A knitting chart provides a wonderful visual of the appearance of the finished design. The daisy pattern on the chart below is a combination of the two basic knitting stitches: the knit stitch and the purl stitch. The knit side of the daisy pattern stitch is used against the purl side or reverse stockinette stitch for an embossed look on the sweater body.
The Embossed Daisies washcloth shows how this pattern can also be reversed using the daisy pattern in reverse stockinette stitch and the background in stockinette stitch.
On the chart, each square represents a stitch and, unless otherwise noted, is worked from the bottom (Row 1) to the top. Each row of squares is numbered.
Charts for a flat piece usually have numbers on each side of the knitting chart. If the rows are numbered with the odd numbers on the right, Row 1 is read from right to left. If the rows are numbered with the odd numbers on the left, Row 1 is read from left to right. Check the placement of the numbers before beginning. For ease in knowing when to begin working the knitting chart, markers are used on each side of the stitches needed to work the chart.
Each chart has a stitch key included to provide the meaning of the symbols used on the chart. Take a look at Row 1 of the chart for the washcloth and see if you can write the stitch pattern for the row, then check with the answer below.
Row 1: P4, k3, p11.
How did you do? Did you remember to count the stitches from right to left and to check the key for information on whether the stitch was knit or purl. Now try Row 2. Remember it is a wrong side row and is read from left to right.
Row 2: K2, p2, k6, p5, k3.
Once you get going it’s not hard at all. Happy knitting!