This idea of cables without the cable needle is good in theory, but I think I’m more afraid of dropping stitches and having my work come undone more than I am annoyed with having to use a cable needle. Someone needs to invent some attachment that slips over the finger that can be used to pick up the “dropped” stitches before they actually fall… then you don’t have to fiddle with a cable needle.

However, if you would like to learn how to cable without using a cable needle, this is a pretty good tutorial.

Crazy for Cables (but not the cable needle) | Creative Knitting Blog.