Pattern PO’s
10 Pattern Problems That can (unintentionally) Drive your Knitters Mad 🤬 😤
Knitting is supposed to be relaxing, meditative, and even joyful, but nothing takes a knitter out of this state faster than a poorly written pattern.
Nobody is saying you’re doing it on purpose, BUT whether you're a seasoned designer or just beginning to dabble in pattern-writing, here are some common things that seriously peeve knitters off when it comes to patterns:
1. Not Stating When Stitch Counts Change
Nothing makes us question our comittment to knitting faster than getting to the end of a row and realizing the numbers don’t add up. If a row/round has increases or decreases, let it be known! Better yet, give the number of stitches increased or decreased at the end of any section where stitch counts change.
2. No Total Stitch Count After Rows or Sections
Stitch counts are like little checkpoints of sanity. After a shaping row/round or series of increases, telling us the total number of stitches helps us catch mistakes early and avoid hours of unpicking.
3. Calling the Same Thing Different Names
Is it a “sleeve cap,” a “sleeve crown,” or an “armhole shaping”? Pick one! Consistency helps us follow along without flipping back and forth to figure it out. Changing terminology mid-pattern is confusing and feels like trying to learn a new dialect halfway through.
4. Inconsistent or Undefined Abbreviations
“K1tbl” on page 2 becomes “K through the back loop” on page 5 and then “ktbl” on page 7 with no glossary in sight. It is helpful to define all abbreviations clearly and use them consistently. And don’t forget your Abbreviations Key!
5. Being Too Wordy
Most knitters love learning, but not when it means scrolling through 400 words on how to do a basic decrease. There’s a difference between a pattern and a how-to guide. If we need help beyond the basics, most knitters will be happy to Google it or watch a video. Better yet - include handy links in the pattern to explain the techniques used.
6. Saying “Knit” When You Mean “Work”
“Knit the next 6 rows in Stockinette.” Wait…do you mean knit all rows, or proceed in Stockinette stitch (which would be knit and purl each row alternately)? “Work” is the right word here because it tells us to follow the established pattern. Knit means knit, not ‘work the pattern’.
7. Rewriting the Same Row Again... and Again
If Row 2 is exactly the same as Row 1, and Rows 3–8 are exactly the same as Row 2, you can say “Rows 3 - 8: Rep Row 2.” Writing out each row tends to waste space and can make the pattern look more complicated than it actually is. Efficiency is kindness.
8. No Garment Construction Info at the Start
Before we cast on, we want to know what we’re making. Is this top-down? Bottom-up? Knit flat and seamed? Worked in the round? Without construction details at the beginning of the pattern, we’re left guessing how each piece fits into the bigger picture. A simple paragraph explaining the construction goes a long way in helping knitters visualize the process (and plan our project timeline and yarn usage).
9. Tiny, Blurry Charts and Schematics
We shouldn’t need a magnifying glass or PDF zoom to read a chart. Charts should be clear, readable, and print-friendly. Schematics should show the full shape of the garment with actual measurements. On a schematic, circumference is usually shown with a curved arrow/line spanning the diameter of the section, and length, width and height are usually represented by a straight arrow/line.
10. Bad Quality Photos That Don’t Show the Garment Clearly
One moody photo of your cousin draped in the shawl, skulking in a shadowy forest is probably not enough. We need to see the garment. Front, back, sides, fit, neckline, drape; everything. Blurry or overly stylized photos make it hard to know what we're knitting. We want to imagine ourselves in it, not wonder what it is. Also, if you have made samples of various sizes, why not show the garment on multiple body types?
Final Thoughts
Writing a pattern can be hard, but you can spare your knitters from spending extra hours on a sweater because they are trying to decipher a mysterious code only the designer understands. A clear, consistent pattern helps everyone, from first-time knitters to the pros, feel confident, informed, and more likely to trust you - which all leads to loyal customers!
