Lesson in Charts

Welcome to week 10 of 2009! I am trying to post at least once a week this year. =) As I want to knit, take care of my household, get ready for a new Grandchild this year and design...well, time does seem to get away from me.

First a reminder...Just like when you are cooking, it is very important to read through the pattern completely BEFORE you start a project. This will hopefully save you time and confusion later. Need help with Beading? Check out this site: Bead Wrangler for some great free tutorials including Crochet with Beads.

I wanted to share some information about Charts today. Charts can be used for many different things. You can weave from a chart; bead in loom, peyote, brick, off-loon, etc; knit in textures like my dishcloths, knit or crochet in colors and knit or crochet in beaded stitches...and this is just a few of the things you can do with a chart. I have even used my charts to create a frosting design for a birthday cake.

There is one thing to remember about Charts you want to use for Knitting and Bead Work. A chart is usually square and a chart for knitting and beads will be elongated slightly taller than wide. For this reason several of my charts look "squat" or pinched down until they are actually worked. The following chart is for Elf Mystery. This is a pattern I have been working on but is much better in color so far. The pattern is 40 stitches square, but if you add a row on the "back" side of the chart that is "beadless" (if you are using beads) such as a straight knit stitch every even row when knitting the project; then, the height will be about 80 stitches and elongated.


This is a Victorian Silhouette. It is easy to see how you can knit the white squares and purl the black (or vice versa) to create a dishcloth. Again this is 40 stitches. When I make my double sided patterns I follow the chart in reverse every other row. I also add a border to the chart when I am writing the pattern up (not on the chart itself).



I have been asked "how do you use a chart for Beaded or color Crochet"? So today I am going to explain this process. (Knitting with beads can be done the same way using stockinette stitch).

1. First of all you will want to take the chart and lay out the colored beads you are going to use on it. Make sure that the beads you are going to use will look good together. Likewise if you are just using color, place the skeins of yarn together and make sure you have the supplies you need.

2. Take your thread and string your beads, starting with the "last" bead you are going to be using.

3. Crochet a chain in the number of chains as you have squares in the width of the chart PLUS 2 (two) chains. Use the background color for this.

4. Now you are going to work in single crochet across the chart. Use one single crochet with bead, in the color shown, for each square; plus one single crochet on each side without beads. This will give you a type of border to work up your fringe or edging. If you are not using beads then just use a single crochet and change colors of yarn as the chart calls for it.

Simple enough? =)

I decided to add the chart here of the Fireman's Hat I have been working on. Those of you whom have been asking for this pattern...maybe if you can use the chart it may get done faster. (sorry)

First one is a large version of the Fireman's Hat & Ax. There are more than the standard 40 stitches that I normally do so you may want to knit this with smaller needles and GAUGE your work to make sure it is the size you want it to be. The white area are either knit or purl stitches, while the black areas are the reverse. The two large charts are for approx 15 x 15 wall hangings. The beads for the two large ones are #11. The last one is an 8 x 8 inch pattern using larger beads/needles. There are only about 40 stitches on it.




When I design a new pattern I always start with a chart. These charts are very important to me and I usually do not release them, even though the patterns have been. Still, I decided to show these to you. I ask that you please remember the Copyright laws on my charts and patterns.

As always, you may contact me if you would like. I love to hear from you and your input is invaluable. Thanks again everyone! - RaAnn (AutumnRa@gmail.com)

AFTER NOTE: I just discovered that all my saved charts for my patterns are missing! I know they must be on my backup somewhere but I have been unable to find them yet. If you are someone who has requested copies of my patterns in PDF format...please bear with me while I try to locate my missing files; or, you can "print" my patterns on the blog using a program such as CutePDF. This is a free program that will print to PDF for you. I will put together a PDF "book" of my charts as well as the patterns to date once I find them all.

AutumnRa`

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