A Things Liz Makes Tutorial: Crochet Staghorn Cables

Cables are like a foreign language to many crocheters. Most people think cables = knitting, and that's simply not the case. I've worked out crocheted cables before, and I was presented with a challenge to do a Staghorn Cable pattern in crochet. I did a quick search on Ravelry's pattern database, and there are no crochet patterns that feature Staghorn Cables. Not one! So I looked at photographs of knitted Staghorn Cables and the experimentation that happened over at Knotrune's blog. Armed with this information, I came up with a written Staghorn Cables pattern that can be adjusted to work with pretty much any crocheted project. I'm going to go ahead and link this up to the Ravelry pattern database for free, so you can all feel free to work the technique into your patterns. Of course, I'd appreciate a nod in any pattern that uses the technique. :) Happy Crafting!

Crocheted Staghorn Cables
By Liz Beckwith
Written July 10, 2011

This pattern swatch is written with one set of staghorn cables that is two three-stitch cable sections positioned together. The swatch is 20 stitches wide. This can be altered to include more than one set of staghorns, to make larger or smaller cable sections or to be worked with smaller stitches. Can be used with any yarn weight, hook size and gauge. This sample of the swatch is worked in worsted weight acrylic yarn and with a size H hook.

Crocheted test swatch.

Stitch abbreviations:
fdc: foundation double crochet
ch: chain
dc: double crochet
tc: triple crochet
fpdc: front post double crochet
bpdc: back post double crochet
fptc: front post triple crochet
bptc: back post triple crochet

Row 1: Work 20 fdc. For help with the chainless foundation, see the Crochet Cabana article on them here.
Row 2: Turn, ch 1, dc in first stitch. 3 dc, 12 fpdc, 4 dc.
Row 3: Turn, ch 1, dc in first stitch, 3 dc. Skip the next 3 stitches, then work 3 bptc. Cross back and work 1 fptc in each of the skipped stitches. This creates the cables. Skip the next 3 stitches, then work 3 fptc. Cross back and work 1 bptc in each of the skipped stitches, then work 4 dc to end the row.
Row 4: Turn, ch 1, dc in first stitch, 3 dc, 12 fpdc, 4 dc.
Row 5: Turn, ch 1, dc in first stitch, 3 dc, 12 bpdc, 4 dc.
Row 6: Turn, ch 1, dc in first stitch, 3 dc. Skip the next 3 stitches, then work 3 fptc. Cross back and work 1 bptc in each of the skipped stitches. Skip the next 3 stitches, then work 3 bptc. Cross back and work 1 fptc in each of the skipped stitches, then work 4 dc to end the row.
Row 7: Turn, ch 1, dc in first stitch, 3 dc, 12 bpdc, 4 dc.

To continue the pattern, start again at Row 2. Fasten off when the fabric reaches the desired length.

Close-up of the Staghorn Cable detail.

Staghorn Cables are a great adornment for any crochet project. Thank you for checking out this tutorial and check back for more in the future!