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:

A.1 is the name of the diagram, and refer to the entire diagram.
A.2 is only the part of the diagram within the square brackets.
This number refers to the number of stitches on the 1st row of the diagram.
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 (768)

Ea wrote:

Hej! Winter mist hat i str m/l siger diagram A1 efterfulgt af A2 x 2 m, men på diagrammet er der en søjle af to vrang masker på hver pind, hvordan skal det forstås? Efter første pind med indtagninger passer det jo ikke længere at vrangmaskerne er over hinanden i par, eller gør det? 🙈 Hilsen Ea

01.11.2026 - 07:12

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Ea. I str. M/L har du 152 m og etter at vrangborden er strikket 23 cm, strikker man etter diagram A.1 og A.2 slik: A.1 + A.2 + A.1 + A.2. På begynnelsen av diagrammene er det en "søyle" der det strikkes 2 vrangmaske = 4 søyler på huen. Når det skal felles masker, vist i diagrammene, vil man strikke 2 masker vridd vrang / 2 masker vrang sammen over 2 rettmasker, 2 masker vridd vrang / 2 masker vrang sammen over vrang masker og 2 masker vridd vrang / 2 masker vrang sammen over 1 vrang og 1 rett maske. På det ene bildet ser man det tydelige, vrangmasker over felles over rettmasker. mvh DROPS Design

02.11.2026 - 07:13

Ulla Pålsson wrote:

Hej, har börjat sticka Drops baby 31-3 mönster. Det står sticka A 1 över 8 maskor 17 gånger, det är ok men var för jag ökningen av maskor när det fattas 34 maskor? Vilket varv görs ökningen? Med vänlig hälsning, Ulla

31.10.2026 - 21:36

Lucie Fortier wrote:

Bonjour, je fais le model ne-162 et dans les explications du diagramme on mentionne : Tricoter à l'env/à l'end. Qu'est ce que cela veux dire? EX = glisser 1 m sur l\'aiguille auxiliaire derrière l'ouvrage, 2 m end, reprendre la m en attente et la tricoter à l'env/à l'end

29.10.2026 - 16:44

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Mme Fortier, au rang suivant vous tricoterez cette maille comme l'indique le diagramme, autrement dit si vous avez 1 rond noir vous la tricoterez à l'endroit sur l'envers ou bien à l'envers sur l'endroit et si c'est une case blanche, vous la tricoterez à l'envers sur l'envers ou bien à l'endroit sur l'endroit. Bon tricot!

30.10.2026 - 16:47

Birgitta Söderlind wrote:

Gäller Christmas Time Socks by drops design. Varför saknas diagram i mönstret A.1 o A.3?

16.10.2026 - 15:02

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Birgitta. Alle diagrammene vises helt nederst på oppskriften. Om du ikke ser dem, må du sjekke internettforbinnelsen din, alt er OK hos oss. mvh DROPS Design

19.10.2026 - 07:12

Tina wrote:

Jeg vil gerne strikke littel Peter, men der står ikke hvor mange gange jeg skal gentage mønsterrapporterne, kan nogen hjælpe? Mvh Tina

08.10.2026 - 11:06

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Tina. Little Peter, Baby DROPS nr. 6-1. Hvilken mønster rapport tenker du på og hvilken str. strikker du? I f.eks str. 2 - 3/4 - 5/6 år står det etter ribkanten på ryg og forstykke at det skal strikkes slik: 1 kantmaske + M.3 (= 6 m) + M.2 (= 20 m) + M.1 (= 16 m) + M.4 (= strikk over 18 m i str. 2 år, 24 m i str. 3/4 år og 30 m i str. 5/6 år) + M.1 (= 16 m) + M.2 (= 20 m) + M.3 (=6 m og midt bagpå) + M.3 (= 6 m) + M.2 (= 20 m) + M.1 (= 16 m) + M.4 (= strikk over 18 m i str. 2 år, 24 m i str. 3/4 år og 30 m i str. 5/6 år) + M.1 (= 16 m) + M.2 (= 20 m) + M.3 (=6 m) + 1 kantmaske. mvh DROPS Design

12.10.2026 - 07:28

Deborah wrote:

I'm still not understanding...just starting the drops moon cardi right band...do I do k3 p1 on right side then P1 K3 on wrong side please? Thanks

06.10.2026 - 14:54

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Deborah, do you mean this pattern? Then work A.1 from RS as follows: K3, P1 and from WS: K1, P3 and work A.2 as follows: from RS: P1, K3 and from WS: P3, K1. Happy knitting!

