Charting Cable Stitches

2 over 1 Right Cross Cable

If you are writing your own patterns, charting Cable stitches clearly so that they can be understood by pattern readers can be accomplished in many different ways. There is no standard — only preferences expressed by designers / publishers.

Most designers/publishers develop a standard set of symbols / method that they choose to use. In the case of publishers {web-based magazines, print magazines or books}, a designer submitting patterns for publication will have to follow the standard symbols/methods as outlined by the publisher. Often, the publishers will create the final chart for publication, so no special software is required by the designer.

If a designer is self-published, however, the symbols/methods for charting cables are choices to be made by the designer. Will you hand-draw and scan? Will you use spreadsheet software? Will you use specialized charting software (see Cable Chart Generators section below)?

Using Stitch Mastery Knitting Chart Editor

 

Make 5 from 1 Stitch

Here’s an example of a very small chart created using this program – in this case it’s a make 5 stitches out of 1 stitch (for the base of a closed ring cable).

Using MSExcel to Chart Cables

The picture above is an example of charting a 2 over 1 cable in Excel {please note that all other stitches e.g. the purl border stitches that might surround the cable, have been ignored for this example}.

All lines in this chart were created using Borders in Excel {in the Format, Cells, Borders tab}.

Knitty has a great article on how to get started creating charts

Using Excel to Chart Simple Lace Charts: excellent tutorial from Marnie MacLean

Using Excel to Chart Complex Lace Charts: excellent tutorial from Marnie MacLean

Decoding and Charting Cables: excellent tutorial by KC The Knitting Penguin on charting cables

NEW Chart Making 101: a tutorial-article – using Word to create charts; in Fall 2010 KnitCircus magazine by Wendy Johnson