How to Read Crochet Written Patterns

                                                        

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When you see a crochet pattern do you feel like some jumbled up puzzle? Well what seem seems like a secret code is simply crochet abbreviations arranged together to form a complete pattern. The other part of the patterns are instructions and guides to help one understand the project better. Written patterns are the most common way which designers share patterns.There are millions of written patterns and as a crocheter you do not want to miss out on an interesting projects because you cant read a pattern. Here is a link to my free pattern the reversible cowl which you can use as practice. 

Crochet designers have a variety of ways to present a pattern based on their preference and choice, however a good pattern will be presented in the following structure and order. 

1. Title of Pattern 
2. Photo of finished product 
3. Introduction 
4. List of supplies 
5. Finished size 
6. Gauge 
7. Difficulty level 
8. Crochet abbreviations 
9. Stitch guide 
10. Important notes 
11. Instructions 
12. Progress photos 
13. Copyright information 

 We are going to explore each section to understand the whole structure of a pattern. By the end of this article, you should be able to read a pattern and make something from a pattern

1. Pattern Title

This is essentially the name of the crochet pattern which will be used to identify the pattern.

2.  Photos of Finished Project

This is a visual representation of how the completed project will look like.

3. Introduction 

This is where the designer will give an introduction and the inspiration behind the pattern and basic overview. Most will also let you know if there are other forms of the pattern such as a video tutorial.

4. List of Supplies

This will be a list of the supplies that are required for the project which should include 

• The yarn category, brand, colors, length or weight 
• The hook sizes 
• Other supplies such as stitch markers, scissors, tape measure, safety eyes etc.

 It is important to read this part carefully so you can have the correct supplies for your project.

5. Finished Size

The sizes of the finished project will be listed here which would include the length, width, height or diameter.

6. Gauge

This is the number of stitches and rows per inch/cm. This is very important for clothing items to make sure that it fits correctly. It is recommended you make a swatch before you start with your project to make sure you have the correct gauge.

7. Difficulty Level

Crochet patterns are generally classified as beginner, intermediate or expert. The designer will decide the difficulty level of the project based on the complexity of the stitch as well as general construction. This does not mean that if you are a beginner you cannot work on an intermediate of expert pattern; however it may be a bit challenging.

8. Terminology

Crochet pattern terminology is either US or UK terminology and the main difference is what the most commonly used stitches are called. Most designers will let you know which terminology is used for the pattern.

9. Crochet Abbreviations

Crochet patterns are written in short form and in abbreviations and not full descriptions. There are hundreds of crochet abbreviations relating to various stitches. It can seem daunting when you see the abbreviations, but once you master the basics you will be on your way to reading a crochet pattern. As mentioned, there are some differences between the terminology between US & UK terms, here are the five stitches that generally differ.

The most commonly used is the US terminology so here is a list of the most common with abbreviations.

10. Stitch Guide

This is where the designer will describe the stitches that have been used for the pattern. The designer will also indicate any special stitches and how they are worked.

11. Important Notes

Any important notes that the designer feels will be important for the execution of the project will be mentioned here. Special techniques, links to other patterns and other tricks relevant to the pattern will also be highlighted here. The colour codes to the various sizes will also be mentioned in this section.

12. Instructions

This is the actual pattern which is presented per row or round. It starts with the row number, then the actual pattern and at the end in brackets the number of stitches at the end of the row. Typically this is how an instruction of the row look like:

R4: ch1, *hdc3, 2hdc* Repeat ** till end of row, join at the top of the ch (25)

• The red section is the row/round number
• The black section is the instruction
• The blue section is the number of stitches at the end of the row/round

12. Progress Photos

The designer will include photos usually under the relevant row of how the project would look like thus far. Sometimes the designer will number the photos and include them at the end of the pattern.

13. Copyright Information

This is the copyright information verifying that the designer owns the pattern and will indicate how the pattern can be used and distributed. While this may have a legal composition, there

are some things that cannot be legally reinforced, such as prohibiting the maker from selling products made form the pattern.

Bringing it Together

There is no particular structure that a designer has to follow , but a good pattern will include all these items in this order for ease of the maker. The most important thing is to understand the abbreviations, the rest will come as its always fully described. Here is my free written pattern of a reversible cowl which you can use as practice. 

You can find a pdf download of this article here

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