Reading Patterns

One of the things a beginning crocheter often has problems with is reading a pattern. It can be confusing, almost like reading a different language.

Here is a good article at reading patterns at Annie's Attic written by Brenda Stratton. Below are some hints of my own.

Sometimes a designer will make a notation on the pattern as to the skill level needed to complete the pattern. The designer of the pattern, of course, determines what skill level he or she chooses to put on it, if any. I normally don't put skill levels on my patterns though I have on a few of them. This is particularly because it means different things to different people. What you feel is easy might be hard to someone else. You might also remember that being ABLE to do something and wanting to do it or wanting to take the time to mess with it are not the same thing. You might have the skill to do it, but it may not be something you are interested in doing.

Crochet designer Bendy Carter (author of Crochet on the Edge) recently posted her opinion of the various skill levels. Since I agree with her ideas, I have obtained permission to repost them here. This is not anything official, but just a guideline as seen by a couple of crocheters. CYCA has a different guideline noted on their web site, which you might want to take as "official". They are okay as far as they go, but I think Bendy's is more comprehensive and really gives a better idea to the average crocheter, who maybe doesn't make a lot of clothes which require shaping.

I left the abbreviations in as I think you need to learn those if you don't know them already!

Beginner:
Someone who is just learning to crochet.
Can do ch, sc, dc.
Can dec at the end of a row by leaving a st unworked.
Can inc at the beg or end of a row by working 2 sts.

Advanced Beginner:
Someone who can do things listed under Beginner.
Can do hdc, tr, sl st.
Can use a combination of the learned sts in a rep pat.
Can change colors at the beg and end of a row.
Can sl st across to form dec at beg of row.
Can follow a written or graph pattern that uses known sts in a repetitive form with the help of an abbreviation key.

Intermediate:
Someone who can do things listed under Advanced Beginner.
Can do MOST of the following in basic form (not all, just most, as a suggestion say 9 or more of the following 17 listed):
post stitches, filet, tunisian, double ended hook, hairpin lace, broomstick lace, shells, popcorns, clusters, pineapples, roll
stitch, surface ch st, loop st, connected st, cross st, spike st, reverse sc, etc.
Can crochet in circles, in square rnds, as well as back and forth.
Can change colors in the middle of a row.
Can work dec sts at the beg and end of a row.
Can follow a written or graph pattern that uses known sts in a repetitive form.

Experienced:
Someone who can do fancy versions of the stitches listed in Intermediate. For instance; can form cables using post stitches,
can knit and purl in tunisian, can do lacets and patterns in filet, etc.
Can do numerous color changes.
Can do inc and dec sts to create detailed shaping.
Can follow a pattern to work an unusual or intricate st not seen before.
Can follow a pattern that does not use a repetitive st.

A few things are mentioned in the above that you might not immediately recognize. I thought I'd include a few links for additional research if you are curious. The list is not comprehensive but a start.

For filet crochet, check the links on my filet tutorial.
http://www.crochetcabana.com/specialty/filet_crochet.htm

I also found this at about.com regarding lacets
http://crochet.about.com/library/blhowtolacet.htm

Nexstitch has videos which include the spike stitch and there is also the bullion, which is the rolled stitch.
http://www.nexstitch.com/v_crochet_videos.html

The spike stitch is, I believe, the same as the long stitch with variations in how many rows below you insert your hook into. I have a tutorial on the long stitch and I did find spike stitch at Crochet Me with a really nice photo showing the different lengths
http://www.crochetme.com/Aug_Sept_2005/feat_spike_stitch.html

A surface stitch is one worked on top of the work you've already done. I don't have a tutorial on it and, in fact, have never done a project using it, but I've seen many in books and leaflets and it can greatly enhance a plain piece.

Below you will find a list of abbreviations commonly used in patterns. However, I have definitions of these abbreviations and more in the Crochet Dictionary on this site. If you are an experienced crocheter, you may only need to be reminded of what the abbreviation means, so I am keeping this chart up here which takes less time to load than the dictionary with the pictures.

If you find abbreviations give you trouble when trying to read a pattern, continue reading for a way to get rid of them for patterns you have (or can get) into your computer. Remember that if you type in a pattern that is copyrighted, you may not share that pattern with anyone else. It is for your personal use only.

Here is the list of terms which you may see when you are reading a crochet pattern (they are in alphabetical order for convenience). Please see the Crochet Dictionary for additional information including definitions of terms and pictures.

alt alternate
approx approximately
beg begin, beginning
bet between
BP back post
BLO back loop only
bo bobble
BP back post
BPdc back post double crochet
CC contrasting color
ch chain stitch
CL cluster
cont continue
dbl double
dc double crochet
dc2tog double crochet 2 stitches together
dtr or dbl tr double triple
dec decrease
dir directions
dk dark
DNT/dnt do not turn
ea each
ex sc extended single crochet
fig figure 1 (picture of stitch)

FLO front loop only
FP front post
FPdc front post double crochet
fo finish off
foll following
g gm grams
gr group
hdc half double crochet
hk hook
htr half triple crochet
in inch
inc increase
incl including
inst instructions
ldc long double crochet
lp(s) loop(s)
lsc long single crochet
lt light
MC main color
med medium
mm millimeter
no. number
oz(s) ounce
p picot

pat or patt pattern stitch
pc popcorn stitch (also pop, pc, ps)
pm place marker
prev previous
rem remaining
rep repeat
rnd(s) round(s)
rs right side
rsc reverse single crochet
sc single crochet
sc2tog single crochet 2 together
sk skip
sl st slip stitch
sp(s) space(s)
st(s) stitch(es)
tch turning chain
tog together
tr triple (treble) crochet
x times (such as repeat 5x)
ws wrong side
yd(s) yards
yo yarn over
yoh yarn over hook

If you have a hard time with the abbreviations, you can easily convert a pattern you have in your computer to "regular" English. Here's how:
Firstly, the pattern must be in your computer somewhere or you have to type it in. Open your word processor. Copy and paste the text of your pattern into your word processor if it is not already there. If it is already saved, then open that file.

At the top of your screen are your commands - File, Edit etc. Under Edit is a command called "Replace". There is one that will just find and there is one that will both find an item and then replace it with something else. When that box opens, in the box to the right of "find" type in one of the abbreviations in your pattern, for example ch. In the "replace" section, type in chain. (Keep in mind that if there is an instance where you need "chains" with an "s", this will not put the "s" in.) You may also want to check the little box that says "match case" if your program has that. This is so that it doesn't just look for words. In other words, it would look for space-ch-space. Some patterns will not have a space between ch-3 for example.

Then click on the box to the right that says "Find next". Here's where you have to be careful. You see, "ch" may appear in your pattern as part of a word, and not an abbreviation. The program will highlight every "ch" it finds. If the one that is highlighted is an abbreviation that you want to change, you just click on "replace". DO NOT click on "replace all" unless you are POSITIVE that "ch" only appears in your pattern as an abbreviation. For example, it may find "ch" in "satchel". If you replace the "ch" your word will read "satchainel", which would be wrong.

When you are finished with ch, just delete it from your "find" box and type in the next one you want to do. It may take a while if you have a long pattern but eventually you will have a pattern written in "real English" that you can work with ease.

Keep in mind that this works the other way too. If you have a pattern written in long hand and you want abbreviations, just follow the procedure backwards.

Another thing that many patterns will talk about right at the first, along with the materials that you need to have on hand, is gauge. I have created another section in the tutorials that talks about gauge.