Colorwork
Fair Isle, stranded and intarsia knitting
One stitch, one color per square. Each row lists its color runs and says whether it is a right-side or wrong-side row, so you always know which way to read.
- Fair Isle
- Stranded
- Intarsia
Knitting · Free · In your browser
Free knitting pattern & chart maker
Turn a photo into a colorwork chart, or chart lace with real knitting symbols. StitchOwl writes every right-side and wrong-side row for you.
Photos convert on your device and are never uploaded.
- stitches and rows, at most
- 200 × 200
- knitting symbols with WS meanings
- 186
- styles: colorwork and lace
- 2
- downloads with no watermark
- PDF · PNG · SVG
From picture to chart
Turn a photo into a knitting chart
Step 1
Pick a picture
Any JPG, PNG, GIF or WebP works, from a pet portrait to a favorite doodle. Crop it to the motif you want to knit.
Step 2
Set stitches and colors
Choose how many stitches, rows and colors the chart has, tune brightness, contrast and saturation, and tidy stray single stitches.
- Row 1 (RS): S×2, P×8, M×10, B×100Row 2 (RS): BZ, S×5, P×7, M×8, B×99Row 3 (RS): BZ×5, S×6, P×5, M×6, B×98
Step 3
Knit from the chart
Recolor any stitch in the editor, then follow written instructions for each right-side and wrong-side row.
Convert a photo
The conversion runs in your browser, so the photo itself is never uploaded.
Two knitting styles
Knitting charts you can make
Lace
Real knitting symbols with RS and WS meanings
Chart yarn overs and decreases with standard symbols. The written rows use the right term for each side, such as k2tog on the right side and p2tog on the wrong side.
- Yarn overs
- Decreases
- Symbol charts
Instructions and progress
Chart it once, get both sides written out
Right-side and wrong-side rows written in the order you knit them, each one labeled.
A symbol legend with WS terms so a knit square reads as purl, and k2tog as p2tog, on the way back.
Flat or in the round alternating rows for flat knitting, every row from the right side in the round, starting at the bottom or the top.
Progress tracking mark rows done as you knit and come back to the exact row later.
Knit Eyelet Diamond
13 × 12 · 6 colors
ProgressRow 3 of 12
Legend
- k / p = Knit on RS, Purl on WS (138x)
- yo = Yarn over (10x)
- k2tog / p2tog = Knit 2 together on RS, Purl 2 together on WS (3x)
- ssk / p2tog tbl = Slip, slip, knit on RS, Purl 2 together through back loop on WS (3x)
- cdd / sl2 p1 p2sso = Centered double decrease on RS, Sl2 p1 p2sso on WS (2x)
- no stitch = No stitch (0x)
Instructions
…and 8 more rows
Tap a row to mark where you are.
Beyond the chart
Everything you need to finish the pattern
Written instructions
Every chart comes with row-by-row written instructions and a color legend with stitch counts.
Progress tracking
Mark each row as done while you work, and pick up right where you left off.
Gauge and finished size
Enter your gauge to see how big the finished piece will be before you start.
Exports with no watermark
Download your chart as a PDF, PNG, or SVG with a free account.
Yours to sell
Sell the charts, instructions, and exports you make with StitchOwl, including commercially.
Phone, tablet, or computer
The full editor runs in your browser on any device, including with Apple Pencil.
Questions
Knitting chart maker FAQ
Is the knitting chart maker free?
Yes. Charting, written instructions and progress tracking cost nothing, and you can start without an account. A free account keeps up to 5 charts and unlocks downloads; Pro keeps up to 250.
What kinds of knitting charts can I make?
Colorwork charts for Fair Isle, stranded and intarsia knitting, and lace charts drawn with knitting symbols such as yarn overs, k2tog, ssk and centered double decreases.
Can I turn a photo into a knitting chart?
Yes, as a colorwork chart. Upload a JPG, PNG, GIF or WebP, crop it, then choose how many stitches, rows and colors you want. The conversion runs in your browser, so the photo never leaves your device. You can recolor any stitch afterwards. Lace charts are built from symbols, so you draw those yourself.
Are wrong-side rows written correctly?
Yes. When you knit flat, each wrong-side row uses wrong-side terms, so a knit square reads as purl and k2tog reads as p2tog. Knitting in the round keeps every row on the right side.
Which knitting symbols are included?
186 knitting symbols, covering knit and purl increases and decreases and yarn overs. Each one comes with its wrong-side meaning and abbreviation, and the legend counts how many of each your chart uses.
Can I check gauge and finished size?
Yes. Enter your stitches and rows per 4 inches or 10 cm and StitchOwl works out how wide and tall the finished piece will be.
Am I allowed to sell what I design?
Yes. Charts, written instructions and exported files you create belong to you, and StitchOwl's Terms permit selling them, commercially included.
Can I print my chart or use it on an iPad?
Both. Export a watermark-free PDF in A4 or Letter, or a PNG or SVG, with a free account. The editor runs in the browser on phones and tablets too, Apple Pencil included.
Your next knitting chart starts here
Free with 5 saved charts and 50 colors per chart. Pro raises that to 250 charts and 200 colors. See pricing
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