Alphabet Letters — Knitting & Crochet Pixel Alphabet (5x7 Grid)

Make all 26 uppercase letters as small flat motifs or appliqués using a 5x7 pixel grid. This pattern gives a modular "pixel" method you can knit or crochet, scaling instructions, yarn & needle/hook options, finishing and a complete 5x7 chart for A–Z. Two sizes given: Small (one chart pixel = 1 stitch x 1 row) and Large (scale factor 2: one chart pixel = 2 sts x 2 rows).

Supplies

• Yarn: Main/background and Contrast/letter color. Suggested weights with imperial & metric included below.
• Knitting needles (straight or circular for flat work), or small circulars for mattress stitch seams.
• Crochet hook for single crochet pixel option.
• Tapestry needle, scissors, optional stuffing (if you choose to make 3D plush letters).

Yarn (examples & amounts)

Two typical yarn choices to suit different hand sizes:

• Worsted/Medium (US 4, Aran): approx 25–40 yd (23–32 m) per letter background; contrast color for letter shapes approx 5–15 yd (5–11 m) per letter when making single flat motif. Suggested yarns: 100% wool or acrylic worsted.
• DK/Light (US 3): approx 30–50 yd (27–45 m) per letter background; contrast 8–20 yd (7–18 m) per letter.

Note: those yardages are per small flat 5x7 letter. If you scale up or add borders/stuffing, increase amounts proportionally.

Needles & Hooks (US, UK old, Metric)

Recommended needles for standard small motifs:

• Small size (finer gauge, crisper pixels): US 6 — UK 8 — 4.0 mm
• Medium size (standard): US 7 — UK 7 — 4.5 mm
• Large / Worsted look: US 8 — UK 6 — 5.0 mm

Crochet hooks (for single crochet pixel letters):

• US G/6 — UK 4 — 4.0 mm
• US H/8 — UK 6 — 5.0 mm

Use the size that gives you the fabric you like; check gauge and adjust as needed.

Gauge & Finished Size (approximate)

• Gauge is yarn- and needle-dependent. Example gauge (stockinette) on US 8 / 5.0 mm with worsted: 4.5 sts x 6.5 rows = 1" (2.54 cm). Using that: small 5x7 pixel letter would be approx 1.1" (width) x 1.1" (height) because pixels are square only if row gauge equals stitch gauge; expect letters near 1–2" (2.5–5 cm). Scale factor 2 (each pixel = 2x2) doubles dimensions.
• For crochet single crochet in worsted on 5.0 mm: approx 3.5 sts x 4 rows = 1" so pixel aspect may vary; swatch and adjust for square pixels or accept slightly rectangular pixels—letters will still read clearly.

Abbreviations & Notes

• RS = Right side; WS = Wrong side.
• K = Knit; P = Purl.
• st(s) = stitch(es). sc = single crochet; ch = chain; sl st = slip stitch; sc2tog = single crochet 2 together.
• Pixel = a single chart cell. Small = 1 stitch x 1 row per pixel. Large = scale factor 2 (2 sts x 2 rows per pixel).
• Read knitting charts RS rows left-to-right, WS rows right-to-left when knitting flat.

Techniques (brief)

Knitting Pixel Technique (flat)

1. Work each row in stockinette: RS row knit across, WS row purl across. To color pixels, use intarsia method for blocks of color; for many isolated pixels, overlay with duplicate stitch after knitting the background (recommended for very small letters to avoid many short floats).
2. Option A — Intarsia: attach contrast yarn where contiguous pixels form a block. Carry separate bobbins for blocks; twist yarns on color changes to avoid holes.
3. Option B — Duplicate stitch: Knit the entire rectangle in background color, then embroider the letter following the chart using duplicate stitch. This is easiest for single-color letters on a background and avoids managing many yarn ends while knitting.

Crochet Pixel Technique (flat)

1. Make a foundation chain equal to the chart width in stitches (small = 5 ch + 1 turning if desired). Work rows of single crochet across; each sc = one pixel. Turn and repeat for chart height.
2. To change color, finish last loop of prior color and pull through new color; weave ends after finishing. For many tiny pixels you can also embroider the letter with surface crochet or yarn needle.

Assembly & Finishing

• Block flat motifs lightly to shape and even edges.
• Sew appliqué letters onto garments, blankets or cards using neat invisible stitch around edges. For padded letters, knit two rectangles (background) then stitch around edges leaving a gap, stuff lightly, sew closed.
• Weave in ends and secure duplicate stitch tails on the WS.

