Knitting Chart Maker
Built by Johnny Alto · free, no sign-up · updated July 26, 2026
Design a colorwork or fair isle chart right in your browser. Set the number of stitches and rows, pick a color, and click or drag across the grid to fill in your motif. Knitting charts are read from the bottom up and right to left, so the grid is numbered to match. Print it or download it when you are done.
Click a cell to fill it with the selected color; click again with white to erase. Charts are read bottom to top, and right to left on right-side rows, so stitch 1 is the bottom-right corner. Each square is one stitch by one row.
How to make a knitting chart
A knitting chart is a grid where each square is one stitch on one row, and the color or symbol in the square tells you what to do there. For colorwork and fair isle, the color of the square is simply the yarn color you knit. Set the width in stitches and the height in rows to match your motif, then click cells to paint your design. The grid here numbers stitches from the bottom-right, because that is how charts are read.
Reading direction matters. Charts are worked from the bottom row upward. On right-side rows you read right to left, the same direction you knit; on wrong-side rows worked flat you read left to right. Knitting in the round, every round reads right to left. The bottom-right square is stitch one, row one.
Tips for a usable chart
Keep repeats in mind: if your motif tiles, chart a single repeat and note how many times it works across your stitch count. Remember that knit stitches are wider than they are tall, so a design that looks square on the grid will come out a little squashed vertically in the finished fabric; add a row or two of height if you want it to look balanced. When the chart is done, print it or download the SVG to keep with your pattern.
Knitting gear
Frequently asked questions
How do you read a knitting chart?
From the bottom row up. On right-side rows read right to left; on wrong-side flat rows read left to right. Knitting in the round, every round reads right to left. The bottom-right square is stitch one.
What does each square on a knitting chart mean?
One stitch on one row. In colorwork the square's color is the yarn color you knit at that stitch.
Why does my charted design look squashed when knitted?
Knit stitches are wider than they are tall, so a grid that looks square knits up shorter. Add a couple of rows of height to keep proportions.
Can I save my chart?
Yes. Use Print for a paper copy or Download SVG to save a vector file to keep with your pattern.
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