We often get requests from our readers for help with charts. In Knit Now, we always publish both charts and written instructions for lace, cable and texture patterns, so you can choose whether you want to follow the charts or written instructions.

To help our readers who want to follow the charts, we have started to publish digital versions of our knitting stitch pattern charts as PDFs to download for free. This means you can download and print the charts at whatever size you like, or you can view them on your screen and zoom in.

FIND YOUR FREE KNITTING STITCH CHART DOWNLOADS HERE

Jen asks...
Do you think it is better to follow a chart or written instructions in a pattern I find that I can visualise my knitting better when I work from a chart, but it's easier to keep track of my place in written instructions.

Knit Now Editor Jo says...
Well, you will get the same results whichever one you choose, so it's entirely up to you - but it sounds to me that you want to be able to work from charts. There are so many options to explore to help you keep track of the row you are on. Washi tape (paper tape that often comes in pretty colours and prints) or just simple Post-it notes are ideal. If you want to upgrade, look out for a chart keeper, which is a board with magnets you pop in your chart and simply move the magnets as you work through the chart. KnitPro sells some lovely ones in a range of sizes - visit www.knitpro.eu to find your nearest stockist. If you're having trouble keeping track of stitch pattern repeats, try using a stitch marker between each chart repeat.

Annie asks...
I bought a pattern online for a beautiful shawl, but the stitch patterns are only charts. I've never worked from a chart before, where do I even start?

Knit Now Editor Jo says...
The very literal answer to your question is in the bottom right-hand corner - charts are read bottom-up! For pieces worked flat, right-side rows are read from right to left whilst WS rows are read from left to right. For pieces worked in the roun, all rows are read right to left. This may sound counter-intuitive, but when you start working from the chart you'll realise that this is the same direction as you are knitting!

In a chart, each square represents one stitch. The aim of a chart is to be a visual representation of your knitting - the clearest place to see this is a colourwork chart, but it's also true in cables and lace.

In lace, yarn overs are usually represented by a circle, which looks like the hole made by the yarn over. The bottom edge of the Thunderstorm chart from this pattern in Issue 92 of Knit Now shows this beautifully. The red box shows the section of the pattern which will be repeated.

Want to put your newfound chart reading skills to the test? Try one of these fantastic free patterns!