Crochet Pattern: How to Read Them

If you are new to the art of crochet, you may be wondering how to read a crochet pattern. It's true, if you don't know how to read a crochet pattern, you'll never get very far in your crochet project. To begin with, you should understand that all crochet projects begin with rows or rounds. Rows are worked straight across and rounds are joined together to make a circle. The first thing that you will notice on your crochet pattern is that each instruction will be broken down to either rounds or rows.

You should also be aware of the fact that your crochet pattern will most likely use abbreviations. If you look closely at the pattern, you should be able to locate some type of guide that will let you know what the abbreviations stand for. You'll find that after using a few different crochet patterns that you will begin to memorize what the different abbreviations stand for.

Additionally, if you look closely at the pattern, you should be able to determine the degree of difficulty that the pattern is. Most crochet projects are described as beginner, intermediate, or advanced. Check this and make sure that you choose your pattern accordingly. There is nothing more frustrating than trying a crochet project that is too difficult when you've only begun.

You should read through the pattern several times before you begin your project. This will help familiarize you with any of the terms and let's you get a feel for the difficulty of the project. You should also make sure that you use the hook and yarn type that is recommended in the pattern's instructions. Once you get a lot of practice and gain experience, you'll be able to switch out yarns and hooks, but for now, it's best to use the one's that are recommended.

Finally, always test your gauge. This is a test or sample swatch that you will crochet to make sure that you are crocheting with the proper tension. Save your swatches too. The more you collect the more scrap material you have for making projects in the future.