Crochet for Beginners: How to Read Crochet Patterns

By: Eleni Murphy, Editor, AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns.com

Crochet for beginners can be a bit of a doozy. If you want to learn how to crochet, it's important to review all of the crochet basics. From hooks to yarn weight, learning how to crochet can get overwhelming. However, Crochet for Beginners: How to Read Crochet Patterns is here to make your journey easier! Once you've learned about crochet hook sizes and styles (check out our guide here), it's time to learn a bit about how to read crochet patterns.

At first glance, crochet instructions can look like a foreign language. Crochet stitches are almost always abbreviated in crochet instructions, so it can be hard to get used to. This guide is here to help you make some sense of all that gobbledygook. All you need to do is get familiar with the crochet abbreviations, and you'll learn how to read crochet patterns in no time.

Crochet Abbreviations: Commands

The first step in learning how to read crochet patterns is learning the common commands. You'll find these in every crochet pattern. The chart below depicts some of the most important instructional abbreviations.

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Crochet Abbreviations: Basic Crochet Stitches

The next step in learning how to read crochet patterns is learning the abbrevations for basic crochet stitches. The stitches below are among the most common you'll find in crochet tutorials.

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More Crochet Abbreviations

Once you've mastered the basics, it's time to familiarize yourself with the rest of the crochet abbreviations. Although learning how to read a crochet pattern can be tough, you always have this guide to help you! Who says crochet for beginners can't be fun?

Alt = Alternate

Approx = Approximately

Beg = Beginning

BPdc = Back post double crochet

Ch-sp = Chain space

Cont = Continue

Dc2tog = Double crochet 2 stitches together

FPdc = Front post double crochet

Patt = Pattern

Rnd = Rounds

Tog = Together

Ws = Wrong side

Yo = Yarn over

Yoh = Yarn over hook

Click here for a free downloadable version of the chart you see below