Cable Stitch Embroidery Tutorial (Hand Embroidery Stitch)

Learning to embroider is fun and relaxing.  There are many basic stitches to learn to get started and then lovely, fancy stitches to use as embellishments to be learned as the embroiderer progresses in their work.

Check out the embroidery stitch page on this site to see all of the tutorials on basic and advanced embroidery stitches.

This tutorial is for cable stitch embroidery.

Is the cable stitch difficult?

The cable stitch is considered to be one of the most complicated stitches. However, it looks much more difficult than it is. It is an outline stitch that can be used to work along a straight line or curved edge.

This tutorial will show the cable stitch in detail and will be great for outlining as well as framing around your specific patterns or designs.

Should you outline embroidery first or last?

An outline embroidery stitch is most often used at the end of the project because it helps to clean up the design and complete the shape or form.

In the end, the choice is a personal preference and determined by the complexity of the design.  The outline stitch can also be the actual design with no other types of stitches being used.

Learn more about the cable stitch by watching our video or keep reading this post.

WHAT YOU NEED to embroider the cable  stitch

• Embroidery hoop
• Aida cloth
• Embroidery floss
• Embroidery needle

INSTRUCTIONS to make cable stitch embroidery

STEP 1: prepare to Make the first cable stitch

To learn how to start the floss in embroidery, follow the directions on the page on this site.

When making the cable stitch, left-handed sewers will work the embroidery from the right to the left.  Right-handed stitchers will work the cable stitch from the left to the right.

This tutorial shows right-handed embroidery from the left to the right.

step 2: Make the first portion of the cable stitch

Come up from the bottom of the fabric, pulling gently. For this first stitch, hold the floss above the needle. 

Move the needle to the right about a 1/2" and go down through the top. Pull the floss gently.

Next, come up from the bottom halfway, in the middle, of the stitch that has just been made, keeping the floss above the needle.

step 3: make the second portion of the cable stitch embroidery

This time the floss will be held below the needle. Move the needle 1/4" to the right and go down from the top of the fabric. 

Keeping the floss below the needle, come up from the bottom where the last stitch ended.

step 4: Continue sewing the cable stitch embroidery

To make the next stitch, follow the directions in step 2.  Holding the floss above the needle, move the needle 1/4" to the right and go down from the top of the fabric. Pull gently.

Keeping the floss above the needle, come up where the last stitch ended. Pull the floss gently.

Next, holding the floss below the needle, move the needle 1/4" to the right and go down through the top of the fabric. After pulling the floss gently and still holding the floss below the needle, come up where the last stitch ended.

Continue to cable stitch embroidery in this way to the length desired.

When it's time to end the floss, use the no-knot method.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on cable stitch embroidery. Use this pretty stitch to outline your next piece of embroidery!

other outline stitches

• Backstitch Embroidery
• Cross Stitch Backstitch
• Chain Stitch