my pattern ??

[patfitz]

I want to do a cable pattern up the center of a sweater the pattern reads: cable pattern (multiple of 16 sts+6) so in figuring out how many stitches I need to cast on ,because I want to do more than this cable the next cable pattern says it is a 10+4 p...so are the 6 stitches on the selvage ends or is this the amount of stitches between the repeat?

[of troy]

Swatch! cables change the gauge.. (plain stocking knit gauge of 4 stitches to the inch/16 to 4 inches (worsted weight) becomes
2.5 stitches to the inch/10 stitches to 4 inches with a simple 'cable' (4RC) complex cables can change the stitch gauge more!

so its not easy answer..

you can think about adding a pocket use your swatch as a pocket--but the only way to know how many to cast on, and how to space the cable is to swatch.

for an interesting (ie several styles of cables) pattern, it's not uncommon to start with a 100 stitch swatch, (and it's not uncommon to make 2 or more swatches.)

cables are pretty easy to knit (and to chart) but to design a well fitting cabled sweater swatching is MUST!