Reading Knitting Patterns Q&A - multiple sizes

Reading Knitting Patterns

Reading knitting patterns can be challenging and it only gets easier with practise, so don't feel intimidated. Even experienced knitters can find some instructions tricky to decipher, with parentheses and brackets often causing confusion. I wrote about this topic previously, but wanted to share with you this particular example.

A pattern reading question

I recieved a query recently about a vintage pattern (a Vogue 1936 design) that a knitter was having difficulty with. The cast on went great, followed by some straight forward rib, but as soon as the stitch pattern rows started, progress ground to an abrupt halt.

Here is what they were presented with:  

Check out Rows 1, 2 and 5 - what do you make of that?

It made me do a double take as I haven’t seen one laid out this way before, so it’s interesting. I have a deep (strange, some might say) fascination for the workings of knitting patterns. I enjoy decoding them, a bit like doing some sort of sudoku type puzzle. So I (avoided doing other less fun things) got to work to figure out what's going on.

And the answer is.....

The text in the brackets mean there are different instructions for each of the 4 sizes. Much like at the beginning when it tells us how many stitches to cast on for each size - the different sets of instructions are separated by a colon (:), but here the options are enclosed in another set of brackets to flag that you need to choose from the options relevant for size you are knitting. Otherwise you would just follow ‘til you hit the instructions for the 2nd size then wonder what is going on.

The trick is to pay attention to those colons(: ) as they are what separates out the instructions for the different sizes.

In case you are wondering, if 0 it means the instruction don’t apply to that size.

You don’t tend to see this way of setting out multiple sizes in rows unless the variations are less complex, for example:

1st row: P1(2 : 1 : 4), *k.1, p.3, k.8, p.3, rep from * to last 2(3: 2 : 5)sts, k1, p1(2 : 1 : 4).

Where the instructions vary more for each size, it might be written out more fully for the different sizes in separate sections, as follows:

For Size 1 only

Row 1: …….

For size 2 and 4 only

Row 1: k1(2), p1……..

For size 3

Row 1: ……

When the variations for the sizes are completed, a return to the pattern for all sizes is indicated in the pattern, for example:

For All Sizes

Knit 4 rows …etc.

If you do find a pattern set out like this vintage one, don’t panic! If you take it slowly you can find your way. Work your way through a line or small section at a time as you knit, and use a highlighter or colour pen to mark the instructions for your size.

Want some more?

If you want to learn more about reading knitting patterns, Kate Atherley has some great resources. If you are interested in writing knitting patterns, this book is a must have for your library. 

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