Reading a crochet pattern is all about understanding the shorthand. So far in the Crochetsics course we’ve covered every basic stitch in crochet, and you’ll be able to make the first cinch sack using just those.
First, there are a few different ways that crochet patterns may be created: written, charts, or video.
Written
Written patterns I think are the most common. These patterns are a written set of instructions using shorthand for the stitches you need to do. For example, if a pattern says “sc 3” that means single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches.
These will also note starts and ends of rows or rounds. Here’s an example of how I write a pattern, using a few rows from the first cinch sack in the Crochetsics course:
Row 2 (RS): ch 2, turn, hdc 30 (30)
Row 3: ch 2, turn, hdc 30 (30)
Row 4: ch 3, turn, [dc, hdc, sc 2, hdc, dc] x5 (30)
The numbers at the end of the row instructions note how many total stitches should be worked in the row before turning. In Row 2, you’ll see it says (RS) which is short for right side. This is the side of the cinch sack that will face outward when you’re done.
You’ll also see that in Row 4 there are a bunch of stitches in square brackets. This is how I personally notate stitch repeats. Row 4 is saying to work the stitches in the brackets 5 times (that’s the “x5” at the end) to finish the row. This is easier to read (and write!) than listing every single stitch in the row when it’s a repeated pattern.
Sometimes repeats will be noted with normal parentheses or with asterisks, but shorthand like this will likely be defined at the start of a pattern. If you’re ever unclear on what a pattern is saying, the Craft Yarn Council has a crochet abbreviations master list that I find useful.
The source above also lists translations between UK terminology and US terminology, since there are differences! I write my patterns in US terminology because I’m from the US, but also because I find it far more intuitive. UK patterns don’t have a single crochet stitch- what the US calls a single crochet, the UK calls a double crochet. The rule of thumb is that UK stitches are one more than US (US single = UK double, US double = UK treble, etc.). Patterns should note their terminology at the start, so make sure you check so you read the pattern correctly.
Charts
Charts are a visual representation of the stitches present in a pattern and where they’re placed. These are likely more useful once you have a bit of crochet experience and are able to identify stitches and stitch locations. Below is the chart I made for the first cinch sack pattern in the Crochetsics course.
In charts, each stitch is represented with a different symbol, which tend to be standardized.
In this chart, you can see how the stitches are stacked on top of each other. The chart shows both what stitches are made in each row and what stitches they’re worked into in the previous round.
Charts are often used for lacework, where a few sections of a repeated pattern are charted up. Lacework is worked flat and usually doesn’t have too many stitches, which also makes it ideal for charts.
Video
Video patterns I think are generally preferred by people who are just beginning with crochet. That’s not to say that people who have been crocheting a long time don’t use these, just that it can be very helpful to see exactly what someone is doing when you’re just starting out. In my experience, video patterns may also put the written version of each row somewhere on the screen while each row is being crocheted.
The pattern for the first cinch sack I’ve designed for the Crochetsics Basics course is available in all three formats so you can gain some familiarity with what each format looks like. I’d suggest using the video format with the written pattern next to you. The video pattern has the written format for each row on screen as well, but getting familiarity with written patterns is useful since those are the most common.
You can find the patterns here:
Written and chart download
Right Handed Video
Left Handed Video
Or, if you’re skipping the patterns but following the Crochetsics Basics course, you can start part 2 here:
Working in Rounds – Right handed
Working in Rounds – Left handed