10 ways to avoid mistakes when reading a crochet pattern

Want to know essential mistakes to avoid in reading a crochet pattern and how to fix them? This article is for you. For first time crocheters, patterns can look as though they are written in a foreign language - and no one has thought to give you a dictionary.
We look at the most common misunderstandings and teach you how to get out of trouble and get going on those all-important first projects. Understand the following 10 points, and you will be way ahead of the curve:
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1. Don't panic!
Your first thought when reading a crochet pattern might well be, "I'm never going to understand this." But don't worry - you'll soon be reading them with the best.
Crochet patterns are written with lots of abbreviations to cut down on repetition and to standardize the way patterns are presented. This can be very confusing at first but all you really need is a guide to the abbreviations like this one.
2. Read the pattern first
It's tempting, once you've got your yarn sorted out and got the right hook for the job, to just plow on and get going straight away. Stop. Read your pattern through first.
It might seem pointless as you're going to be working through it all soon enough. However, if you glance through it first, you'll spot whether there are any stitches involved that you don't already know. It's going to save you time in the long run to get to grips with those now.
Either there will be a panel on your pattern describing how to make difficult stitches, or you can Google anything tricky just so you are prepared. If there are lots of difficult stitches - maybe choose a different, simpler pattern before you've invested too much time and effort. Be kind to yourself!
3. Decoding abbreviations
Don't be phased by the way your pattern is written. Let's take a single line of pattern written in the standard format: Row 1: sc in 2nd ch, hdc across row, (28hdc), ch 2 turn.
Interpretation: you will already have worked a foundation chain of a required number of stitches. This is the first row worked into those initial chain stitches. So, start off with a single crochet into the second chain from the hook, then half double crochet every other chain stitch along until you have completed the row, which will be 28 half double crochet stitches. Now chain two stitches to form the turning chain and bring your hook up to the right level to continue the pattern in the next row, finally turn your work so you are ready to begin again.
As you can see, every pattern would be as long as a novel if we did not use abbreviations. You'll be confused at first - but then you'll be grateful!
3. Make sure you have everything you need
The pattern may casually mention that you need stitch markers or a long straight crochet hook, and you may think, 'no, it'll be fine.' It won't. If the pattern demands something, you really need it. That's not to say you can't improvise - a stitch marker can be anything from a household pin, safety pin or even hair grip that you might have lying around, it doesn't need to be a fancy, specially-bought crochet notion. And aluminium crochet hooks, which tend to be the cheapest, are perfect for keeping lots of loops on your hook.
4. Know your sl st from your sk st.
Nobody's saying you need to know all the crochet abbreviations off by heart. There are lots of them, and many only turn up on the most complicated patterns. But just be aware that some look very similar, but mean different things. If you are worried you have made a mistake, just go back to the pattern and re-read it carefully.
5. If in doubt, rip it out
One of the many great things about crochet is that it's so easy to unravel. Just pull that thread and all your mistakes will disappear and no one is any the wiser. It can be heartbreaking to have to undo a lot of work, but it's better in the long run than keeping a project that's full of mistakes.
6. Hit the right level
It sounds obvious, but don't pick a fiendishly difficult stitch or pattern if you're a crochet newbie. You'll soon be moving on to the tricky stuff, but at first just mastering how to hold the hook and manage your yarn can be enough to be going on with. Most patterns will be printed with an indicator of the level they are aimed at, from beginners, intermediate and improvers to advanced. This should be at the top of the pattern, so do have a look.
7. If in doubt, check it out
If you are working from a written pattern, but are having trouble visualising the way ahead, try finding a YouTube tutorial on the stitch you're working. Sometimes seeing someone's fingers going through the correct motions can be really useful. On the other hand, if you're learning from a video tutorial and something isn't making sense to you, have a look for the written instructions and see if these can make things clearer. At DIYeverywhere.com we cover both visual and written instructions to make things as easy as possible for you.
8. Count your stitches
Patterns often include the number of stitches worked per row (or round) in brackets at the end of the section. While you may think you can skip lightly over this, it's actually pretty useful to keep counting to make sure you have the number of stitches mentioned. It's very easy, in the early stages of crochet, to lose a stitch every row by accidentally missing your last stitch, which will quickly make your beautiful scarf or throw a raggedy affair. It's equally simple to grow a new stitch by working two here or there. By having a quick count along as you finish each row, you can solve a lot of problems before they even develop.
9. What do asterisks mean?
Many crocheters manage to decode their patterns just fine - but are thrown out by asterisks. These can be a little confusing, especially as some patterns use single and double asterisks and you can soon feel as though you're looking at a whole galaxy of stars. Put simply, the asterisk means 'repeat from here'. A double asterisk usually turns up when there is already a repeat in play and indicates a shorter portion of pattern that also needs repeating. No matter how confusing the instructions might look at first glance, you'll find that they become clear if you read through a couple of times. Failing that, try crocheting along slowly and you'll often find that they start to make sense. If you're still confused, this may not be the pattern for you. Don't worry, there are plenty more out there!
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10. Don't give up
Sometimes the whole business of interpreting patterns can seem just too much trouble. But don't be put off - though it seems so odd at first, the jargon used soon becomes second nature. If you print off a list of the abbreviations and have it handy for your first few projects, I guarantee you will refer to it less and less as time goes by, and one day you'll realise you haven't seen it for months.
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