Teach Yourself Visually Knitting

Learning to Read Written Instructions chapter 6

READING A STITCH PATTERN
CHART
When a chart is used to represent a
textured stitch pattern, each square is
either empty or contains a symbol.
Symbols vary from pattern to pattern.
For simple knit and purl patterns, an
empty square means “knit on the right
side rows and purl on the wrong side
rows.” A square that contains a dot
means “purl on the right side rows
and knit on the wrong side rows.”
More complex stitch patterns, such as
cable patterns, for example, contain
many symbols representing different
techniques.

COMMON SYMBOLS USED IN KNITTING CHARTS

Symbol charts employ a language of symbols to convey instructions relating to a particular stitch
or group of stitches. Unfortunately, these symbols vary from one designer to another—particularly
symbols for cable stitches—so use the key to the symbols they provide. All good patterns include
clear written instructions along with the chart, so don’t feel you have to learn symbols by heart.
The following table shows a number of knitting chart symbols you might encounter.

K on RS; P on WS

P on RS; K on WS

Yarn over (yo)

Slip st as if to knit, with yarn in back on RS; slip stitch as if to knit, with yarn in front on WS

Slip st as if to purl, with yarn in back on RS; slip stitch as if to purl, with yarn in front on WS

Perform make one (M1) increase

Knit 2 stitches together (k2tog)

Purl 2 stitches together (p2tog)

Knit 3 stitches together (k3tog) on RS; purl 3 stitches together (p3tog) on WS

Purl 3 stitches together (p3tog) on RS; knit 3 stitches together (k3tog) on WS

Slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over knit stitch (skp)

Slip, slip, knit (ssk)

Make bobble (mb)

Common Knitting Chart Symbols

Symbol Meaning

1

20

K on RS;P on WS

P on RS;

K on WS