How to Knit a Jesus Fish

You can choose either a simple Jesus fish or one with the name Jesus within the traditional fish.

Knitting a Jesus fish is easy and can be a great embellishment for any knitted item. The Christian fish is a universally recognized symbol of Jesus Christ and the Christian religion. Knitting a Jesus fish pattern on a dishcloth or blanket makes a tasteful gift for religious friends and family. Using online resources makes creating a Jesus fish knitting pattern quick. Adding the Jesus fish chart to any knitting pattern is all you need to complete your customized religious knitting project.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Internet connection
• Jesus fish image file (ie., jpg, gif, png)
• Printer
• Knitting pattern
• Knitting needles, size 7
• 2 balls of cotton worsted weight yarn (same color)

Instructions

Generating a Jesus Fish Pattern

1. Copy your Jesus fish image onto your computer. Make sure you know where the file is located.

2. Edit the image file using a basic photo or image editing software. Clean up the edges and the background of the image, then enhance the colors or sharpen the picture depending on what tweaking it might need. Feel free to skip this step if your image looks fine. Make sure your image file is less than one megabyte in size. Save the newly edited image file to your hard drive.

3. Open your web browser and in the search box type "knitting chart generator" or "knitting chart generator free," then click on the "search" button. From the results choose an online knitting chart generator that will allow you to upload your own image for conversion into a chart. A good knitting chart generator is knitPro, found on microrevolt.org.

4. Enter the requested information into the knitPro web app. It needs to know the grid size of you knitting pattern and the stitch size. Simply select the appropriate circles based on your pattern. The grid sizes run from small (regular) to large (XL.) The stitch choices also run from small (needlepoint, cross-stitch, crochet) to large (knit landscape 7:5.) Again, choose the appropriate circle based on the pattern in which you plan to use the Jesus fish chart.

5. Upload the your Jesus fish image file using the file upload box in the knitPro web app. Click on the, "Choose File", button. This will open a window in which you can select the image file you want charted. Highlight the image file then click on the "Open" button at the bottom right corner. When you return to the knitPro page the name of your file should be seen to the right of the "Choose File" button. Generate your knitting chart by clicking on the "Submit" button below.

6. Check the generated knitting chart to see if it will fit in your pattern. This can be done by counting the number of stitches the chart uses and comparing that amount to the amount the pattern asks for per row. If you need to re-generate the chart go back using your web browser's back arrow button and reconfigure the grid size and stitch size options.

7. Print your Jesus fish knitting chart. Once it is printed you can change parts of it to better suit your knitting project's needs. This chart can work as a general guideline and be altered by you.

8. Locate the middle row of the Jesus fish knitting chart, then count the number of rows above and below the middle row. On the pattern, locate the middle rows of the pattern.Beginning from the middle, count the same number of rows above the middle row of the pattern that are above the middle row of the chart. This is the point in your pattern where your chart should begin. Then starting at the middle again, do the same for the rows below the middle row. This is the point where your chart will end in the pattern.

9. Cast on the number of stitches to start your knitting project and begin knitting. Be sure to begin your Jesus fish chart on the row you marked in the last Step.

Basic Jesus Fish Hand Towel Knitting Pattern

1. This pattern will make a towel with "Jesus" spelled out in the shape of a Christian fish symbol.Cast on 48 stitches using cotton worsted weight yarn and size 7 knitting needles. Pattern is worked from the bottom up with a border around the edges.

   Rows 1 and 2: Garter stitch or knit all stitches in both rows to create a border.

   Row 3: K2, P44, K2. Repeat this on all the odd numbered rows until Row 15

   Row 4: Knit all stitches. Repeat this on all the even numbered rows until Row 14

2. Row 14: Knit all stitches

   Row 15: K2, P44, K2

   Row 16: (Begin Chart) Knit all stitches this row and every even row that follows.

   Row 17: K2, P38, K4, P2, K2

   Row 19: K2, P6, K2, P1, K3, P6, K2, P3, K3, P9 ,K3, P2, K2, P2, K2

   Row 21: K2, P2, K6, P1, K2, P13, K2, P1, K5, P6, K3, P3, K2

   Row 23: K2, P5, K2, P2, K4, P6, K7, P1, K1, P4, K7, P3, K2.

3. Row 25: K2, P2, K2, P1, K2, P2, K3, P4, K3, P7, K2, P3, K2, P4, k5, P2, K2

   Row 27: K2, P4, K4, P1, K2, P5, K2, P8, K2, P12, K2, P2, K2,

   Row 29: K2, P7, K5, P4, K2, P4, K3, P1, K2, P16, K2

   Row 31: K2, P12, K3, P1, K6, P21, K2

   (End Chart.)

4. Row 33: K2, P44, K2. Repeat this for every odd numbered row that follows

   Row 47: Knit all stitches.

   Row 48: Knit all stitches.

   Bind off and weave in any loose ends. You should now have a knitted Jesus fish hand towel.

Tips & Warnings

• Reading a knitting chart can be tricky, Read row one left to right, then read row two right to left. Patterns are written in the same way you knit.

• If the chart generator is not working for you simply get a piece of graph paper and draw your own Jesus fish chart using each box as a stitch. Remember to number the left side with odd numbers skipping a line between each number. Then number the right side with all even numbers, beginning from the second row down and working upward, skipping a line between each number,

References

• Aunt Kathy's Place- My Original Patterns: Christian Fish Symbol

Resources

• knitPro web app
• Jesus Fish Hand Towel Knitting Pattern