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How to read knitting diagrams

A knitting diagram consists of squares. 1 square = 1 stitch - the symbol definition provide information on how the stitch is worked. The diagram shows all stitches seen from the right side (unless otherwise specified).

A diagram looks like this:

  1. A.1 is the name of the diagram, and refer to the entire diagram.
  2. A.2 is only the part of the diagram within the square brackets.
  3. This number refers to the number of stitches on the 1st row of the diagram.
  4. This is the symbol definition: it explains how each stitch is worked, or in what colour (in multicoloured patterns).

You read a knitting diagram completely opposite to how you would normally read: from right to left, from bottom to top. In other words: you start with the symbol in the bottom right corner, and work your way leftwards and upwards (see RED in diagram below). If you are supposed to start at a different point/with a different stitch, will this be specified - for example: the different sizes can start at different places in the same diagram (see BLUE box below).

If you are supposed to work several repeats of a diagram (ie: work the same diagram several times in width) you’ll work until the end of the diagram row, and start again with the first stitch for the next repeat.

Back and forth:

When working back and forth, every other row will be worked from the right side and every other row will be worked from the wrong side. Since the diagram shows all stitches seen from the right side, you’ll have to work it in opposite way when working from the wrong side (see BLUE arrows in diagram below): you read the row from left to right, knit stitches are purled, and purl stitches are knit etc (this will often be specified in symbol definition: “knit from right side, purl from wrong side”).

In the round:

When working in the round all rounds are worked from the right side, and the diagram is read solely from right to left. When starting a new round, simply start working the first symbol on the next row in diagram.

Several different diagrams worked consecutively on the row/round:

If you’re working several different diagrams after each other on the same row/round, work as follows: Work 1st row in diagram 1, continue with 1st row in diagram 2, then 1st row in diagram 3 etc. REMEMBER: if you’re working back and forth, the diagram will have to be worked in the opposite order from the wrong side - ie: start with diagram 3, then diagram 2 and lastly diagram 1. They are also worked in opposite way as usual.

In the pattern this can be written as follows: “work A.1, A.2, A.3 a total of 1-1-2-3-4 times”. This means that you first work A.1, then A.2 and finally you repeat A.3 a total of 1-1-2-3-4 times (depending on your size). It is ONLY A.3 that is repeated, A.1 and A.2 are worked 1 time each.

When stitch count doesn’t match whole repeats of diagram:

Sometimes the stitch count is not divisible with full/whole repeats of the diagram in width. For example: A.1 covers 12 stitches and is to be repeated over 40 stitches. In this case you will work 3 full repeats of A.1 (=36 stitches), and then work the first 4 stitches in the diagram over the remaining stitches (see RED line below). This is usually the case where the diagram is a repetitive pattern, so that regardless of working full repeats, the pattern will still be consistent.

Comments (703)

Country flag Sophie Couillaud wrote:

Je viens de commencer le gilet Agnes T 5 ,6 ans. Je ne comprends pas la terminologie "tricoterA'1 au dessus de la maille suivante dans le paragraphe empiecement. Si je comprends bien au premier rang de A1 et A2 je tricote 7 mailles à l'endroit. Si c'est le cas, je ne répéte pas A1 et A2 14 fois Merci de votre aide

04.09.2022 - 15:58

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Mme Couillaud, tricotez les diagrammes ainsi: 5 m point mousse, la maille suivante en suivant A.1, répétez ensuite 14 fois les 6 mailles de A.2 et terminez par 5 m point mousse. Sur l'envers, répétez A.2 en lisant de gauche à droite et terminez par A.1. Vous allez augmenter dans A.2 (cf jetés ovales noirs à tricoter torse sur l'envers pour éviter des trous) et vous aurez 16 mailles dans chaque A.2 quand les diagrammes sont terminés. Bon tricot!

