The first time you pick up a knitting pattern you may think that it is written in a different language. Most of it is in English, the rest is just a sort of shorthand. All you need to do is take the time to actually look at it carefully and then all will become clear.
Sections of a pattern: Let’s use a simple pattern for a dishcloth as a start, just to give you an idea. From there you should be able to pick up any pattern and without too much effort, be able to fathom what it is all about.
| Pattern Details | Explanation |
| Materials 1 x 50 gm ball of DK (Double Knitting) cotton a pair of 4mm needles large eye tapestry needle | These are the items you will need to complete the project |
| Tension 22 stitches and 24 rows to make a 4″ x 4″ square | Using the specified yarn and needles, make a swatch about double the number of stitches and rows stated for the tension square and use this to test if your tension is the same as the pattern. If you have more stitches and rows, your tension is too tight, so use fatter needles. If you have fewer stitches and rows, then you are knitting too loosely, so use thinner needles. |
| Abbreviations c on = cast on c off = cast off k = knit p = purl sl = slip beg = beginning rep = repeat st – stitch sts = stitches | This is your key of the shorthand used in the pattern. So k1 means to knit 1 stitch and p1 means to purl 1 stitch etc. To slip a stitch, unless otherwise stated, place the right hand needle into the next stitch on the left hand needle, as if to knit but don’t knit it, just slip it off onto the right hand. needle. Sl1 pw means to slip 1 st purl wise. So insert needle into the next st as if to purl and slip it off onto the right hand needle. |
| Method C on 30 sts Row 1: sl 1, (k4, p4) rep to last st k1, Row 2: sl 1, (p4, k4) rep to last st k1, Rep rows 1 & 2 once. Row 5: sl 1, (p4, k4) rep to last st k1, Row 6: sl 1, (k4, p4) rep to last st k1, rep rows 5 & 6 once.These 8 rows form the pattern, rep twice more then rows 1-4 once, C off. | Here we have the actual pattern! So we start off by casting on 30 stitches, we slip the first stitch knitwise then we knit 4 sts followed by 4 purl sts then we keep repeating those k4, p4 sts until there is only one stitch left to do, which we knit. The next row we do the opposite, and then repeat those two rows once. You should now have 4 rows and be able to see that you have 7 little blocks of stocking stitch, alternately reversed. After 4 rows you then do the second block, it is just the first two rows reversed so that the second row of blocks is opposite to the first. Repeating the first eight rows twice will give you 6 rows of blocks. In order to make the dishcloth square, we just need to do the first 4 rows again to make 7 rows of blocks, then we can cast off and sew in the ends. Hey presto… You are now the proud owner of a dishcloth. |