Lace knitting is often described as painting with yarn—delicate openwork that transforms a simple skein into something light, intricate, and full of story. But for many knitters, the chart that guides this transformation can feel more intimidating than inspiring. If you’ve ever squinted at a grid of cryptic symbols and wondered where to begin, you’re not alone.
At Sweet Meadow Knits, we believe lace should feel like a joyful puzzle—not a mystery. So here’s a quick guide to reading lace knitting charts, stitch by stitch.
What Is a Lace Knitting Chart?
A lace chart is a visual representation of your stitches—kind of like a map for your knitting needles. Each square in the grid represents one stitch, and the symbols inside those squares tell you what kind of stitch to make.
Unlike written instructions, charts let you see the pattern taking shape. That can be incredibly helpful with lace, where stitch increases and decreases create the design.
Reading Direction: Where to Start
-
Flat knitting (back and forth):
- Right-side rows (RS) are read right to left
- Wrong-side rows (WS) are read left to right
- You’ll usually see row numbers listed on both sides of the chart.
- When only odd numbers are used, every even (WS) row is to be purled.
-
In-the-round knitting:
- Every row is a right-side row, so read every row from right to left
🧶 Tip: Most patterns will tell you which direction to read—check the legend or pattern notes for guidance.
Common Lace Symbols
Here are a few symbols you’ll see again and again in lace charts:
| Symbol | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ○ | Yarn Over (YO) | Adds a stitch; creates the lace “hole” |
| / | k2tog | Knit two stitches together (right-leaning decrease) |
| \ | ssk | Slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease) |
| ▢ | Knit stitch | On RS: knit; on WS: usually purl |
| — or a dot | Purl stitch | On WS rows, may be shown explicitly |
| gray ▢ or blank | No stitch | Just a placeholder—skip over it! |
Note: Every pattern should include a chart key or legend, since symbols can vary by designer.
"No Stitch" Squares — Don’t Panic!
One of the most confusing things for new lace knitters is the “no stitch” square. This square doesn't represent a real stitch on your needles—it's there to help the chart line up visually as increases and decreases shift the stitch count from row to row. Generally, this square is a medium gray color, though in the case of colorwork it could also be white. Check the legend to be sure.
🧶 When you see a “no stitch” square: skip it and go to the next symbol.
How to Keep Your Place
When you first begin working a lace chart, your work is not easy to read, so work slowly and perhaps use a lifeline on the last row of the chart repeat, in case of mistakes. As you progress it will become easier to see where you were and where you are going. But here are a few handy helper ideas you may want to try:
- Use a magnetic chart keeper, sticky notes, or a highlighter to mark your current row.
- Check off each row as you go, especially if you’re working on a large or multi-repeat pattern.
- Consider color-coding repeats or tricky sections if you’re a visual learner.
- Some people have also found 'Knit Companion' (a paid app) helpful. On a mac computer you can also load your chart pdf into the built-in 'Preview' app and mark each row as you go.
Final Thoughts: Practice Makes Peaceful
Reading a lace chart is like learning a new language—you don’t need to master it overnight. Start with small swatches to practice, and don’t be afraid to mark up your pattern.
The more you knit from charts, the more fluent you’ll become. And before long, you’ll find that those strange little symbols begin to whisper rhythm and flow—like a conversation between your hands and the yarn.
Ready to Try?
Looking for a lace project to test your chart-reading skills? Browse our kits and yarns that pair beautifully with lace patterns.
👉 Here's a free lace scarf pattern, with chart below, worked in zauberball crazy cotton starke 4 - a 2-ply cotton yarn in a light fingering weight, perfect for simple lace patterns.
Crest of the Wave
This is an old Scottish variation on the feather and fan pattern. Garter stitch breaks up the lace, forming the "crests" of a wave.
With size US 5 needles, cast on 49 stitches (long-tail or knitted cast on both work fine).
Setup: Knit 3 rows.
Stitch Pattern (mult of 12 sts + 1) -- see chart below
Rows 1, 3, 5, 7 (RS): K1, k2tog, k2tog, (YO, k1) 3 times, YO, SSK, SSK, k1; rep from * to end of row.
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8 (WS): Purl
Rows 9 - 12: Knit
Rep rows 1-12 for pattern; continue in pattern until most of the ball is used, or to desired length. Block, weave in ends, and wear with your favorite tee or jeans!
Have a chart question or a pattern you’re curious about?
Drop us a note or leave a comment below—we’re always happy to help you untangle things. 💌
Happy Knitting!
