Butterfly cable blanket

Ok, so I did the first row of the chart but honestly,I feel like I am way in over my head! I am not really sure how to go about doing the second row- it indicates that you just continue in established pattern, but some of the pattern/chart are not as many stitches etc- HELP! I do so much better with a written pattern, I think a chart is a bit too mathematical for me (English is my strong point, so words just suit me better). I would appreciate some help on how to do this (OR since this is a repeating pattern, maybe just send me written instructions that I could repeat??? Thanks in advance :slight_smile:
https://www.yarnspirations.com/ca-en/red-heart-butterfly-cabled-blanket/RHK0502-019872M.html

This really is getting into it with charts but if this pattern had to be written out, it would be massive. I get lost in those long rows of ks and ps that used to be standard in knitting patterns.
Don’t think of the chart as math, think of it as a picture of what you are knitting and where you are going.

I write out a diagram of the order of the charts to make it easier to see which chart comes next.
Like this:
sl 1, p2 / 20sts Bramble / p3, 15sts Teardrop, p3 / p3, 23sts Butterfly, p3 / p3, Leaves, p2 / and so on.
Once you get through the first repeat of the charts you’ll be able to see which one to follow for each panel. The markers which the pattern indicates are essential. It’ll help to check off the rows in each chart as you work them.

It’s a gorgeous blanket and heirloom. Your patience in working through it will be rewarded.

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Wow such a complicated but beautiful design!

Where there are gaps in the chart showing no stitch, there just isn’t a stitch on your needle there so just ignore that little box and move on to the next little box for the next stitch. Some of these can be seen below the butterfly, it’s only because in a later row you increase the number of stitches, and the increase “fills in” those gaps on the chart. So just go with it and bypass any “no stitch” squares.

The chart is helpful in its row numbering which has 1 on the right and 2 on the left etc which will help you know which side to read the chart from.

If you tend to get confused by the chart icons having different meanings on RS and WS rows (eg a dot is purl on RS and knit on WS) you could colour code the first few rows (eg if you should work purl highlight it pink, if you should work knit highlight it blue) although as you establish the pattern you will anyway be able to look at your work and see that it is a RS or WS and if it is a purl row or a knit row. Colour coding might help you in the early rows to get established.

If there are otherr icons which you keep needing reminding of you can highlight those a different colour too but be cautious of how many colours you add in as it could get visually overwhelming. Sometimes I write a stitch abbreviation right next to a chart where it’s needed so I don’t have to keep looking at the key list, just a little reminder by the row it’s on.

It will be a labour of love for sure.
Good luck!

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