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Readers En-Gauge: Reading Crochet Patterns

October 8, 2012 by AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns 24 Comments

Reader's En-Gauge

Happy Monday! Doesn’t the weekend go by so quickly these days? Here’s something to brighten your Monday – a new Readers En-Gauge! Last week we asked you how to keep your knitting or crochet edges neat. This week it’s all about learning to read crochet patterns. This is your chance to teach each other and learn some new tips.

How did you learn to read crochet patterns? What are some tips that help you read new patterns?

We can’t wait to hear all your great answers!

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AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns is dedicated to the best free crochet afghan patterns, tutorials, tips and articles on crochet. From easy crochet afghan patterns to complex Tunisian crochet patterns, we find and deliver the best free crochet patterns from all over the web. Plus, we feature free product reviews and giveaways of all the latest and greatest products including yarn, crochet books, totes, and more. AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns is a wonderful online resource for crocheters of all skill levels.
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Comments

  1. sherry zook says

    October 8, 2012 at 10:47 am

    I learned to crochet from my mother and a self-teaching book teaches me the abbreviations.

    Reply
  2. Mary Kathryn says

    October 8, 2012 at 10:49 am

    Hello! I learned by following videos that also had written patterns.. AllFreeCrochet is awesome for that because there is ALWAYS a pattern link for the video. Now I write my own patterns 🙂

    Reply
  3. Faith Rees says

    October 8, 2012 at 10:51 am

    In the early 60’s, I learned to crochet by reading my grandmother’s old Workbasket magazines. I’d try to crochet while she did her tatting. I never could get the hang of tatting, however I did make some nice clothes for my stuffed animals and Barbie doll. I still crochet and the best tip I can give anyone is to keep trying. If a stitch or pattern doesn’t work, try it again. Sometimes the mistakes we make turn out to be interesting one-offs.

    Reply
  4. Sharon Powers says

    October 8, 2012 at 10:57 am

    I learned by a “Learn how to crochet” beginners booklet, from Walmart…I find PICTURES are worth 1,000 words when I try to start anything new!!!

    Reply
  5. Shirley Kalinosky says

    October 8, 2012 at 11:02 am

    I learned by reading the patterns first and asking questions of someone who already knew how to crochet. I watched a woman ‘do’ broomstick lace and she explained it and I then was able to do it.

    Reply
  6. Barbara Nozkowski says

    October 8, 2012 at 11:05 am

    I learned how to read crochet patterns by trial and error. A lot of practice. I would start a row, rip out the row, start the row again, rip it out again until I finally thought it was right. There are still some patterns I do not understand but watching videos online really help. It is always easier to see someone else doing it to understand it. Thank you internet.

    Reply
  7. Michelle says

    October 8, 2012 at 11:29 am

    I tore out the page out of the back of one of my crochet magazines with the abbreviations so that I had it right in front of me. However, It was easy to remember the abbreviations… I had trouble remembering the stitches that I didn’t use all the time. I kept a beginner book on hand with a stitch guide close by so that I could look up the stitch that I needed. I used step-by-step pictures.

    Reply
  8. Lorraine Eckhart says

    October 8, 2012 at 11:31 am

    I was taught many years ago by an elderly neighbor. She sent me home with a list of all the abbreviations and I had to know what they meant before she taught me the stitches. She explained from the beginning that knowing how to read a pattern was essential or your limits were very restricted and trying to crochet would be stressful instead of relaxing. I have taught my daughter the same way; and will teach my granddaughter’s with the same method.

    Reply
  9. L Rachelle says

    October 8, 2012 at 11:54 am

    I learned how to read patterns from my mother and grandmother. When I got stuck on something in the pattern that I couldn’t understand, I would ask one of them. Now, years later, I’m doing the same for other new crocheters by teaching classes and making myself available to answer those same kinds of questions I used to ask. Paying the art of crochet forward!

    Reply
  10. Lynn G. says

    October 8, 2012 at 11:59 am

    My Grandma taught me how to crochet and taught me how to read the patterns. She was left handed so it was harder for me to learn as I am right handed; but, I did it and I still crochet up a storm today and all year around. My best tip is to put a sticky note under the line that you are working on the pattern page to keep track of where you are in the pattern.

