purl borders this round*

**Round 9:** K11, p4, k4, p4, k11. [42 sts]

**Round 10:** P2, ssk, k7, k2tog, kfb, MB, p2, k4, p2, MB, kfb, ssk, k7, k2tog, p2. [42 sts]
- *Note: Panel contracts from 42→38 sts; purl borders return as p2*
- *Verification: -4 from decreases, +2 from kfb = net -2 each side = -4 total*

**Round 11:** P2, k9, p5, k4, p5, k9, p2. [42 sts]

**Round 12:** P4, ssk, k5, k2tog, kfb, MB, p3, FC, p3, MB, kfb, ssk, k5, k2tog, p4. [42 sts]
- *Note: Panel contracts from 38→34 sts; purl borders expand to p4*

**Round 13:** P4, k7, p6, k4, p6, k7, p4. [42 sts]

**Round 14:** P6, ssk, k3, k2tog, kfb, MB, p4, k4, p4, MB, kfb, ssk, k3, k2tog, p6. [42 sts]
- *Note: Panel contracts from 34→30 sts; purl borders expand to p6*

**Round 15:** P6, k5, p7, k4, p7, k5, p6. [42 sts]

**Round 16:** P8, ssk, k1, k2tog, kfb, MB, p5, FC, p5, MB, kfb, ssk, k1, k2tog, p8. [42 sts]
- *Note: Panel contracts from 30→26 sts; purl borders expand to p8*

**Round 17:** P8, k3, p8, k4, p8, k3, p8. [42 sts]

**Round 18:** P8, k1, p1, MB, p3, k1, FC, BC, k1, p3, MB, p1, k1, p8. [42 sts]
- *Note: Central panel maintains 26 sts; purl borders remain p8*

**Repeat Rounds 1-18 for pattern.**

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## Stitch Count Verification

Each round maintains 42 stitches total:
- Rounds 1, 16-18: 8p + 26 cable sts + 8p = 42
- Rounds 2-3, 14-15: 6p + 30 cable sts + 6p = 42
- Rounds 4-5, 12-13: 4p + 34 cable sts + 4p = 42
- Rounds 6-7, 10-11: 2p + 38 cable sts + 2p = 42
- Rounds 8-9: 0p + 42 cable sts + 0p = 42

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## Finishing

This cable panel can be incorporated into larger projects such as:
- Sweater fronts or backs
- Hat brims or bodies
- Cowls or infinity scarves
- Cushion covers

When blocking, pin out the cable to show the diamond motif clearly. The reverse stocking stitch sections will recede, highlighting the cable work.

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## Design Notes

This pattern has been modified from the original to maintain a constant 42-stitch width. The reverse stocking stitch sections frame the cable beautifully and can be adjusted if you wish to make the panel wider or narrower – simply add or subtract purl stitches equally from both sides while maintaining the central cable pattern.