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Clara
queen bee
USA
4362 Posts |
 Posted - 02/09/2011 : 7:16:22 PM
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We seem to be pretty strongly divided where charts are concerned. Whenever I teach somewhere and ask my students what they prefer, I hear "no charts!" and "charts!" in unison.
Bottom line is that charts aren't going to go away. And avoiding patterns that have charts is like avoiding all piano music that has parts for both hands. It'll end up limiting what you can do.
There really hasn't been much help in this category until quite recently. JC Briar, a tech editor of legendary proportions and also a fine teacher of knitting techniques, has just published an extremely helpful book on the topic. Charts Made Simple is the name.
Enjoy!
Clara
Your friendly Knitter's Review publisher
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Shalee
Permanent Resident
USA
2021 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2011 : 8:23:22 PM
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I think this book would be very good for the beginning chart reader. Your review says it all. Granted, it would be nice to have both written and charted, for finding errors, but once you learn to read your knitting you can almost see any error in a chart.
If I were new to charts this would be in my personal library.
Sharon in NW PA
I always wanted my own library but I didn't realize it would be all knitting books!
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Jane
SustaYning Member
USA
4291 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2011 : 04:50:18 AM
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I love knitting from charts -- they're so orderly, unlike life! Thank you for the review, Clara!
Jane
Betty deserves everything and more: Make a Donation
Blog: Not Plain Jane
Photos: Flickr Album
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shaggy
Permanent Resident
USA
4125 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2011 : 05:33:02 AM
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Thanks Clara, I will look for this book, I HATE charts, they make me use my brain.
shaggy
every dollar makes Betty smile
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knitfiction
New Pal
USA
3 Posts |
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Clara
queen bee
USA
4362 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2011 : 05:51:07 AM
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Fear not! It's temporarily out of stock because they're waiting for JC to send the first big batch. She had the book printed in the U.S., which means no three-month waiting period for the boat to make its way here from China. I give it two weeks tops before the books ship. (Total guess, but based on the number of books that are already winging their way across the country.)
Clara
Your friendly Knitter's Review publisher
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JillN
Warming Up
62 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2011 : 06:43:53 AM
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I was fortunately enough to take a Chart class with JC at Stitches East last year. I LOVE charts (guess it comes from learning to knit by knitting norweigan colorwork sweaters), and her class explanation and work we did in class was tremendously helpful! Even though I'm a chart person and am very experienced with charts (I've actually taught someone else to read charts, and now they are a convert too!!), I will be buying this book for myself.
I encourage anyone that's hesitant about learning charts to either get this book or take a class with JC.
No, I"m not affiliated in any way, just an enthusiastic fan of JC! |
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Shelia
Permanent Resident
USA
2315 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2011 : 07:45:01 AM
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I first saw the proofs of the book when JC got them back from the printer, and was excited then about how great the book looked. I now have seen the the final printed copy, and it is a great book. The illustrations are simple and really easy to understand, and the book covers many topics about charts, including some that many of us only see once in a while (unusual shapes, etc.) The small stack that were available at a spin-in that I attended last weekend were snapped up quickly!
It's a real boon for both experienced and new chart knitters. JC is a friend and fellow Oregonian, I have no affiliation either, though, other than an appreciation for her work on this under-addressed topic.
Shelia
www.letstalkstash.blogspot.com
ravelry name - sheliaknits |
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NutmegOwl
Gabber Extraordinaire
561 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2011 : 08:46:15 AM
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As a resident of Chartopia who has taught many a knitter to use them, I am so glad to hear about this new tool to demystify charts. I live for making the light bulb go on for other knitters.
Frankly, my pea brain interprets charts better than words, especially when the RAM is all jammed up after a long day. I look forward to getting my mitts on this.
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Nutmeg Owl
Quaecumque sunt vera
http://www.owlwaysknitting.wordpress.com |
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donnawatk
Seriously Hooked
659 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2011 : 08:56:33 AM
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| I can't wait to get this book. My problem with charts is how the heck to read and knit at the same time. Donna |
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jessdr
New Pal
17 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2011 : 09:34:36 AM
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Charts changed my life! When I was knitting from written instructions, I did everything procedurally - I just did what I was told in the order I was told, but never understood what I was doing.
When I started working from charts, I finally started to understand how knitting worked, and how those individual steps came together into a whole piece. That's when I learned how to read my knitting, make mistakes, and figure out if something was my mistake or a pattern error.
I'm even better at following written instructions, now that I can translate k2p3sskblahblahblah into an actual spatial understanding of the fabric I'm building. |
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One Stitch at a Time
Chatty Knitter
270 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2011 : 10:04:14 AM
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Clara, you wicked, wicked temptress  . I ordered one too .
I'd love to take a class with her (hint, hint).
