Knitting cables

Anyone got any top tips? Do I need to knit looser or stick to my usual tension?

Personally, I find it depends what wool and size needles you've got... what are you using?

Gauge swatch your cable, only piece of advice I can give, that will tell you everything you need to know

I'm using smdk, 5mm needles. I'm doing a practice version, and it doesn't really matter what the gauge is - it's for a waistband and I just knit until it's the right length, so guage isn't so important. Just wondered if anyone had some info to make it any easier for me...

I think tbh you'd be alright with the same tension on a dk because your stitches will tighten when you cable anyway, despite the larger size needles, but don't be afraid and start loosening it, just keep it the same? With a tighter tension you'll end up with tighter cables and the twists will be slightly smaller, with a looser tension the cables will be bigger but )the looser you knit the less defined they'll be, and if you do them too loose you won't be able to see them clearly. So basically too tight= impossible to knit, too loose= no cables, if that makes sense...?

I hope that's helpful.

I just keep the same tension otherwise I would worry about forgetting about changing between cables/straight

Yeah I just knit the same and it seems to work out ok for me - I do sometimes "pull in" at the edges of the cables IYKWIM but that's on the plain stitches either side of the cable itself, to avoid holes. I'm a loose knitter normally tho.

I've had a couple of attempts at the standard cable in the pattern with no sucess, but found another one which is much nicer and seems easier!

Thanks for all your help.