Travelling X

About this stitch

Travelling X is a 10-stitch panel that crosses every 12 rows. Worked on a reverse-stockinette ground for clearest definition.

Use as a feature panel on a sweater front, sleeve, or as a recurring motif on a blanket. Allow extra width — cables pull in by ~10% at the same gauge.

Further reading A primer on swatching Cables & Twists for accurate gauge.

Stitch chart

Read RS rows right-to-left, WS rows left-to-right. The bottom-right cell is row 1, stitch 1.

How to read a knitting chart →

Row-by-row written instructions

1. Cast on a multiple of 14 sts.
2. Set-up Row (WS): k2, p10, k2.
3. RS Rows: p2, k10, p2.
4. WS Rows: k2, p10, k2.
5. Cable Row (every 12 rows on RS): work Travelling X across the 10 cable stitches.
6. Repeat for length.

Abbreviations used

• k knit
• p purl
• C2F 1/1 left cable
• C2B 1/1 right cable
• C4F 2/2 left cable
• C4B 2/2 right cable
• C6F 3/3 left cable
• C6B 3/3 right cable
• cn cable needle
• RT right twist
• LT left twist

Full knitting abbreviations glossary →

Knitter's tips

• Mark the cable rows on a row counter; missing one cross is the hardest mistake to fix.
• Wet-block before measuring the panel's final width.

Editor's pick Why every knitter should keep a swatch journal.

Recommended materials

This stitch is most flattering in Worsted-weight yarn on 7 (4.5 mm) needles, at a working gauge near 22 stitches and 28 rows over four inches in stockinette. Open the yarn weight reference or the needle conversion chart for substitutions.

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