Stitches

I learned to crochet over the summer, but I don't know how to read the patterns?

While I was at camp, a girl from another group showed me how to make hats and scarves, but I've been trying to teach myself to make other things, using other stitches. I've gone to craft stores and glanced through the pattern books, but I can't read them. I don't understand the shorthand they use. I know single and double crochet, but would love to learn some prettier looking stitches. Are there any websites that interpret crocheting shorthand that might help me teach myself?

Public Comments

1. I just started learning again with a very basic book. I did find this web site that has some examples of the shorthand and what it stands for. It will probably help me out also when I get some more pratice. http://www.crochetkitten.com/tutorials/ readingpatterns.html
2. www.coatsandclark.com and www.lionbrand.com both have good "translation" pages for pattern abbreviations. Go to either one and look around. If you have a different yarn manufacturer that you favor, find their site and have a look there. Yarn manufacturers have a vested interest in keeping up our interest in crocheting and knitting, so their sites usually have great tutorials and patterns and fun ideas - all free, of course, whether you buy their yarn or not.
3. I taught myself to crochet from a simple pattern book. Look for a book that has an index of all of the abbreviations in it, like...sc (single crochet) dc (double crochet), tc ( triple crochet) etc. Look for a book with the illustrations for each one too. I practiced some of the harder, prettier stitches on afghans and scarves. Happy crocheting! My family loves everything I make for them and what I know is not so complicated looks impossible to them! Ha!
4. http://www.anniesattic.com/crochet/learntoread.html this is a good one....
5. I'll give you my favorite webb for chrochette it will give you all of the abreviations and what they mean, and show you many more stiches too. also I get free patterns there. good luck.
6. all the earlier posters have given you the answer you need. a word of caution, though, to avoid confusion & later heartbreak [especially where dimensions are important]. American & UK terms & abbreviations, while the same, actually mean different stitches. so be very careful when reading as to the origin/usage of the term. hence it would be much better to have visuals alongside the term whether you are referring to a book or a site. all the very best & have fun
7. the kittycatlady on this site would know
8. ch = chain dc = double crochet st = stitch sl st = slip stitch sc = single crochet tr = triple crochet sk = skip beg = tells you to start from the beginning (or the beginning) yo = yarn over if it tells you to repeat a stitch, it will read = rep stands for together = tog also here is a website: http://www.ehow.com/how_2203422_understand-basic-crochet-abbreviations.html (hope this helps!)