How to read a crochet pattern

The first page

Before the instructions, every good pattern gives you the information that decides whether the project will work: the skill level and techniques, the yarn weight and yardage, the hook size, the gauge, the finished measurements, the abbreviations used, and notes on construction. Read the whole first page before buying yarn. In our patterns it also says whether the turning chain counts as a stitch and which terminology system is used.

Abbreviations

Every pattern defines its own abbreviations on the first page, and any unusual stitch is explained in a special stitches section before the instructions. If an abbreviation is not in the table, look there.

Asterisks and repeats

Asterisks mark the start and end of a section you repeat. sc in next 2 sts, inc rep to end means: single crochet in two stitches, increase in the next, and do that group again and again until the row is finished. The text after rep tells you how far: to end, to last 3 sts, 5 more times. A repeat is one unit; count how many units fit to check your stitch count before you start.

Parentheses and brackets

• A group in parentheses worked into one place: (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner sp means all of that goes into the corner space.
• A group with a count after it: [dc in next st, ch 1] 5 times means do the bracketed thing five times.
• A number alone in parentheses at the end of a row: (28) is the stitch count you should have.
• Sizes: ch 60 (66, 72, 78) lists the smallest size first, then the others in order. Circle your size throughout the pattern before you begin.

Reading a row without losing your place

Charts

Some patterns, especially lace and motifs, include a chart: a drawing where each symbol is a stitch, laid out in the shape of the finished piece. Charts are read from the bottom up, right to left on right side rows and left to right on wrong side rows (or counterclockwise in the round). A key explains the symbols. Charts and written instructions always say the same thing; when one is unclear, the other usually settles it. Every charted pattern in this shop includes the written version too.

When the pattern seems wrong

First check the previous row's count. Then check that you are reading your size. Then check whether the turning chain counts. Most apparent errors are one of those three. If it still does not work, look at the pattern page for an errata note, and if there is none, open a support ticket with the row and what you got; we would rather fix a pattern than have you guess. Reading a pattern is a skill, and like every other one in this section it is learned by doing it slowly a few times until it becomes fast.