[Tutorial] How to read a Knitting Chart

I won’t start out by arguing whether you should use charts in your knitting. You know if charts sync up with your way of thinking.

If you want some help with charts – or if you just want a refresher – continue reading.

Charts give you a way to visually represent knitting.

How most charts work

I say “most” because there are other ways to indicate knitting on a chart. I’m going to show you the way I see most charts presented (and it’s the way I do charts as well).

Numbers on the side

These indicate 2 things:

• which row/rnd you’re on
• which side you start on. Numbers on the right are for RS rows and numbers on the left are for WS rows.

Let’s look at our sample again.

We have an 8 row repeat, knit flat.

Direction of Reading

You start reading at the edge where the number is and move in the opposite direction. So, if the number is on the right, read the chart moving to the left (and the opposite). If you’re right-handed this will be the same way you’re knitting.

Looking again at our sample…

The odd-numbered rows (rows 1, 3, 5, etc.) are RS rows and then even-numbered rows (2, 4, 6, etc.) are the WS rows.

In the round or flat?

Bottom to Top

Regardless of the method of knitting, all charts are read from bottom up to the top.

Worked Flat

If a chart is for something worked flat, you’ll find numbers on both the right and left. Typically you’ll find all the odd numbers on one side and all the even numbers on the other.

Our sample chart is a good example of this:

Worked in the round

If a chart is for something worked in the round, every round starts on the right. You’ll find all numbers on that one side.

Here’s that same chart, but for in-the-round. Note all the round numbers are on the right, and the key doesn’t have RS and WS stitch descriptions because it’s not necessary.

What about WS rows?

This is somewhat a matter of the chart maker’s preference. A lot of stitch patterns have what are called “rest rows” where you just work the stitches just like the previous row. So, if the stitch below is a purl as it faces you, you purl it. For YO’s you need to get instructions on how to work them. (or like in our sample chart, we see the WS rows). Sometimes they’re knit and sometimes they’re purled. The pattern should tell you which it is if it doesn’t have WS rows.

If the pattern doesn’t have rest rows – meaning that there are things going on (like decreases and increases) then the WS rows must be charted.

Key

Every chart should have a key. It might just tell you what the symbol means and it might tell you how to work the symbol. Here’s the key in our sample chart.

What you see

The chart shows you what you see when looking at the RS. The symbols often look like what you’re doing (purls look like little bumps, YO’s are circles, and the decreases lean in the direction it slants) If your chart is for something in-the-round, you’re set.

If it’s for something flat and includes the WS rows, those rows are actually worked in the opposite of what you see on the chart. So, a purl stitch is really worked as a knit, and a k2tog is really a p2tog. The key should tell you how to work the symbol when on both a RS and a WS row (look above at our key). YO is just listed once because the symbol is worked the same way regardless of it being on a RS or WS row.

Outlines

A repeat is often shown as an outline. It may tell you how many times to work it, or you may need to figure that out yourself by counting what’s after the repeat.

Here’s our chart again. The repeat is outlined in red. There are 2 sts on either side that are just worked once. In this chart, looking at Row 1, you’d work: K2 (the first 2 sts), *k2, k2tog, yo, p, yo, ssk, k2, rep from *, k2.

Once you’re at the top of the chart

If you work all the rows of the chart, you often start over again at the bottom. Your pattern should tell you something like “work X reps” or “work until it’s Y inches”.

The shape is “off”

Regular knitting stitches are not square – a knit stitch takes up more space horizontally than vertically. This means the stitch is wider than it is tall.

Here’s a good way to remember it. Take a typical gauge – 1824 (that’s 18 sts and 24 rows per 4″). Now if you think about it, it takes 18 sts widthwise to go the same as 24 sts lengthwise. So, the stitch is wider than it is tall.

This is exacerbated in garter stitch.

Speaking of garter stitch…

Garter Stitch Charts

Even though garter stitch that’s worked flat is knit every row, garter stitch is indicated on a chart as a row of knits followed by a row of purls.

Well that’s confusing, right?

Keep in mind that the chart is showing you what you see – and not necessarily what you knit. The back-side of garter stitch is really just a purl stitch.

And you guessed it, here’s our chart again:

You can see a two-stitch garter stitch edge on either side. On RS rows, it’s shown as a knit, and on WS rows, it’s shown as a purl. But, when you look at the key, you can see that the symbol for those edges on WS rows are actually knit as well.

Putting It All Together

Let’s look at Row 2. It’s a WS row so it’s read from left to right. Remember to look at the WS definitions of the sts in the key.

If you were using written instructions, it would be:

Row 2 (WS): K2, *p3, k3, p3; rep from * until 2 sts rem, k2

Before you start

• read the chart
• read the key
• make sure it all makes sense to you and it’s error-free

A few charted patterns from Knotions

What would you suggest?

What did I miss about charts? I re-wrote this article several times just to keep adding to it. I have to admit, given I’ve been using charts for so long, it was hard for me to think of how I felt when first working with a chart.

What would you suggest I add? Leave a comment to let me know!

About the Instructor: Jody Richards

Jody is the founder and lead editor of Knotions. She loves poring over stitch dictionaries and trying out new stitches. And while she likes all things crafting (well ok, except that one thing), yarn crafts are her true love (and she has the stash to prove it).

She’s a serial starter-of-projects and has a serious problem with finishing things without a deadline.

And don’t get her talking about hand-dyed yarns.  You’ve been warned.