| Learn Knitting Basics and Charts |
| Symbolcraft: The Language of Knitting |
From "Knitty Gritty"
episode DKNG-109 |
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So far in our Knitty Gritty projects, the instructions have all been written out, but at some point you may want to knit something that requires you to follow a chart. Knitting charts may look like chicken scratches to the novice, but they're meant to help rather than to intimidate, and they provide a compact way to represent knitting without the need for lots of lengthy text. Once familiar with charts, most people will find them useful, as they allow knitters to actually see what's going to happen in the knitted piece.
Today's guest is knitting expert Lily Chin, the author of Knitting and Crocheting With Beads, who is going to demystify "symbolcraft," the language of knitting. Then she'll show some decorative stitches that will add a touch of texture (to say nothing of glamour) to any knitting projects. These stitches are of varying degrees of difficulty, so the Knit-O-Meter ratings are Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced.Reading Charts Take a look at the Seed Stitch chart, below. Here's a brief explanation of how to interpret it.
Seed Stitch
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For a printable version of this chart,
click on the PDF file at right.
|  PDF
Seed Stitch |
- Each box across represents a stitch; horizontal rows of boxes represent rows of stitches.
- Usually not all the stitches are represented. To avoid overly large charts, the stitch "repeat" is usually sectioned off. This just means to repeat that section over and over again.
- There's usually a stitch key telling you what each symbol means. Although when you knit on straight needles you work on both the right and the wrong side of the fabric, the chart represents only the right side (as if your piece did not turn around). Thus, the symbols key may say that a horizontal bar in a box means "purl on Right Side [RS], but knit on Wrong Side [WS]."
Note: Compare the Seed Stitch chart with the Ribbing chart, below. You will notice that the Seed Stitch features knit stitches placed over purl stitches, and vice versa; Ribbing, on the other hand, features knit over knit and purl over purl.
Ribbing
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For a printable version of this chart,
click on the PDF file at right.
| PDF
Ribbing |
The RS rows are read from right to left, but the WS rows are read from left to right. Some patterns may begin on a RS row, yet others may begin on a WS row. Very often, arrows indicate the direction of knitting; this also reminds you what in direction to read the chart (and therefore whether it's a RS or WS row).
Here are the other patterns demonstrated in this episode. Taking what you've already learned about reading charts, you may want to knit a practice swatch for each one. Dash
Dash
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For a printable version of this chart,
click on the PDF file at right.
| PDF
Dash |
Checkerboard
Checkerboard
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For a printable version of this chart,
click on the PDF file at right.
| PDF
Checkerboard |
Triangles
Triangles
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For a printable version of this chart,
click on the PDF file at right.
| PDF
Triangles |
Basketweave
Basketweave
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For a printable version of this chart,
click on the PDF file at right.
| PDF
Basketweave |
Next: Choosing Needle Sizes
RESOURCES :
Knit and Crochet With Beads
By Lily Chin
2004, Interweave Press
Interweave Press Inc.
Website: www.interweave.com
Aurora 8 yarn
Suggested retail price: $7/skein
Karabella Yarns
Website: karabellayarns.com
GUESTS :
Lily Chin
Author, knitting expert
Website: www.lilychinsignaturecollection.com
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