knitting charts

[definatlylosingmysanity]

hi

i have been looking for knitting patterns for a baby blanket and decided i wanted to do a patchwork quilt type one. i have been looking online for ideas for each patch and some of the ones i'd like to try are pictures knitted into the patch ie using different yarns. the problem im having is the patterns i'd like to try are shown by a chart ( using shaded squares and not the usual k1, p1 pattern im used to and no instructions on how to use the chart.

my question is when reading these am i best using 1 stitch per square as a guide ? im sorry if this seems a stupid question i was taught on written patterns and not these charts and i don't know anyone else to ask.

thank you

Have a read of this - yes, you should treat each square as a stitch. You start from the bottom of the chart (usually) and read from left to right for the wrong side rows and vice versa for the right side rows.

Knitting pictures is called intarsia, have a google for more info on this - it can get a bit fiddly with pictures with lots of different areas of colour.

thank you tribpot i will google that [smle] at the moment im just looking at working two colours.

Every chart should have a 'key' to help you work out what the stitches are, like breaking the code.

I can't work from charts at all, have to write it out longhand then knit it. I have also tried knitting a swatch with just the patterned section, to check I could do it before I started on a whole blanket - it really helped for a practice.

I find it helps to take a bit of card to put just above the row you are knitting and move it up as you go to the next row.

thank you moaning i am going to do a practice swatch just to make sure i can work with the key im actually saving all my swatches to make a second blanket always felt bad for not using them always seemed a waste and my dsis has taken a liking to some of them so they will become a throw/blanket for her

thank you dutchoma i will definitely do that