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Cable Needles & Curved Stitch Holders — Prym
Quick overview: Cable needles (or curved auxiliary needles) are short needles with a curved tip that hold stitches in waiting during cable crossings. Tessiland offers Prym classic aluminium sets (2.5 to 8 mm) and Prym Yoga flexible ergonomic needles (20 cm, double-pointed). Essential for aran patterns, cable knitting and any work with crossings.
Cable needles are the essential tool for knitters working cable patterns: they hold a group of stitches in front or behind the work while you knit the others, creating the crossing that forms the cable. Without cable needles, held stitches risk dropping or distorting — with the curved needle they stay secure in the central curve while your hands work freely.
Tessiland offers two complementary types: Prym classic aluminium sets (short, rigid, with the characteristic U-curve in the centre) and Prym Yoga flexible needles (longer, ergonomic, with flexibility that holds stitches without the rigidity of a traditional needle). The choice depends on how many stitches you need to hold and how complex the pattern is.
Prym Cable Needle Sets — Classic Aluminium
Short auxiliary needles with central U-curve: stitches sit in the curve while you work the crossing. Sets of 3 needles: set 2.5-3-4 mm (for fingering and DK yarn) and set 6-7-8 mm (for worsted and bulky). Lightweight, affordable, universal — the essential tool for simple and complex cables.
Prym Yoga Flexible Needles — Ergonomic, 20 cm
Double-pointed needles with flexible body: they bend to hold stitches without dropping, and the tips work as mini-needles for complex crossings with many stitches. 20 cm length, ergonomic for long cable knitting sessions. Sizes from 2.5 to 8 mm. The premium choice for elaborate cables and repeated aran patterns.
Choose Your Cable Needles
Prym Cable Needle Set — Size 2.5 / 3 / 4 Fine sizes
Prym Yoga Flexible Needles — Ergonomic 20 cm Premium
How Cable Needles Work
The technique is simple: transfer some stitches onto the cable needle, hold the needle in front (left-leaning cable) or behind (right-leaning cable) the work, knit the stitches remaining on the main needle, then pick up the stitches from the cable needle and knit them. The result is a crossing that creates the cable pattern. The U-curve of the classic needle or the flexibility of the Yoga keeps stitches secure during the transfer.
Which size to choose? The cable needle should be the same size or slightly smaller than your working needles. If you're knitting with size 4 needles, use a cable needle in 3.5 or 4. Smaller = stitches won't fall off; slightly larger = stitches are easier to pick back up. With Yoga needles the problem disappears: the flexibility holds everything regardless of size.
All Tessiland Knitting Needles
Cable needles are a specialised section of the Tessiland knitting needles catalogue. If you're looking for straight, circular or double-pointed needles:
Complete Your Knitting Kit
Pair your cable needles with circular needles, crochet hooks and all Tessiland tools
BUYING GUIDE: cable needles and auxiliary needles
Two questions to choose the right cable needle for your crossings.
1. Classic curved needle or Yoga flexible?
- Classic curved needle (aluminium set): short, rigid, with U-curve. Stitches slot in and stay in the curve. Affordable, essential, perfect for simple cables with 2-6 stitches. Only limitation: on wide cables (8+ stitches) they can slip out of the curve
- Prym Yoga flexible needle: 20 cm long, double-pointed, body that bends. Holds even 10-12 stitches without dropping — and with the tips you can knit stitches directly from the cable needle without transferring back. The choice for elaborate cables, complex aran patterns and hours of cable knitting
2. Which size to choose?
- Set 2.5-3-4 mm: for fingering, sport and DK yarn — hats, gloves, jumpers with fine cable patterns. The most requested sizes for traditional cable knitting
- Set 6-7-8 mm: for worsted, aran and bulky yarn — blankets, heavy cardigans, projects with large, bold cables
- Yoga (all sizes): the flexibility makes size less critical — the body adapts. Choose the size closest to your working needles
Frequently asked questions
What are cable needles and what are they for?
Cable needles (also called auxiliary needles or curved stitch holders) are short needles with a U-curve in the centre. They hold a group of stitches in waiting while you work a cable crossing. The transferred stitches sit in the curve without falling, leaving your hands free to knit the stitches on the main needle. After the crossing, you pick up the stitches from the cable needle and knit them normally.
Does the cable needle need to be the same size as the working needles?
Not necessarily. The rule is: same size or slightly smaller. If you're knitting with size 5 needles, a cable needle in 4 or 4.5 works perfectly — stitches sit tighter in the curve and won't fall off. Avoid sizes much smaller (more than 2 numbers below) as they make picking stitches back up difficult. With Yoga flexible needles the size matters less because the body bends and adapts.
Can you cable without a cable needle?
Yes, the "cableless" technique exists: you slip stitches off the needle, knit the remaining ones, then pick up the free stitches with the needle tip. It works for simple cables (2-4 stitches) with yarns that hold well. But on wide cables, complex patterns or slippery yarns it's risky — free stitches can drop and unravel. A cable needle eliminates that risk completely.
