Stitches

How do you crochet a baby blanket? Need help with instructions...?

I am trying to follow a pattern but I have no idea what it is asking me to do. I've started with my basic chain the next step is what I cannot figure out. The instructions say "shell in 6th ch from hook (first 5 skip chs count as a dc and 2 skip chs)." Any help would be helpful.

Public Comments

1. Go to ravelry.com for patterns. You can find patterns for any type of crochet or knitted garments. Here are some visual instructions.... http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/how-to-crochet-crochet-chevron-stitch-motive/656c7d0138b921d0bfe8656c7d0138b921d0bfe8-911116271877?q=how+to+crochet+video&FROM=LKVR5&GT1=LKVR5&FORM=LKVR32
2. At the beginning, before the instructions start, the pattern should tell you what the shell is. A shell is several stitches worked into one stitch. There are many ways to make a shell, but let's assume for this that you will work 5 dc in one stitch to make a shell. So you would make your starting chain, then: Row 1: Work 5 dc in 6th ch from hook... You usually skip stitches before and after the shell to allow for the extra stitches.
3. The instructions for the blanket start with the finished measurements, then a list of materials and hooks, then the gauge (GAUGE: 3 shell pats = 4”; 6 rows = 4”). Then there is a Note: and a Special Stitch: (NOTE: Shell pat consists o one dc and one shell. SPECIAL STITCH:Shell: Work 5 dc in the st indicated.) Those three instructions are critical to your finished piece coming out the way you expect it to come out. The Gauge note tells you how many of the pattern stitches are included in a 4" width of the blanket, and how many rows are included in 4" of length. Granted, matching the gauge exactly isn't as big a deal in a baby blanket as it would be in a garment. Still, if you are expecting it to be 30-12" x 41", you will not be happy if it comes out 24" x 32" or 40" x 50" (and you run out of yarn). The Note note tells you what the pattern means when it says "Shell pat" (one shell plus one double crochet by itself). The Special Stitch note tells you how to make a shell (Work 5 double crochets in a specific stitch). To start the first row, you will make a "Shell pattern" (a shell and a dc). The instruction you asked about means, "Skip 5 chains, three of which will stand in for a double crochet and two of which will be the skipped chains. Then double crochet in the next stitch 5 times." Then it says "skip next 2 chs, dc in next ch;" which means "Skip the next two chains. In the following chain, make the one double crochet that separates the shells." You have now completed an edge stitch (the 5 chains at the beginning) and one shell pattern. Next it says "* skip next 2 chs, shell in next ch, skip next 2chs, dc in next ch; repeat from * across,". What that means for you to do is skip the following two chains, then crochet five double-crochets in the next chain, then skip the next 2 chains, then crochet one double crochet in the next chain. You have now completed one single "Shell pat" and you are ready to complete the row with "Shell pats." Note the * (asterisk) at the beginning of the instruction. Then note the part of the instruction that says, "repeat from * across." The * begins a set of instructions that will be completed multiple times. It ends by telling you how many times to repeat the instruction. In this case, it says "across," which means for you to keep doing the same thing until you get to the end of the starting chain.
4. As others have already said: look in the beginning of the pattern and you will find instructions on how to make the shell. Insert your hook into the 6th chain from the hook to make the first stitch of the shell. The instructions enclosed in parenthesis ( ) explain to you that when you count your stitches at the end of the row, you will count the "5 skipped stitches" as "one double crochet and 2 chains". At the end of the instructions for the row you will find a stitch count. Sometimes it is just a number, sometimes it will say something like "forty two shells and forty 'chain two' spaces". This obviously would be easier to count than 200 stitches. Hang in there, it sounds like once you figure out the established pattern, it will repeat over and over again. :)
5. was going to answer your question but it looks like others have supplied you with great info. you might be interested in buying a booklet with basic and other stitches in it. it is a handy reference you can refer to when you come upon a problem like this. shell stitches make beautiful blankets. im sure you will love the finished blanket. don't get frustrated happy crocheting.