PATTERN BASICS
How to read pattern repeats: asterisks, brackets and “rep from *”
Patterns save space by writing a group of stitches once and telling you to repeat it. There are two main ways to mark a repeat: an asterisk (*), and brackets or parentheses.
Asterisks: “rep from *”
An asterisk marks where a repeat starts. When you reach “rep from *”, go back to the asterisk and work those stitches again.
*K2, p2; rep from * to end.
Knit 2, purl 2, then keep repeating “knit 2, purl 2” until you run out of stitches. This is 2×2 rib, and it works out evenly when your stitch count is a multiple of 4.
Repeats don’t always run to the end of the row:
- “Rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.” Repeat until only 2 stitches are left on your left needle, then knit those 2.
- “K1, *p1, k1; rep from *.” The k1 before the asterisk is worked once. Only the part after the asterisk repeats.
- Two asterisks (**). Some patterns put a second repeat inside the first, or use ** to mark a different starting point. Read to the next “rep from **” to see which part it means.
Brackets and parentheses: [ ] x times
Brackets or parentheses group stitches that you work a set number of times in a row.
[K1, p1] 3 times.
Work “k1, p1” three times in total: k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1. That’s 6 stitches.
Parentheses can also mean “work all of these into the same stitch”, as in “(k1, yo, k1) into next st”. If there’s no number after them, check whether the pattern says “into the same stitch”.
The “more times” trap
Read the wording carefully, because these two aren’t the same:
- “Rep from * 3 times” usually means work the repeat 3 times in total.
- “Rep from * 3 more times” means you’ve already worked it once, so you work it 3 more times, 4 in total.
Some designers use “3 times” to mean “3 more times”. If the stitch count at the end doesn’t match the pattern, this is often why. Many patterns give a stitch count at the end of a row, so use it to check.
Row repeats
Whole rows repeat too. “Rep rows 1–4 until piece measures 10 in” means work rows 1, 2, 3 and 4, then start again at row 1. When you stop, note which row of the repeat you finished on, because the next piece often has to match.
That’s where a counter helps: keep one count for your row within the repeat and one for repeats done. See how to keep track of pattern repeats.
Pattern multiples
A stitch pattern might say it’s worked over a “multiple of 4 sts + 2”. That means your stitch count should be divisible by 4, plus 2 extra, like 42 or 46. The extra stitches are usually worked once, outside the repeat, to balance the edges.