71384 The Knitters Bible3

READING KNITTING PATTERNS

A knitting pattem tells you how to knit and make up a knitted project. There are two styles of instructions; a pattem that tells you what to do row by row, and a pattem that has shorter written instructions with a chart. If each row of a garment was written down row by row the knitting pattem would probably fili a smali book, so the instructions use shorthand phrases and abbreviations. The abbreviations are listed on the pattem with an explanation of what they mean. Many are commonly used, such as k and p (see page 33). Others refer to special stitches, like C4F, and these are explained in the technique or pattems.

Common shorthand phrases

cont as set/cont as established

instead of repeating the same instructions over and over. you must continue to work as previously told. For example: Row I K. Row 2 R Cont in st st as set. keeping patt correct continue with a stitch pattem. keeping it correctly worked over the correct amount of stitches. whilst domg something that may interfere with the stitch pattern (see page 74). at the same time

two things must be done at the same time. For example. decreasing at an armhole edge and decreasing at a neck edge.

work straight/work even

continue wrthout ncreasmg or decreasing.

work as given for

to avoid repeating instructions. For

example. the front is often worked as

given for the back up to a certain point

reversing all shaping

shaping is given for one piece and the

other piece must be shaped to be a

mirror image of it. For example. the

left and nght side of the neck. or the

left and nght front of a cardigan.

Sizes

Knitting patterns are usually wntten m morę than one size. with the smallest size first (outside the brackets) and the remammg sizes inside square brackets. separated by colons.The largest size is at the end. For example. if the sizes are S [M:LXL], the chest measurements could be 30 [32:34:36] in (76 [82:87:92] cm).Your size will always appear in the same place in the bracket: instructions for the first size will always be first for the second size they will be second. etc. If a pattem is wntten in both imperial and mętne measurements. stick to one or the other; some imperial to mętne measurements are not exact conversions.

Reading size instructions

Square brackets are used within the instructions to indicate the number of stitches and rows to be worked. or how many times a pattem is repeated. for each size. For example. cast on 90 [92:94:96] sts. or work patt I [2:3:4] times. If a zero appears for your size do not work the mstruction it is referring to. For example. dec 3 [0:1:2] sts. If only one figurę appears then it refers to all sizes. Read through the pattem and underline or highlight your size in the square brackets.

Size diagrams

Knitting pattems should have a drawing of the knitted pieces with their fimshed measurements. These help to decide which size is best for you or if you need to alter things like body or sleeve length. They also show the shape of the pieces and make the wntten instructions clearer. If your pattem does not have size diagrams. it is a good idea to draw your own. usmg the fmished measurements given and adding any others by using the gauge (tension) Information.

Reading a stitch chart

A knitting pattem may contain a stitch chart which is similar to a colour pattem. A stitch chart is an illustration of a cable. a lace pattem or a texture pattem with each stitch being represented by a symbol, which usually reflects the texture of the stitch. A knit stitch often appears as a blank square. whilst a purl stitch is a dot or honzontal dash.The key tells you what each symbol means. Imagme looking at the nght side of a knitted piece: each symbol represents the stitch as it appears on the right side of the work. A whole garment may be charted like this or just one repeat of the stitch pattem. Each square is one stitch on your needle. Decreases are shown after they have been worked and so appear as one square.Yam overs are shown as a new stitch and so occupy one square. Beginning at the bottom nght-hand comer. right side rows are read from nght to left and wrong side rows from left to right. Colour charts are covered on page 37.

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Repeat th«e i8 sMCftes ■»un« v

Bock and Front

	C4F	X X 1 Cr3L	Cable abbreviations... See pages 40-41 for Cabłes and a guide to the abbreviations.
XX	C4B	V / 1 Cr3R
	CHI CHR	• p on RS rows. k on WS rows □ kon RS rows. p on WS rows