Wave Cable
a single cable that leans left then right in a repeating S-wave rather than a straight rope
A wave cable takes a plain rope cable and makes it travel, crossing the stitches one way for a while, then the other, so the column snakes up the fabric in an S rather than twisting in place. Over a panel of knit stitches on a purl ground, you cross to the left on one cable row, work straight for a few rows, then cross to the right, and repeating that gives the gentle wave. It is barely harder than a basic cable, since it uses the same front and back crossings with a cable needle, but the changing direction reads as movement and softens the look compared with a rigid rope. That makes it a friendly next cable after the straight one, and it pairs well in pairs or mirrored columns. Mark the cable rows and note which direction the next cross should lean, since the wave depends on alternating them correctly. Like all cables it draws the fabric in, so swatch in pattern before sizing.