Learning how to read crochet patterns
I just learned how to crochet over the Thanksgiving Holiday. I just learned the basic stitch that was shown to me by hand. I have made three toboggan hats using the magic adjustable ring: A better way to begin crochet in the round and mostly figuring out what do next on my own. I also made two poncho for my girls and just recently finished making myself a purse with satin lining inside with a zipper. I am truly proud of myself and ready to learn knitting. But one problem I don’t understand directions for the pattern I would like to do in the future. I would like to learn. Is anyone willing to help me understand what all this mean? I have a pattern here in my hands for Cool Caps for Kids. Here the instructions:
With A, ch.4 Join with sl st to first ch to form a ring.
1st rnd: Ch.1 6 sc in ring. Join B with sl st to first sc.
2nd rnd:With B, ch1. 2sc in each sc around. Join C with sl st to first sc. 12sc.
3rd rnd: With C, ch 1. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in next sc) 6 times. Join D with sl st to first sc. 18 sc
4th rnd: With D, ch 1.( 2sc in next sc.1 sc in each of next 2 sc) 6 times. Join A with sl st to first sc. 24sc.
5th rnd: With A, ch 1.(2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 3 sc) 6 times. Join B with sl st to first sc. 30sc.
Keepin cont of pat, inc 6 sts on every row, as before to 48 (54-60) sts, then every following alt row to 60 (66-72) sts.
Next rnd: With appropriate color; working from left to right instead of right to left as usual, work 1 reverse sc in each sc around. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.
Can someone please help me understand the directions? Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Replies
What is it that you don't understand? The abbreviations themselves, the stitches that the abbreviations represent, or a section of the instructions that you're stuck at?
eg. ch means a chain stitch. Do you know how to do this?
sl = slip stitch, sc = single crochet
A,B,C,D represent the 4 different coloured yarns you are using. You don't have to use 4 different colours if you don't want to. You can use only 1 or just 2 depending on the effect you are looking for.
Let me know what will help you the most. We can work through it one step at a time.
Edited 1/7/2007 4:49 pm ET by stitchintime
Thank You for responding. I didn't know that eg. ch means a chain stitch. I knew that what ever project you start on you have to do chain stitch.
sl = slip stitch, sc = single crochet. I kinda figure out that this is what it might mean. Thank You for explaining g what those means but actually doing what it tells you do is confusing for me. I want to do it the right way and not figure out on my own what to do without looking at the directions. I will be using one yarn that has different color pattern in already. I don't really know how to change colors yet.
With A, ch.4 Join with sl st to first ch to form a ring. Does this mean chain stitch 4 and connect with the first chain?
1st rnd: Ch.1 6 sc in ring. Join B with sl st to first sc. Does this mean chain stitch 1 stitch and then crochet stitch all around and stop at where you started? (if I do this it would only have 5 sc in that row.
2nd rnd:With B, ch1. 2sc in each sc around. Join C with sl st to first sc. 12sc. Does this mean chain stitch 1 and hook on the second sc and continue the pattern and stop where you started then and their should be 12sc?
I would do the rest but I have a feeling I am not saying this right or I reading it all wrong. Please correct me on this?
With A, ch.4 Join with sl st to first ch to form a ring. Does this mean chain stitch 4 and connect with the first chain? Exactly. You will then have a "ring" (a little circle)
1st rnd: Ch.1 6 sc in ring. Join B with sl st to first sc. Does this mean chain stitch 1 stitch and then crochet stitch all around and stop at where you started? (if I do this it would only have 5 sc in that row. Chain 1 stitch. (Generally the instructions tell you to do this at the beginning of new rows for easy maneuvering and to bring the yarn up to a height to prepare for the new row of stitches. It's not usually counted as one of the stitches.) Now make 6 single crochet stitches directly into the hole in the ring, not into the individual chain stitches. You should have 6 sc in the ring. Since you are not joining another color, just make another slip stitch into the first sc you made on the ring.
2nd rnd:With B, ch1. 2sc in each sc around. Join C with sl st to first sc. 12sc. Does this mean chain stitch 1 and hook on the second sc and continue the pattern and stop where you started then and their should be 12sc? Slip stitch into the first sc you made and chain one. (Remember, the chain doesn't count as a stitch.) Then make 2 single crochet stitches into each of the 6 sc you made in the 1st round. You should now have 12 sc as instructed.
Edited 1/7/2007 4:47 pm ET by stitchintime
Thank You so much for taking the time to explain this to me. I am getting it some what. But
Now make 6 single crochet stitches directly into the hole in the ring, not into the individual chain stitches. You should have 6 sc in the ring. How do you make 6 single crochet into the hole of the of chain stich you made at the begining. Do you just put the crochet in the hole and make a single crochet stich and go back to the same hole the same way and make another single crochet etc. until you got 6 single crochet stitch?
