If you love crocheted items but get terrified every time you look at a pattern, learning how to read and decipher the abbreviations will open up the world of working with yarn. Baby blankets, hats, afghans and sweaters will no longer be something you simply dream about being able to do. Armed with the "secret" to the code, you'll be able to pick up a pattern and confidently interpret what is before you.
If you have never crocheted before, then Creative World DMC recommends picking an easy pattern to work with until you master the technique of reading the terminology. As your skills progress, you can increase the difficulty of the patterns. Something to keep in mind is that the differences between British and American terminology can cause differences in your end product. Always check which terminology is being used in your pattern.
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How to read a pattern
The way to read any map is to have the key. The same is true of a pattern: It is the map for whatever you are creating. Knowing the common terms and abbreviations is the key to your success.
The way to read any map is to have the key. The same is true of a pattern: It is the map for whatever you are creating. Knowing the common terms and abbreviations is the key to your success.
Common crochet terms and abbreviations:
1. ch - chain stitch
2. Sl st - slip stitch
3. dc - double crochet
4. tr - treble crochet
5. sp(s) - space(s)
6. pm - place marker
7. rep - repeats
8. rnd(s) - rounds
9. RS - right side
10. WS - wrong side
1. ch - chain stitch
2. Sl st - slip stitch
3. dc - double crochet
4. tr - treble crochet
5. sp(s) - space(s)
6. pm - place marker
7. rep - repeats
8. rnd(s) - rounds
9. RS - right side
10. WS - wrong side
Creative World DMC provides a complete list of all American crochet terms that you can print from this PDF download.
Craftsy points out that the basic difference between American and British terminology for stitches is that the British stay one step ahead of the Americans. Chain stitches and slip stitches are the same, but an American single crochet is called a double crochet by the British. This is true of all stitches higher than the slip stitch. Americans use the terms "gauge" and "skip," but the British use "tension" and "miss," respectively.
How to read a diagram
If you don't want to waste time looking up terms in the index of your instructions, learning how to read a diagram comes in really handy. The Craft Yarn Council created a chart of standardized crochet symbols used in diagrams adopted by its members (see below), saying the symbols are "considered to be the clearest and easiest to render and to read." The chart is really a picture of what the stitch actually is. Craftsy points out that many charts have both the British and American definition on them.
If you don't want to waste time looking up terms in the index of your instructions, learning how to read a diagram comes in really handy. The Craft Yarn Council created a chart of standardized crochet symbols used in diagrams adopted by its members (see below), saying the symbols are "considered to be the clearest and easiest to render and to read." The chart is really a picture of what the stitch actually is. Craftsy points out that many charts have both the British and American definition on them.
Diagrams should always be read from the bottom-left corner, working upward. Craftsy reminds you to work the diagram in a zigzag pattern. Right side (RS) numbers always appear on the right side of the diagram, and wrong side (WS) numbers on the left. A number inside a bracket tells you how many times a pattern should be repeated within a row. Craftsy cautions, "Diagrams do not tell you if you work into a chain space or into the stitches."
This example from Crochet Nirvana depicts how a pattern and diagram can differ. The pattern is a step-by-step set of instructions, while the diagram is a visual map of the stitches.
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These tips are not all-inclusive, but they're a great place to start. You can find more help in the pattern you're working with. Hopefully, this helps remove some of the fear from "stitching."