Knit an Aran laptop cover

The knitted cable
Often resembling a rope or twist, a knitted cable is the process of switching the order of one or more groups of stitches. For example, in a grouping of four stitches, instead of knitting stitches 1 and 2 first, you skip them by placing them on a cable needle and working on stitches 3 and 4, before returning to work on 1 and 2. This process is illustrated below.

Tip: A short double-pointed needle is a great substitute if you can't find your cable needle, or your local yarn store is fresh out.

	1. Slip the required number of stitches onto a cable needle by inserting the tip of the cable needle into the stitches on the left-hand needle one at a time as though to purl. In the illustration here, two stitches are being transferred to the cable needle.
	2. Hold these stitches at the front (or back, depending on the pattern) of the work. Skipping over the held stitches momentarily, knit the next two stitches on the needle.
	3. Now go back and knit the two stitches held on the cable needle. Note: These stitches may be a little tight until you get used to the technique -- this is normal.
	4. Continue working the rest of the row as indicated by the pattern. 5. When working the next row of these cables, they may also appear a little tight, which is normal. In order to reduce holes between your cable and the neighbouring stitches, give the yarn a little tug before and after working the cable stitches.

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Excerpted from Knitting with Balls: A Hands-On Guide to Knitting for the Modern Man by Michael del Vecchio. Copyright 2006 by Ivy Press Limited. Excerpted with permission from Dorling Kindersley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.