Knitting Symbols and Notations: The Art and Craft of Writing Stitches

Knitting symbols are universal notations that represent stitches, techniques, and yarn paths, allowing textile professionals worldwide to interpret and communicate design details quickly. Mastering these symbols is key to seamless textile development—whether on a circular machine, a flatbed knitting machine, or by hand. This updated guide explores the different notation types, how to read them, and why they matter in practice.

• What It Is: A 2D representation of how loops (stitches) form and interlink.
• Purpose: Ideal for visualizing the physical loop structure in educational or technical manuals.
• Typical Use: Illustrations in textbooks or training documents to show how each loop connects vertically (wale) and horizontally (course).

• What It Is: A symbol-based diagram that places each stitch in a grid cell. Each cell corresponds to one needle and one knitting course.
• Reading Order: Bottom to top (for courses) and left to right (for stitch progression).
• Typical Use: Creating or reading technical packages in industrial settings—especially for weft knitting or hand-knitting patterns—where precise needle-by-needle instructions are needed.

• What It Is: Often used in specialized knitting software (e.g., iPolaris, Shima Seiki SDS-ONE APEX, or Stoll M1) to visualize stitch structures on a matrix of needles and courses.
• Purpose: Facilitates module creation, repeating patterns, or complex structures such as jacquard, intarsia, or pointelle.
• Reading Order: Typically the same as stitch notation (bottom to top, left to right), though software may display it differently depending on machine settings.

• What It Is: A schematic showing how the yarn interacts with needles (e.g., which needle is raised, which needle is lowered, how yarn overlaps or tucks).
• Purpose: Commonly used by machine technicians to plan yarn feeding, tension, and course sequence.
• Typical Use: Programming sophisticated knitting machines and ensuring the desired stitch formation is executed properly.

Common notation symbols can vary by manufacturer or specific software package, but there are widely recognized categories for weft knitting. Below is an example table illustrating the most commont notation symbols in the industry and how you might list them.

The basic stitch in knitting. This stitch is formed when one needle knits one loop. This notation is used in circular knitting, where it is common to have only one yarn in each needle.

Tuck stitch is created when a needle takes a new loop without clearing the previous one. This stitch creates innovative textures. This notation is used in circular knitting technology.

A miss stitch is created when the needles skips the loop, creating an effect in the fabric. This stich is greatly used for breathability and innovative effects. This is a notation used in circular technology, showcasing one yarn only.

Float knit is created when one yarn is knitted and another yarn is missed by the same needle. This structure improves fabric stability since it reduces elasticity. This notation is used in seamless technology.

In double jersey circular knitting machines, since stitch formation occurs on both the cylinder and the dial, there are more possible combinations of elementary stitches (knit, tuck, and miss). As a result, a more complex or expanded elementary stitch notation system is required to describe all the possible intermeshing actions.

Circular knitting notations are characterized for showcasing only one yarn. These nations are also commonly used in diverse softwares and are a standard among the industry.

In traditional circular knitting additional info are required such as cam configuration and needle butt configuration to obtain a certain type of structure.

Jersey cylinder stitches are made when stitches are formed by cylinder needles only. This stitch is common in circular knitting for basic tees or simple jersey fabrics.

Jersey dial is created when the stitches are formed by dial needles only. This stitch is often used for single-face fabrics on circular machines.

Needles on the dial hold loops across multiple courses. Common for decorative or textured effects.

Similar to the previous stitch but formed by cylinder needles; used to create depth and pattern in knit fabric.

A miss stitch is created when the needles skips the loop in the dial, creating an effect in the fabric. This stich is greatly used for breathability and innovative effects. This is a notation used in seamless technology, showcasing two yarns instead of one.

A miss stitch is created when the needles skips the loop in the cylinder, creating an effect in the fabric. This stich is greatly used for breathability and innovative effects. This is a notation used in seamless technology, showcasing two yarns instead of one.

