Charts & Symbols

Have you ever looked at a knitting chart and felt unsure how to follow all those tiny symbols and squares? Learning to read a knitting chart is a useful skill that can make complex patterns much easier to understand, especially for lace, cables, and colorwork. Each square on the chart represents a stitch, and the symbols inside those squares indicate exactly what action to take, such as knit, purl, yarn over, or decrease. While there is a standard set of commonly used symbols, it’s important to check the chart’s key, as designers sometimes use slightly different variations. Generally, charts are read from bottom to top, with right-side rows read from right to left and wrong-side rows from left to right. Once you become familiar with the layout and the most common symbols, knitting from charts can feel more intuitive than following written instructions, helping you see the pattern develop visually as you work.

Here is our symbol guide:

Basic Symbols

Knit

Purl

KTB

Knit Through the Back

PTB

Purl Through the Back

K1B

Knit into Stitch One Row Below

P1B

Purl into Stitch One Row Below

Slip Stitch

S1-WYIF

Slip One with Yarn in Front

Slip One Purlwise

S1P-WYIF

Slip One Purlwise with Yarn in Front

Pick Up Stitch

Carry

DS-K

Double Stitch Knitwise

KDS

Knit Double Stitch

DS-P

Double Stitch Purlwise

PDS

Purl Double Stitch

Edge Symbols

Cast On

Bind Off

Wrap & Turn

WTP

Wrap & Turn Purlwise

Kitchner Stitch

Increase Symbols

Yarn Over

YO2

Yarn Over Twice

K1FB

Increase One Knitwise

P1FB

Increase One Purlwise

M1L

Make One, Left Slant

M1R

Make One, Right Slant

Make Bobble

YRN

Yarn Round Needle

YRN2

Yarn Round Needle Twice

Decrease Symbols

K2TOG

Knit Two Together

P2TOG

Purl Two Together

K3TOG

Knit Three Together

P3TOG

Purl Three Together

K4TOG

Knit Four Together

P4TOG

Purl Four Together

SSK

Slip Slip Knit

SSP

Slip Slip Purl

S3K

Slip Three Knit

S3P

Slip Three Purl

S4K

Slip Four Knit

S4P

Slip Four Purl

S1-K1-PSSO

Slip One Knitwise, Knit One, Pass Slipped Stitch Over

S1-K2TOG-PSSO

Slip One Knitwise, Knit Two Together, Pass Slipped Stitch Over

S1-K3TOG-PSSO

Slip One Knitwise, Knit Three Together, Pass Slipped Stitch Over

S2TOG-K1-P2SSO

Slip Two Together, Knit One, Pass Two Slipped Stitches Over

S2TOG-K2TOG-P2SSO

Slip Two Together, Knit Two Together, Pass Two Slipped Stitches Over

S3TOG-K2TOG-P3SSO

Slip Three Together, Knit Two Together, Pass Three Slipped Stitches Over

Cable Symbols

CB-1/1

Cable Two 1-1 Back

CBP-1/1

Cable Two 1-1 Back

with Purl

CF-1/1

Cable Two 1-1 Front

with Purl

CFP-1/1

Cable Two 1-1 Front

with Purl

CB-2/2

Cable Four 2-2 Back

CBP-2/2

Cable Four 2-2 Back

with Purl

CF-2/2

Cable Four 2-2 Front

CFP-2/2

Cable Four 2-2 Front with Purl

CB-3/3

Cable Six 3-3 Back

CBP-3/3

Cable Six 3-3 Back with Purl

CF-3/3

Cable Six 3-3 Front

CFP-3/3

Cable Six 3-3 Front with Purl

Now that you have seen a selection of common knitting chart symbols and how they are used, reading charts may feel far less intimidating than it first appeared. Like many aspects of knitting, it becomes easier with practice, and over time you will begin to recognise symbols at a glance without needing to refer back to the key. While different designers may present charts in slightly different ways, the core symbols and structure remain broadly consistent, making it a transferable skill across patterns. By becoming comfortable with charts, you open up a wider range of designs and techniques, allowing you to approach more intricate projects with confidence and clarity.

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