How to Read a Crochet Pattern: Step-by-Step Beginner's Guide

To read a crochet pattern, translate each line one comma at a time from left to right: first check whether the designer uses US or UK terminology, read the Pattern Notes to see if turning chains count as stitches, and then follow the row or round instructions using the standard shorthand where parentheses ( ) group stitches worked into a single stitch (or show end-of-row totals), brackets [ ] group a sequence repeated a specific number of times, and *asterisks ``** mark a sequence repeated across the rest of the row.

At first glance, a line like Row 2 (RS): Ch 1, sc in first st, *ch 1, sk next st, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st; rep from * across to last 2 sts, sk next st, sc in last st. (26 sts) looks like computer code. Once you know the punctuation rules and phrasing conventions defined by the Craft Yarn Council, every line breaks down into simple, bite-sized actions.

Step 1: Check US vs. UK Terms Before Making a Single Stitch

Before you pick up your hook, scan the pattern header or notes for the phrase "Written in US terms" or "Written in UK terms." Both systems use the exact same English words—such as double crochet and treble crochet—to describe completely different stitch heights:

• The 5-Second Spot Check: Look through the pattern for the abbreviation sc (single crochet) or hdc (half double crochet). Because UK terminology does not use the terms single crochet or half double crochet, seeing sc or hdc guarantees the pattern is written in US terms.
• If you need a side-by-side comparison of every stitch name, read our guide to US and UK terms, or paste a pattern line into our interactive tool to convert UK terms automatically.

Step 2: Read the Pattern Header (Materials, Gauge, and Notes)

Every well-written pattern opens with a specification block before Row 1. Skipping this section is the main reason projects come out the wrong size or edges slant unexpectedly.

1. Skill Level & Finished Measurements

The Craft Yarn Council classifies patterns into four levels: Basic (first projects using one basic stitch), Easy (simple repeats, color changes, and basic shaping), Intermediate (textured stitches, garments, and multi-step repeats), and Complex/Experienced (intricate cables, lace charts, and non-repeating shaping). Always check the Finished Measurements (and garment ease) rather than relying on S / M / L labels alone.

2. Materials & Yardage

Lists the yarn weight category (such as CYC #4 Medium/Worsted), the specific yarn used in the sample, total yardage or meterage required per size, recommended hook size in millimeters (e.g., 5.0 mm / US H-8), and notions like locking stitch markers and a tapestry needle. If you are still building your kit, check our checklist of essential beginner crochet supplies.

3. Gauge

Written as a stitch-and-row count over a 4-inch (10 cm) square, such as:

Gauge: 16 sc and 18 rows = 4" (10 cm) in pattern stitch using 5.0 mm hook.

If your stitch count per 4 inches doesn't match the designer's, a sweater or hat will not fit. See our step-by-step tutorial on how to measure crochet gauge to test and adjust your hook size before starting.

4. Pattern Notes (The Rules of the Road)

Never skip the Pattern Notes bullet list. It answers four critical questions that govern every row:

1. Does the turning chain count as a stitch? In single crochet, ch 1 almost never counts as a stitch. In double crochet, ch 3 usually does count as the first dc of the row (meaning you skip the first stitch at the base of the chain and work into the second stitch), unless the notes explicitly say "Ch 2 at beginning of row does NOT count as a stitch."
2. Is the project worked in turned rows, joined rounds, or continuous spirals? Amigurumi and some hats are worked in continuous spirals without slip-stitch joins (Do not join; work in continuous rounds).
3. What do RS and WS mean? RS (Right Side) is the public front of the fabric that faces outward when worn or displayed; WS (Wrong Side) is the inside or back of the fabric.
4. Stitch Multiple: Many blanket and scarf patterns state a formula like "Multiple of 4 sts + 2". This means your starting chain must be any number divisible by 4 (such as 20, 40, or 80) plus 2 extra chains at the end to balance the row symmetry and turning chain.

Step 3: Decode Crochet Abbreviations & Action Phrasing

Designers use standard abbreviations so a 50-row pattern fits on two pages instead of twenty. Keep this reference table handy while working:

The #1 Phrasing Trap: "2 sc in next st" vs. "sc in next 2 sts"

Where the number sits in the phrase completely changes what you do with your hook:

• 2 sc in next st (Number before the stitch name) = An Increase into 1 Stitch. Work 2 single crochets into the exact same stitch before moving on. You use 1 base stitch and create 2 new stitches.
• sc in next 2 sts (Number after "next") = Even Stitching Across 2 Stitches. Work 1 single crochet into the next stitch, then 1 single crochet into the stitch after that. You use 2 base stitches and create 2 new stitches.

The same rule applies to double crochet ("3 dc in next st" = a 3-dc shell increase in one stitch; "dc in next 3 sts" = 1 dc in each of the next 3 consecutive stitches).

Step 4: Punctuation & Repeats — Parentheses ( ), Brackets [ ], and Asterisks *

Crochet patterns use punctuation the way math uses brackets—to group actions and avoid repeating the same sentence ten times across a row.