07.10.2026 - 08:02

Catherine wrote:

Hello, What about Diamond Sky Slipover. It's knitted flat, front and back, then sewn up along sides and shoulders. However, the pattern diagrams are knitted right to left for all rows (i.e. the paired rows, 2, 4 etc, are also knitted right to left). From the explanation above it would imply that it should be knit right to left for impaired rows and left to right for paired rows. Why is this not the case? Thank you

14.08.2026 - 13:56

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Catherine, all rows are shown in the diagrams, just follow diagram text matching each symbol, either from "right side" or from "wrong side", so in this pattern a white square will be knited from the right side and purled from the wrong side and a - will be purled from the right side and knitted from the wrong side (reversed stocking stitch). Start reading diagrams from the bottom right corner to the left from RS and from the left towards the right from WS. Can this help? Happy knitting!

14.08.2026 - 15:15

Dagný wrote:

Ég er að prjóna uppskrift nr. 231-36 Sommarfin Sveater stærð Medium. ég er búin að prjóna kragann og auka í lykkjur upp í 100. Er komin að mynstri A.1 neðst. Á ég að prjóna 2 lykkjur sléttar og slá síðan upp á prjónin (til að auka út, fer aftan í lykkjuna í næsta prjóni svo ekki komi gat), prjóna 1 lykkju slétta og slá upp á, prjóna síðan 9 lykkjur sléttar. Endurtaka síðan allan hringinn?

19.07.2026 - 15:00

DROPS Design answered:

Blessuð Dagný. Þetta er alveg rétt hjá þér. Þú prjónar þetta mynstur sem er 10 lykkjur alls 10 sinnum út umferðina. Gangi þér vel.

25.07.2026 - 11:57

Lucía wrote:

Estoy tejiendo el patrón Arctic Horizon, el diagrama comienza pequeño y se va agrandando pero no me coinsiden la cantidad de filas del diagrama con las vueltas que tengo que hacer y no sé cómo continuar sin el diagrama aunque entiendo que es un patrón repetitivo y por eso no debe seguir en el dibujo, cómo debería seguir? Es mi primera vez tejiendo con un diagrama y me confunde cómo puedo saber cómo tejer los puntos ya que va como en aumento en cada fila el diagrama

17.07.2026 - 14:48

DROPS Design answered:

Hola Lucía, comienzas con una fila de derecho sobre todos los puntos y, en la siguiente fila no tienes aumentos. Empiezas A.1 con 1d y alternas (3r, 1d) hasta trabajar sobre todos los puntos de A.1. Al final de A.1 deberías tener 1r (si en la anterior repetición del cuadrado tenías un cuadrado completo) o 3r (si tenías 1 cuadrado incompleto al final de A.1). Ahora repites A.2, de 4 puntos, con 1 d/3r (si A.1 acababa con 3r) o 2r, 1d, 1r (si A.1 acababa con 1r). A.3 comienza con 1d (si A.2 era 1d/3r) o 2r (si A.2 era 2r/1d/1r). A.3 debería acabar con 1d. Después de los aumentos A.1 empezará con 1r y A.3 acabará con 1r en las siguientes 2 filas. Continuar de esta manera.

31.07.2026 - 22:29

Emmma wrote:

I would of expected to see a translated version in english

10.07.2026 - 01:46

Hira Jihan wrote:

Halo, saya baru pertama kali menggunakan pattern ini. saya membuat sweater dengan ukuran m. saya bingung bagaimana cara menambahkan 6 increase di row pertama setelah membuat rib yoke, di stitch berapa saya harus menambahkan increase? dan bisakah buatkan polanya seperti (knit 12, yo, dst.)?

05.07.2026 - 15:03

Elodie wrote:

Merci beaucoup ! Je me doutais que je savais lire un diagramme mais je voulais vérifier : vos explications sont limpides, facile a comprendre et ça me donne du courage pour me lancer dans mon premier vêtement au tricot !! 🥳 Merci !!!!

03.07.2026 - 07:13

EUNICE wrote:

Um xale começa com montar 7 pontos 4M, d3ff 4M, d3ff

30.06.2026 - 06:26

EUNICE wrote:

O que significa d3ff no tricô?

