What Makes An Easy Crochet Pattern? Learning
to Read Crochet Patterns By: Amy
Wells
Crochet patterns can look confusing at first. However, once
you understand how a pattern works, and become familiar with
the more common crochet stitches, you'll find reading crochet
patterns one of the easiest aspects of crochet. Learning to
read a crochet pattern will help you feel more confident when
learning the basics of crochet.
Patterns can be written in several different ways. Crochet
instructions can be written out in abbreviations, presented as
symbols, or can be a combination of both. While it may take a
while to learn the symbols, they can save space, and after
awhile, many experienced crocheters find them easier to read.
Another good thing about crochet symbols is that they are
international, so no matter where the pattern comes from, the
symbols will usually be the same.
If you are trying to read and understand a crochet pattern,
the best way is to have both the written instructions and the
symbols handy. You can purchase a variety of crochet books that
will have many different patterns in them, this is a good way
to work your way up from simple, to more complex patterns.
If a series of stitches doesn't making sense by following
the written instructions, often the symbols can clarify what is
actually meant. Crochet charts and symbols can help clarify
written instructions. Some crocheting, such as lace, is
actually much easier to follow using a chart, than reading
written instructions.
Here are some of the common abbreviations used in
crocheting:
sc single crochet
ch st chain stitch
hdc half-double crochet
dc double crochet
sl st slip stitch
trc triple crochet
yo yarn over
tr treble crochet
sp space
sk skip
pat st pattern stitch
When reading crochet instructions, brackets and parentheses
are used to convey related stitches. For example, if you came
across this- "(sk 3 ch, 4 trc in next chain) across the row",
it would first mean you leave three chains unworked, referring
to the sk, which stands for skip. In the fourth chain, you
would then do four treble crochet stitches. You would then
repeat the whole process across the entire row.
When you purchase a crochet book, or patterns, you'll find
the abbreviations and symbols will be explained at the
beginning. Once you've worked with a few patterns, you'll find
yourself much more familiar with the instructions, and you
won't need to refer to the book any longer. The crochet symbols
will become second nature. Similar, but easier than learning a
foreign language, after a bit of study, crochet abbreviations
and symbols will make perfect sense!
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