How to Read a Crochet Pattern
Nora XuCrochet Beginner’s Guide 14
Jump to sections:
A crochet pattern lists materials and tools you will need for a project and instructions for each row/round. Before jumping into the main section of a pattern, check what crochet terms the pattern is using (US, UK, e.g.). This information usually can be found in the first pages of a pattern.
Crochet terms and abbreviations:
In an English-language crochet pattern, “US terms” and “UK terms” are the most common. These two systems rely on the same physical processes but give many stitches different names. For example, a “single crochet stitch” in US terms (introduced in this guide series) is called a “double crochet stitch” in UK terms. A “half double crochet stitch” in US terms is named a “half treble crochet stitch” in UK terms. If you are interested, you can search “US to UK Crochet Conversion Chart” online to see all the different names. Currently, XY Craft Studio’s patterns are written in US terms.
Crochet patterns are usually written with crochet stitch abbreviations. The following are abbreviations for common stitches and terms (US), many of which are introduced in this beginner guide.
- Chain Stitch: ch
- Single Crochet Stitch: sc
- Half Double Crochet Stitch: hdc
- Double Crochet Stitch: dc
- Slip Stitch: sl st
- Chain Space: ch-sp
- Magic Ring/Circle: MR
- Increase: inc
- Decrease: dec
- Another possible abbreviation for a decrease: [stitch abbreviation]2tog -- e.g., sc2tog, which means crochet two single crochet together.
- Fasten off the yarn: FO
The more you crochet, the more crochet abbreviations and terms you will encounter. Don’t worry if you can’t remember all the abbreviations. They are often listed in the beginning of a crochet pattern when introducing what stitches are used in the project.
Notes in the beginning of the pattern section:
Some patterns might have a few notes in the beginning of the pattern section, which include general info or tips for reading and/or working on the pattern. For example, a note might specify if a turning chain (usual in the beginning of a row/round) or a slip stitch (usually made to close a round) is considered a stitch when counting the number of stitches in a row/round.
Working in rows:
In the pattern section, the row number will be listed in the beginning of each line, and it will be written as “R” or “r” followed by a number. For example, R1, R2, or r1, r2.
When a crochet project is worked in rows, the pattern usually starts with a foundation chain by instructing to make x number of chain stitches, 15 ch (or ch 15), e.g. When seeing 15 ch (or ch 15) in the beginning, you will first make a slip knot and then make 15 chain stitches. The slip knot usually will not be written in the pattern, because to start a project, you first need to get the yarn on the hook. When making a foundation chain, you will start with a slip knot.
Whether or not a foundation chain is listed as the first row will vary from pattern to pattern. For example:
- When the foundation chain is listed as the first row:
R1: 15 ch
R2: Starting from the second ch from the hook: 14 sc
- When the foundation chain is not listed as the first row:
15 ch as the foundation chain
R1: Starting from the second ch from the hook: 14 sc
Working in rounds:
Rounds can also be abbreviated as “R” or “r.” Some patterns will also use “Rnd” or “rnd” as the abbreviation. When a crochet project is worked in rounds, the pattern usually starts with a magic ring or foundation ring. When it starts with a magic ring, the pattern will indicate the type and the number of stitches that should be made in the magic ring. For example, 6 sc in magic ring (or 6 sc in MR). The pattern might not have “Make a magic ring” in the first step; instead, it will specify the type and number of stitches in the MR.
When a crochet project starts with a foundation ring, the pattern will specify the number of chain stitches you should make to form the foundation ring. For example: 15 ch, sl st into the first ch. In this case, the first thing is to get the yarn onto the hook by making a slip knot, which is usually not specified, but is implied by starting with chain stitches. Then, proceed to make the 15 ch and the sl st.
Working into the next stitch:
When a pattern doesn’t specify where to insert the hook to make the next new stitch, make the new stitch adjacent to the one you just finished.
Repetition:
It’s common to see “Rep Row xx” or “Rep Rows xx–xx” in a crochet pattern. The “Rep” stands for repeat. This instruction means you will repeat the same steps as Row xx to make your new row.
If several consecutive rows/rounds are to be identical, a crochet pattern will write, for example, “R8–10: 12 sc.” This means R8, R9, and R10 will each be made with 12 single crochet stitches.
Repetitions can also happen within a row/round when a pattern calls for repeating a series of stitches:
- The use of “across” and “around”
- The use of punctuation
Some patterns will use “across” (for rows) and “around” (for rounds) to indicate that the same set of stitches will be repeated until the row/round is finished. For example, “sc inc around” means make one single crochet increase into each of the stitches from the previous round. If Row 1 has 15 stitches, and the pattern says, “Row 2: sc inc across,” you will make one single crochet increase into each stitch until finishing the row.
In some patterns, you might see certain punctuation to indicate repetition.
For example, R3: (1 sc, 1 sc inc) x 6
This means make a set of 1 sc and 1 sc inc a total of 6 times to form R3.
Designers will have different ways of indicating this type of repetition. The following examples all mean the same as the example discussed above:
- [1 sc, 1 sc inc] 6 times
- (sc, sc inc) * 6
- *1 sc, 1 sc inc*, rep from * to * six times
- *sc 1, inc* rep 6 times
Number of stitches:
A pattern will often list the number of stitches a row/round has when finished. Sometimes it’s listed in (parentheses) next to the row/round number. For example, “Rnd3 (18)” means Round 3 has 18 stitches when finished. Some patterns will list the number of stitches at the end of the steps for the row/round, and stitch(es) will be abbreviated as st(s). For example, R3: [sc 1, inc] 6 times. (18 sts).
Finally, if you are ever in doubt about the meaning of a pattern’s instructions, you can always try to contact the designer.
-----------------------
This crochet beginner’s guide, including the step-by-step instructions, photographs, videos, logos, and text, are intended for personal use only and may not be used for any other purpose. You may not make, share, sell, distribute, or publicize (nor cause any such actions to be taken with regard to) any tutorials, demonstrations, lessons, or other guides, in any format for any purpose, that reference or replicate XY Craft Studio’s beginner’s guides, patterns, photographs, videos, or text, in whole or in part.
If you would like to share this beginner’s guide with others, you can share a link to this page.
-----------------------