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How to read a knitting chart
A chart is a picture of the fabric as seen from the right side. Each square is a stitch, each row of squares is a row. Once the direction rules click, charts are quicker than written rows.
The direction rules
- Read right to left on right-side (RS) rows, which are usually the odd rows. Bottom row first.
- Read left to right on wrong-side (WS) rows. The chart still shows the right side, so a purl symbol on a WS row means you knit that stitch, and the other way round, unless the pattern says otherwise.
- When working in the round, you read every round right to left.
Common symbols
| Symbol (typical) | Meaning | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| Empty square | Knit on RS (purl on WS) | k |
| Dot or dash | Purl on RS (knit on WS) | p |
| Circle | Yarn over | yo |
| Slash leaning right | Right-leaning decrease | k2tog |
| Slash leaning left | Left-leaning decrease | ssk |
| Grey or dark square | No stitch (the count changed) | n/a |
Symbols vary between designers, so always check the chart's key.
Repeats and the stitch count
A heavy border around part of a row marks a repeat. Work those stitches as many times as the pattern says, and check your stitch count at the end of each repeat row. Increases and decreases can change the count mid-chart, shown by no-stitch squares.
Keep your place
Use a ruler or a sticky note under the row you are on, and a counter for the row number. Stitchlight can count rows and keep a PDF open with the current row highlighted; for charts, use it as a counter and read the chart in the PDF. See Follow-line for what it can read.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a chart show the right side only?
To keep it compact. The wrong-side row is the mirror: knits become purls.
What is a no-stitch square?
A placeholder where a stitch was decreased away or has not yet been increased, so the chart still lines up.