GREAT IDEA! I’ve been using sticky notes til they won’t stick anymore! But I’m dragging out my painter’s tape! I’ve got some of the green!
Yes it works well. I’ve tried the post-it note thing but they never did stay sticky long enough. The painter’s tape works well especially on laminated sheets or those plastic page protectors.
Preferably charts, i converted all the written pattern into chart n knit a gauge before starting any works
Definitely charts, it’s easier for me to visualize the pattern and to memorize it. I recently converted written instructions for a lace scarf to chart, so i can understand how the pattern looks.
It took me a long time to figure out the charts. I love lace knitting and so it was learn how to, reading written out on lace is long and I would lose my place. I use magnets on a cookie sheet to read my charts now.
I can work from both, but prefer written. Some patterns however (a very few) I have even chucked the written instructions in favor of the chart. If there’s only a chart, I’ll generally write it out before starting.
I invested in the chart keeper from KnitPicks, so when I do use a chart, I just move the magnet up each line. Very easy and won’t move or fall off unless I drop the whole thing (which happens sometimes with a 5-year-old and a cat).
Sandy, I have terrible eyesight, wear bifocals and always struggle to see small things. I blow up my charts on the copier or if there are alot of them I take them to kinkos and have them enlarged. Then I color code them and it’s actually easier to see than written directions.
Ohhh, just read back and see that someone already suggested that. I guess it’s just a personal preferance.
Painters tape!!! Brilliant idea! I actually have some charts laminated, ones that I know I’ll use again or charts for lengthy projects. I have used sticky notes which stick great but painters tape is a GREAT idea!
Staples and Office Depot sell 9"x12" ‘laminating sheets’ by the 50 sheet box. You can laminate an entire 8x11 sheet, or cut it into smaller pieces and laminate a recipe card! Whatever! I use them all the time. I ‘laminated’ my husband’s RWT retirement card. He wanted it preserved for his wallet!
I especially use them to laminate charts and ‘keys’ that I use a lot.
Yeah, the painter’s tape would be perfect to use on a laminated chart!
This pack of 50 ‘self seal’ laminating sheets was not expensive, about $24. That’s about 48 cents per sheet. It beats the fee for regular hot laminating at a print counter! Plus, it’s convenient.
Here are some of the spare half sheets I use for little stuff:
My first box/packet was AVERY brand. This new packet is GBC. It all works the same. It’s good thing to have around!
OFFICE DEPOT: Avery & GBC brands for sale!
I like charts. I tend to get lost in written instructions if there are a lot of stitches, I like charts that I can cross off so I know where I am. It was a little intimidating when I started using them because I did get confused but now that I know roughly what I’m doing I’ll take the chart over the written instructions.
Charts!!!
I didn’t know there were charted patterns when I was a beginner, and the first time I knit a lace scarf there were written out instructions and I was having so much difficulty visualizing what I was supposed to be doing I got out some graph paper and read the pattern through making a chart with all of my own symbols.
And you know what? I intuitively did it right to left and left out the wrong side rows (stockinette lace) and thought I was so clever. Of course I eventually discovered that other people already had invented charts, but I still sometimes “re-chart” things in excell to add colors, etc–also to add more repeats to see how the pattern looks on top of itself.
I picked written but it really depends on what it is-
For lace- charts
anything with cables- written (not sure why- even though the symbols are pretty much a picture of the cable I still have a hard time without the written directions esp if it’s more complicated than a c4b or c4f)
colorwork- charts
Everything else I will usually pick the written instructions. I write each line on an index card and group instructions/rewrite in the way it makes sense to me.
I think the reason I prefer written most of the time is that it’s easier to keep my place if I have to set it down- my youngest adores moving my magnets around on charts, or the dog paws the thing & rakes the magnets off, etc. :biting:
So chartwork is only when the whole house is asleep.
anything with cables- written (not sure why- even though the symbols are pretty much a picture of the cable I still have a hard time without the written directions esp if it’s more complicated than a c4b or c4f)
Yep, lace charts aren’t too bad, but cable charts just leave me going — whaaaaat?
[COLOR=“DarkOrchid”]Charts are just a jumble to me… so I chose written…
Sometimes I have to take the written ones and rewrite them for myself so that I can keep things straight.
I used to follow charts when I made Buffalo sweaters but that was long ago and quite easy as the charts where nice a big.
TEMA:knitting: [/COLOR]
I just don’t get the charts. Maybe someday I will have the time to really figure them out. I prefer written and like TEMA, I will sometimes condense or rewrite that pattern to streamline it.
There were some really great tips here though, the laminating sheets and the painters tape are brilliant. I can see using those for dishcloth patterns.
While I see the advantage of charts, I just get so confused with the symbols. I know that K means knit and P means purl, but a little dot in a square…well, was that the knit or the purl. And C4B is clear to me, but the symbols they use for that…it just doesn’t speak to me.
When I read written instructions, I just read and knit as I go. When I have a chart, I look at the symbol in the chart, scan down to find the symbol in the legend, look up at the chart and make sure I’m looking at the right thing, read the instructions for what that symbol means, then knit the instructions, and move on to the next square of the chart.
Maybe if I practiced a lot more, it would flow…but for now charts are all Greek to me and slow me WAY down!
And how lovely you will look in your hand-knitted evening gown!!!:teehee:
For those using painter’s tape and such, just thought I’d mention this product. It’s highlighter tape and is supposed to be excellent for charts and such.
It’s probably more expensive, I haven’t used it, but thought I’d throw that out just in case someone didn’t know and might be interested in it.
I chose written…[I]for now[/I]. I’m only beginning to knit with charts. My last project was a lace headband that I used a chart with. I’m currently using a chart, and my next project will be with a chart. I def. think that I will end up preferring charts. As for now, I just don’t have enough experience with them to say that.
Those are great ideas for using charts everyone!:cheering: I was just using the post it notes! I will have to keep all this in mind if I start using charts regularly. Thanks!
My thing against charts is that though being visual it would seem easier (for me) to do the pattern, however, I find it harder to figure out where I am without counting the stitches on my needle, and since charts are rather small, it’s a pain!
That’s easily solved by enlarging it on a copy machine!! Most folks seem to do that.