Knitting Stitch Symbols

These are the most common knitting stitch symbols used in machine knitting today. They were used extensively in patterns for early home knitting machines, before punchcard models were available. All patterning was selected by hand then, and symbols were easier to read than written instructions. My earliest Silver Seiko book, for Singer/Studio/Knitmaster and some Empisal knitting machines was published in 1963, and has only symbols like these for stitch pattern instructions.

This is a scan from the LK 150 knitting machine manual. Plastic knitting machines must create stitch patterns manually, usually from a chart that uses these symbols. There are a few more than the ones shown here, and the pattern designer will include a legend with the stitch chart that explains what they mean. This applies to all of the Brother plastic bed machines, and works equally well on any metal bed machine when hand-selecting patterning needles.