Tutorial how to read a crochet chart – diagram
Tutorial how to read a Crochet Chart/Diagram
Row by Row Chart
Some crocheters are not familiar with reading crochet charts. Here is a tutorial that takes you by the hand and shows you how to read a chart with a crocheted example.
Following a crochet chart is not complicated once you understand what the crochet symbols stand for. The chart will often show you a few rows of the stitch pattern and not the whole pattern. In my opinion charted patterns are much easier to follow than written patterns.
Each symbol refers to a specific crochet stitch. Crochet symbols are universal, that means they refer to the same stitches everywhere around the globe. That way one can use Japanese crochet patterns without being able to understand a single word Japanese.
On top of the page I placed a photo of a crocheted swatch.
Below you see the crochet chart for that swatch and below that a stitch guide for the different crochet symbols that are included in the stitch chart. In this example chains, single crochets and double crochets were used.
Now I will take you by the hand and explain how you read the above crochet chart/diagram.
You start reading the chart from the bottom and work up row by row.
At the bottom you see the foundation chain. The pattern starts with 22 chains.
Row 1 The first row shown in blue is worked from the right to the left. Chain 1, 21 single crochets.
Row 2 The second row shown in red is worked from the left to the right. Chain 3, skip 3, 1 single crochet, *skip 4, chain 5, 1 single crochet*, repeat between ** 2 more times, skip 2, chain 2, 1 single crochet.
Row 3 The third green row is worked from the right to the left. Chain 3, work 2 double crochets into previous rows chains, chain 3, 1 single crochet into next chains from previous row, chain 3, 5 double crochets into next chains from previous row, chain 3, 1 single crochet into next chains from previous row, 3 chains, 3 double crochets into next chains from previous row.
Row 4 The 4th purple row is worked from the left to the right. Chain 3, 1 single crochet into chains of previous row, *chain 5, 1 single crochet into chains of previous row*, repeat between ** 2 more times, chain 2, 1 single crochet into previous rows 3rd chain stitch.
Row 5 The 5th brown row is worked from the right to the left. Chain 4, skip 3, 5 double crochets into next chains from previous row, chain 3, 1 single crochet into next chains from previous row, chain 3, 5 double crochets into next chains from previous row, 3 chains, 1 single crochet into previous rows first chain.
Row 6 This blue row is worked from the left to the right. Chain 5, 1 single crochet into previous rows chains, chain 5, skip 5, 1 single crochet into previous rows chains, chain 5,1 single crochet into previous rows chains, chain 5, skip 5, 1 single crochet into previous rows chains, chain 2, 1 double crochet into previous rows first chain.
I hope this instruction helps you, if you want to work my chart only crochet patterns. You are welcome to send me a comment, if anything is unclear to you.
I also have a tutorial how to read a motif chart.
Note: US crochet terms were used for this tutorial. For the crochet charts I used the font stitchincrochet by Adriprints.
Great explanation. I’ve tried to learn these symbols before as I have some very complex-looking Russian patterns I’d like to give a go but with no lucky. Maybe with a bit of studying now I’ll be able to. ;D
Hi Cheeryloops,
I taught myself how to crochet with Japanese crochet books, which come with almost no text and a lot of symbols.
To me the symbols are easier to grasp than the written only patterns.
Thank you so much for this great explanation. I also love the pattern you chose to use as an example. I’m fairly new to crochet and this is very helpful!
You are welcome, Linda:-)
Hi
I want to know what is ” sdc “, i am trying to crochet a chair back set. how to do i?
Another is : 2 dc closed together on next two dc ; (I dont understand how to go about this too !!); the pattern is : (dc on dc) 3 times, 2 dc closed together on next two dc, (dc on dc) twice, 3 ch, dc on single dc, 3 ch *. Repeat from * to * 9 times more; join with sl st in first st.
Thanks.
Florie
Hi Florie,
I don’t know the crochet abbreviation sdc either.
Please contact the designer of the pattern, so that she can clarify how to read her pattern.
I would guess “2 dc closed together on next two dc” means, that she is making a decrease, where she crochets 2 double crochets together. But I haven’t read that way of decreasing double crochets anywhere before.
Goood luck with the pattern:-)
Wow, I like this! I only just started to crochet about a year ago, so I’m not too familiar with reading these charts, but this certainly helps, thank you for sharing!
And thank you so much for visiting my blog and liking my post about coffee craft, too!
Hi Sabrina,
Your coffee owl is cool! I’m kind off tired seeing owls in crochet and knitting, but your coffee owl is unique:-)
Glad that the chart tutorial is helpful for you. They are very common in Europe and Japan, but many Americans are not familiar with them.