PlainKnit— knitting patterns, in plain English.
For knitters who would rather knit

Knitting patterns,
in plain English.

No more squinting at k2tog tbl, ssk, yo, sl1 psso. Upload your pattern and get back clear step-by-step instructions — with stitch counts, difficulty rating, and helpful tips where it gets tricky.

See a sample
✓No account needed✓PDF, JPG, PNG✓Pay once per pattern
Balls of yarn with knitting needles

Drop your pattern here

…or click to choose a file from your device.

PDFJPGPNGup to 20 MB

Settings

Inline tips
Notes where the pattern gets tricky.
Stitch counts
A running count at every row.
The translationSample · cable scarf, row 7

From cryptic shorthand
to something you can just knit.

Drop in any pattern and we'll rewrite it row by row. Same instructions — minus the decoder ring.

Pattern
What you uploaded
Row 7 (RS): K3, *yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, k1*; rep from * to last 3 sts, sl1 wyif, k2.
 
Row 8 (WS): K3, p to last 3 sts, k3.
 
(48 sts)
Plain English
What we give back
1
Knit 3 stitches (the border).
Plain knit — this is the edge that frames your scarf.
2
Repeat the lace block until 3 stitches remain.
Yarn over → slip-slip-knit → knit 2 → knit 2 together → yarn over → knit 1. That's one repeat of 7 stitches.
repeats6×42 sts
3
Slip 1 with yarn in front, then knit 2.
A neat chained selvedge — keeps the edge tidy.
row end48 sts total
How it worksAbout 30 seconds

Three steps. No jargon.

i.
Upload

Drop a PDF, photo or scan of any pattern — even hand-written notes from your nan.

ii.
We translate

Every abbreviation expanded, every row spelled out, every count verified — in about 20 seconds.

iii.
You knit

Read on screen, print it out, or download as a Word document. Yours to keep — no subscription, no faff.

What you getEvery translation includes

More than a translation —
a friendlier pattern.

Difficulty rating

We rate every pattern so you know what you're getting into before casting on a single stitch.

level★★★☆☆ confident beginner
Stitch counts

A running total at the end of every row — so you catch a miscount before it becomes a sleeve disaster.

row 12→ 64 sts ✓
Tips & ambiguity flags

We flag where patterns go pear-shaped and call out anything that looks unclear or contradictory in the original.

row 24⚠ ambiguity flagged
Tutorial video links

Tricky techniques are linked to a short YouTube tutorial, right there in the instructions.

yarn over▶ watch tutorial
Shopping list

Materials listed for your size only — with ball counts already worked out so you know exactly what to buy.

yarn6 × 50g balls
Document download

Every translation comes with a clean Word document — open it in Word or Google Docs, print it out, or read it on your phone while you knit.

one click↓ download .docx
FAQ

Quick answers, before you cast on.

Still stuck? Drop us a line — a real person reads every message.

What kind of patterns can I upload?+
Any English-language knitting pattern as a PDF, JPG or PNG — magazine scans, designer downloads, even a photo of a pattern from a book. If you can read it, we can translate it. We don't yet handle crochet or non-English patterns, but they're on the list.
Why £2 per pattern instead of a subscription?+
Because most people don't knit every week. Pay when you need it — there's nothing to cancel and nothing to forget about. It's £2.
Is my pattern actually translated correctly?+
We're very careful, but if something looks off, email us. We'll fix it or refund it — whichever you'd prefer. A real person will look at it.
Can I download the translation?+
Yes — every translation comes with a clean Word document (.docx). Open it in Word or Google Docs, print it out, or read it on your phone while you knit.
How long does it take?+
About 30 seconds for most patterns. A very long pattern — think a full jumper with multiple sizes — might take a minute or two.