How to Read Knitting Charts

Would you like to learn how to read knitting charts? This post is for you! Knitting charts are great for visual learners, as they show you in chart format what stitches to work and where.

I love using knitting symbol charts as it is even easier for me to understand what I’m doing and the order of stitches by looking at a visual representation of it, than by looking at the written line-by-line instructions.

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Knitting chart symbols

Knitting charts use symbols. A chart is a grid, like graph paper and each box represents one stitch. Within those squares are symbols that tell you what stitch to work there.

If a box is grayed out, that means there isn’t a stitch there. Especially where you may be decreasing or increasing the total number of stitches, some rows may have gray boxes for where a stitch was taken away, or will be added later.

You can find a list of all standard knitting chart symbols from the Craft Yarn Council.

Here is an example of a knitting chart.

A knitting symbol chart. A graph of squares containing symbols to represent knitting stitches. A key at the bottom explains what the symbols mean.

Knitting charts should have a key to explain what each symbol means, like the one in the bottom right corner of this image.

As you can see, some boxes contain no symbols. If a white box does not contain a symbol, that usually means that it is a knit stitch on a right side row, or a purl stitch on a wrong side row, in other words, stockinette stitch.

Let’s learn how to read a knitting chart!

When reading a knitting chart, you will read right side rows of the chart starting on the right. You will read wrong side rows starting on the left. If you are working in the round, with the right side always facing, then you read all rows of the chart from the right.

You work each box in order across the row. The boxes in the chart will line up just as they do in your project. When you come to a box, find out what that symbol means, and then work that stitch.

How to read knitting charts video

Watch the video below to see the process in action! I’ll walk you through a few rows of knitting my own project as I use the chart.

Close up photo of a knit lace piece over a knitting chart on a sheet of paper. A white banner across the image has text that reads: Knitting lace with charts. Banana Moon Studio. A red and white play button is centered on the image. — Click to watch it on YouTube

What knitting project is in this video?

The project used in this video is a cotton, lace knit wrap called Corallia Wrap. This is a free knitting pattern here on my site. It’s a rectangular wrap perfect for spring and summer. I like it in a bright color, but it could be equally beautiful in a pastel or neutral.

Woman standing in the woods wearing a bright yellow dress with a handknit, coral-colored lace wrap around her shoulders. Text on the image reads: Banana Moon Studio.

Looking for other knitting tutorials?

Do you want to learn more about knitting? I have a lot of knitting tutorials here on my site and YouTube channel. Below are just a few. You can find all my knitting tutorials here.

Learn to knit mittens!

Let me show you how stockinette stitch is done!

Would you like to learn how to make fringe for your project?

Learn the m1, m1R, and m1L knitting increase stitches!

Happy knitting,