A knitting chart is a graphic representation of a stitch pattern or knitted fabric. Charts are oft provided in patterns equally a more intuitive and autograph style of showing how to work particular stitch patterns that would otherwise require as well much infinite or time to write and read if provided as text instructions but. They give a curtailed visual of the stitches and techniques involved in the run up design, illustrate how your cloth volition knit up, help you track your place and catch errors more easily as y'all work, and aid you larn and memorize a new stitch pattern more quickly. Every bit such, they can be immensely useful for projects involving intricate textured, lace, or cabled motifs.

If you're unfamiliar with knitting charts or would like to learn more well-nigh their mechanics, we invite you lot to read on as nosotros pause downwardly how to read and work from them.

Symbols and Legends

Knitting charts are presented in filigree format, with each box or cell representing i stitch, each row representing a row or round knitting, and each column representing a cavalcade of stitches. The chart as a whole illustrates the right side (RS), or public facing side, of the piece of work. Thus, the different types of stitches that can be in one cell are represented by symbols that mimic what those stitches look like from the RS of the fabric.

In our patterns, we use a consistent gear up of stitch symbols. However, the stitch symbols that other designers and publishers utilize may differ slightly from one another. This is why it is important to first familiarize yourself with the symbol legend provided with the chart. Shown above are the symbols we utilise for basic knit and purl stitches.

APPLICATION: Deciphering Chart Symbols

Chart adapted fromWoodfordsby Elizabeth Doherty.

Shown to a higher place is a chart for a textured stitch blueprint (left), with its knitted counterpart (right). Observe how the symbols in the chart (blank boxes and shaded dashes) correlate with each stitch worked (knits and purls).

The rows of blank boxes at the head of the chart stand for rows of knit stitches (stockinette stitch) at the top of the RS of the swatch, while the arrangement of shaded dashes throughout the rest of the chart stand for the purl bumps that create texture on the cloth. (Ofttimes, stockinette stitch is not charted, but we have done and then in this example to serve as a helpful comparison point for deciphering the chart.)

Tip: Notice that on the chart, you lot tin can see how stitches align vertically, row over row — this makes information technology easier to catch a misplaced knit or purl, and with lace, a misplaced decrease or yarn over.

IN DEPTH: Symbols That Represent More Than I Stitch

Nautical chart adapted fromIliaby Michele Wang.

Some techniques (for example, cabling) require multiple stitches in their application. In such cases, their symbol in a nautical chart spans more than one box or prison cell. Notice how in the cablevision nautical chart shown above (left), the symbols for a 4/4 Right Cross and a 4/4 Left Cross are each as broad as 8 boxes. This is considering these crosses (or cables, as they are more usually called) crave 8 stitches to be worked — ii columns of 4 stitches cross over each other. Likewise, the symbols for a iv/one Right Twist and a 4/i Left Twist are each as wide as 5 boxes considering they require 5 stitches to be worked.

One interesting affair to notation (and another reason to commencement study nautical chart legends earlier knitting) is that a symbol spanning more than than one sew may involve a sequence of multiple unlike stitches. In the shut-up of the nautical chart in a higher place (left), you may notice that in the symbol for a 4/1 Left Twist there are blank white areas and bare shaded areas. The white areas mimic knits, while the shaded areas mimic purls. This is because a 4/i Left Twist involves 4 knits and 1 purl. This symbol is doubly shaded in this way precisely because information technology gives an accurate visual of what your fabric will look like — the twists occur amidst a background of reverse stockinette (i.eastward. purls), as shown in a higher place (right).

IN DEPTH: Symbols That Represent Changes in Stitch Count

Visual representations of certain construction methods, such as shaping through increases and/or decreases, may upshot in a nautical chart that does not appear quite like a standard rectangular graph. Since single stitches are represented by 1 box or cell, then some boxes may be "added" or "subtracted" throughout the chart to reverberate the changes in stitch counts that oftentimes accompany shaping. Thus, the shape of a chart can very apace requite you lot a sense of what shaping will exist involved in your work.

Chart adapted from Juneberryby Jared Flood.

For instance, the lace chart above shows you that you lot terminate Row 1 with 3 stitches and terminate Row 20 with 21 stitches. The shape of the overall chart, blocked out by heavier lines, besides shows yous that the gradual increase in stitch count creates a triangular shape accomplished by yarn overs at the start and end of the RS rows.

