can you use regular graph paper for a knitting pattern? is there something better or easier way to graph?
Knitting patterns
I use regular graph paper for making charts. I know there is software and things out there for knitting patterns and charts, but I am not into design enough yet to justify the expense. I do know there are online places to chart patterns out and print them.
The thing is that a knitting stitch is taller than it is wide so if you are looking for an accurate, ‘to scale’ look when you chart something out, regular graph paper won’t do it. That said, I use regular graph paper for charting an existing pattern out sometimes, but if I were to design something I would use knitter’s graph paper to give a more realistic picture of how it would look.
Here is a site that I have used where you can print blank graph paper to different gauges, depending on what you’re making.
I know the whole “stitch taller than it is wide” from experience. My first “design” experiment was to make a tea cozy from SnB, but instead of the Magic 8 ball or Coffee, Tea or Me? on the front, I designed my own little pic of a mug of tea with a few steam lines coming off it. No sooner am I finished and feeling quite proud of myself, when DH takes one look at it and says that it looks like a smiley face. :doh:
That’s all I see know when I look at it. 
You might also want to look @ the KnitPro site where you can get a graph in knitting graph paper of a picture that you have or perhaps a grouping of words; this is how I designed Born To Knit wash cloths that I gave to some friends. It’s very, very user friendly 