Learning to read crochet patterns

Written by Brenda Stratton

The key element in learning to read crochet patterns is understanding the writing style, which
includes the crochet abbreviations and symbols included for your convenience at the end of this
article. It's not necessary to learn the abbreviations and symbols all at once, but refer to the lists
as you find these terms listed in your crochet patterns.
Some things to remember when reading crochet patterns:

Crochet patterns are worked in either rows or rounds (rnds). Each pattern will specify
whether you are working in rows, rounds or a combination of both.

Most crochet patterns are rated according to level of difficulty, including beginner, easy,
intermediate and advanced. Choose the level of difficulty most suited to your crochet
abilities. Avoid the frustration in trying to work with a crochet pattern that is too
advanced. As you gain more crochet experience, you will be able to successfully tackle
more difficult patterns.

It is important to count your stitches as you work so you have as many stitches on each
row or round as the pattern indicates.

Always check your gauge. While it may not be so important if you are making a project
for which you have an unending supply of yarn or thread and feel it isnt important what
size it turns out to be, you will be setting yourself up for disappointment if you are
making a project that needs to be the size indicated in the pattern. To check your gauge,
crochet a swatch approximately 4 inches by 4 inches in the stitch pattern used in the
crochet instructions. If your gauge is larger than the gauge indicated in the pattern, try a
smaller hook. If your gauge is smaller, try a larger hook.

Reading crochet patterns takes practice, so dont be discouraged in the beginning if you
dont understand all of the patterns you would like to crochet. The more you practice, the
easier it becomes. Before long, youll be able to follow any crochet pattern you wish.

You may find it helpful to take a class in learning to crochet. Check with local craft stores
and continuing education centers to see what is available. If you have a friend who
crochets, he or she may be willing to get you started.

To most beginners, a pattern written in standard crochet abbreviations looks like a foreign
language. To help simplify things, weve given two rows of a single pattern written first in
standard crochet abbreviations, then repeated in standard English. As you can see, writing a

pattern in standard crochet abbreviations takes up a great deal less room and helps you to focus
on the instructions.

Written in standard crochet abbreviations, row 1 looks like this:

Row 1: With size H hook, ch 15, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn.
(14 sc)
Now, written in standard English, row 1 looks like this:
Row 1: Using a size H crochet hook, make 15 chain stitches, single crochet in the second chain
stitch from the hook and in each chain stitch across, turn. (There are 14 single crochets at the end
of this row.)
After completing row 1, proceed to row 2. Written in standard crochet abbreviations, it looks like
this:
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in first sc, sc in each rem sc across to last sc, 2 sc in last sc, turn. (16 sc)
Written in standard English, row 2 looks like this:
Row 2: Chain 1, work 2 single crochets in the first single crochet of row 1, work a single crochet
in each remaining single crochet of row 1 except for the last single crochet; work 2 single
crochets in the last single crochet of row 1, turn. (You have increased 1 stitch in the first single
crochet of this row and 1 stitch in the last single crochet of this row for a total of 2 increased
stitches. There are 16 single crochets at the end of this row.)
Refer to this site often for lists of abbreviations and symbols, videos and explanations of
individual stitches and helpful tips and hints. Armed with these tools, the desire to learn and a
little patience, youll soon be on your way to reading crochet patterns!
Abbreviations, Symbols and Additional Terminology
Abbreviations
beg....................... begin/beginning

bpdc..................... back post double crochet

bpsc...................... back post single crochet
bptr....................... back post treble crochet
CC......................... contrasting color
ch.......................... chain stitch
ch-......................... refers to chain or space previously made (i.e. ch-1 space)
ch sp..................... chain space
cl........................... cluster
cm......................... centimeter(s)
dc......................... double crochet
dc dec................... double crochet 2 or more stitches together, as indicated
dec........................ decrease/decreases/decreasing
dtr......................... double treble crochet
fpdc...................... front post double crochet
fpsc...................... front post single crochet
fptr........................ front post treble crochet
g........................... grams
hdc........................ half double crochet
hdc dec................. half double crochet (decrease) 2 or more stitches together, as indicated
inc......................... increase/increases/increasing
lp(s)....................... loops(s)
MC........................ main color
mm........................ millimeter(s)

oz.......................... ounce(s)
pc......................... popcorn
rem........................ remain/remaining
rep........................ repeat(s)
rnd(s)..................... round(s)
RS......................... right side
sc.......................... single crochet
sc dec................... single crochet (decrease) 2 or more stitches together, as indicated
sk.......................... skip(ped)
sl st....................... slip stitch
sp(s)...................... space(s)
st(s)....................... stitch(es)
tog........................ together
tr........................... treble crochet
trtr......................... triple treble
WS........................ wrong side
yd(s)...................... yard(s)
yo......................... yarn over
Symbols
Crochet patterns use symbols to signal repeated text, special instructions and clarifying
information.
( ) Work instructions within parentheses in place directed; used to indicate collective stitch
groups worked as one procedure in the same place; used for additional or clarifying
information, indicated in italic text.
Examples:

(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner sp

(sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc) in next st

(48 dc) indicating stitch count at end of row or round

(88 [94, 106, 112] sc) indicating multiple stitch counts for additional garment sizes or
rows/rnds.

