Shawl Every Day 2021 - Day 53 - Knitting charts vs written instructions

Learning to read a knitting chart can be tricky. There is usually a legend that tells you what the symbol in each square is representing. There are some common conventions, but once you figure out how that particular chart works, it can be easier to visualize what is happening in your knitting.

Charts are also used as a sort of shortcut when giving instructions. More experienced knitters can often just look at a chart and figure out what is happening, without needing specific step by step instructions.

In this mini hat ornament I am knitting, the instructions are sparse and most of the work is done from the chart. If I were to write out the chart in common written instructions, this is what it would look like:

Round 1: (p2, k1tbl, p4, k1tbl) x6

Round 2: (p2, k1tbl, p4, k1tbl) x6

Round 3: (p2, k1tbl, p3, sl1 to cable needle, hold in back, k1tbl, k1tbl from cable needle) x6

Round 4: (p2, k1tbl, p2, sl1 to cable needle, hold in back, k1tbl, p1 from cable needle, k1tbl) x6

Round 5: (p2, k1tbl, p1, sl1 to cable needle, hold in back, k1tbl, p1 from cable needle, p1, k1tbl) x6

Round 6: (p2, k1tbl, sl1 to cable needle, hold in back, k1tbl, p1 from cable needle, p2, k1tbl) x6

Round 7: (p2, sl1 to cable needle, hold in back, k1tbl, p1 from cable needle, p3, k1tbl) x6

Work rounds 1-7 an additional 2 times (3 times total)

Round 8: (p2, k1tbl, p4, k1tbl) x6

Round 9: (p2, k1tbl, p4, sl1 as if to purl. remount the next st so it is rotated 180 deg clockwise. return the slipped st to the left needle, k2tog) x6 [side note: the math doesn’t actually work out for this round, so I skipped this round]

Round 10: (p2, k1tbl, p3, right-leaning twisted decrease) x6

Round 11: (p2, k1tbl, p2, right-leaning twisted decrease)) x6

Round 12: (p2, k1tbl, p1, right-leaning twisted decrease)) x6

Round 13: (p2, k1tbl, right-leaning twisted decrease)) x6

Round 14: (p2, right-leaning twisted decrease)) x6

Round 15: (p1, right-leaning twisted decrease)) x6

Round 16: (right-leaning twisted decrease)) x6

As you can see, it takes up a lot more space in a booklet or PDF than the relatively straightforward chart. However, some people work better from a chart and some people work better from written instructions. Which do you prefer?

Shawl pattern is Wonder Woman Wrap by Carissa Browning