05.09.2022 - 10:19

Country flag Petra Bobik wrote:

Hallo, stricke Model 220-27 (Größe M). Ich bin am Anfang der Anleitung/ Rumpfteil Zur Rundnadel Nr.4 wechseln. Die letzte Runde von A.1 & A2 stricken Die restlichen M. rechts. So ich im Wechsel A.1+A.2+A,1+A.2 ...usw. stricken ???Oder 1Reihe A.1 & 1Reihe A,2 stricken?? Den darauf folgenden Satz verstehe ich auch nicht!! Vielen Dank im Voraus PETRA

31.08.2022 - 09:34

DROPS Design answered:

Liebe Petra, alle Maschen sollen wie zuvor gestrickt werden, nur mit den grösseren Nadeln (= A.1 über 7 M, 2-19 rechte Maschen (siehe Größe), A.2 über 80-96 M usw. Viel Spaß beim stricken!

01.09.2022 - 10:35

Country flag Kris wrote:

Chart question for pattern 219–15. For size medium, at the beginning of chart A.2 there is a bracket with no boxes only a star which = mid stitch. I have never encountered this mid stitch terminology before and so I don’t know what it means. Are the 4 stitches a pattern repeat or something else? Am I supposed to center them on a certain stitch or what exactly do I do?

22.08.2022 - 04:34

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Kris, A.2 is first worked over 4 sts - the star refers to the mid-stitch that should be worked on sleeve on top of the sleeve to center the pattern (read here how to center a diagram) and doesn't apply to yoke nor body, only to sleeves. Happy knitting!

22.08.2022 - 10:32

Country flag Lesnes Patricia wrote:

Bonjour, dans le modèle Adagio 151-9, dans le diagramme A1, des mailles à diminuer se chevauchent sur A et B comment faire qd on doit répéter le B 5 fois ? La première maille de B doit être comment pour les répétitions ? Merci

21.08.2022 - 11:21

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Mme Lesnes, le nombre de mailles de chaque diagramme va toujours rester le même via le jeu des jetés et des diminutions, par ex. au 11ème rang, vous tricotez la dernière maille de A avec la 1ère m de B, puis la dernière de B avec la 1ère du B suivant/ de C. Au rang suivant (sur l'envers), vérifiez que vos diagrammes contiennent bien le bon nombre de mailles (6 pour C, 12 pour chaque B et 9 pour A) en utilisant des marqueurs si besoin. Bon tricot!

01.09.2022 - 16:32

Country flag Joanna wrote:

This is for the A1 chart in the Spring Break pattern. I don't understand how to follow the chart where there are no squares.

13.08.2022 - 05:26

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Joanna, the blank squares are there to maintain the structure for later rows (since you are adding yarn overs each row, right where the blank spaces are). You should ignore the blank space and simply work the next symbol in the row; these spaces will help you position the stitches in later rows. Happy knitting!

14.08.2022 - 20:03

Country flag Sue wrote:

Regarding drops 176-25 poncho. Diagram A1 has 12 rows and A2 has 16 rows . Can you help me as I’m not sure where to start A1 as it seem to be at A2 row 5 . Hope my question makes sense. Kind regards

10.08.2022 - 12:59

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Sue, when the 12 rows in A.1 are done, work A.1 from the first row while continuing A.2 as before, ie the both diagrams are repeating over a different number of rows. Happy knitting!

10.08.2022 - 16:20

Country flag Yasmin wrote:

Hejsa Kan du uddybe det her: "Strik A.1, A.2, A.3 totalt 1-1-2-3-4 gange». Her strikkes først A.1, så strikkes A.2, men hvor A.3 så skal gentages 1-1-2-3-4 gange i bredden (vælg din størrelse). Altså, det er KUN A.3 som skal gentages." Jeg forstår det kun er a 3 der skal gentages. Men hvor mange gange ? Hvad står 1-1-2-3-4 for? Hilsen Yasmin

07.08.2022 - 22:22

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Yasmin. Jo, de tallene henviser seg til str på plagget. Om et plagget har 5 størrelser, vil det stå i begynnelse av oppskriften stå: Størrelse: S - M - L - XL - XXL, når det da henvender seg senere i oppskriften som f.eks: A.3 totalt 1-1-2-3-4 gange, skal det i str. S og M strikkes 1 gang, i str. L 2 ganger, i str, XL 3 ganger og i str. XXL 4 ganger. mvh DROPS Design

08.08.2022 - 12:01

Country flag Anne Goodman wrote:

Thank you for your previous answer for pattern 77-26, but I can't find anywhere in the pattern that M.1/M.2 is mentioned unless they are Pattern 1 and Pattern 2? Also where do I use the part of the chart that that isn't bracketed? I'm sorry that I don't understand this and look forward to your help. Many thanks, Anne

04.08.2022 - 19:58

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Mrs Goodman, pattern-1 is matching diagram M.1 and pattern-2 is matching diagram M.2 - they are the worked over the same number of stitches in width, only height will be different. Happy knitting!

05.08.2022 - 08:48

Country flag Andrea Muñoz wrote:

Hola, estoy tejiendo el modelo Jackson y no sé si debo agregar los MP después de tejer todo el diagrama A4 y A5 o si debo hacerlo después de terminar la primera corrida...

03.08.2022 - 18:51

DROPS Design answered:

Hola Andrea, insertas los marcapuntos inmediatamente después de la 1ª vuelta; después continuas trabajando los diagramas y mueves los marcapuntos hacia arriba con la labor.

07.08.2022 - 23:57

Country flag Anne Goodman wrote:

Hello, I am going to knit Drops 77-26 and do not understand the chart. At the right side of the chart are two bracketed references; M.2 and M.1 and I'm afraid I don't know what they mean. Can you please explain these to me as I would really like to knit this lovely design. Many thanks Anne

03.08.2022 - 04:14

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Mrs Goodman, the brackets shows 4 rows - both for M.1 and M.2, these 4 rows are those you have to repeat when working M.1/M.2. Happy knitting!

03.08.2022 - 10:37

Country flag Marie France Gardiner wrote:

Why can't I post a question about the Sweet Scarborough Graph? :(

31.07.2022 - 09:26

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Marie France, you can post a question about the graph; you can find the form under the latest comments and questions of the pattern. You only need to tag the inquiry as a question and explain your problem. Our question service does not admit pictures, so you can't attach them to your question. Happy knitting!

31.07.2022 - 17:13

Country flag Birgitta Appelholm wrote:

Glöm alla mina problem med 32-7. Har löst det. Felet fanns på rad 3.

27.07.2022 - 22:22

Country flag Birgitta Appelholm wrote:

Tillägg till fråga på diagram 32-7. Rad 4 i rapporten börjar med 2 msk m bottenf istället för 1 msk. Det blir då endast 8 msk i rapporten. Rättas detta till vid ökning på rad 5?

27.07.2022 - 18:38

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Birgitta. Så bra at du fant ut av det selv. mvh DROPS Design

08.08.2022 - 10:59

Country flag Birgitta Appelholm wrote:

Stickar diagram 32-7 st 5/6 och har kört fast redan rad 4 i diagrammet, som slutar med 3 msk i mönsterfärgen och det finns 2 msk kvar på varvet. Maskantalet efter ökn stämmer. Stickar på rundsticka. Snälla hjälp mig.

27.07.2022 - 09:39

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Birgitta. Så bra at du fant ut av det selv. mvh DROPS Design

08.08.2022 - 10:59

Country flag Eva Roten wrote:

I am knitting drops 32-24 Nordic pattern and wonder if I can accesss the diagrams better and larger? It shows M1-M3 in very small diagrams I find it difficult to see and plan. I am using only blue and white.

27.07.2022 - 07:57

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Eva, unfortunately, this is the only available format for the patterns. You could try to download the pattern as a pdf or print it on a larger scale. Happy knitting!

28.07.2022 - 13:27

Country flag Fiona wrote:

I am working on Dreams of Aran and the instructions say work 'M.3, M.4, M.3, M.1 on the next 44-44-52-52'. I am knitting large so I need to knit 52 stitches. The total number of stitches with 'M.3, M.4, M.3, M.1' combined is 34 stitches. Should I start the pattern of M.3, M.4, M.3, M.1 again until I reach 52 stitches? Or repeat M1 (the last cable chart) until I reach 52 similar to the way it's described above. Thanks

26.07.2022 - 01:09

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Fiona, you repeat only M.1 until you reach 52 stitches. Happy knitting!

31.07.2022 - 23:01

Country flag Jane Thorsen wrote:

Hej jeg er igang med Drops Baby 19-10 Jeg forstår ikke diagram M2 og M3, når jeg har strikket 4 pinde. Hvad skal der strikkes på de første 12 masker og de sidste 8 masker

23.07.2022 - 11:14

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Jane. Du fortsetter å strikke diagrammene i høyden. Når du har strikket 4 pinner i M.2 starter du forfra (rad 1) over de 12 første maskene, mens de neste 12 maskene strikker du 5. rad i diagrammet, og de neste 8 maskene strikker du etter rad 1. Samme måte i diagram M.3. Du vil da få 3 pinner med glattstrikk mellom hver fletteomgang på høyre og venstre side på diagrammene, mens det i midten av diagrammene vil du få 5 pinner med glattstrikk mellom hver fletteomgangen. mvh DROPS Design

08.08.2022 - 09:55

Country flag Bailey wrote:

Pattern 145-14 reads as follows; K 1, A.1 A (= 2 sts), work A.1 B over the next 20-24-26-30-36-40 sts, A.1 C (= 2 sts), A.3 (= 22 sts), A.2 A (= 2 sts), repeat A.2 B over the next 20-24-26-30-36-40 sts, A.2 C (= 2 sts), K 1 *, repeat from *-* 1 more time. Your chart is not split into sections A, B,C. It is A1, A2,A3, A4. I really want to be able to read your patterns but this is the 5th pattern I’ve tried that has been completely indecipherable.

18.07.2022 - 12:45

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Bailey, you can see that diagrams A.1 and A.2 are divided into subsections (see the brackets below the charts): so you have A.1A, A.1B and A.1C and A.2A, A.2B and A.2C. You work A.1A once, A.1B as many times as needed depending on the size, then A.1C once, A.3 once, A.2A once, A.2B as many times as needed and A.2C once. Happy knitting!

20.07.2022 - 17:14

Country flag Oddbjørg wrote:

Hei. Jeg formulerte meg ikke helt riktig på mitt spørsmål, så jeg prøver igjen.. Jeg skal strikke Empress sirkeljakke str S fra Drops 194-17. Når jeg har strikket 1.rad i diagram A.2 og der ender jeg med 1maske rett på omgangen og ikke strikk 2masker i en maske, slik mønsteret sier. Jeg har markør på pinnen. 😀 Jeg skjønner ikke dette? På forhånd takk for svar:-)

15.07.2022 - 13:19

DROPS Design answered:

Hej. Jag är inte helt säker på att jag förstår riktigt, men om du har 48 m på pinnen så ska den sista m på pinnen bli "strikk 2 masker i en maske". För du har 48 m när A1 är färdigstickat? Mvh DROPS Design

15.07.2022 - 13:52

Country flag Oddbjørg wrote:

Hei. Jeg skal strikke Empress sirkeljakke str S fra Drops 194-17. Når jeg har strikket 1.rad i diagram A.2 så ender jeg med 1m rett på omgangen og ikke 1vr maske. Hva er det jeg gjør feil? På forhånd takk for svar:-)

15.07.2022 - 00:39

DROPS Design answered:

Hej. Lite svårt att veta vad som blir fel. Det kan hjälpa att sätta markörer mellan rapporterna så att du tydligt ser om något ser fel ut. Mvh DROPS Design

15.07.2022 - 09:46

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