Both the 1/1/1 RPC and its counterpart – the 1/1/1 LPC – are quicker without a cable needle (or, in this case, TWO cable needles).

Special thanks to Sweet Paprika for providing their Andante yarn in the Azul colorway for these pictures.

But before we dive into the tutorial, let’s review what a 1/1/1 RPC is like WITH a cable needle.

1/1/1 RPC WITH a Cable Needle

Here are the traditional instructions. Yes, you seriously need TWO cable needles.

Sl 1^st st to cn and hold to front, sl 2^nd st to a second cn and hold to back, k 3^rd st, p 2^nd st from cn, k 1^st st from cn.

1/1/1 RPC WITHOUT a Cable Needle

Step 1: With yarn in front, sl next 2 sts to RN.

Step 2: Knit next st.

Step 3: Move working yarn to the front. Take the LN, and FROM THE BACK, slip it under sts 2 and 3 that are on the RN. This part will feel odd and be difficult at first.

Step 4: On the RN, take that first st OFF the needle. It’ll be hanging in the air, so be sure to pinch it to hold it by holding it in THE FRONT.

Step 5: Take the 2 sts that you worked with in Step 3, and move them from both needles to just being on the LN.

Step 6: Slip the stitch that you’ve been holding and pinching in Step 4, back onto the RN. Tug on the working yarn to take up the slack that you created earlier.

Now you have the 3^rd st in the first position on the RN.

Looking at your LN, you have a knit st followed by a purl st. They need to be swapped.

Step 7: With yarn in back, slip the next st (a knit st) from LN to RN.

Step 8: Purl next st.

Step 9: Move the working yarn to THE BACK. Take the LN, and FROM THE FRONT, slip it under that 2^nd st on the RN.

Step 10: On the RN, take that first st OFF the needle. It’ll be hanging in the air, so be sure to pinch it to hold it by holding it in THE BACK.

Step 11: Take the st that you worked with in Step 9, and move it from both needles to just being on the LN.

Step 12: Slip the stitch that you’ve been holding and pinching in Step 10, back onto the RN. Tug on the working yarn to take up the slack that you created earlier. Knit next st.

You’re done!

Here it is after working a few more rows.