Inside Crochet - April/May Issue 1

Feature
| CHARTS & SYMBOLS
swatch would be at the foundation chain. This is THOSE SYMBOLS EXPLAINED
UNDERSTANDING
also true with stitch repeat charts. The beginning These are the basic symbols you will
of the chart is at the bottom where it will show ﬁ nd on crochet charts.
all the chains you need to begin your pattern. The
rows will then move up the page just as if you Starting with the foundations; the chain
were crocheting them. You can tell the beginning stitch is a simple oval symbol. Think about
of each row by where the turning chains are. A making a chain stitch. It is just a little oval
turning chain is always needed at the beginning inside of another oval over and over again.
of a row in order to get the yarn to the right
height for the next stitch. If you were to just
work the stitch at the beginning, you’d ﬁ nd that Moving up, the slip stitch is a filled in dot,
your work will have uneven edges. it is little and almost invisible just like the
This goes the same for granny square charts. stitch.
Think about beginning a granny square. You
chain the amount the pattern calls for and sl st
to the beginning. Then you make some chains The double crochet (US single crochet) is
for the turning chain and crochet the stitches a squat cross, again just like the stitch in
indicated into the ring you just formed. You will that the double crochet is our shortest and
work around and around building on each round fattest stitch in crochet.
you just completed. Crochet granny square charts
are set up exactly like this. You start in the centre
of the chart crocheting the amount of stitches The half treble crochet (US half double) is
shown. You then will move up one round at a slightly taller then the double crochet.
time moving outward from the centre.
Now you know the basics of following a chart
let us go through the Posy in the Granny stitch The treble crochet (US double crochet) is
pattern on page 67 round by round. taller then the half double, and has a cross
in its middle. This is where symbols become
super useful. The extra cross in the middle
of the symbol represents the yarn over the
double crochet has before you insert your
hook into the stitch indicated.
For all the taller stitches, the little cross
in the middle of the stem of the stitch will
equal the amount of yarn overs before you
insert your hook into the row or round. So
the double treble has 2 crosses, and the
triple treble has 3 crosses. It is just that
simple to remember.
POSY IN THE GRANNY On first
In our quest to demystify crochet charts and
glance,
this chart
symbols, we take you through the steps to
looks hard
make this pretty square.
to decipher.
Follow our
steps here
to discover
STEP 1 - The chain just how
Start in the middle and determine how many to chain by
easy it is
to follow
counting the ovals. So looking at this one you can see we
crochet
need to chain 7, then the little dot shows to sl st to the charts.
first ch. This creates the foundation ring.
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