A cable decrease is a beautiful way to add a design element to your decreases. It's my favorite way to decrease in stockinette stitch, and I've used it in a number of my designs, including Nancy's Vest and Sunday Morning.
In this video, I demonstrate right leaning then left leaning cable decreases in stockinette stitch.
Besides working well with stockinette stitch, cable decreases can be an effective way to decrease while working a cabled or ribbed pattern. Simply follow the same technique, while staying in pattern.
For instance, if working a k2-p2 rib, consider a 4-stitch cable decrease, working 2 stitches from the dpn knitwise and the other 2 purlwise together with the left needle stitches, to stay in pattern.
