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

[Henry Osborne]

Hi Cathy,
Thanks so much for sharing this info with us.
S K Henry

-----Original Message----- 
From: Cathy via Nfb-krafters-korner
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2015 8:24 PM
To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
Cc: Cathy
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Knit and Crochet Guidelines Now Live 
onBANA Website

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


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