the cable being of opposite lay, or twist, to the components..."
when you make yarn, (or rope, or twine or...) you twist it..
the twist can be right handed, (S) or left handed, (Z)--it doesn't matter which way you look at the rope.. the S or Z shape will be there.
the individual strands can then be plyed. 2 or more can be twisted together, to make a multi ply strand, (2 ply, 4 ply, etc)
when you twist the plies together, you can twist them the same way they were first spun, or they can be laid opposite.
so S spun thread can be Z plied.
there are in yarns, terms for the different styles, (i think, but i am not possitive, that "worsted" is S spun, Z plied, (firm, smooth, strong) and "Mule" or "germantown" is Z spun and Z plied. (soft, fluffy, elastic, and prone to abraision)--but i will have to check to make sure this is right.
(i am not into spinning) worsted fabric is made from very fine S spun yarns.
knitted 'cables', in the simplest forms, immitate ropes. more complex cabling is more like the 'knotted' designs that the Celts (and to some degree the scandinavians) used to decorate all manor of things.