Then make 2 single crochet stitches into each of the 6 sc you made in the 1st round. You should now have 12 sc as instructed. How do make 2 single crochet stitches? Do you chain stitch 2 times then slip the stitch then go on to the stitch and chain stitch 2 times then slip again until you did them all and got 12sc. Is this correct?
Again thank you for taking your time to explain this for me.
You really need a basic lesson somewhereBut, yes, first you make a ring with the chain stitches, then but the hook in the center of the ring and make a single crochet, then you do it again, putting the hook in the ring, these 6 sc will sort of 'float' on the ring of chain stitches.to do 2sc in each sc, you put your hook in the first sc and do one stitch (a sc) then you put your hook back into the same place(the first sc) and do another sc. This way you have 2 stitches done inside of one stitch. You are not doing any chain stitches on this round, just 2 of the same stitch inside one stitch - its called 'increasing' - you are increasing the number of stitches as compared to the previous row
Judy
Follow Heartfire2's instructions. I couldn't have written them better myself.
You now understand the part about putting stitches into the ring. Keep at it.
You are basically going around in circles, increasing the size of the circle (rnd) each time by "increasing" the number of stitches you had on the previous circle.
Well done! When you refer to the basic stitch, do you know what it's called? It's probably single crochet = sc. What you'll be doing here is making the hat wider by increasing the number of stitches, once you've started, so that one stitch will be made into two by working into it twice.
In the last round, you work what is usually called crab stitch or reverse single crochet - this gives a nice finish to the work.
Here's a link that might help you. It has knit and crochet.
http://www.learntoknit.com/home.html
Good luck; let us know how you're getting on.
Katina
Thank You for pointing that out on what I learned is single crochet. That is all I know right now.
What you'll be doing here is making the hat wider by increasing the number of stitches, once you've started, so that one stitch will be made into two by working into it twice. So are you saying I do the chain stitch than add two chain and stitch into the second stitch and stitch all around to where I started than chain stitch two more and stitch into the second stitch and continue on.Is this correct?
In the last round, you work what is usually called crab stitch or reverse single crochet - this gives a nice finish to the work. Does this means just go backward on your stitch and single stitch all around and stop where I started. How does this give a nice finish work? My guess is I will have to try this to see what it looks like and I have feeling I know why this might be a nice finish because on my three other hats I crochet have one area of the stitch it sticking out on the end of the project not much but it is noticeable.
Hello again
Sorry I wasn't able to reply last night. Others have answered your questions very well, so hopefully you're able to continue with your hats. Is there someone available who can give you a little hands on help?
Katina
I assume there are 4 different color yarns (ABCD)
1st rnd: Ch.1 6 sc in ring. Join B with sl st to first sc.
chain 1 stitch then do 6 single crochets in the ring, join color B to the first single crochet with a slip stitch
2nd rnd:With B, ch1. 2sc in each sc around. Join C with sl st to first sc. 12sc.
with color B chain 1 then do 2 single crochets in each prvious single crotchet and join color C with a slip stitch to the first sinfgle crotchet - you will now have 12 single crochet stitches.
3rd rnd: With C, ch 1. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in next sc) 6 times. Join D with sl st to first sc. 18 sc
With color C do one chain stitch, then, do; (2 single crochet in the next single crochet, 1 single crochet in the next single crotchet - you are increasing one stitch every other stitch-) do this 6 times and join color D slip stitch to the first sc - you should now have 18 stitches going around
Edited 1/7/2007 12:08 pm ET by HeartFire2
Thank You all for your help. Now I understand what I am suppose to do. Hopefully it will turn out. Your right I need someone in my area to be able to help read the directions beside show me how it is done. That is on my list of things to do. Thank again for all your help.
You're very welcome - good luck!
Don't forget to send us a picture when you're done.
You've got me curious enough to try one out myself.
Yes I will do that.:O)
Good instructions so far, but crochet is so much easier to learn visually! Try an internet search with "how to crochet" as your search words. There are many, many excellent sites with lots of photos and diagrams that make everything so much easier to understand.I did this with knitting (as I already know how to crochet) and was happy to find that I could learn at my own pace and see different photos of the same thing. I printed out the basic stitch pages and kept them in front of me until I could do it comfortably and remember it."How to crochet" books have improved dramatically over the years, too, and for a relatively low cost, you can get one that explains the basic stitches as well as advanced techniques. The "For Dummies" series is good, as is "Stitch & Bitch" and "Crochet Nation," but there are many more available, all for less than $15-20.The best thing about crochet is that you can fix mistakes quickly or just incorporate them into your design...keep at it!
Thank You so much for the tips. I will keep at it and hopefully learn how to knit as well. Right now my mom requested for a purse that I made. So I need to start making that then crochet this hat that I asked everyone to explain the directions. Which I am truely Thank You for helpers out there.
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