[Nfb-krafters-korner] Knit and Crochet Guidelines Now Live on BANA Website

[Cathy]

Hello all,

I read over these guidelines and thought I would post them. There is good information here for those who plan to read braille knit and crochet pattern books.
There are some changes but they look to be for the good.
Guidelines for Transcribing Knit and Crochet Patterns

Guidelines for Transcribing 
Knit and Crochet Patterns, 2014 
Developed Under the Sponsorship of the Braille Authority of North America 
Published by The Braille Authority of North America 
©2014 by The Braille Authority of North America 
All rights reserved. 
This material may be downloaded and printed, but not altered or sold. 
The mission and purpose of the Braille Authority of North America are to assure literacy for tactile readers through the standardization of braille and/or
tactile graphics. BANA promotes and facilitates the use, teaching, and production of braille. It publishes rules, interprets, and renders opinions pertaining
to braille in all existing codes. It deals with codes now in existence or to be developed in the future, in collaboration with other countries using English
braille. In exercising its function and authority, BANA considers the effects of its decisions on other existing braille codes and formats; the ease of
production by various methods; and acceptability to readers. 
For more information and resources, visit 
www.brailleauthority.org/.
Braille Authority of North America (BANA) Members 
Alternate Text Production Center of the California Community Colleges (ATPC) 
American Council of the Blind (ACB) 
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) 
American Printing House for the Blind (APH) 
Associated Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ASB) 
Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) 
Braille Institute of America (BIA) 
California Transcribers and Educators for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CTEBVI) 
CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) 
Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CCBVI) 
Council of Schools and Services for the Blind (COSB) 
Hadley School for the Blind 
Horizons for the Blind 
National Braille Association (NBA) 
National Braille Press (NBP) 
National Federation of the Blind (NFB) 
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) 
Associate Members 
Braille Authority of New Zealand Aotearoa Trust 
Crawford Technologies 
T-Base Communications 
Table of Contents 
list of 8 items
Introduction ................................................................................................. v
Guidelines for Transcribing Knit and Crochet Patterns ....................................... 1
1.1 Pattern Guidelines ............................................................................ 1
2.1 Knit Abbreviations ............................................................................ 2
3.1 Crochet Abbreviations ....................................................................... 4
4.1 Braille-Specific Guidelines ................................................................. 4
5.1 Formatting Guidelines ....................................................................... 5
6.1 Knit and Crochet Chart Patterns ......................................................... 7
list end
Introduction 
The development of the BANA Crafts and Hobbies Technical Committee arose from a need to standardize the braille transcription of instructions for various
crafts and hobbies. This volume contains guidelines for the transcription of knit and crochet patterns. 
Prior to the writing of these guidelines, a survey was conducted with braille readers who knit and crochet to determine their preferences for formatting,
abbreviations, use of the number indicator and letter sign, and transcription of chart patterns. The Committee compiled their answers from the survey and
created these guidelines based upon the results. 
BANA Crafts and Hobbies Technical Committee 
Camille Cafferelli, Chairperson 2011–2014 
Marcetta Ponzio, Chairperson 2007–2011 
Lorraine Banks 
Melissa Hirshson 
Jill Pariso
Guidelines for Transcribing 
Knit and Crochet Patterns 
The following guidelines are to be used as a standard when transcribing knit or crochet patterns. 
1.1 Pattern Guidelines 
1.1.1 All patterns should be transcribed in contracted braille, unless the agency/client requests uncontracted braille. 
1.1.2 Follow agency/client preferences for size of braille paper (either 11½" × 11" or 8½" × 11"). 
1.1.3 The pattern name should be on the first line of the first page as a centered heading, and used as a Running Head (if requested) following the guidelines
in Braille Formats: Principles of Print-to-Braille Transcription, 2011. 
1.1.4 Follow print for abbreviations, punctuation, capitalization, and font attributes used within the pattern. 
Exception: The words “Row” or “Round” do not need to be shown in italics or bold. 
1.1.5 Where two font attributes (bold and italics), or a font attribute and the double capital indicator, are used on the same word/phrase, use only one
braille indicator to show emphasis. 
1.1.6 If stitches are spelled out in print, they are to be spelled out in braille. “Knit” and “purl” are not to be changed to “k” and “p,” but spelled
out as they are in print. 
Example 1-1: Spelling Out 
Knit 5, purl 2 across the row. 
,knit #e1 purl #b acr ! r[4 
1.1.7 If stitch instructions are shown in the print pattern as abbreviations, follow print to include the abbreviation in the braille pattern. 
Example 1-2: Use Abbreviations as in Print 
K1, p2 (rep until end of row). 
,k#a1 p#b 7rep until 5d ( r[74 
1.1.8 Accepted and common abbreviations and their meanings are shown in the tables below to assist transcribers if they are not familiar with knitting
or crocheting abbreviations. 
2.1 Knit Abbreviations 
2.1.1 Note: Any of these may be shown in print in upper- or lowercase letters, with or without a period. Follow print. 