![Side-by-side macro comparison showing parentheses (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) worked into a single stitch as a coral shell cluster on the left versus brackets [sc, ch 1, sk 1] 4 times repeated across a teal moss stitch row on the right](./images/parentheses-cluster-vs-brackets-repeat-comparison.webp)

1. Parentheses ( ) Have Three Different Jobs

Beginners often get confused because parentheses do three distinct jobs depending on where they appear in the line:

2. Square Brackets [ ] — Repeat a Sequence a Specific Number of Times

Square brackets enclose a multi-stitch sequence that you repeat across consecutive stitches for the exact number of times stated immediately after the closing bracket:

• Written: Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first st, [ch 1, sk next st, sc in next st] 4 times, sc in last st.
• How to Work It:
  1. Chain 1 and work 1 sc into the first stitch.
  2. Work the bracketed sequence (ch 1, skip next stitch, sc in next stitch) 4 times in a row across the next 8 stitches.
  3. Work 1 sc into the final stitch.

(Note: When a pattern has a repeat inside another repeat, designers nest parentheses inside brackets—or brackets inside parentheses—just like algebra.)

3. Single Asterisks and Double Asterisks * — Repeat Across the Row

Asterisks tell you to repeat a sequence until you reach the end of the row (or a specified landmark like "to last 2 sts"):

• *Single Asterisk (``)**:

Row 2: Dc in first 2 sts, *ch 1, sk next st, dc in next st; rep from * across.

Work dc in the first 2 stitches. Then repeat everything after the * (ch 1, sk next st, dc in next st) over and over until you reach the end of the row.

• Double Asterisk (``) — The Partial-Repeat Stop Sign**:

Row 3: Ch 1, *sc in next 2 sts, ch 2, ** sk next 2 sts; rep from * across, ending last rep at **.

When you see ** in the middle of a row, ignore it on all your normal repeats across the row. Only on your very last repeat of the row do you stop at the ** (meaning on that final repeat, you work sc in next 2 sts, ch 2 and stop without skipping 2 stitches).

Step 5: How to Read Multi-Size Garment Patterns & Special Instructions

Sweater, cardigan, hat, and sock patterns are usually graded for multiple sizes in a single document.

1. Highlight Your Size Position (S (M, L, XL, 2XL))

At the top of a garment pattern, you will see a size key such as:

Sizes: S (M, L, XL, 2XL) — to fit bust 34 (38, 42, 46, 50)"

If you are making Size L (the 2nd number inside the parentheses), go through the entire pattern with a highlighter or pencil before you start and circle the second number inside every set of sizing parentheses:

• Ch 62 (68, 74, 80, 86) → You chain 74.
• Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across — 61 (67, 73, 79, 85) sc. → You have 73 sc.
• If an instruction says Work 0 (1, 2, 2, 3) rows even, and you were making Size S (where the number is 0), you skip that step completely and move straight to the next instruction.

2. Decoding Garment Shaping Phrases

• "Work Even" (or "Work Straight"): Continue working in the established stitch pattern without any increases or decreases so the stitch count stays identical from row to row.
• "Left Front" vs. "Right Front": Always refers to the wearer's left and right body side when wearing the finished garment—not left and right as you look at the flat piece on your table.
• "At the Same Time": Watch out for this phrase in neckline and armhole shaping! It means you must track two different shaping schedules simultaneously (for example, decreasing 1 stitch at the armhole edge every 2nd row while also starting neckline decreases on Row 14). Grab a scrap of paper and write out a row-by-row checklist (Rows 1 to 20) showing exactly what happens at both edges on each row before you crochet it.
• "Reverse Shaping": Used for the second front panel of a cardigan so the armhole and neckline mirror the first panel on the opposite edge.

Step 6: How to Read a Crochet Chart & Stitch Symbols

Many modern patterns include a visual crochet stitch chart (diagram) alongside the written text. Because stitch symbols are standardized by the Craft Yarn Council and international craft publishers, a chart lets you see where every stitch lands physically in the row below.

Standard Crochet Chart Symbols Key

Each symbol is drawn to approximate the physical height and cap of the stitch:

• Chain (ch): Open horizontal oval (○)
• Slip Stitch (sl st): Small filled black dot (•)
• Single Crochet (sc): Plus sign (+) or ×
• Half Double Crochet (hdc): Vertical T (stem with top crossbar)
• Double Crochet (dc): Vertical T with 1 diagonal slash across the stem
• Treble Crochet (tr): Vertical T with 2 diagonal slashes across the stem
• Shell / Increase: Multiple stitch symbols (Ts) whose bottom stems converge into a V-point at a single stitch below
• Decrease (sc2tog / dc2tog): Multiple stitch stems that start in separate stitches at the bottom and converge into a single crossbar at the top (∧)

How to Follow a Chart (Rows vs. Rounds)

1. Flat Row Charts (Worked Bottom-to-Top, Alternating Direction):
   • Start at the bottom foundation chain (Row 1).
   • Odd-numbered rows (RS — Rows 1, 3, 5) are read from right to left (for right-handed crocheters).
   • Even-numbered rows (WS — Rows 2, 4, 6) are read from left to right. Designers often print odd rows in black ink and even rows in red or blue ink so your eye never loses track.
2. Center-Out Round Charts (Granny Squares, Doilies, Mandalas):
   • Start at the center ring (Rnd 1) and read counter-clockwise around each ring moving outward. Look for the tiny solid dots (•) showing where each round closes with a slip stitch and chains up to the next round.

