Flame Chart

Flame Chart Intarsia Knitting Pattern by Nancy Hand

What Is Being Made

The Flame Chart is an intermediate-level knitting pattern featuring a large decorative image suitable for afghans, blankets, or garment panels. This downloadable PDF pattern adapts an original petit point design into an intarsia knitting chart. The finished piece creates a striking flame-inspired motif that works as a standalone project or as part of a larger knitted composition.

Design Origin and Inspiration

The Flame Chart design originated as a petit point needlework measuring 14.5" x 22" (36.8 x 56 cm). Designer Nancy Hand has translated this intricate embroidery concept into charted knitting format, preserving the detailed color work and visual complexity of the original fiber art piece. The adaptation demonstrates how traditional needlework designs can be successfully converted for knitting techniques.

Knitting Techniques Used

Intarsia knitting is the primary technique for this project. Intarsia allows knitters to work with multiple colors by carrying separate yarn lengths for each colored section rather than stranding yarn across the back of the work. This technique is ideal for large, bold designs with distinct color blocks, as it creates a smooth, flat fabric without the bulk that stranded colorwork can produce. The Flame Chart pattern provides the necessary guidance for managing color changes throughout the knitting process.

Stitches and Stitch Count

The pattern uses basic knit stitches worked in stockinette stitch as the foundation. At the specified gauge of 6 stitches and 8 rows per inch (2.5 cm), the finished image measures approximately 40" x 30" (102 x 76 cm). The chart sections overlap slightly in the middle to ensure seamless color transitions and pattern continuity across the full width of the design.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The original petit point design incorporated 9 colors of cotton thread, 2 metallic threads, and a blue "coat silk" background. When adapting this pattern for knitting, you will need to select knitting yarn in comparable colors. Knitters should plan to use knitting needles appropriate to their chosen yarn weight to achieve the 6 stitches and 8 rows per inch gauge. A color key is included in the PDF to assist with yarn selection and planning.

Pattern Components and Documentation

• Full-color chart showing all design colors for reference and planning
• Outline chart displaying muted colors to reduce visual complexity during knitting
• Overlapping chart sections for seamless middle transitions
• Comprehensive color key for yarn selection
• Gauge specifications (6 stitches and 8 rows per inch at 2.5 cm)

Planning Your Project

The pattern documentation reminds knitters to include a color selection for the background when planning yardage and materials. The two chart versions serve different purposes: the full-color chart provides complete visual reference, while the muted-color outline chart can reduce visual overwhelm during the actual knitting process. This dual-chart approach supports both planning and execution phases of the project.

Skill Level

Rated as intermediate difficulty, the Flame Chart requires knitters to be comfortable with color changes, chart reading, and intarsia techniques. The large finished size and multiple color sections make this project suitable for experienced knitters ready to tackle multi-color work beyond basic stranded colorwork.