A double jersey stitch creates fabrics with two "technical fronts". It is created when two sets of needles knit at the same time through a dial and a cylinder. This stitch is only created with a double jersey machine, such as the SMDJ-2T.

Jersey dial is created when the stitches are formed by dial needles only. This stitch is often used for single-face fabrics on circular machines.

Stitches transferred from cylinder to dial (or vice versa) to change which needle bed carries the stitch, enabling lace or shaping

Stitches transferred from dial to the cylinder to change which needle bed carries the stitch.

A single jersey stitch is created when loops are knitted in one direction with a single set of needles. In seamless technology this stitch is created using most of the time two yarns on each needle. This is a basic structure created by all types of technologies. The result is a flat and clean surface on the technical front of the fabric.

A miss stitch is created when the needles skips the loop, creating an effect in the fabric. This stich is greatly used for breathability and innovative effects. This is a notation used in seamless technology, showcasing two yarns instead of one.

A tuck stitch is created when a needle holds its loop and receives a new one, tucking it behind. This notation is used in seamless technology, using two yarns on each needle.

Float knit is created when one yarn is knitted and another yarn is missed by the same needle. This structure improves fabric stability since it reduces elasticity. This notation is used in seamless technology.

• Software Integration: Many commercial knitting software solutions (e.g., Stoll M1, Shima Seiki SDS-ONE APEX, iPolaris) provide built-in symbol libraries. Ensure you’re using the correct library for your machine model and version.
• Standardization: If working across multiple facilities or with external clients, try to use a universally recognized symbol set or at least include a legend with your files.
• Warp Knitting Notations: While not covered in detail here, warp knitting has its own notation system (lapping diagrams). Clarify your scope (weft vs. warp) when sharing patterns or instructions.

While knitting new developments, it is common practice to connect different stitches together, this connection creates 'micro-stitches', that, along with different yarns, can create distictive textile outcomes. If you want to learn more about how stitches are formed and the different structures that cna be created with seamless and ciruclar knitting, make sure to visit our stitch library.

1. Bottom to Top: Each horizontal row (course) starts at the bottom of the diagram and moves upward.
2. Left to Right: Each vertical column corresponds to a needle. Reading left to right follows the physical arrangement of needles (especially in hand knitting or certain CAD software).
3. Course Numbering: Often indicated to the left or right side. Course 1 is at the bottom, course 2 above it, and so on.
4. Needle Numbering: May be indicated at the top or bottom. Depending on the machine setup, you might see notation like N1, N2, N3, or a visual approach with reference lines.

If you’re unsure whether to read from left to right or right to left, check the legend or notes in your specific design file or software output.

Technicians:

• Machine Setup: Use notation diagrams to confirm needle selection, tuck sequences, transfer operations, etc.
• Troubleshooting: Compare the fabric’s actual loop structure against the notation to locate errors or dropped stitches.

Designers:

• Visual Communication: Even if you don’t operate machines, understanding notations helps ensure your intended textures or shaping are technically feasible.
• Collaboration: Shared language for discussing yarn tension, feed rates, or color changes with production teams.

Educators / Students:

• Learning Loops: Loop notation is often a foundation for grasping how knitted fabric is physically formed.
• Hands-On Practice: Create small sample swatches following specific stitch notations to build familiarity.

Knitting symbols and notations are the backbone of efficient, error-free textile development. By mastering the key notation types (Loop, Stitch, Graphic, and Yarn Path), and knowing how to read and apply them, both technicians and designers can collaborate to produce high-quality knit fabrics and garments. Whether you’re working on a simple single jersey or a complex transfer-lace structure, consistent and clear notation ensures everyone speaks the same “knitting language.”

If you want to learn more about stitchches in circular and seamless technology, make sure to visit our stitch library.

Curious about conitnuing to learn more about stitch structures, check out our tutorial on stiches below.

Sources: "The Knitwear Manual", Fashionary

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