Day 174 - How to read a Crochet Pattern

September 20th, 2012

How to read a Crochet Pattern

For those of you that have already read the tutorial on how to read a knitting pattern, this will include a bit of a repetition.

When looking at the crochet pattern,  it will indicate the size of yarn and needles you will need to complete the project. Remember if you change the yarn or hook size you will change the gauge of the project and the garment may turn out larger or smaller than you intended. Crocheting a swatch, a crocheted test square, will best tell you if you have the right size hooks and yarn. Make sure the gauge matches the pattern, example the pattern says 10 stitches equal 4 inches, but you need 12 stitches you need neither big yarn or hook or both.

When buying yarn, a good rule is to buy at least one extra ball with the same dye lot number. (Dye lot number- is located on the tag. All balls of yarn with matching dye lot numbers were dyed around the same time with the same dye. Possibly in the same vat. This ensure the colour is consistent.)

Like knitting patterns, crochet patterns are also by rounds or rows. Unlike knitting, crocheting only uses 1 needle (called a crochet hook) whether working back and forth or in a round. Even when working in the round (Working in the Round is simply that. Crocheting in a continuous circle.) there is still a beginning and end of each round. Patterns are written in abbreviations, otherwise they would be way too long. 

ch is chain,  sc is single crochet, each set of letters is a stitch. When a number comes directly before or after the letters, this indicates multiples of the same stitches. Example,  ch 5 means chain 5 stitches. An Astrix * or bracket in a pattern indicates repeating a sequence. A sequence should also be repeated if indicated by "X times" as in dc sc X5 means crochet a double crochet then single crochet, complete 5. 

Abbreviation chart - includes but not limited to

These are the basic stitches which will provide you with a foundation for most patterns.

ch - chain - foundation stitch

sc - single crochet

dc - double crochet

tc - triple crochet

hdc - half double crochet

inc - increase - crocheting more that 1 stitch in a single loop from the previous row or chain. (like kfb)

dec - decrease - crocheting two stitches together. (like k2tog) OR

sc2tog - single crochet decrease

st - stitch

bl - back loop

fl - front loop

sl st - slip stitch

yo - yarn over