- Learn to crochet
At first glance, crochet patterns can look like a foreign language. That’s because they use a lot of abbreviations to save space, and make it easier to keep track of where you are in the pattern. With practice, you will become familiar with the terms and appreciate the shorter versions when reading them.
One of the very first skills to master as a crochet beginner is how to comfortably hold and control your tools. Finding a grip that feels natural will make your stitches smoother and your learning process much more enjoyable.
1. What country are the crochet terms from?
Different countries have different words for the same stitches. For example, the British English term double crochet (dc), is actually the same term as the American English term single crochet (sc). This can get confusing so most patterns show the country at the start of a pattern so you know which abbreviations are being used.
Here are some common abbreviations used in amigurumi written with US terminology:
rnd: round
yo: yarn over
sc: single crochet
inc: increase
dec: decrease
ch: chain
2. How do you read crochet patterns?
Different crochet pattern designers use different formats to convey their instructions. This is also usually defined at the beginning of the pattern. You can expect that there will be repetition of stitches, which is probably the most confusing part to reading a pattern. Some patterns use brackets ((…), […]) or multiplier indicators (*, x), to convey which stitches you should repeat and for how many times.
Crochet patterns by Knottykins are written in US terminology, and follow this format:
Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x 4 (12)
This means that for round 3, repeat the sequence of [1 sc followed by 1 inc] a total of 4 times.This could be written as follows: [sc, inc] [sc, inc] [sc, inc] [sc, inc]
The total number of stitches in the round is 12 stitches.