Scaling

To make a larger letter, use the scale factor method: replace each chart pixel with a block of N x N stitches/rows (common N=2 or 3). When scaling in knitting, remember row gauge and stitch gauge may not be identical; test a swatch so blocks look square.

5x7 Uppercase Pixel Chart (A–Z)

Each letter is a 5-column x 7-row grid. Rows are shown top–bottom. 1 = filled (letter), 0 = background. Use these rows in order. Example: A = seven strings of five digits.

A: 01110,10001,10001,11111,10001,10001,10001
B: 11110,10001,10001,11110,10001,10001,11110
C: 01111,10000,10000,10000,10000,10000,01111
D: 11110,10001,10001,10001,10001,10001,11110
E: 11111,10000,10000,11110,10000,10000,11111
F: 11111,10000,10000,11110,10000,10000,10000
G: 01111,10000,10000,10111,10001,10001,01110
H: 10001,10001,10001,11111,10001,10001,10001
I: 01110,00100,00100,00100,00100,00100,01110
J: 00111,00010,00010,00010,00010,10010,01100
K: 10001,10010,10100,11000,10100,10010,10001
L: 10000,10000,10000,10000,10000,10000,11111
M: 10001,11011,10101,10101,10001,10001,10001
N: 10001,11001,10101,10011,10001,10001,10001
O: 01110,10001,10001,10001,10001,10001,01110
P: 11110,10001,10001,11110,10000,10000,10000
Q: 01110,10001,10001,10001,10101,10010,01101
R: 11110,10001,10001,11110,10100,10010,10001
S: 01111,10000,10000,01110,00001,00001,11110
T: 11111,00100,00100,00100,00100,00100,00100
U: 10001,10001,10001,10001,10001,10001,01110
V: 10001,10001,10001,10001,10001,01010,00100
W: 10001,10001,10001,10101,10101,11011,10001
X: 10001,01010,00100,00100,00100,01010,10001
Y: 10001,01010,00100,00100,00100,00100,00100
Z: 11111,00001,00010,00100,01000,10000,11111

How to use the chart in knitting (flat stockinette): Cast on width = 5 stitches for small letters. Work rows top-to-bottom following each string. On RS rows, work knit for a filled pixel if you do intarsia/duplicate stitch: if using duplicate stitch, knit whole piece in background color and then embroider 1s. On WS rows purl across. For Large scale (scale factor 2) cast on 5*2 = 10 stitches and work each chart row as two identical knitting rows; within a chart row repeat each pixel as two adjacent stitches of the same color.

How to use the chart in crochet (single crochet): Chain 5 + 1 turning (small). Work 1 sc in each chain across. Each chart row = 1 row of sc. Change color per pixel or work full background then surface crochet or embroidery for the 1s.

Worked Example: Letter A (Knitting, small, duplicate stitch method)

1. Using background color, cast on 5 sts.
2. Work 7 rows of stockinette (RS knit, WS purl) to make a 5x7 rectangle, or work exact number of rows matching your tension so rectangle looks squareish.
3. Block rectangle flat and let dry.
4. Using contrast yarn and duplicate stitch, follow chart rows top-to-bottom placing duplicate stitches on RS to form the A pattern. Secure ends on WS and weave in.

Worked Example: Letter B (Crochet, small)

1. With background color, ch 6 (5 + 1 turning). Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across (5 sc). Turn.
2. Work 7 rows of sc total to make 5x7 rectangle. Fasten off.
3. Using contrast yarn, embroider or surface crochet the B following the 5x7 chart rows.

Tips & Troubleshooting

• For very small letters, duplicate stitch is cleaner than intarsia and produces crisp edges.
• If edges curl in stockinette, add a garter-stitch or seed-stitch border or block and press gently.
• To sew letters onto garments, stitch around the perimeter with small stitches and use matching background thread on the WS for invisibility.

Variation Ideas

• Create a full name panel by knitting a background strip, marking placement, and duplicate-stitching letters spaced evenly.
• Make plush 3D letters by knitting two rectangles, stitching around edges leaving a gap, stuffing and closing and then embroidering the letter on the front.
• Combine colors to make outlined letters (work a thin outline color on the duplicate stitch before filling) or apply beads at pixel centers.

Patterns Licensing & Contact

Use these pixel charts freely for personal and small business work. For pattern support or questions, visit https://purljam.verde.uk or email team@verde.uk. Share finished projects with #purljam.

Happy making! — PurlJam

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