Instructions

The knitting chart generator takes text input and creates an image of a knitting chart from it. In order to create the chart, the text input must be inputted correctly. While you do have the option to manually input text into the box, using the stitch buttons to fill in the appropriate text should guarantee that the formatting is correct.

Entering text manually

If you do decide to enter the text by hand, follow these guidelines to avoid errors:
  • Separate stitches using commas
  • For multiple stitches (eg 7 knits in a row), put the stitch abbreviation in square brackets, followed by the number of stitches. (e.g. [k]7) Don't forget to put a comma after the number! There is no need to use square brackets or a number if you only require one stitch.
  • Use a new line for each row.

Stitch repeats

At the top of the generator you will find an option to repeat the current stitch a certain number of times.

Example

Your instructions are:
Row 1: k7, p1, k1, p1
Row 2: k2, p2 ribbing

To input this in the generator, enter "7" in the repeat box, and select "Reset repeats to 1 after this stitch" from the drop-down list. Click the "knit" stitch tool once (you will notice that the value in the repeats box is reset to 1), then click the "purl" tool, then the "knit" tool, then the "purl" tool.

Click the "Start new row" button to begin Row 2. Enter "2" in the repeat box, and select "Keep repeat value for next stitch" from the drop down list. Click the "knit" stitch tool, then the "purl" tool, then the "knit" tool, then the "purl" tool.

Row directions

By default, your chart will be generated from right to left, bottom to top (each row will appear as it does in the final work). If you wish to alternate row directions (even rows - the "wrong" side of the work, being read from left to right) select "Reverse even rows" from the drop-down list to the left of the "Start new row" button.

Custom Stitches

You may define up to three different custom stitches. These stitches will be indicated on your chart with "a", "b", and "c". For ease of use, give your custom stitches descriptive names so that you remember what they represent. You can also indicate the "width" of the custom stitches in the final chart.

Example

You are knitting a pattern that includes "yo, p2, pass yo over". This custom stitch will be two stitches wide in the final chart. Rename the custom "a" tool to "yo, p2, pass yo over" and set it so that it reads "over 2 stitches". Now whenever you click the "a" tool, this stitch will be inserted in your chart and will take up two spaces.

Coloured Stitches

chartGen currently includes a selection of coloured stitches for those brave souls who work with more than one colour of yarn in a single project. The current version of chartGen does not support the combination of stitch types and colours; all coloured stitches are assumed to be knit.

"No stitches" and rows of uneven lengths

The width of the rows of the chart will be set to the longest row you have described in the text box. All shorter rows will be "padded" with "no stitch" symbols at the end of the row. For rows read right to left, the "no stitch" symbols will appear on the left hand side of the row, and for rows read left to right, the "no stitch" symbols will appear on the right hand side of the row.

You can also include "no stitch" symbols anywhere in the row by using the "no stitch" tool.

Numbering rows

By default, the row numbers increment by 1 (e.g. first row will be Row 1, second row will be Row 2, and so on). If you wish, you may increment your row numbers by a higher value (for instance if your pattern only happens every 4 row, then you would increment by 4, so your first charted row would be Row 1, your second charted row would be Row 5, and so on).

Viewing your chart

Click the "Preview Chart" button to see what your chart looks like. To obtain a downloadable image of your chart, click "Get Printer-Friendly Chart". A legend will be included to describe all stitches that appear in your chart.

Bugs and Feature Requests

The knitting chart generator is currently under development. Please see the About page for current project status and known issues.

If you find a bug, or have a feature request, please use the Feedback form.

Supported Stitches

The knitting chart generator currently supports the following stitches:

k ~ knit
p ~ purl
yo ~ yarnover
kfb ~ knit front and back loops
m1 ~ make one
ns ~ no stitch
sk ~ slip one knitwise
sp ~ slip one purlwise
ktbl ~ knit through the back loop
ssk ~ slip, slip knit *
ssp ~ slip, slip purl *
k2tog ~ knit two together
p2tog ~ purl two together
k3tog ~ knit three together
p3tog ~ purl three together
sk2p ~ slip one, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over
s2kp ~ slip two together, knit one, pass two slipped stitches over
co ~ cast on
bo ~ bind off

Cables

cl1 ~ slip one stitch to cable needle and hold to front of work, knit one, knit one from cable needle

cr1 ~ slip one stitch to cable needle and hold to back of work, knit one, knit one from cable needle

cl2 ~ slip two stitches to cable needle and hold to front of work, knit two, knit two from cable needle

cr2 ~ slip two stitches to cable needle and hold to back of work, knit two, knit two from cable needle

cl3 ~ slip three stitches to cable needle and hold to front of work, knit three, knit three from cable needle

cr3 ~ slip three stitches to cable needle and hold to back of work, knit three, knit three from cable needle

* Note: skp is not included, as it's structurally identical to ssk.