Knitting Chart Symbol Lookup
Standard knitting chart symbols with Right Side (RS) and Wrong Side (WS) meanings. Searchable reference.
| Symbol | Name / Abbr | RS Meaning | WS Meaning |
|---|
Knitting chart symbols vary between publishers. Always refer to the symbol key provided in your specific pattern. These follow common international conventions.
How to Read Knitting Charts
Knitting charts are read from bottom to top, mirroring how the knitting grows. For flat knitting, RS rows are read right to left and WS rows are read left to right. For knitting in the round, all rows are read right to left.
Each square in the chart represents one stitch. The symbol in the square tells you what to do on the RS. When you turn and work the WS, the same symbol has a different meaning (e.g., a knit symbol on RS = purl on WS).
Cable Symbols
Cable symbols show multiple stitches as a group. The direction of the cable (front vs. back) indicates which way the cable twists. Cables with a "/" lean right; cables with a "\" lean left.