Row 1 (RS): indicating front of work

[ ] Repeat instructions within brackets as directed; also used to indicate additional or clarifying
information.
Examples:

[dc in next dc, cl in next ch-1 sp] 5 times

[dc in each of next 3 dc, shell in next shell] across to next corner

Childs 2 [4, 6, 8] indicating multiple finished garment sizes

Rows 2936 [3138, 3140]: indicating additional rows/rnds for multiple sizes

Sc in each of next 4 [5, 6] sts indicating additional instructions for multiple sizes

{ } Repeat instructions within braces as directed; used to indicate a set of repeat instructions that
are worked within a bracketed set of repeat instructions, or to indicate multiple repeats of
stitch patterns that are part of a collective stitch group contained within parentheses.
Examples:

[dc in each of next 3 sts, {shell in next ch-1 sp} twice] 4 times

[{ch 5, sc in next ch sp} twice, ch 5, sk next dc, dc in next dc, {ch 1, sk next dc, dc in next
dc} 6 times] twice

({dc, ch 1} 5 times, dc) in next ch-2 sp

({sc, ch 3} 3 times, hdc, ch 2, hdc, ch 3, {sc, ch 3} twice, sc) all in corner sp

Repeat instructions following a single asterisk or between two single asterisks as directed.

Examples:

Ch 1, sc in first sc, *ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp, sc in next sc, rep from * across

*Sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, rep from * around

Ch 1, *(sc, dc, tr, dc, sc) in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, sc in next hdc, ch 2, rep from * 6 times

Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in each of next 22 sc, *[2 sc in next sc, sc in each of next 3 sc] twice,
2 sc in next sc*, sc in each of next 23 sc, rep between * once, join in beg sc.

* * This symbol has two uses, as follows:

1. Repeat instructions between or from double asterisks as directed, usually in combination
with a set of single asterisk instructions.

Examples:
Ch 1, *(sc, 2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc, sc) in corner sp, (sc, 2 dc, sc) in next ch-3 sp, **ch 1, sk next ch1, sl st in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next ch-1**, [(sc, dc, ch 1, sc) in next ch-3 sp] 3 times, rep
between ** once, (sc, 2 dc, sc) in next ch-3 sp, rep from * 3 times, join.
Sl st in next st, sl st in corner ch sp, ch 3, dc in same sp, *[(picot, 2 dc) 3 times in same sp,
**2 dc in next ch sp, (picot, 2 dc) twice in same sp, rep from ** across to next corner ch sp], 2 dc
in next ch sp, rep from * twice, rep between [ ] once, join.

2. Work a partial set of repeat instructions as indicated by double asterisks.

Examples:
*Ch 3, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next ch-2 sp, ch 3**, V-st in next dc, rep from * 3 times, ending last
rep at **
2 sc in first st, *ch 2, sk next st, cl in next st, ch 2, sk next st**, 2 sc in next st, rep from *
around, ending last rep at **

Repeat instructions between or from diamonds as directed, usually in combination with

single asterisk instructions.

Examples:
Ch 1, sc in same sc, *sk next ch-2 sp, [sc in next sc, ch 3] 4 times, sc in next sc, sk next
ch-2 sp, sc in next sc, rep from * 6 times, rep between once, sc in next sc

({Sl st, ch 3} 3 times, sl st) in corner sp, ch 3, sk next 3 sts, (sl st, ch 3, sl st) in next st, ch 3,
sk next 3 sts, (sl st, ch 3, sl st) in next ch-2 sp, ch 3, sk next 3 sts, sl st in next st, ch 3, sk next 3
sts, (sl st, ch 3, sl st) in next ch-2 sp, rep from across to last 7 sts before corner sp, ch 3, sk next
3 sts, (sl st, ch 3, sl st) in next st, ch 3, sk next 3 sts, rep from * around, join.
Additional Terminology
Work even: Work in pattern already established without increasing or decreasing stitches.