Knitter's Shorthand

In Jill's blog today, she mentioned that she doesn't know how to read a knitting pattern, so I thought I'd pick up that topic today.

Written out, knitting directions could go on for pages, so knitters use a set of abbreviations to publish their patterns. After a little while, this comes naturally, but it takes practice. That and some pattern writers use their own shorthand. As a rule, I always check the glossary of the book or magazine for a definition.

Here's an example of the feather and fan stitch in knitterese:

CO 22 stitches and K 2 rows.
Row 1: (RS): K all sts.
Row 2: K2, p18, k2.
Row 3: K2, (K2Tog) 3 times, (YO,K1) 6 times, (K2Tog) 3 times, k2.
Row 4: K all sts.

Here's the same pattern translated:

Cast on 22 stitches and knit for 2 rows.
Row 1 (Right Side): knit all stitches.
Row 2: Knit 2 stitches, purl 18 stitches, knit 2 stitches.
Row 3: Knit 2 stitches, then knit 2 stitches together 3 times. Work a yarn-over, then knit one. Work those two stitches 6 times. Then, knit 2 stitches together 3 more times. Last, knit two 2 stitches.
Row 4: Knit all stitches.

Most knitting is a combination of knitting, purling, and addition/subtraction of stitches. This is most evident in row 3. Unless you are hoping to make a piece wider or skinnier, you need to keep the number of stitches consistent. Knitting two stitches together is a decrease, making two stitches into one stitch. A yarn-over (lifting the yarn over the needle without knitting into a stitch) adds a stitch (and a whole). In row three, the number of the stitches end up the same because you add 6 stitches and decrease 6 stitches.

Who knew knitting required so much math?