When you're a crochet beginner, most crochet patterns almost look like a foreign language! To help you understand a pattern, you have to understand the writing style first.
Terms and Abbreviations
Most patterns are written using standard shorthand abbreviations. To make things a little more difficult, the abbreviations aren't the same world wide; there's a difference between US terms and UK/Australian terms. Use the following table for reference the next time you're reading a crochet pattern, and make sure you know what terms and abbreviations are used.
If you follow these instructions, you have to: crochet 1 single crochet stitch, then crochet an increase into the next stitch (by making 2 single crochet stitches into the same stitch), and then repeat that until the end of the row. You know you've done a good job when you end up with 18 stitches after completing the row.
Ready, Set, Crochet!
Now that you know how to properly read any crochet pattern, it's time to grab your hook and start crocheting! For more in-depth crochet tutorials, be sure to check out our Crochet Fundamentals series.
And whether you're a beginner or a true crochet master; check out our growing library of crochet patterns! Remember that if you're ever stuck on a pattern: it's okay to ask for help!
