I have a pattern that only has a chart with no written directions. I haven’t mastered how to knit from a chart yet. I was hoping someone would translate the chart into a written pattern for me. Otherwise I’m lost!! I really appreciate any help I can get!!! Thank you!!
Usually, start at the lower right corner and left. However, this one starts on the WS at the lower left corner. So all odd number rows are read left to right and the even numbered rows from right to left, following the numbers.
So for R 1 - p2, k1, p15, k1, p2.
R 2 - k2, p1, * k1, k2tog twice, YO, k1 3 times, YO, ssk twice, k3, p1*, k2. Repeat all the sts inside the red box (and the *s) until there’s only 2 left, then do the last 2 sts.
What you would do is knit 2, purl 1, then work those stitches between the red marks however many number of times you can with the amount of stitches you cast on, then end with knit 2. When the chart has a group of stitches between the red lines it means this is the part of the pattern that is repeated over and over until you have only the number of stitches left on the outside (left side on the graph when you’re working the right side row), then you’d just knit or purl whatever the chart says to the end of the row.
Is that clear as mud???
You can click on it and it makes them larger… any embedded picture, chart, whatever. I could see the even numbers on the right edge and that’s not usually where they arre, so I needed to get a better look.
I did forget to mention that the sts inside the red box would be repeated across the row until there’s just 3 sts left to do the ones after. I think I’ll edit my post though…
Thank you both soooooooo much!!! What you wrote was perfect!!! I have such a hard time with charts for some reason. I’m trying to figure it out, because I have this beautiful lace Shawl I want to do. It will be my first attempt at lace. Unfortunately there is a chart I have to figure out. That is why I’m doing this pattern (trying to get used to reading a chart). Do you have any suggestions that would make it easier for me, or that I should remember while I’m working on the pattern? Thank you so much for your help!! I really don’t know what I would do without ‘KnittingHelp.com’!!!
It just takes time to learn. When I began knitting back before the dawn of time, there were no charts, all patterns were written (except a few for colorwork). So my brain was trained to read text from left to right, and trying to follow a chart from right to left confused it. I could read and understand the symbols, but couldn’t really knit following one. In a text pattern, it says ‘K5, yo, k2tog, yo, k6’ and it slows me down to count the boxes. I just gradually got more used to it, though I prefer written patterns. I think what helped was sometimes writing out one I really wanted to use, that got me more accustomed to reading them.
Sticky notes! I use them to help see the row I’m working on without the other rows getting in the way.
And, life lines are really helpful so if you make a mistake along the way, you’ll have an easier time of it. Unwaxed dental floss makes a good lifeline. Just make sure you use enough to go across the entire row with some left over at each end.
Charts are showing the work from the RS. It always confuses me when they have the “p on the WS, k on the RS”, but if I take a minute to look at the chart thinking of looking at the right side, and also look at a picture of the item that helps me to get the idea. In this case you see a lot of blank boxes, this tells you that you are working in St st so all the places you have the blank boxes you want the knit row on the outside and the return rows will be the purl back rows.
Always look carefully to see what the row numbers are dong. In some charts they only show the RS rows and they just tell you to work back all purl, or work as the stitches appear. Sue, did this first thing to see that the first row was the WS so needed to be read left to right. The right side rows are worked right to left. In the round all rows are read right to left.
Take time to study the key carefully. A SSK slants to the left so they use the \ to represent it. K2tog slants to the right, so they use the /. So it makes some sense if you realize that.
You can write things on your chart that help you. I sometimes like to write little numbers somewhere along a line of knits or purls so I don’t have to take time to count them as I work. You can see 3 boxes pretty easily without any counting, but 11 is not so easy to do without counting. Before I start I might count the long runs like that and write them in (enlarging your chart is a good idea), like 11, 13, etc. I don’t line the numbers up right under each other, because that makes them harder to read and easier to mix up, but move on to the left and the next to the right so they don’t blend into each other so much.
I color code more complex charts, but this one may not need it. Notice patterns in the way a chart works, for instance a chart may always have / (k2togs) on the right or left side of the chart, and on the left they are always \ (SSK). Noticing things like that help you stay on track as you work.
I use to hate charts too, but they get easier and you may finding yourself actually preferring them after a while.