Chart adapted fromGroveby Jared Flood.

On the other hand, the mitten thumb nautical chart above shows you that at the end of Rounds 1-13 y'all have 20 stitches that gradually subtract to 8 stitches at the end of Circular 16. Notice that on Circular 14, the Raised Central Double Decreases (RCDD) are flanked by empty boxes on either side. This is because an RCDD is a double decrease worked over 3 stitches that then decreases to 1 stitch. Thus, ii boxes are "subtracted" from the chart for every RCDD encountered.

Chart adapted fromFieldstonepast Norah Gaughan.

The case of a charted sleeve cap above farther shows how stitches are "subtracted" from strategic points in the piece of work to create a curved shape. The accompanying chart annotation besides tells y'all that you begin working the chart with 58 stitches and decrease to 23 stitches. Still, at that place are times when changes in stitch count must be conveyed in other creative means to show the changes that occur in the nautical chart while even so maintaining readability. In these cases, nosotros apply "No Sew together" symbols: dark grey shaded boxes that are darker than the shading we use for purl symbols. As noted in the chart legend, no stitch needs to be worked when y'all run into this symbol — information technology's only used as a placeholder to keep the chart aligned properly. Simply proceed to working the next stitch in the row!

Direction of Reading

Charts for flat knitting are read in the same direction y'all would knit your work: starting from the bottom and reading from Correct to Left ( ← ) on RS rows (usually the odd-numbered rows) and from Left to Right ( → ) on WS rows (normally the even-numbered rows).

Because charts typically merely illustrate the RS of the fabric, WS rows are read from the contrary direction of the RS rows. In other words, when you lot turn your piece to work a WS row, y'all're still working your stitches from Right to Left, but in the opposite direction of the RS — in a visual representation of the RS, this translates to Left to Right.

Tip: For additional clarity, we provide arrows next to the kickoff odd row and the start fifty-fifty row in our charts to show the management in which you lot should read and work them, as shown above.

When you're working a WS row, non just are you working in the opposite direction of the RS, just you're also working the WS equivalent of each run up. Thus, charts for flat knitting involve "chameleon" stitch symbols that mimic their RS equivalent, simply include instructions for how to work the WS equivalent. For example, to achieve what looks like a knit stitch on the RS, on the WS the stitch is worked equally a purl. Thus, to ensure that your RS material looks the way you intend, it is very of import to familiarize yourself with the symbol legend provided with a given chart.

Above is an example of the symbol definitions we use for bones stitches for flat knitting charts. Discover that there are instructions for how to work each sew on both the RS and the WS.

According to these principles, the chart above would be read and knit equally follows:

Row i (RS): Purl 1, knit 1.

Row two (WS): Knit i, purl 1.

On the other hand, forcircular knitting charts, all rounds are read from Right to Left ( ← ). This is because you only always see the RS of your work when knitting circularly.

Tip: For additional clarity, we provide arrows next to the first two rounds in our charts to show the direction in which you should read and work them. Seeing that the second round is knit in the same direction equally the commencement round tells you that the nautical chart is knit circularly.

The symbol fable for charts knit in the round will provide instructions for how to work only the RS equivalent of each stitch. Equally such, the chart above would exist read and knit as follows:

Circular 1: Purl 1, knit 1.

Round ii: Knit ane, purl one.

IN DEPTH: Other Notations

Chart adapted fromArbreby Andrea Rangel.

Other common chart notations include brackets, heavy lines, or boxes around a certain section of stitches that indicate a pattern repeat. Nosotros employ heavy, orange boxes to point such repeats in our charts, as shown higher up (left).

This notation shows you that the bracketed section repeats itself beyond the row a certain number of times earlier yous work the rest of the chart. The number of repeats is often directed in the written instructions or chart notes provided in the pattern. For example, the accompanying written instructions or chart notes for the above chart may instruct you to knit every bit follows:

Master FABRIC

Note: Piece of work 12-stitch repeat 2 times per row.

Work Rows 1-14 of Lace Chart 3 times, then work Rows 1-7 once more.

