Cable knitting diagrams

There is unfortunately no "general rule". The Harmony Guides maybe come closest for English (ie, speakers of English, not throwers) knitters but should not be relied upon when knitting from someone else's pattern.

The pattern you're working from should provide a chart key (like a map key, heh) that tells you what you're to do for each symbol. Possibly there are typos, or possibly the sample garment in the photo is incorrect but you won't know for sure until you knit it.

Oh no! That's actually what I was getting at. In one of the pattern, the difference between two of the stitch sequences didn't seem to have anything to do with the differences between the diagrams used to denote them. I was afraid there was a mistake. If it's all arbitrary, I'll take it on faith. :-)

Here are some links to helpful info on knitting from charts.

Brave I am. I got started on a laptop cover last night (this book has some unusual projects) to try this out. I'll see how it goes.

You are welcome. Once you understand charts, they are much easier to use than written instructions. DA

IIRC the Laptop bag is knitted flat, folded and then seamed up the sides, yeah? If that's the case then the wrong-side rows ought to be "knit the knits and purl the purls" - or work the stitches as they're presented to you. IF the chart shows both right and wrong-side rows then you'll read the wrong-side rows from left to right and right-side rows from right to left.

If the thing is knitted in the round (don't think so?) you can just ignore me.

Off to caffeinate.

Ha. *Now* I found the footnote that explains--start from the right of the chart on the RS rows. The problem is that explanations are sprinkled all through the patterns, which means I really need to read through all the patterns sequentially even if I don't intend on making them.

Fortunately the two rows I've done already are symmetrical in the pattern.

It isn't. It does say to use a circular needle, but it isn't in the round, and I got the whole thing (in the smallest size) to fit on a standard needle anyway so I didn't bother to wait until getting a circular one. I'm only doing it for practice.

Harlan ,, you just have to be BRAVE and try it yourself , on a piece of other knitting,wonderfull oportunity to prepare some `hot pads `as neat presents for yourself or others, try your cables , write down what you did and choose /use the proper one for your bigger project . mirjam