BEYOND THE BASICS
O
nce you get more confident with
crochet, you’re likely to come across
patterns that include diagrams,
charts and schematics (these are diagrams
that show the measurements of items made
up of different pieces, such as garments).
A stitch diagram is where each stitch is
represented by a symbol – it’s a visual guide
of which stitch to work into another stitch. A
colour chart (see overleaf) is where eachsquare represents a specific yarn colour, such
as for a striped pattern. You might also see a
stitch chart, where each square represents a
specific stitch or group of stitches, such as in
filet crochet.
Diagrams and charts can be presented in
various ways and your pattern should include
a key and notes to explain how to use them.
A diagram or chart is often just part of the
pattern instructions. The written patternshould explain what to do with the chart and
where to work it. For example, you might be
asked to start the row by working plain treble
crochet stitches, then be asked to work the
stitch pattern from the diagram, and then to
work treble stitches again to the end of the
row. Or you might be asked to repeat the
stitches from the diagram or chart a certain
number of times the whole way along a row.
Always check these notes before you start.SYMBOLS & CHARTS
How to use a diagram to help you work your crochet stitches
ROWS
Stitch diagrams are incredibly helpful in
crochet, especially for beginners. They show
you exactly which stitches to work and where.
Each type of crochet stitch has a standard
symbol that will be used on a stitch diagram- see these below right. A group of stitches
will also have a special symbol, such as
tr3tog. These stitches are usually depicted in
relative sizes so it gives you a really good idea
of how the crochet stitch pattern will look.
This chart (right) is an example of a stitch
chart worked in rows, and the image (above
right) shows the finished crochet pattern.
If you’re right-handed, you would work your
foundation chain from left to right, and then
start Row 1, working from right to left. This
works the same way in the diagram (right) –
Row 1 starts at the bottom right so you’d
follow the diagram from here, working stitch
by stitch towards the left. Then you’d start
Row 2 from the left side, working from here to
the right, and so on. Odd-numbered rows are
usually the right side, even-numbered rows
are usually the wrong side. On a stitch
diagram, a new row or round is often shown
in a contrast colour, with numbers to
correspond with the row you’re working on.
The position of each stitch on the diagram
shows you which stitch to work into on the
row below. A stitch directly above another
stitch means that’s where you work it. An
increase is shown in the diagram as a group
of stitches where the stem of each stitch
symbol originates at the same stitch – see
STITCH
DIAGRAM
Treble 3
stitches
together
(tr3tog)2dc in same
stitch
Double crochet
2 stitchesTriple treble
(ttr)Double
treble (dtr)Treble
crochet (tr)Half treble
(htr)Double
crochet (dc)Chain (ch)Joining
slip stitchSlip stitch (ss)Magic loop 3tr in same
stitch3 treble
clusterTreble into
the back
loop onlyTreble into
the front
loop onlyTreble
around the
front post of
the next
stitch
Treble
around the
back post of
the next
stitchthe groups of trebles in the stitch diagram
above. A decrease is shown as a group of
stitches where the stem of each stitch
symbol originates at different stitches, but
they all lead to the same point and there’s
only one ‘hat’. There’s also a special symbol
for the magic loop foundation ring, as well asother symbols for stitches and techniques
that you’ve yet to learn. The most used
symbols are shown above. Your pattern or
key should always explain what a symbol
means and how to crochet it. Some patterns
will also write out the pattern, so you can use
both methods or the one you prefer.