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Craftuary Academy · beginner guide

How to read a crochet pattern

A crochet pattern is a list of rows or rounds. Each line says which stitches to work, brackets group stitches to repeat, "x6" says how many times, and the number at the end is how many stitches you should have when the line is done.

A worked example

The start most toys use (a ball shape):

LineWhat you doCount
Rd. 1: 6 fM in den Magic Ring (6)Make a magic ring and work 6 single crochet into it.6
Rnd 2: inc x6 (12)Two stitches in every stitch, all the way round.12
Rd. 3: (fM, Zun) x6 (18)One sc, then one increase; six times.18
Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x6 (24)Two sc, then one increase; six times.24
Rnd 5-8: sc around (24)One sc in every stitch, for four rounds. No increases, so the circle turns into a tube.24

Five rules that make any pattern readable

  1. Count at the end of every line and compare with the number in brackets. A missed stitch is easy to fix one round later and hard to fix ten rounds later.
  2. Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round and move it up every round (lesson 7).
  3. Check US or UK terms first (see the abbreviations chart).
  4. Read the whole line before you start it. "x6" applies to everything inside the brackets.
  5. Check the pattern before you start. The free pattern checker counts every round of a pasted pattern and flags any count that doesn't add up.
Learn it in 3D, freeCrochet 101 is ten short lessons, each a 3D loop you can watch from any angle. A free account saves your progress, earns the badge and unlocks the printable 2-page cheat sheet.

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What does (sc, inc) x6 mean?

Work one single crochet, then one increase, and repeat that pair six times around.

What is the number in brackets at the end of a round?

It is the stitch count: how many stitches you should have when the round is finished. Count and compare before you start the next round.

Do I join each round with a slip stitch?

Only if the pattern says so. Most amigurumi is worked in continuous rounds (a spiral): you keep going and move a stitch marker to the first stitch of each round.

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