Comments on: How To Read Charts

By: The Knitting Fiend » Increase or Decrease in Pattern

The Knitting Fiend » Increase or Decrease in Pattern — Mon, 06 Jun 2005 13:07:35 +0000

[…] ng — lucia @ 7:06 am Since writing my ridiculously detailed three part series 1, 2 & 3on “How to read knitting charts?”, I have noticed google sends t […]

By: lucia

lucia — Mon, 06 Jun 2005 13:12:01 +0000

This is first in a four part series! Read the “related articles” to see the later articles.

Part II: Ribbing, charted.

Part III: Seed Stitch, charted.

Part IV: Increase or decrease in pattern.

By: Alexandra Wright-Cross

Alexandra Wright-Cross — Sat, 15 Oct 2005 00:56:16 +0000

Thanks so much for this info. I really appreciate it.

By: shirley flanagan

shirley flanagan — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 16:19:35 +0000

when knitting and it will say add marker do i put it on the stitch or do i just put it on the neddle before the stitch as you can see i am a beginner but i do love knitting it is so relaxing also if i may ask do you have a very simple pattern fo a child’s size 4 sweater thank you very much happy knitting

By: lucia

lucia — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 17:50:10 +0000

There are stitch markers, and row markers. I try to be clear which I mean, but sometimes I’m not. Depending on whose pattern you use, they may or may not be clear either.

Stitch markers are used more often than row markers. When *I* say add a stitch marker, I mean add a slippable ring marker just before working the next stitch. (I might also just make a little loop of yarn etc.)

If it’s a row marker, it doesn’t matter where you place it, provided it’s in a particular row. These are sometimes used to help knitter measure lengths when following directions. (Many people use safety pins, or just run a strand of yarn through a stitch in the row. Both can be removed later.)

I hope that helps!

By: shirley flanagan

shirley flanagan — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 18:20:37 +0000

thank you very very much lucia for answering my question and yes it helps me understand thanks again and have a wonderful day Happy knitting!!

By: Norma

Norma — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 03:22:26 +0000

Thanks for your wonderful, wonderful site. I understand what you’re saying, but my chart starts with row 0 and row 1 on the chart definitely is the right side. How do I manage this and still have my cast on stitches facing on the correct side? Hope you can help me. Thanks!

By: lucia

lucia — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 04:03:25 +0000

Hi Norma,
There is no particular convention about whether the even or odd rows are “right” side.
If it’s a two color chart, and they say row 0 is a wrong side row, I’d just purl the first row, changing colors as specified.

It’s unusual for a pattern writer to do this — because most knitters like to start fairisle color patterns on an even side row– but some designers do it. (Sometimes they even have a good reason to make you start color work on a wrong side row.)

As to having the cast on row facing correctly, that sort of depends on which type of cast on you used. Because I like the cable cast on, I usually like to organize my patterns to knit the first row. But, there are other cast ons that look good when you purl the first row, so it all depends.

Also, maybe the designer likesthe look of a cable cast one with a purled first row. it doesn’t actually look bad– I just like it better the other way around.

By: Terre

Terre — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 13:15:39 +0000

Hello there, and Happy Thanksgiving! I am a beginning/intermediate knitter, making a pair of socks with charted design on the leg after 2″ k1, p1 ribbing on circular needles. So, if I am understanding you, this means I am knitting in the round, and the chart will stay right to left…right? I’ve never used a chart before..
Thank you so much for your helpful information, I printed it and filed it with my knitting books! (which, by the way, do NOT tell me how to read charts!!)

By: lucia

lucia — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 13:24:21 +0000

Yes. Always right to left if knitting circular.

I’m glad this helped. I wrote it because so many people ask this question on email discussion lists. So, I figured a “beginning chart reading” lesson would get found by knitters who use google!

By: Joy

Joy — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 02:02:15 +0000

I am working a pattern that calls for you to reverse the chart on the right armwarmer. I am knitting in the round. What does that mean? I thought that it meant knit from the left instead of the right but I see that is not it. Also this pattern is not just knit and purls, it is a lot of cables and M1 and decreases so I am afraid of what it would mean to try to convert each of those to an “opposite.” This is from the Stitch N Bitch Nation book on page 197. Thanks for your great information.

By: lucia

lucia — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 03:11:07 +0000

Oh boy! Ok:
You do go from left to right, but since it’s cables, you also need all left over right cables to become right over left cables and vice versa. All right slanting decreases need to be left slanting decreases etc.

