If you’ve been reading crochet patterns for a while you know there are certain conventions that branch across the writing styles of all (or most) pattern designers. These make it possible for us to learn to read patterns and use them regardless of stylistic differences from designer to designer. However, there are still so many writing styles it can sometimes be difficult to jump from one designer to the next. While I can’t do much to cover all of the possible differences in writing styles that you will encounter in your time crocheting, I can give you a little heads-up about my own style.
Typically, I’m a rule breaker. I like to think of myself as a crochet renegade. But when it comes down to it, some rules are just plain helpful. So I have some that I’ve developed for myself that I stick to in order to make things easier on you when you read my patterns and me when I write them.
Please keep in mind the conventions listed below have been developed over time. Therefore, some of my older patterns may not adhere to all of them. You can also assume then, that these will continue to develop over time, so you may consider checking back in the future or referencing this page any time you decide to pick up one of my new patterns.
Abbreviations:
- BLO = back loop only
- ch = chain
- dc = double crochet
- dtr = double-treble crochet
- FLO = front loop only
- hdc = half-double crochet
- mc = magic circle (I ALWAYS use and recommend double magic circles, but I never call them that)
- r(#) = round or row number
- RS = right side
- sc = single crochet
- sk = skip
- slst = slip stitch
- sp = space
- st = stitch
- tr = treble crochet
- yo = yarn over
- WS = wrong side
Stitches:
I try to always use the same name for the same stitch across patterns. There are a few exceptions (e.g. Lotus Moon Tiles uses a slightly modified puff stitch), but for the most part you can count on these stitches to be the same across patterns.
{Stitches section coming soon}
Note: be cautious of the word “shell”. To my mind a shell will always be (2dc, ch2, 2dc), but it can often be used as a catchall phrase that includes things like 5dc, or (3dc, ch2, 3dc). There can be small shells and large shells. Shells tend to be whatever the pattern needs them to be.
Brackets:
(Parentheses) contain groups of stitches that should be made into a single stitch or space – in this case they usually come before the instruction for where to make them; Example: “(sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch2 sp.” They may also contain groups of sequential stitches that should be skipped – in this case they usually come after the words “sk next”; Example: “sk next (2dc, ch1, picot, ch1, 2dc).”
[Square brackets] contain instructions that should be followed multiple times in a row.
{Curly brackets} with italic text contain notes within the pattern that are helpful for clarifying the pattern. Sometimes I use {Curly brackets} with regular text to include an alternative or second option to a part of the pattern. I also sometime use {curly brackets} for repeats when I’ve already used [square brackets] and I want to make sure you can see the difference.
Repeats:
A long section of a pattern that is to be repeated will fall between two *asterisks*. A second long section of a pattern will fall between two ^carets^. These almost always overlap each other and are followed by the instructions to “repeat from * to * # times and from ^ to ^ # times more.” Remember this about repeats: work straight through the instructions until you come to the part of the pattern telling you to repeat according to the symbols. This instruction to repeat is additional to what you’ve already worked. So, if you’ve already worked that section once and the pattern tells you to repeat 2 times, you will have worked that section a total of 3 times. One more thing about repeats: follow the symbols very closely and do not repeat anything that falls outside of them.
Grammar:
Grammar is very important in pattern reading. You’ll find it isn’t something you actively think about, but it is essential to clear pattern reading.
A comma “,” typically separates pieces of instructions. You can often think of instructions between commas as the different steps. I get more questions from crocheters trying to complete a step without reading all of the instructions to the next comma. Before you make any stitch, read to the next comma, pause to make the stitch, and then move on to the next instruction.
A period “.” is often used to separate very different instructions. For example, I typically separate the first few instructions on how to start a round/row from the repeated instructions with a period. I also like to use them to signify that a major change to the stitches is coming, for example when I instruct you to work a section of a pattern into an entirely different round/row.
Misc:
Each round or row is written as though you are working into the previous round or row unless otherwise specified.