    Reply
  11. Carmen says

    October 8, 2012 at 12:00 pm

    As a beginner I would recommend starting off with just simple patterns so you get used to the terminology. As you get more advanced and start working on patterns with repeats sometimes it is helpful to write out the complete pattern on index cards in full detail.

    Reply
  12. Mercedes says

    October 8, 2012 at 12:03 pm

    I took written patterns from various sites and matched them to the stitch guides found in the magazines. I also watched youtube videos for the ones that weren’t quite getting through my thick skull, lol… visual helped me A LOT! I still haven’t yet learned how to read a chart, but… that’s definitely on my agenda!

    Reply
  13. MelindaB says

    October 8, 2012 at 12:08 pm

    I learned to crochet a few basic stitches in elementary school, but it wasn’t until I bought a tutorial booklet about crocheting, some 20 years later, that I learned how to read a pattern. Now when crocheting, I keep that booklet handy to refresh my memory on stitches that I don’t use that often.

    Reply
  14. Phyllis says

    October 8, 2012 at 12:40 pm

    I just taught myself one project at a time by trial and error . I did learn to read charts by following written instructions and then making the same thing using the chart instead of the directions. I still prefer written directions, but charts can come in handy to clarify something that might be confusing.

    Reply
  15. Mary Mac says

    October 8, 2012 at 12:53 pm

    I took a class, but still find it easier to watch someone then to “read” instructions.

    Reply
  16. Kim says

    October 8, 2012 at 1:05 pm

    I learned how to crochet from watching videos online. It was easy and could watch and rewind until it looked the same. I also bought a book on dishcloths to help learn how to do different stitches. They are small projects to practice technique and feel like you accomplished something without getting discouraged. Now I have some to give to sell at church bazaar !

    Reply
  17. Fran says

    October 8, 2012 at 1:13 pm

    I taught myself to crochet. I love trying new stiches.

    Reply
  18. Deborah Hale says

    October 8, 2012 at 1:26 pm

    My grandmother taught me the beginnings back when I was 14, the rest I picked up along the way. Learning SYMBOL crochet was actually a bit more direct: my best friend said, “Here’s a pattern book on how to learn symbol crochet. Now go do it.” She “taught” me thread crochet a similar way. “You already know how to crochet. Only difference is the size of the yarn. Here’s a pattern, thread, and a crochet hook, now go do it.” (That’s how she became my best friend.)

    Reply
  19. ritainalaska says

    October 8, 2012 at 2:46 pm

    little granma, who taught me handwork showed me that graphs were pictures of what i wanted to make and to make anything was to make it one stitch at a time according to this graph. so, i was 6 at the time and it worked for me.

    Reply
  20. Jill says

    October 8, 2012 at 3:02 pm

    My Grandma taught me

    Reply
  21. Charlene Harris says

    October 8, 2012 at 6:38 pm

    I went shopping, bought a bunch of books that had patterns that I liked and jumped in with both feet. This was about 2 months ago. Love it. I also looked at lots of how to’s on Pinterest. My best friend, Rhonda, and I helped each learn.

    Reply
  22. Kelly S says

    October 8, 2012 at 10:13 pm

    My friend taught me how to single crochet, but I learned how to read a pattern and new stitches from a book I have. I think it is the Crochet Bible. When I get a new pattern, I tend to read through it to make sure I understand it all before beginning. There are some stitches out there that I turn away from. Like FPDC & BPDC. I’m sure they’re easy & I’m missing out on some great patterns that way. I have found YouTube is a real help with learning new stitches too. I Just haven’t taken the time to check those 2. 🙂

    Reply

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  1. Free Crochet Patterns, Free Knitting Patterns, Video Tutorials and Giveaways from StitchAndUnwind.com says:
    October 9, 2012 at 12:50 pm

    […] Monday’s question was: […]

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  2. Free Crochet Patterns, Free Knitting Patterns, Video Tutorials and Giveaways from StitchAndUnwind.com says:
    October 15, 2012 at 9:26 am

    […] that I bring you to today’s Reader’s En-Gauge question. Last week we asked you how you learned to read crochet patterns. This week it’s all about finding the time to crochet patterns. If you’re a parent, a […]

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