Staghorn Cable
a wide cable of paired strands that branch outward like a stag's antlers
The staghorn, or antler, cable sets four strands of knit stitches so the outer pairs cross toward the centre and the inner pairs branch back outward, and stacking those mirrored crossings up the panel makes the branching, antler-like lines the name describes. On a purl ground you cross the strands in from both sides on one cable row, then cross the next set outward a few rows later, so the columns repeatedly split and rejoin into a symmetrical, forked pattern. It is one of the fuller Aran cables and sits at the advanced end because several strands travel at once and must cross in the correct direction to keep the antlers symmetrical, so work from a chart. It gives a dense, bold, richly textured panel that anchors a sweater front or a chunky blanket. Because so many strands are gathered, the fabric pulls in strongly, so swatch in pattern and add width when you plan the size.