table with 2 columns and 54 rows
Stitch Abbreviation 
Meaning  
approx 
approximately  
beg 
beginning  
bl 
block  
BO 
bind off  
C3L 
cable 3 left  
CC 
contrasting color  
CO 
cast on  
Cr3R 
cross 3 right  
Dec 
decrease(ing)  
dpns 
double pointed needles  
EOR 
every other row  
fl or foll 
follow  
Inc 
increase(ing)  
K1 
knit 1  
K1b 
knit 1 in row below  
K2 tog 
knit 2 together  
lp(s) 
loop(s)  
LS 
left side  
M1 
make 1  
MC 
main color  
pc 
popcorn  
P1 
purl 1  
P1 tbl 
purl 1 through back of loop  
pat or patt 
pattern  
psso 
pass slipped stitch over  
puk 
pick up and knit  
pw 
purlways  
R 
right  
rem 
remaining  
rep 
repeat  
r.h. 
right hand needle  
rnd(s) 
round(s)  
RS or Rt side 
right side  
sk 
skip  
SK2P 
slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over  
SKP 
slip 1, knit 1, pass slip stitch over  
sl 
slip  
sl 2 k 
slip two stitches knitways  
sl 2 p 
slip two stitches purlways  
sp 
space  
ss or sl st 
slip stitch  
st(s) 
stitch(es)  
St st (st-st) 
stockinette stitch  
tbl 
through back of loop  
tog or tgr 
together  
wf 
wool forward  
wrn 
wool round needle  
WS 
wrong side  
yo 
yarn over  
yrn 
yarn round needle  
* 
asterisk  
** 
double asterisk  
*** 
triple asterisk 
table end

2.1.2 If asterisks and/or parentheses are used, include the following in the abbreviation section: 
* Repeat whatever follows the * as many times as specified. 
( ) or [ ] Do what is in parentheses or brackets the number of times indicated. 
Example 2-1: Use of Asterisk 
* k 2, p 1. Repeat from * across. 
(K 2 tog) 26 times; ... 
99 k#b1 p#a4 ,rep1t f 99 acr4 
7,k#b tog7 #bf "ts2 ''' 
3.1 Crochet Abbreviations 
3.1.1 Note: Some of the knit abbreviations will apply to both knit and crochet patterns. The following are specific to crochet patterns. 

table with 2 columns and 18 rows
Stitch Abbreviation 
Meaning  
Alt 
alternate(ly)  
bet 
between  
Ch 
chain  
cl 
cluster  
cont 
continue  
dc 
double crochet  
dch(s) 
double chain(s)  
dtr 
double treble or triple  
grp(s) 
group(s)  
H dc or hdc 
half double crochet  
h.tr or htr 
half treble or triple  
p 
picot  
sc 
single crochet  
t-ch(s) 
turning chain(s)  
Tr(c) 
treble or triple crochet  
Tr Tr or t.tr 
triple treble or triple triple  
xdc 
crossed double crochet 
table end

4.1 Braille-Specific Guidelines 
4.1.1 All abbreviations within a pattern are to be contracted. 
Example 4-1: Abbreviations 
st. or st 
/4 or / 
4.1.2 The letter sign is not to be used before a K (k) or P (p) within the knit pattern, or any single letter abbreviation in a crochet pattern, whether
or not it is joined to a number. 
Example 4-2: Letter Sign Abbreviation 
K the next 5 sts. P the next 2 sts, k the next 5 sts. 
,k ! next #e /s4 ,p ! next #b /s1 k ! 
⠀⠀next #e /s4 
4.1.3 For Knit Patterns there are to be no spaces between a stitch abbreviation and the number that follows. For Crochet Patterns, follow print for spacing.

