Working with Text Input

Written instructions can be used as input to create a chart. The written instructions are parsed by the software as they are typed in and feedback on errors given if it does not understand something that is entered. Content assist is available. Note that Mosaic charts are not currently supported with this feature.

Creating a New Written Instructions text file.

To create a new text file containing Written Instructions;- 

1. On the main menu bar, select File > New > New Written Instructions. The New Written Instructions dialog opens.

    

2. The folder defaults to the home directory. To select a different directory use the Browse button.

3. The file name contains a generated default name. If desired, type in a different file name. The file extension must be ".txt".

4. (Optional) Type in a chart title. This can be edited later.

5. Select Finish.

The New Written Instructions dialog can also be opened by selecting the New Written Instructions Icon from the main toolbar.

Editing the Written Instructions.

A new Written Instructions file has a single row with the Chart keyword and the title if one was entered in the dialog.

Text can now be entered. Because it is to be understood by the software, certain conventions need to be followed. Instructions are entered for either rows or rounds. The syntax is probably best illustrated with some examples;-

Row 1 (RS) : k2, p2.

Row 1 : k2, p2.

Row 4 (WS) : k2, p2.

Round 1 : k2, p2.

When using the written instructions to initialize the New Chart Diagram from Written Instructions dialog (see below), Stitchmastery checks the first instruction in the chart. If it is a row, then flat knitting is assumed, otherwise circular knitting. Likewise the row / round number of the first instruction is used in the dialog. All other row numbers are ignored and rows are numbered sequentially. For flat knitting, the (RS) and (WS) keywords can be used to indicate that the first instruction starts on a Right Side or Wrong Side row. If neither (RS) or (WS) are used on the first Row then it is assumed that the first row is a right side row. (RS) / (WS) keywords on all other instructions are ignored.

Stitches are entered in order with commas separating them and a full stop at the end. Stitchmastery matches the text entered against either the name or abbreviation of stitches in the stitch library. If existing stitches have been customised so that the name or abbreviation has been changed, then it will be the updated name or abbreviation that will be used. If new custom stitches have been added, then these can also be used. Here are some examples;-

Row 1 : yo, slip, sl.

Row 1 : 2/2 RC, kfb, sl.

If you enter a stitch that is not recognised, a red 'squiggle' is placed under the unrecognised text. An error marker is placed in the margin for all rows with errors. If you move the cursor over either of the error markers an error message is displayed.

If you cannot remember the name or abbreviation of a stitch, then the Content Assist feature can help. Make sure that the editing cursor (usually a vertical bar) is placed where you want to enter text. Then use the keystroke Control+space to invoke Content Assist. A popup menu will appear giving you a list of valid options for the exact position where you are entering text.

If you can remember the beginning characters of a stitch name, then enter those first before invoking Content Assist. Then the list will be filtered so that it only contains stitches beginning with those characters.

Knit and purl stitches have properties that are not shared with other stitches. When there are several consecutive knit or purl stitches, they can be condensed;-

Row 1 : k2, p2.

A single knit or purl stitch can be written in a number of different ways;-

Round 1 : k, knit, k1, k 1, knit 1, p, p1, p 1, purl, purl 1.

Note that 'k' means 'knit 1 stitch' and is equivalent to 'k1' except when it is the only stitch in the row. This also holds for 'p'.

If a row contains only knit or purl stitches, then it can be abbreviated to 'k' and Stitchmastery will treat this instruction as an implicit 'knit all stitches in row' instruction. It will then calculate how many stitches will be in that row and assign the number of knit stitches accordingly. For example;-

Row 1 : k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk.

Row 2 : k.

Row 1 finishes with 5 stitches. Hence the 'k' instruction of Row 2 really means k5.

The Outline view gives immediate feedback on how Stitchmastery has understood the text entered. For each row it calculates how many columns will be needed in a chart to display the instructions in that row. In addition it calculates how many stitches are needed on the needles to knit that row and how many stitches will remain on the needles after that row has been worked. These are displayed as the 'consumes' and 'produces' values respectively;-

The Outline View consists of elements nested inside each other. If you cannot see all of the rows or stitches that you are expecting to see, click on the arrows at the end of the lines in the Outline View to open the display.

Repeats can also be entered. There are two categories of repeats; Explicit repeats and Implicit repeats and these are treated differently when entered as written instructions. See Working with Borders and Repeats for more information about the definitions of these repeats.

There are two types of explicit repeats; 'Asterisks' and 'Round Brackets'. Explicit repeats are not expanded when converting from written instructions to chart. The calculations for how many stitches a row 'consumes' and 'produces' does take into account the number of times that a repeat is worked.

There is just one type of Implicit Repeat; 'Square Brackets'. Implicit repeats are always expanded when converting from written instructions to chart and provide a shortcut when entering stitches that repeat across a chart.

Using round brackets in the text input will not generate expanded repeats in your chart and will result in a chart as shown below.

Chart ‘first example’
Round 2: yo, k2tog, k5.
Round 3: (yo, k2tog) x 2, k5.
Round 4: (yo, k2tog) x 3, k5.
Round 5: (yo, k2tog) x 4, k5.

Using square brackets in the text input will generate a chart with expanded repeats as shown below.

Chart ‘second example’
Round 2: yo, k2tog, k5.
Round 3: [yo, k2tog] x 2, k5.
Round 4: [yo, k2tog] x 3, k5.
Round 5: [yo, k2tog] x 4, k5.

 

Creating a Chart from Written Instructions.

To create a new Chart Diagram file from Written Instructions;- 

1. On the main menu bar, select File > New > New Chart Diagram from Written Instructions. The New Chart Diagram from Written Instructions dialog opens.

   

2. The folder defaults to the directory containing the written instructions text file. To select a different directory use the Browse button.

3. The file name contains a generated default name. If desired, type in a different file name. The file extension must be ".knit".

4. (Optional) Type in a chart title. This can be edited later.

5. The number of rows and columns are determined by the written instructions and cannot be changed in this dialog. Once the chart has been created, rows and columns can be inserted or deleted.

6. (Optional) Edit the starting row and column numbers and other properties such as circular or flat knitting etc. The values in the dialog are initialized from the written instructions but can be edited in the dialog. They can also be edited once the chart is created.

7. Select Finish.

The New Chart Diagram from Written Instructions dialog can also be opened by selecting the New Chart Diagram from Written Instructions Icon from the main toolbar.

At the top of the Outline view, you will see an icon with two arrows pointing in opposite directions (circled in red below). Clicking this will activate the Link with Editor tool, which links the written input to the Outline view. Clicking on a row/round or stitch in the Outline view will highlight it in the text input area, and vice versa, helping you locate stitches to change. In the image below, the first K2 in Row 1 in the Outline view has been selected, and the corresponding K2 in Row 1 is highlighted in blue in the text input area.

Alternative sources of explanation