30.06.2026 - 06:14

DROPS Design answered:

Bom dia, Em que modelo encontrou essa abreviatura? Se nos indicar o modelo, será mais fácil ajudá-la. Bons tricôs, A equipa DROPS

03.07.2026 - 11:28

Brigitte wrote:

Bonjour. Je réalise le Modèle sweet marigold. Il est mentionné dans l'explication de l'empiètement A2 au-dessus des20 mailles suivantes. Puis A4 au dessus Je ne comprends pas ce que veut dire au dessus. Merci pour votre aide

16.06.2026 - 19:01

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Brigitte, vous devez simplement tricoter les (20) mailles suivantes comme indiqué dans le diagramme indiqué, puis tricotez le diagramme indiqué. Bon tricot!

17.06.2026 - 08:52

Julia wrote:

Ik ben het truitje green grove tee drops 239-26 aan het breien. Ik snap iets vd pas niet. Telpatroon A.2 Naald 11 Begin je de naald dan met 3 steken recht?

18.05.2026 - 17:36

Susan Vemmenby wrote:

Drops 178-25 modell fa-375 Jag förstår inte rapport A 2 får en maska över på varje sticka. Hur gör jag.

14.05.2026 - 16:20

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Susan . Diagram A.2 består av 8 masker og det strikkes over 68 masker = 68 / 8 = man gjentar A.2 8,5 ganger. Sett 1 maskemarkør mellom hver gang du gjentar diagrammet, da har du en bedre oversikt. Husk at når 6. omgang strikkes (hullmønstret), så lages det et omslag hver gang det strikkes 2 masker sammen, slik at maskeantallet forblir det samme når omgangen er ferdig strikket. mvh DROPS Design

20.05.2026 - 08:06

Christine wrote:

Bonjour, je commence un modèle 211-5 . Pouvez vous m'éclairer sur la lecture des diagrammes A1 etA2 . Ligne 21 le symbole pyramide est décalé sur la gauche. De plus je ne saisis pas la dernière phrase .on a suffisamment de mailles pour 2 motifs supplémentaires de A2 entre A1 etA3 .Merci de votre réponse

01.05.2026 - 14:04

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Christine, à la fin de ce rang dans A.1, von tricoterez la dernière maille de A.1 avec les 2 mailles du A.2 suivant = cette maille est désormais la 1ère maille du 1er A.2, de même à la fin de chaque A.2, la dernière maille se tricotera avec les 2 premières mailles du A.2 suivant / de A.3. Bon tricot!

04.05.2026 - 15:49

Anita Forsman wrote:

A1 drops 239-15 Förstår inte hur diagrammet ska stickas. Hur många rätsidor och avigsidor blir det totalt? På ett diagram visar ni i videon att ett omslag och sen två maskor stickas tillsammans på samma rad. Är det så på denna beskrivning oxå? (Nybörjare)

29.04.2026 - 20:13

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Anita. Man leser et strikkediagram motsatt av slik man normalt leser: Fra høyre mot venstre, nedenfra og opp. Du begynner altså nederst i det høyre hjørnet, og jobber deg mot venstre og oppover. Når A.1 strikkes frem og tilbake strikker man 1.-3.-5.-7. pinne fra retten og 2.-4.-6 pinne fra vrangen. Når man strikker A.1 på ermene strikkes det kun fra retten (7 omganger). Videoen viser teknikken, men du må følge beskrivningen i den oppskriften du følger. F.eks når 4. pinne i diagrammet skal strikkes fra vrangen, skal det strikkes 2 rett sammen, selv om det er 2 vrangmasker, se beskrivelsen til det siste diagramikonet. mvh DROPS Design

04.05.2026 - 08:20

Muriel Sudan wrote:

Je tricote actuellement le modèle 35-22, avec la laine proposé dans le modèle et acheté chez DROPS Suisse. J'ai des difficultés pour l'augmentation des mailles dans la manche tout en gardant le dessin du diagramme correct. Vu que le nombre de mailles augmente, le dessin sera décalé ! Merci pour votre réponse et meilleures salutations, Muriel Sudan

26.04.2026 - 15:51

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Mme Sudan, les augmentations se font au milieu sous la manche - en fin de rang, tricotez les nouvelles mailles comme la maille suivante du motif, en début de rang comme la précédente (en lisant le diagramme de gauche à droite) ainsi le motif ne se décalera pas mais s'élargira sur les côtés. Bon tricot!

27.04.2026 - 14:30