Example 4-3: Knit Pattern 
K 2, P 5 to the end of the row. 
k2, p5 to the end of the row. 
BO3 at end of the row. 
,k#b1 ,p#e 6! 5d (! r{4 
k#b1 p#e 6! 
5d (! r{4 
,,bo#c at 5d (! r[4 
Example 4-4: Crochet Pattern 
3 dc into first sc, *(1 sc, 3 ch, 3 dc) 
#c dc 96f/ sc1 99 7#a sc1 #c *1 #c dc7 
5.1 Formatting Guidelines 
5.1.1 Any beginning information or instructions—such as materials, gauge, size of needles/hooks, etc.—should begin in cell 1 with runovers in cell 3 (from
now on shown as 1-3). 
5.1.2 Each “Row” or “Round” (or “Next row”) should be in 1-3. This format should be followed even if the print pattern runs everything together. 
Example 5-1: Pattern Formatting 
Starting at top, cast on 5 sts. 1st row: * K in front and back of next st – an inc made. Repeat from * across – 10 sts. 2nd row: Purl. 3rd row: Repeat
first row – 20 sts. 
,/>t+ at top1 ca/ on #e /s4 
#a/ r[3 99 ..,k 9 front & back ( next 
⠀⠀.st--_.an _.9c _.made4 ,rep1t f 99 acr 
⠀⠀--#aj /s4 
#bnd r[3 ,purl4 
#crd r[3 ,rep1t f/ r[--#bj /s4 
Example 5-2: Formatting Pattern Sections 
Starting at center front with Color A – cast on 52 sts. K2 & P2 in ribbing for 3 rows. 
Row 4: * K2, P2 ... 
,/>t+ at c5t] front ) ,color ;,a--ca/ on 
⠀⠀#eb /s4 
,k#b @& ,p#b 9 ri2+ = #c r[s4 
,r[ #d3 99 ,k#b1 ,p#b ''' 
5.1.3 For the different sections of a pattern—such as SLEEVE, ARM, FRINGE, etc.—each section must be preceded and followed by a blank line, and be in 1-3.

5.1.4 If the section title in print (SLEEVE, ARM, etc.) is on a separate line from the instructions that follow, begin the section title in cell 1 and
continue the instructions on the same line as the title. Follow print for capitalization, or use the italics indicator if the section title is in bold.

Example 5-3: Pattern Sections 
Fringe 
Cut eight 8-inch strands. Fold in half and draw loop through eyelet at one end, then draw ends through loop and tighten. 
.,fr+e ,cut ei<t #h-9* /r&s4 ,fold 9 
⠀⠀half & draw loop "? eyelet at "o 5d1 
⠀⠀!n draw 5ds "? loop & ti<t54 
6.1 Knit and Crochet Chart Patterns 
6.1.1 Knit and crochet patterns will often show a visual chart to illustrate what color strand or type of stitch should be used for each individual stitch.

Whenever possible, the transcriber should fully reproduce these charts using braille symbols in a key to show the reader which stitches/colors should be
used. These keys will be shown in the print pattern. (See Examples 6-1 and 6-2.) 
Example 6-1: Formatting Knitting Chart 
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●□ 7 
6 □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□○ 
□□□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□ 5 
4 □□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□ 
□□□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□ 3 
2 □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□○ 
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●□ 1 
Key to chart: 
□ knit MC 
■ knit CC 
● purl with chenille 
○ k1, p1, k1 all in 1 st 
⠀⠀⠀⠀,key 6*>t3 
= knit ,,mc 
- knit ,,cc 
g purl ) *5ille 
l k#a1 p#a1 k#a all 9 #a / 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 
gggggggggggggggggggggggggg=⠀⠀#g 
#f⠀⠀==========================l 
=====----------------======⠀⠀#e 
#d⠀⠀====------------------===== 
=====----------------======⠀⠀#c 
#b⠀⠀==========================l 
gggggggggggggggggggggggggg=⠀⠀#a 
Example 6-2: Knitting Chart with Runovers 
6 ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● 
●□□□□□●□□□□□●□□□□□●□□□□□●□□□□□●□□□□□●□□□□□●□□□□□● 5 
4 ●□■■■□●□■■■□●□■■■□●□■■■□●□■■■□●□■■■□●□■■■□●□■■■□● 
●□■■■□●□■■■□●□■■■□●□■■■□●□■■■□●□■■■□●□■■■□●□■■■□● 3 
2 ●□□□□□●□□□□□●□□□□□●□□□□□●□□□□□●□□□□□●□□□□□●□□□□□● 
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● 1 
Key to chart: 
□ Royal Blue 
■ Misty Grey 
● Cream 
⠀⠀⠀⠀,key 6*>t3 
= ,royal ,blue 
- ,mi/y ,grey 
g ,cr1m 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ggggggggggggggggg 
#f⠀⠀gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg 
g=====g=====g====⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 
=g=====g=====g=====g=====g=====g⠀⠀#e 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀---=g=---=g=---=g 
#d⠀⠀g=---=g=---=g=---=g=---=g=---=g= 
g=---=g=---=g=---⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 
=g=---=g=---=g=---=g=---=g=---=g⠀⠀#c 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀====g=====g=====g 
#b⠀⠀g=====g=====g=====g=====g=====g= 
ggggggggggggggggg⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 
gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg⠀⠀#a 
6.1.2 A chart and key should not be divided between braille pages if they are short enough to fit on one page. However, if necessary, the key may be on
one page and the chart on the following page, in order to keep the entire chart on one page. If a chart is too long to fit on one page, separate it at
an appropriate point—do not divide a row/round between braille pages. 
6.1.3 Each row should be numbered on alternating sides, 
regardless of whether row numbers appear in print, leaving 
two blank cells between a row number and the beginning of 
a row. (See Examples 6-1 and 6-2.) Note: The number 
indicator is used to prevent the row number from being 
mistaken as a symbol in the chart. 
6.1.4 The numbers in the margins in PRINT PORTION of Examples 6-1 AND 6-2 were not included in the original pattern, but are used here for reference only,
to show where the rows begin in print and how they correspond to the braille version 
6.1.5 Stitches for odd rows are transcribed from right to left; even rows are transcribed from left to right. In print, the first row begins at the bottom
right, and the braille row must follow this direction as well. In other words, row 1 will start at the right margin of the bottom line. (See Example 6-1.)

