And you were scared of cables?!

[AngieLanigan]

ArtLady, you amaze me! That looks so complicated, seriously! I have no clue how to read a chart. I like it all spelled out for me LOL

[DQ]

I was a little but I did Emanelle - http://gettingpurlywithit.wordpress....oves/emanelle/

and found it quite easy!

[ArtLady1981]

ArtLady, you amaze me! That looks so complicated, seriously! I have no clue how to read a chart. I like it all spelled out for me LOL

Thanks, Angie!

The charts are read from right to left on the RS rows (usually odd numbered rows)...and from left to right for the even-numbered WS rows.

Usually, WS "resting" rows are just telling you to purl the purls and knit the knits. (unless it is lacework, in which both sides are usually 'working' rows)

I cross-stitch too. Charts for cross-stitch are showing the BIG PICTURE of stitch placement.

Charts for knitting are a line-by-line development. Bottom up...line by line...the boxes correspond to a stitch, and the "DNA" for each stitch is revealed in the KEY!

The good thing about the RS 'working' rows from a chart is that your stitches on the needle present themselves from right moving to the left, too, just as the RS chart rows do. And the RS rows from a chart are usually the 'busy' rows, or 'working rows' as Elsebeth Lavold calls them. WS rows are usually 'resting rows'...nothin' going on except to knit the knits and purl the purls as they present themselves.

[pinktoque]

holy cow, those charts and color coding makes me scared of cables again, LOL!!!

[ArtLady1981]

holy cow, those charts and color coding makes me scared of cables again, LOL!!!

Well, those cables were part of the charts for THIS COAT:
(this is the BACK)


Most cable work is more like this:


Or this:


Or this:


But even for the most complicated charts, by the time you have studied the characters from your KEY, and color coded them...and then color coded the corresponding characters within the chart...you really KNOW YOUR CHART well. Then it's just the matter of working it, line by line by line.

It isn't as hard as you think!

The 'homework' makes the chart much clearer to you, and in the end, easier to work with no mistakes!

Be of good courage my fellow knitter!

[pinktoque]

I'll try -- you sure do beautiful work I hope to get working with cables soon. I'll take is slow and simple and work my way up.

[blessedtosew]

That scarf is beautiful. I am about to try and make Star Crossed Slouchy Beret. It will be my first cable project.

[Mary2335]

Yup, cables are just stitches that trade places on the needles!
Very easy, especially with the use of charts!

Color coding the charts helps IMMENSELY!

Each individual 'symbol' is colored the same.
No mistakes about what gets crossed, and when!


Color code the KEY first, then translate that color coding to your chart.
It helps to make an enlarged copy of the chart in the first place.

On my partial chart (seen above) you will notice that I also wrote in little numbers that tell me if the cable involves 3, 4, 5, or 6 stitches! This also prevents errors.

Cuz doubling back to fit mis-crossed cables is a PITA.

Here is an (partial) example of a KEY that has been color-coded:

A million thanks to you -- patterns are kind of a nightmare for me, and your color coding method will help me immensely!

[blessedtosew]

That is so good to hear because I am about to start my first cable project.

[WandaT]

I'm not so good with charts yet either. But the Palindrome scarf was my first cable project and I, too, was amazed at how easy it was!!! You'll love it! ArtLady your projects always amaze me. I think I've said before that I wanna be you when I grow up. LOL Wow!!!