Pros of 2×2 Cables:

• The easiest cable to learn (perfect for beginners!)
• Simple yet classic
• Great for working in the round

Cons of 2×2 Cables:

• Cables tend to tighten up your knitting, so be prepared to adjust your needle size or number of stitches
• Doesn’t lay flat, so you’ll need a border of some sort

What you’ll need:

• The usual knitting materials of yarn and needles
• A cable needle

Abbreviations:

• c2f: slip 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold in front of work. Knit the following two stitches, then knit the two stitches off the cable needle (taking care not to twist the stitches).
• c2b: slip 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold behind work. Knit the following two stitches, then knit the two stitches off the cable needle (taking care not to twist the stitches)

Instructions for knitting the 2×2 Cable Stitch:

Knitting Flat:

Left-leaning Cables

(Left-leaning cables shown in featured image)
Cast on a multiple of 5 stitches plus 1 stitch (26 stitches, 31 stitches, 36 stitches, etc)
Row 1 (RS): p1, *k4, p1, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2 (WS): k1, *p4, k1, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 3: p1, *c2f, p1, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 4: repeat row 2
Row 5: repeat row 1
Row 6: repeat row 2
Repeat rows 1-6 until desired length is reached.

Right-leaning Cables

Cast on a multiple of 5 stitches plus 1 stitch (26 stitches, 31 stitches, 36 stitches, etc)
Row 1 (RS): p1, *k4, p1, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2 (WS): k1, *p4, k1, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 3: p1, *c2b, p1, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 4: repeat row 2
Row 5: repeat row 1
Row 6: repeat row 2
Repeat rows 1-6 until desired length is reached.

In the Round:

Left-leaning Cables

(Left-leaning cables shown in featured image)
Cast on a multiple of 5 stitches and join, taking care not to twist your work.
Round 1: *k4, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 2: repeat round 1
Round 3: *c2f, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 4: repeat round 1
Round 5: repeat round 1
Round 6: repeat round 1
Repeat rounds 1-6 until desired length is reached.

Right-leaning Cables

Cast on a multiple of 5 stitches and join, taking care not to twist your work.
Round 1: *k4, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 2: repeat round 1
Round 3: *c2b, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 4: repeat round 1
Round 5: repeat round 1
Round 6: repeat round 1
Repeat rounds 1-6 until desired length is reached.

Chart:

Left-leaning 2×2 Cables

Right-leaning 2×2 Cables