a. If each of the rows in a pattern will fit on one braille line, the stitches should be aligned vertically as they are in print. (See Example 6-1.) 
b. If the rows will not each fit on one braille line, and the chart must therefore include runovers, end the line before the runover one cell before the
ending margin. Because the rows are read from the bottom to the top of the page, the runover should be transcribed on the line above the beginning of the
row. A runover is indented two cells from the beginning of that row’s margin. (See Example 6-2.) 
c. Note also that in Examples 6-1 and 6-2 the braille key to the chart is not done as a transcriber’s note, because the key is in the print pattern. 
d. If the chart is to begin at the bottom of the page, the first line of the chart should be in line 24, and not in line 25 which should be left blank
according to braille formats. 
e. If the pattern is extremely complicated and/or the transcriber feels that it will extend for so many pages that it will make reading the chart difficult
to read, the transcriber may decide to convert the chart into written instructions and begin with the bottom row of instructions and proceed to the top
row as in Example 6-3, below. 
Example 6-3: Chart Converted into Written Instructions 
Materials needed: 2 skeins each white and red worsted weight yarn 
Key to chart: 
□ White 
■ Red 
Cast on 14 sts. 
Starting with white, work in St stitch according to the chart below. 
□□■□□□□□■□□□□□ 13 
□□■■□□□□■■□□□□ 
□■■■■□□■■■■□□□ 11 
■■■■■■■■■■■■■□ 
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 9 
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 
□■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 7 
□□■■■■■■■■■■□□ 
□□□■■■■■■■□□□□ 5 
□□□■■■■□□□□□□□ 
□□■■■□□□□□□□□□ 3 
□■■□□□□□□□□□□□ 
■□□□□□□□□□□□□□ 1 
,mat]ials ne$$3 #b ske9s ea* :ite & r$ 
⠀⠀wor/$ wei<t y>n 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 
,ca/ on #ad /s4 
,/>t+ ) :ite1 "w 9 ,/ /it* ac 6! *>t 2l4 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 
#a #ac :ite1 #a r$ 
#b #a :ite1 #b r$1 #aa :ite 
#c #i :ite1 #c r$1 #b :ite 
#d #c :ite1 #d r$1 #g :ite 
#e #d :ite1 #g r$1 #c :ite 
#f #b :ite1 #aj r$1 #b :ite 
#g #ac r$1 #a :ite 
#h #ad r$ 
''' 
6.1.6 As some of the larger chart patterns will use more than one braille page, a transcriber’s note is required to let readers know on which page they
will find Row 1. 
6.1.7 It is recommended that the full cell =, hyphen - (36), letters l l, g g, and x x, and any other unique braille signs be used to represent the print
symbols in the key. 
6.1.8 Chart patterns can also be knitted using circular needles. Instructions for circular needles may vary from those for straight needles. Follow the
print instructions for transcribing the chart into braille, or writing out the instructions. 
6.1.9 Crochet chart patterns are very similar to knit charts, but the transcriber should follow instructions given for any particular pattern.

Cathy F