Nanci |
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ella
New Pal
10 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2011 : 11:28:17 AM
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| Thank you Clara, for bringing this magic decoder book to my attention and thank you JC, for creating the magic chart decoder book. I have been wishing for chart guidance and can't thank you enough for granting my wishes. |
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chingachgook
New Pal
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2011 : 12:07:00 PM
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I love charts. That's how I knit & live at the same time.
Oooh! this will help me chart out the Knitty Duck Booties! http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEss10/PATTduck.php
I'm on my third pair  and the written instructions (pages and pages) are still  .
Nancy |
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queen of the east
Seriously Hooked
Canada
877 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2011 : 1:33:14 PM
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The beauty of charts is that they teach you a new language of symbols that allows us to overcome the barriers of written language. Were I not an avid chart reader I would not have been able to experience the joys of knitting beautiful lace patterns from Japan, beaded wrist warmers from Norway and more lace from Germany.
For a long time I would jot down a chart from a written pattern into a cheap note book. Not a very organized way to do this. When I wanted an edging pattern I'd have to flip through various notebooks. So I bought myself a nice Moleskin graph paper book a few months ago and began the process of charting the written instructions for lace edgings from Weldon's and other period publications. I knit a sample of the edging to accompany each chart.
I found as I learned to read charts I began to understand the structure of knitting, especially with regards to lace.
Think of charts as a wonderful universal language.
Ann in Montreal |
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KathyR
Permanent Resident
New Zealand
2969 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2011 : 2:13:01 PM
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For many, many years I only knitted from written instructions (as you did "back in the day"). However, since I've been connected to so many knitters worldwide through the internet, my knitting boundaries have stretched wide to embrace many new things, including using charts. Now I would be lost without a chart and when faced with lines of written words in a pattern I think "what the...? where do I start?"!
I also rather admire the Japanese-style of pattern where they have taken charts to a whole new limit and have virtually no written instructions at all. I could see that working very well indeed for myself in most situations.
KathyR
If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got.
My Blog
http://www.flickr.com/groups/kr_members/ (Roselea Fibres) |
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Karil
New Pal
France
1 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2011 : 5:16:30 PM
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I recently purchased a knitting board (with the weaving extention boards) and a sock loom from Authentic Knitting Board. I have sewn simple clothes for years, because I so seldom find affordable clothing that I like. I prefer shrugs, kimono style tops and tunics, and loose-fitting garments that showcase the fabric, texture, colors... . And, I love wearing knits.
Unfortunately, I cannot needle-knit, because I suffer from fibromyalgia and have chronic tendonitis that has resulted in multiple surgery on my hands. Knitting boards and Looms seem the perfect solution. I am very impressed by the quality and craftmanship of the Authentic Knitting Boards--I love beautiful tools of all kinds.
My judgement might be flawed, because I am an absolute beginner, and it is certainly skewed, because I prefer clothing that is not form-fitting. In my opinion, however, there is a downside to KBs and Looms: the dearth of inspiring patterns
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Ms. Briars book on Knitting Charts might be just the tool one needs to help convert needle-knitting patterns to Board and Loom patterns and thereby make needle patterns more easily available to Board and Loom knitters. It would also make knitting patterns international, because language would not be necessary for reading them.
In addition, perhaps someone will finally make a Needle to Board and Needle to Loom Conversion Application for the iPad!
Karil
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Patience
Permanent Resident
USA
1076 Posts |
Posted - 02/12/2011 : 12:09:08 PM
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I've never been a chart knitter but have always wanted to figure out the darned things, LOL.
I'm so glad you recommended this book to us, Clara, because had I seen it without your helpful info and review, I would have passed it by as "oh, that's a book for expert charters" and not realized that the book might be of help to those of us who have avoided charting in the past. 
Knit On, Patience
Crochet Me A River
Faith, Hope, Charity & Yarn Snippets
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KnittingKittens
Chatty Knitter
USA
161 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2011 : 10:09:53 AM
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Am finally on-line after computer troubles so as usual I am late to the comments but this is something I will definitely check out at my local bookseller. There may be hope for me yet!
I "get" colored charts most of the time but when it comes to stitch charts well. . . I would rather have a root canal without anesthesia! I mean it--charts give me a headache and my eyes cross and then I am not having fun. |
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neraksenrab
Chatty Knitter
USA
118 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2011 : 05:55:50 AM
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| Hi Knitting Kittens -- I'm with you -- cable charts made my eyes cross -- but color charts are fine. So I solved the problem for cable charts by getting a box of colored pencils at the dollar store and coloring my cable charts -- left cross is one color and right cross is a different color (and just to be safe-- I color the code too in case I'm really tired). It changed my world for cable charts. Karen |
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noallatin
Chatty Knitter
257 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2011 : 3:12:30 PM
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| I color my charts too. I have problems keeping the codes straight but I don't have any problem with the colors. I bought the book because I think I'll probably learn something helpful. |
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Charts Made Simple
