RuledPaper

Free printable · PDF, PNG, SVG

Rectangular Grid Paper

Rectangular grid paper works like graph paper, but the cells can be wider than they are tall. Knitters need this because a knitted stitch is not square: a chart drawn on square graph paper looks stretched compared with the finished fabric. Set the cell width and height separately to match your gauge and the chart shows the true shape of your design.

Rectangular grid preview

Preview of page 1. 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm. Print at 100% (“Actual size”) to keep the spacing exact.

Paper
Units
Rectangular grid

What people use it for

  • Knitting charts for colorwork, Fair Isle and intarsia
  • Crochet tapestry and filet crochet charts
  • Beadwork patterns where beads are wider than tall
  • Spreadsheet-style tables drawn by hand
  • Timelines and schedules with long, narrow cells

Tips for rectangular grid

  1. Knit a swatch and count stitches and rows over 4 in (10 cm). Divide to find stitch width and row height, then enter those as the cell width and height.
  2. If you do not have a swatch, a common starting ratio for stockinette is about 5 stitches to 7 rows; adjust after you knit a sample.
  3. Mark every tenth row and column with a colored pencil so you can count stitches quickly while you knit.
  4. Print several copies of the empty chart before coloring, so you can try different color placements side by side.

Printing tip: in the print dialog choose Actual size or 100%, not “Fit to page”, or the spacing shrinks slightly. How we keep sizes exact.

Questions

Why can't I use normal graph paper for knitting charts?

Knit stitches are usually wider than they are tall. On square graph paper a circle in your chart comes out as an oval in the fabric, so a grid with the right proportions gives a more accurate preview.

What is knitter's graph paper?

It is graph paper with rectangular cells sized to a knitting gauge. This page lets you set any width and height, so it covers every gauge.

Does this work for cross stitch?

Cross stitch on Aida fabric is square, so use the regular graph paper page for that. Rectangular cells suit knitting, crochet and beadwork.

Can I set the cell size in inches?

Yes. Switch the unit to inches or millimetres, then type the width and height that match your gauge.

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