Your knitted work will then look something similar the swatch shown above (right). Notice that the knitted swatch is the expanded version of the shorthand chart, and that the bracketed notation and corresponding nautical chart note minimize the need for longer, stitch-by-stitch written instructions like the following:

MAIN Cloth

Row 1 (RS): Knit 2, *knit 2, k2tog, YO, knit i, YO, ssk, knit 4; repeat from * to * over again, knit 3, k2tog, YO, knit 1, YO, ssk, knit 5.

Working from a Chart

Now that you know the basics of reading charts — from deciphering nautical chart symbols and notations to determining the direction in which to read the nautical chart — y'all can get-go working from them!

I matter to note is that while charts provide a visual "map" of how to knit a certain stitch design, yous may still need to simultaneously follow some written instructions. These written instructions will guide what charts to work (if the pattern involves multiple charts), and where to starting time or end working from them in your piece. For example, a pattern for a sweater may have a nautical chart simply for a small console of decorative stitches, with the rest of the sweater existence worked from standard written instructions. Alternatively, some patterns may accept yous begin and end your row or round part-style through a chart, depending upon the size yous're working.

Awarding: Working Charts in a Pattern

Nautical chart adjusted fromIliaby Michele Wang.

Y'all may observe that the swatch above (correct) involves 2×2 ribbing at the tiptop and lesser edges that are not represented in the nautical chart (left). This is considering information technology is more intuitive for unproblematic run up patterns (eastward.g. stockinette sew, garter stitch, ribbing, etc.) to be worked from written instructions rather than from charts.

You may likewise realize that the swatch involves more than 1 repeat of the chart. How practise you go from Indicate A (what seems like an abstruse, barebones representation) to Point B (the tangible, knitted piece)? The key is in the written instructions! Thus, it helps to become acquainted with not only the chart, but also the written instructions — both are not meant to exist in competition, but instead, they work seamlessly together to guide yous in working your particular.

As such, the written instructions accompanying the chart above may instruct you as follows:

CABLED SWATCH

Bandage on 42 stitches using the Long-Tail Bandage On.

Row i (RS):{Knit 1}, *knit 2, purl 2; echo from * until 1 sew together remains, {knit 1}.

Echo Row 1, establishing ii×2 Ribbing, until piece measures 1" from cast-on border, ending on a RS row.

Next Row (WS): {Knit one}, purl until 1 stitch remains, {knit 1}.

CABLED Department

Work Rows 1-22 of Cable Chart, then Rows 1-14 again, working each row as follows:

Row one (RS): {Knit 1}, purl 4, work nautical chart until v stitches remain, purl 4, {knit one}.

Row two (WS): {Knit one}, knit 4, work nautical chart until 5 stitches remain, knit 4, {knit 1}.

Next Row (RS): {Knit ane}, *knit 2, purl ii; repeat from * until 1 sew together remains, {knit 1}.

Echo until piece measures 6" from bandage-on edge, ending on a WS row.

Loosely bind off all stitches knit-wise.

Nosotros invite you to practice your nautical chart-reading skills using the Cable Chart and respective instructions we've provided!

Converting a Chart to Written Instructions

If you lot find that in certain settings, it'southward more convenient for you to work from written instructions rather than charts, you can certainly translate the charts into written instructions once you learn how to read them. Here's how:

1. Start, establish the direction in which you should read the chart by determining whether it is for apartment knitting or circular knitting.

2. In one case you've established the direction in which you should read the boxes in the chart, start with Row or Round 1 and translate each symbol in that row, according to the corresponding symbol fable. If you lot're translating a chart for flat knitting, recollect to write out the WS equivalents of each stitch on the WS rows.

3. If there is a stretch of the same symbol/stitch (e.g. 3 knit stitches in a row), write them out as one step — for example, knit 3 versus knit one, knit i, knit i . This will make your work go faster, as yous won't have to read instructions for each individual stitch.

4. If y'all reach a section within brackets or boxes that betoken a repeat, write out that sequence of stitches inside asterisks or parentheses. Y'all can then refer to all the stitches inside those markers as one echo. For case, * knit two, purl 2; echo from * until end versus knit 2, purl 2, knit two, purl two, ….

5. Continue translating row by row until you reach the finish of the chart.

If you've made it this far, you are surely on your way to condign a chart-reading wizard. Despite the length of this piece, once you get the hang of charts, they volition help to simplify your knitting, we promise!