How to Read Crochet Instructions

You have learned to crochet. You have many of the stitches like single crochet, double crochet and half double crochet down pat. There is a beautiful item you have found in a newsstand magazine or in one of your grandmother's old design books. You have the crochet hook required and the yarn or crochet cotton is at your side. You pick up the magazine and begin to read the instructions. Ch 9, sl st in 1st st. Ch 3, 20 dc in ring, sl st in 1st 3-ch. Row 2 Ch 6, 2 tr in same st, (3 tr in 1 lp of next dc) 7 times.By now you think that the printer messed up and the book is written in a different language half of the time. In a way, you are right. If the crochet pattern writer had to write out word by word everything a crocheter must do to complete an item one paragraph could be a page long.Here is the translation for the beginning of the 1948 pattern of a doily written above. Chain 9, slip stitch in first stitch to form a ring. Chain 3, double crochet 20 times in the ring, slip stitch in first chain 3. There are abbreviations and methods to learn when reading crochet patterns. In no time at all you can learn to read a pattern and crochet any item you desire.

Things You'll Need

• Crochet pattern
• Paper
• Pen or pencil
• Crochet Hook in size pattern requires
• Crochet yarn or crochet cotton in desired color

Instructions

1. You need to learn how to translate the abbreviations in a crochet pattern. Get a pen and paper. "ch" is chain."sc" is single crochet."dc" is double crochet."tr" is triple or treble crochet."hdc" is half double crochet."htr" is half triple crochet."st" is stitch."slst" is slip stitch."jn" is join."yo" or "y/o" is yarn over."fo" is fasten off."lp" is loop."p" is picot ."cl" is cluster."ch lp" is chain loop."sts" is stitches."sp" is space.

2. Take your pattern and us the pencil and paper to translate the first sentence of your instructions. Writing them on the paper will help you start to understand the direction.

3. Take your crochet hook with the yarn or cotton and follow the instructions you have translated. Move on to row 2. Translate it to the paper and proceed to crochet that row.

4. You notice in some patterns a strange new type of direction that reads like this, "(2 dc, 2 hdc, 2 sc) in 12 ch lp". This translates to 2 double crochet, 2 half double crochet , 2 single crochet stitches in the 12 loop chain you made on the previous row. Parentheses are used around a series of stitches that go together in one place for example the 12 chain loop as mentioned. They also surround a series of stitches that you will be directed to repeat for the entire row. (2dc,ch6,2dc) 5 times In other words, 2 double crochets, chain 6, 2 double crochets 5 times in a row usually within a loop or chain space. Another strange direction is found with the asterisk sign *. You might read * sc in next 3 sc, 3 sc in next (center) sc, sc in next sc, sk 4 sc in angle and repeat from * around and join. The direction is for you to start at the * and crochet according to the directions until you get to the second * around the piece until you get to the end of the row to join the end.

5. Translate the row directions on to your paper until you can see what you need to do with symbols like ( crochet a pattern here ) and * crochet a row here* It will start making sense very soon and you will be on your way to making wonderful crochet items to treasure. You can do this!

Tips & Warnings

• Translate abbreviations to a piece of card stock and laminate it for a more permanent crochet key.

• Write out a translation for any crochet directions that are hard to understand on a piece of paper.