Does that help you figure it out, or do you need illustrations? I actually might be showing this in January, because I need to chart up the cables for the sweater I designed for my husband, and the one on the left of the centerpanel is the mirror image of the one on the right!

By: Donna D.

Donna D. — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 14:17:14 +0000

I would like to say that reading knitting charts is not that difficult, however, on Lion Brand’s website, they show the numbering on the bottom row from left to right and that numbering SHOULD BE RIGHT TO LEFT… just think of looking at the chart as the way you knit…right to left.

By: Donna D.

Donna D. — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 14:18:17 +0000

one other comment… usually charts are read bottom to top… unless a garment is being made top to bottom

By: lucia

lucia — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 14:25:36 +0000

Donna, I agree.

Unfortunately for beginning knitters, knitting conventions are , shall we say, “flexible”. Most people creating charts who actually number then number then as you say (and I did.) But, some don’t.

And, I admit, I have oversimplified in a sense. Soon, I plan to write up something on charting complicated things– like patterns where the number of stitches per row are not constant. Then, things get more complicated, and the “rules” become more like “guidelines”.

By: Sarah Wiley

Sarah Wiley — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 15:41:47 +0000

Hello, You are the answer to an old knitter’s prayer. Used to knit from a graph years and years ago, but for the life of me could not remember how lol. I will check our blog everyday from now on. I am working on an Aran sweater, and your idea of coloring each k, p, whatever a different color is marvellous.
Thank you for your clear and simplified instructions.
Sally

By: Abby Nunez

Abby Nunez — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:13:08 +0000

What does the * stand for?

Thank you

By: lucia

lucia — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 19:22:27 +0000

The * marks the beginning of text you should repeat.

So, for example:

*k1,p1; repeat from *
means

k1,p1,k1,p1,k1,p1 until you can’t do it anymore.

By: Jean Trocoli

Jean Trocoli — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 16:55:42 +0000

Please can you clarify Where to start and end charts according to size the chart I am using has several sizes and on the left xl l m s and on the right xl l m s how do I still work from S(small) to S? I would appreciate your assistance if possible and want to thank you for a wonderful site full of great information… Thank You
Jean Trocoli

By: lucia

lucia — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 17:06:21 +0000

Hi Jean,
Let’s say there are 4 sizes shown on a chart and these sizes are called “XS, S, M and L”. You know “XS” is the smallest, L is the largest. On the chart, you will generally see 4 ” | ” type marks on the right and 4 on the left indicating the chart of a particular size. If you are knitting the “XS” pay attention to the set that is closer to the center. If you are knitting the “S” pay attention to the second set and so on. (Sometimes they use upward pointing arrows at the bottom.)

Most often, these “|” marks will fall *between* to filled boxes on the grid. When knitting a right side facing row, you will read the chart from left to right, start by working the instruction n the firsts box to the left of the “|” for your size. Finish with the last box to the right of the “|” for your size.

Hope this helps!

By: Jean Trocoli

Jean Trocoli — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 17:39:55 +0000

Thank you so much, Just to clarify when I go from Small to Small if xl and med are in the range on the right side just ignore them? and work the # of stitch boxes from one s to the other?
Sorry I hope I am not too hopeless…
very appreciative
Jean

By: shakeel

shakeel — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 18:57:06 +0000

if we required 200 GSM OF RIB 1/1 .

WRITE USE THAT HOW TO CALCULATE THE STITCH AND KNITS IT MEANS WALES & COURESES OF THE RIB FABRIC NAD YARN COUNT?

By: The Knitting Fiend » Blog Archive » Welted Leaf Pattern: Charted

The Knitting Fiend » Blog Archive » Welted Leaf Pattern: Charted — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 19:10:57 +0000

[…] Pattern”, it’s shown below the right. (If you have trouble reading charts, refer to How to read knitting charts. If you scroll to the bottom, you can find all 7 articles in that […]

By: Georgia

Georgia — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:06:22 +0000

I am knitting a lace pattern–that I can see from the photo provided it is “st st” on the right side. I understand (I think) how to chart read. When I go to reverse rt and left slants that are done as “k2 tog” and “SSK” what/how do I change the slants as reading it backwards—knowing/thinking I have to do these in a purl stitch method? I’m thinking if I slip a stitch will it need to be slipped as if to P or K, too?