Horsehead chart

Horsehead Chart by Nancy Hand

What Is Being Made

The Horsehead Chart is an advanced knitting pattern featuring a detailed equine portrait design. This downloadable PDF provides a charted pattern originally inspired by a classic needlepoint work, adapted for knitting applications. The design captures the distinctive features of a horse's head in a structured grid format suitable for experienced knitters seeking a complex, multi-color project.

Design Origin and Inspiration

Created by designer Nancy Hand in 2011, this chart is based on an original needlepoint piece worked with an extensive palette of over 50 colors sourced from embroidery thread remnants. The abbreviated version provided in this pattern reduces the color palette to 14 distinct shades to improve accessibility and clarity for knitters while maintaining the visual integrity of the horsehead portrait.

Chart Specifications and Dimensions

The Horsehead Chart measures 137 stitches in height by 170 stitches in width, with the larger grid organized in 10x10 stitch blocks for easier pattern reading. The original needlepoint source material was worked at 14 threads to the inch (2.5 cm) and measured approximately 10.5 x 13.5 inches (26.7 x 34.3 cm). Knitters should note that the square grid format may require gauge adjustments and consideration of stitch proportions, as the original dimensions were designed for needlepoint rather than knitting.

Color Palette

The simplified 14-color palette includes:

• 1 red for background definition
• 4 purples for depth and shadow
• 3 browns for natural horse coloring
• 3 blues for contrast and detail
• 3 greens for background elements

Nancy Hand notes that this palette can be expanded considerably based on available yarns and individual artistic preference. The original work utilized many closely-toned colors, with some appearing only as single thread lengths, allowing for significant creative interpretation in yarn selection.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This advanced pattern employs charted colorwork knitting, a technique requiring proficiency in reading multi-row, multi-color grids and executing precise stitch placement across numerous color changes. Knitters must maintain consistent gauge throughout the project to ensure the horsehead portrait renders with proper proportions and visual clarity. The complexity of managing 14 different colors across 137 x 170 stitches makes this project suitable for experienced colorwork knitters familiar with techniques such as stranding, weaving, or intarsia methods depending on individual preference and yarn weight selection.

Materials Required

Knitters will need yarn in all 14 colors from the provided palette, with quantities determined by final project dimensions and chosen yarn weight. Appropriate knitting needles should be selected based on yarn weight and desired finished size. The pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF chart for reference during knitting.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is classified as advanced, requiring substantial experience with colorwork techniques, chart reading, and complex stitch management. The 137 x 170 stitch count combined with 14 simultaneous colors demands attention to detail, color management, and the ability to troubleshoot tension and pattern alignment issues.