What Are Knitting Charts and When Do You Use Them?
A knitting chart is a grid where each cell represents one stitch and each row of cells represents one row of knitting. Symbols inside the cells tell you which stitch to work. Every chart comes with a key (also called a legend) that defines what each symbol means.
Charts are used in several types of knitting patterns: Lace — yarn overs and decreases create the openwork pattern. Cables — crossing stitches create twisted rope or braid effects. Colorwork — stranded (Fair Isle) and intarsia patterns use colored squares to show which yarn color to use. Any complex stitch pattern — textured stitches, twisted stitches, bobbles, and combination patterns. Japanese knitting patterns — many Japanese pattern books use charts exclusively.
Some patterns offer both written instructions and charts. Others provide only charts. Either way, learning to read them opens up a huge library of patterns.
Step-by-Step Guide to Reading Knitting Charts
Reading Direction:
For flat knitting (back and forth): Right-side (RS) rows read from right to left. Row 1 starts at the bottom-right corner. Wrong-side (WS) rows read from left to right. Row 2 reads from the bottom-left. RS rows are usually odd-numbered, WS rows even-numbered.
For circular knitting (in the round): Every row reads from right to left, because you are always looking at the right side.
Common Knitting Chart Symbols:
| Symbol | RS Meaning | WS Meaning | |---|---|---| | Blank or empty square | Knit | Purl | | Dot (or dash) | Purl | Knit | | O (circle) | Yarn over (yo) | Yarn over (yo) | | \ (right-leaning line) | K2tog | P2tog on WS | | / (left-leaning line) | SSK | SSP on WS | | X | Bobble or special stitch | See key |
Important: Many symbols change their meaning depending on whether you are working a RS or WS row. A blank square means "knit" on the RS but "purl" on the WS — both produce a knit stitch on the right side of the fabric.
Cable Chart Symbols:
Cable symbols show lines crossing over each other. Left-leaning cable (C4F, C6F) — hold stitches on a cable needle in front. Right-leaning cable (C4B, C6B) — hold stitches in back. The number tells you the total stitches involved.
Repeat Brackets and No-Stitch Symbols:
Repeat brackets are heavy lines or colored boxes around a section you work multiple times. No-stitch symbols (usually gray or shaded squares) are placeholders that keep the chart aligned visually — skip them.
How FiberTools Helps You Work from Charts
When you encounter unfamiliar abbreviations or symbols referenced in a chart key, the Abbreviation Glossary decodes them instantly. Cable abbreviations like C4F, C6B, and T3R have specific meanings that vary slightly between designers.
Tracking your position in a chart across multiple rows is one of the biggest challenges. The Stitch Counter lets you track your current row and stitch count digitally, so you always know where you are in the chart. Pair it with the Abbreviation Glossary and you have a complete chart-reading toolkit.
Tips, Common Mistakes, and How to Avoid Them
Read the key before you start. Every designer defines symbols slightly differently. Never assume a symbol means the same thing it meant in a different pattern.
Photocopy your chart and mark it up. Highlight the repeat section. Use a pencil to check off completed rows.
Use a magnetic chart keeper or sticky note. Place it above the row you are currently working so you can see the rows already completed below.
Common mistakes to watch for: Reading WS rows in the wrong direction — this is the number one chart-reading error. WS rows go left to right. Forgetting that symbols change meaning on WS rows — a blank square means knit on the RS and purl on the WS. Miscounting repeat sections — use stitch markers between each pattern repeat on your needles. Ignoring no-stitch squares — treating a no-stitch symbol as a real stitch throws off your entire row.
Highlighting tip for colorwork charts: Print the chart and color in the squares with colored pencils that match your actual yarn colors.
Real Projects That Use Knitting Charts
Lace shawl from a chart: A triangular lace shawl might have a chart with 30 rows and a 12-stitch repeat. The chart shows exactly how yarn overs and decreases create leaf or diamond motifs. Working from the chart, you can see the pattern emerging on your needles and catch mistakes within a row or two.
Cable panel scarf: A scarf with a center cable panel typically has a chart 20 to 30 stitches wide showing the cable crosses. Many knitters memorize the cable pattern after a few repeats because the chart makes the logic visible.
Colorwork hat: A stranded colorwork hat uses a chart where each colored square represents a stitch in that color. Since hats are knit in the round, you read every row from right to left. A typical Fair Isle chart might have a 12-stitch repeat with two or three colors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I read charts differently for flat knitting versus circular knitting?
Yes. For flat knitting, right-side rows read right to left and wrong-side rows read left to right. For circular knitting, every row reads right to left because you are always working on the right side. Symbol meanings also stay consistent in circular knitting.
What do blank squares mean on a knitting chart?
Blank squares typically mean "knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side," which produces stockinette stitch. However, some designers use blank squares differently, so always check the chart key.
How do I handle cable chart symbols?
Cable symbols show crossed lines indicating the direction and width of the cable cross. Lines leaning left mean a front cross (hold stitches in front), and lines leaning right mean a back cross (hold stitches in back). Always check your pattern key because cable notation varies between designers.
Can crocheters use knitting charts?
Crochet has its own charting system with different symbols, so knitting charts do not directly translate to crochet. However, colorwork charts are universal for color placement — a stranded knitting colorwork chart can guide color changes in tapestry crochet.
Start Reading Charts with Confidence
Knitting charts look intimidating only until you understand the two core rules: read RS rows right to left, WS rows left to right, and always check the key before you start. Everything else is just pattern recognition.
The Abbreviation Glossary decodes any unfamiliar symbol or abbreviation you encounter in a chart key, and the Stitch Counter keeps you oriented on the right row. Together they eliminate the two biggest sources of chart-reading errors.