Step 7: Complete Worked Sample Pattern (Decoded Line by Line)

The fastest way to build pattern-reading confidence is to crochet a small 4-row sampler swatch while reading both the shorthand and the plain-English translation side by side. Grab scrap worsted-weight (#4) yarn and a 5.0 mm (H-8) hook to follow along, or practice afterward on our easy dishcloth pattern.

The Sample Pattern (As Written in a Pattern PDF)

Terminology: US Terms Pattern Notes:

• — Ch 1 at the beginning of a row does not count as a stitch.

• — Ch 3 at the beginning of Row 4 counts as the first dc.

Ch 13. Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (12 sc) Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in last st, turn. (14 sc) Row 3 (RS): Ch 1, sc in first st, [ch 1, sk next st, sc in next st] 6 times, sc in last st, turn. (8 sc, 6 ch-1 sps = 14 sts) Row 4 (WS): Ch 3 (counts as dc in first st), sk next st, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st, sk next st, dc in next st; rep from twice more, dc in last st. Fasten off. (3 shells, 5 dc across 14 base sts)

Line-by-Line Translation & Stitch Math Verification

• Foundation (Ch 13): Make a slip knot on your hook (never counted as a stitch) and work 13 chain stitches.
• Decoding Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (12 sc):
  • Skip the first chain closest to your hook and insert your hook into the 2nd chain from the hook to make 1 single crochet.
  • Work 1 single crochet into each of the remaining 11 chains across (1 + 11 = 12 sc).
  • Turn your work like a page in a book. Count your top Vs to verify you have 12 stitches (if you aren't sure where to count, check our guide on how to count crochet stitches and rows).
• Decoding Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in last st, turn. (14 sc):
  • Make 1 turning chain (Ch 1 — does not count as a stitch per Pattern Notes).
  • 2 sc in first st: Work 2 single crochets into the very first stitch (an increase).
  • sc in next 10 sts: Work 1 single crochet into each of the next 10 consecutive stitches (10 stitches).
  • 2 sc in last st: Work 2 single crochets into the 12th (final) stitch (an increase).
  • Row 2 Math Check: 2 + 10 + 2 = 14 sc. Turn your work.
• Decoding Row 3 (RS): Ch 1, sc in first st, [ch 1, sk next st, sc in next st] 6 times, sc in last st, turn. (8 sc, 6 ch-1 sps = 14 sts):
  • Make 1 turning chain (Ch 1), then work 1 sc in the first stitch (uses 1 base stitch; 13 base stitches remain).
  • [ch 1, sk next st, sc in next st] 6 times: Repeat the sequence inside the square brackets 6 times in a row. Each repeat uses 2 base stitches (1 skipped + 1 worked) and creates 2 stitch units (1 ch-1 space + 1 sc). Six repeats use 6 × 2 = 12 base stitches and create 12 stitch units.
  • sc in last st: Work 1 sc into the 14th (final) base stitch.
  • Row 3 Math Check: 1 sc + (6 × 2) + 1 sc = 14 total stitch units (8 single crochets and 6 chain-1 spaces). Turn your work.
• *Decoding `Row 4 (WS): Ch 3 (counts as dc in first st), sk next st, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st, sk next st, dc in next st; rep from twice more, dc in last st. Fasten off. (3 shells, 5 dc)`*:
  • Ch 3 (counts as dc in first st): Make 3 turning chains, which stand above Stitch 1 and count as your first dc (uses 1 base stitch; 13 base stitches remain).
  • Start the asterisk repeat (*), which uses 4 base stitches per repeat:
  1. sk next st: Skip 1 stitch.
  2. (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st: Work that entire parenthetical group (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc — a 4-dc shell cluster) into the single next stitch.
  3. sk next st: Skip 1 stitch.
  4. dc in next st: Work 1 dc into the next stitch.
  • rep from * twice more: Repeat that exact 4-stitch asterisk sequence 2 more times (3 total repeats × 4 base stitches = 12 base stitches used).
  • dc in last st: Work 1 dc into the 14th (final) base stitch (1 + 12 + 1 = 14 base stitches accounted for), giving you 3 fanned shells framed by 5 double crochet posts.

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Author

Claire Vance is a crochet pattern designer, technical editor, and fiber educator at DoubleCrochet.io. She has tech-edited hundreds of independent garment and blanket patterns according to Craft Yarn Council standards and specializes in translating complex stitch notation into clear, visual step-by-step instructions.