Subtle: a needlework chart for any craft

The random number generator picked Subtle from the suggestions for this post, suggested by Kate, one of my Patreon supporters.

I usually develop a complicated knitting stitch pattern for each word, but I also like to provide a basic chart for any craft that’s worked on a grid: beads, cross stitch, whatever. I also try to provide at least some digital art of the pattern repeated all over not as a chart. It doesn’t necessarily look like a finished object for any particular craft, but I just want to give a sense of it in use. (I try to make it look like knitting when it’s got floats short enough for easy stranded knitting.)

illustration of what the Subtle chart might look like as stranded knitting
chart illustrating how to work the Subtle needlework chart by means of dark and light squares
Click chart to enlarge
  • Subtle has a repeat of 8 + 1 columns and 22 or 22 + 11 rows (end after either row 11 or 22).
  • In the written instructions, color A is the light squares above, and color B is the dark.
  • The written instructions below are formatted for stranded knitting, but it is my hope that they could be translated into instructions for other crafts. For instance, if working filet crochet, 1 A could be one open square and 2 B could be two filled-in squares.
  • Designers, please feel free to use this in your patterns (no need to ask). I’d like credit but won’t be offended if people don’t give it.
  • My blog posts and free stitch patterns are supported by subscriptions on Patreon or donations to my Paypal tip jar in the sidebar. If you appreciate my work, please consider helping out. Thanks!

Round 1: work knit as follows; *2 A, (1 B, 1 A) × 3; work from *, 1 A.

Round 2: work knit as follows; *1 A, 2 B, 3 A, 2 B; work from *, 1 A.

Round 3: work knit as follows; *1 B, 1 A, 1 B, 3 A, 1 B, 1 A; work from *, 1 B.

Round 4: work knit as follows; *3 A, 1 B, 1 A, 1 B, 2 A; work from *, 1 A.

Round 5: work knit as follows; *(1 B, 1 A) × 4; work from *, 1 B.

Round 6: work knit as follows; *1 B, 2 A, 3 B, 2 A; work from *, 1 B.

Round 7: work knit as follows; *(1 B, 1 A) × 4; work from *, 1 B.

Round 8: work knit as follows; *3 A, 1 B, 1 A, 1 B, 2 A; work from *, 1 A.

Round 9: work knit as follows; *1 B, 1 A, 1 B, 3 A, 1 B, 1 A; work from *, 1 B.

Round 10: work knit as follows; *1 A, 2 B, 3 A, 2 B; work from *, 1 A.

Round 11: work knit as follows; *2 A, (1 B, 1 A) × 3; work from *, 1 A.

Round 12: work knit as follows; *1 B, 1 A, 1 B, 3 A, 1 B, 1 A; work from *, 1 B.

Round 13: work knit as follows; *2 A, (2 B, 1 A) × 2; work from *, 1 A.

Round 14: work knit as follows; *2 A, (1 B, 1 A) × 3; work from *, 1 A.

Round 15: work knit as follows; *1 A, 1 B, 5 A, 1 B; work from *, 1 A.

Round 16: work knit as follows; *(1 B, 1 A) × 4; work from *, 1 B.

Round 17: work knit as follows; *2 B, (2 A, 1 B) × 2; work from *, 1 B.

Round 18: work knit as follows; *(1 B, 1 A) × 4; work from *, 1 B.

Round 19: work knit as follows; *1 A, 1 B, 5 A, 1 B; work from *, 1 A.

Round 20: work knit as follows; *2 A, (1 B, 1 A) × 3; work from *, 1 A.

Round 21: work knit as follows; *2 A, (2 B, 1 A) × 2; work from *, 1 A.

Round 22: work knit as follows; *1 B, 1 A, 1 B, 3 A, 1 B, 1 A; work from *, 1 B.