A knitting pattern diagram is literally the “blueprint” for your pattern and there is no specific trick or method to reading it.
At Hobbie’s House, we create our own diagram for each custom pattern and like to have nearly all the required information visible on the blueprint. In this way, we can follow the data on the diagram rather than constantly referring back to the complete written directions.
In fact, we rarely use written instructions. Every detail is written in our own version of shorthand and displayed within the diagram itself.
Although a minimum of information should be displayed, the pattern designer/writer controls how detailed and descriptive the diagram will be. If the diagram is drawn out for several sizes, multiple numbers are listed for stitches and rows. Each set of “numbers” is collected within brackets.
When it comes to measurements, the diagram should, at a minimum, give you both the overall measurement [such as the total body length or the total sleeve length], or the point to point distance between two sections, such as the measurement of the sleeve cap, the depth of the ribbing or the distance between the ribbing and the beginning of the armhole.
In our opinion, it is much easier to visualize and work a sweater piece in sections. The ribbing is section A with its own set of measurements, followed by section B [the area between the ribbing and the beginning of the armhole]. Then comes section C - the armhole - followed by section D which is the shoulder area.
Be sure to read your knitting pattern thoroughly before you begin to knit. Make sure you are familiar with the various knitting techniques required to complete your pattern. If you are not familiar, why not practice the technique on a test swatch rather than on your knitting project?
Often, the written directions do not match the information provided on the diagram.
So…if the instructions are for multiples sizes, select YOUR size and re-draw the diagram on a larger scale [on an 8 1/2 by 11 inch piece of paper] to include YOUR notes about decreases, total number of rows per section, etc.
Before too long, you will have your own set of shorthand notes directly on the diagram and you may never refer back to the written instructions!
Here are some examples of Hobbie’s knitting shorthand for sleeve increases: instead of “increase 1 stitch at each end of every 10th row twice, then every 11th row 4 times” re-write it this way…
+ 1 E [every] 10Rs 2X
+ 1 E 11Rs 4X
You can add a few details!
+1 E 10Rs 2X [rows 2, 12]
+1 E 11Rs 4X [rows 23, 34, 45, and 56]
Here is the shorthand for the sleeve cap shaping, [on each side]:
- 4
- 1 E R [every row] 4X
- 1 EOR [every other row] 8X
- 1 E R 4 x
- 18 sts [cast off]
Try it…you’ll like it!
© Hobbie’s House of Wizard Wear
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