• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • SHOP
    • Upcoming Release Gallery Photos
    • Free Classes/Workshops on Teachable
    • Special Offers on New Releases!
    • Why Jill Wolcott Knits Patterns are Expensive
  • BLOG
  • LEARNING
    • Free Classes/Workshops on Teachable
    • What Is An Action Chart?
    • Menu of Techniques
    • Techniques Library : What’s In There?
    • Abbreviations
    • Sizing Tables / Charts / Guidelines & Croquis
    • Pattern Difficulty Levels / Type of Knitting
    • Why Jill Wolcott Knits Patterns are Expensive
    • Inside a Jill Wolcott Knits Pattern
    • How-To Videos: Learn from Jill
      • Why I Love . . . Techniques
    • Jill Wolcott Knits: A Fit Background
    • 2021-2022 Workshops With Jill Wolcott Knits
    • Overview of ASOG – A System of Grading
  • ABOUT
    • Designer’s Story
    • Calendar Events Schedule
    • Inside Scoop Subscribe & Newsletter Archives
    • Fundraising Projects
    • Jill Wolcott Knits
      • Jill Wolcott curriculum vitae
    • Techniques Library : What’s In There?
    • Abbreviations
    • Errata
    • Privacy Notice for Jill Wolcott Knits
  • CONTACT
  • My Account
  • Press

Jill Wolcott Knits logo

What Is An Action Chart?

An Action chart is a What You See Is What You Do (WYSIWYD) chart.  Over the years I have refined the Action chart to make them even easier to follow.  If you have no trouble with Standard charts, you may not see the value in the Action chart system of charting.

However, if you have ever been confused by what stitch you are supposed to execute on the wrong side, this might be a charting system that works for you.  Even if you like Standard charts you might find that an Action chart adds ease to your knitting.

Basket RibAction Chart
Multiple of 4 sts + 1

Row 1 [RS]:  P1, *[p1, k1) 2 times; repeat from *
Row 2:  *K2, p1, k1; repeat from * to last st, end k1
Row 3:  P1, *p1, k1, p2; repeat from *
Row 4:  *(P1, k1) 2 times; repeat from * to last st, end k1
Row 5:  K1, *P3, k1; repeat from *
Row 6:  *P1, k3; repeat from * to last st, end p1
Repeat Rows 1 through 6.

 

Features of An Action Chart

  • A stitch symbol is the same no matter which side of the fabric is being worked: a knit is a knit and a purl is a purl.Action Chart: Key
  • Whenever possible Right side row numbers are odd numbers so there is consistency between charts.
  • When more than three consecutive knit or purl stitches appear (see below about repeats and extra stitches) the run of stitches is filled with a colored box (purple for knit, green for purl) on top of which is a smaller white box, on top of which is text such as “k4”, “p3”, etc.
  • Written stitch patterns accompany charts and are the same.
  • Charts and written stitch patterns have the pattern repeat stacked from row to row so that the repeat covers the same stitches when on the needles.
  • The smallest repeat is always used.
  • Extra stitches appear in the same quantity in the same place from row to row: if there are three extra stitches at the end of a row, then the next row must begin with three extra stitches.
  • The repeat is framed in an orange box for easy visual clarity.
  • When there are extra stitches that are knits and purls adjacent to repeat stitches that are knits or purls, they are not included in the run of stitches.

Example 5×3 Rib:

Row 1 [RS]:  K2, *k3, p3, k2; repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3
Row 2:  P3, *p2, k3, p3; repeat from * to last 2 sts, end p2

Action Chart: showing runs of knits and purls

In this case the k2 is not shown as k5 at the beginning, because the k2 represents extra stitches and is not part of the repeat.  The k3 at the end balances the pattern so the work begins and ends with a k5.

Action Charts and Standard Charts, Plus StitchMaps.com, a Comparison

I’ve created a downloadable pdf called Chart-Comparisons to compare a Standard Chart to an Action chart, and also showing how each works in StitchMaps.com.

Action Chart: DecreasesThere are examples and discussion of each type of chart in Chart Comparisons.  At the end is an explanation and example of how I use shaping decreases in an Action chart.

Primary Sidebar

Jill’s Story

Teacher, Designer, with expertise to lead you where you want to go as a knitter/designer. Read More…

Blog Archive

Don’t Miss these Techniques!

drawing of how a button link is put together. design, writing, technique

Button Links

most of the shelves on the yarn wall

Color Play in Yarn

Photo of Jill's Rowena Iron and her Reliable Steamer Iron

Steam Block

lovely hand-wound center pull ball in Fingering 101, yarn, yarn ball, center-pull, technique

Hand Wound Center-Pull Ball

Popular in the Shop

  • Smallest Number of Stitches to Cast On A Moebius Suggested price: $3.00
  • Tulle Collar on dress form with taupe side out, a view of tope and bottom Latvian braid, and 3 vintage button links. Tulle Collar $12.00
  • Half-size dress form wearing dk version in pink and purple from Oink Pigments Clapham Trio: Junction, Road, & Common $20.00
  • ASOG 2023 Deposit-in-Full: Gou Pei Dress ASOG 2023 Registration Deposit-in-Full $100.00
  • ASOG 2023 Deposit-in-Payment: Gou Pei Dress with wings ASOG 2023 Registration Deposit-in-Payments $100.00 / 7 days

Stay Updated

Footer

About Jill

Teacher, Designer, with expertise to lead you where you want to go as a knitter/designer.

Pattern Availability

If you live outside of the US and Canada you can now purchase Jill Wolcott Knits PDF patterns directly through Payhip.

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Ravelry

© 2023 Jill Wolcott Knits