The Chart's the Thing: Tips on Reading Knitting Charts

re: The Chart's the Thing: Tips on Reading Knitting Charts

FraniM — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:07:10 GMT

I know I'm responding to this late--I'm way behind on my e-mail but I couldn't help but comment about the "chart" discussion. I am actually very good at memorizing patterns and for things like cables I find charts are useful. BUT!!! The big problem with charts from my perspective is that you have to A) read back and forth if you are knitting flat and B) you have to translate from knit to purl and also reverse other directions at times. That drives me absolutely nuts! It is spelled out in written directions but in a chart you have to consider, oh, gee, this is on the wrong side so it's not a k2tog but a .....!

re: The Chart's the Thing: Tips on Reading Knitting Charts

Margaretdsknit — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:36:05 GMT

Could you please tell me which issue of Interweave Knits Ann Budd's article was in. Also, if the pattern is on the purl row as well as the knit row, do you read R to L and then L to R?

Thanks, Margaret

re: The Chart's the Thing: Tips on Reading Knitting Charts

NancyG — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:25:46 GMT

I read this article about reading from a chart and I have to say that I still find can knit best from written out directions. Could be some of us just have a problem visualizing chart instructions. I have been knitting for almost forty years and have only knitted from written directions. The charts (to my eyes and brain coordination) are confusing. With the written word there is no doubt what the stitches are and I can visualize the pattern from reading the written directions just fine. I have been crocheting for about 45 years and ditton on written crochet directions over a charted pattern. Guess some of us are just wired that way.

re: The Chart's the Thing: Tips on Reading Knitting Charts

BettyB — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:22:21 GMT

when i'm working with a chart( I love it!) I make sevral copies , then I color in with a marker as I go along, this way I don't make mistakes and I always know where I am!

Happy knitting!

Betty/Shefford,Quebec

re: The Chart's the Thing: Tips on Reading Knitting Charts

Janet knits4fun — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:01:40 GMT

About reading charts, I also use a long post it strip to mark what row I am on and I also enlarge the chart on the copy printer so the symbols are easier to see.

re: The Chart's the Thing: Tips on Reading Knitting Charts

cjd@4 — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:29:43 GMT

I am a 'Bobbin Lace' lacemaker as well as knitter. Your comments on coloring a

chart (or graph) are valid. Lacemakers are well acquainted with the use of color coding for recognition of stitches. Not only is the color code a great idea, but in lacemaking it is an international standard and accepted method of standardizing patterns.

re: The Chart's the Thing: Tips on Reading Knitting Charts

jeannec@23 — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:17:12 GMT

kathleen...color seems like such a great idea....i can relate to the inability to memorize...or just "make sense" of where the y/o are needed....to "read" my work. anyway.......it's the lac e pattern for the black cardigan that's great....where can i get the chart for that lace???.........thanks for your columns......look forward to all your tips.............j c

re: The Chart's the Thing: Tips on Reading Knitting Charts

JayelF — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:58:27 GMT

Good to know about the white towel (my black cat will LOVE that!). I have a halogen headlamp always in my knitting bag that allows me to get a little extra light for dark knits any time, any place (usually in my or someone else's home). And of course I have a daylight lamp by my knitting chair.

I also swear by removable highlighter tape to mark my place in charts. It highlights my current row and doesn't obscure the ones above and below, so I can see how my current stitches relate to those before and after them.

re: The Chart's the Thing: Tips on Reading Knitting Charts

LindaH@5 — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:46:22 GMT

I use the Post-a-note trick also, but I enhance it a bit. I copy the chart and insert it in a plastic sheet protector, that way the Post-a-note does not pull off any of the toner and fade the chart over time. I also clip the sheet protector/chart on a clipboard. Thus it is easy to find and remains stable.

Do you know about tieing a piece of string or thin crochet cotton on you sticth markers so that you do not lose it? This works very well on lace, and of course any thing else you happen to be knitting. I knit as much in the round as possible, and I use the stitch markers for the beginning of the row.

L. Haverty

re: The Chart's the Thing: Tips on Reading Knitting Charts

Georgina@2 — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:48:39 GMT

Gracias por su ayuda ,mi lectura en ingles me es dificil si pudieran dar la opurtunidad de que pudiera tener en espanol lo basico para tejer medias seria de mucha ayuda a aclarar mis dudas en mi lectura en ingles.No me pierdo un solo programa de ustedes me ayuda solo que en las medias estoy perdida.Su programa es exelente gracias.

re: The Chart's the Thing: Tips on Reading Knitting Charts

RitaV — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:09:46 GMT

I like your comments on reading charts, but here is another hint. I use painter's tape (it is usually blue) to mark rows. Post-it's often fall off afer a few rows but this tape works great! You can cut it to the width of the chart, it's not expensive and is sold in most department stores and hardware stores. So if you take your knitting projects along, painter's tape stays on the paper more securely. Happy Knitting!

Rita in Maine

re: The Chart's the Thing: Tips on Reading Knitting Charts

glenystasmania — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:13:16 GMT

I read somewhere that when your working in black yarn, it is good to place a piece of white cloth over your lap so that when you look down at your work you dont have any distractions of patterns/colours of your clothing, also the white cloth reflects light back at your knitting making it less of a strain on your eyes.....

You might like to try that and share with us all if it works.....

cheers

glenys

glenystasmania@yahoo.com.au

re: The Chart's the Thing: Tips on Reading Knitting Charts

chana — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 06:51:07 GMT

I find that post-it notes don't cover the entire row of a chart, I prefer using highlighter tape (any coloured, removable tape) all the way across so that it's easier to see the whole row.

re: The Chart's the Thing: Tips on Reading Knitting Charts

Linda Jones — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:12:15 GMT

I read thru' all the comments and found that several people have discovered the magnetic board. My trick is to slip not only the chart, but the magnetic board into a clear sleeve and then it's all together when you have to set it aside.

re: The Chart's the Thing: Tips on Reading Knitting Charts

myharplady — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:39:01 GMT

Thanks for the tips. I do get lost in some charts and even with row counters, if I put my project down for a few days, oh no!

Suggestion. If you are working on black, put some light/white colored cloth on your lap to you can see the stitches more clearly. I tried this with some socks and it was a eye-saver.

Pamela