How Do I Read A Crochet Pattern?

Brush up on your technique with our simple guide…

Part of the wonder of crochet lies in its repeatability – once you’ve learnt the stitches and techniques involved, you can use these skills to recreate a design over and over again. In order to do that, crocheters have developed patterns – a kind of blueprint with all the information you need to make a specific item. Most patterns use abbreviations, symbols and codes that can seem baffling – that’s what I’ll help you to understand in this workshop.

In general, a pattern is made up of two parts: an information section (usually at the start) and a section of specific instructions detailing the stitches to work on each row or round. A pattern might also include various other elements that are important to creating the item, such as charts, stockist information, notes and technique guides. It’s a good idea to read through a pattern before you take on a project, and familiarise yourself with anything that’s new to you.

Where do I start?

Here’s how to decode the information section…

The information section of a pattern should provide the following: