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Crochet Basics
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Abbreviations
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How to Start a Chain
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How to Chain (ch)
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How to Single Crochet (sc)
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How to Single Crochet inthe Round
By Alison GrenierPepperberry Crochet
Comments? You can email me--pepperberrycrochet@yahoo.com Keep up with the crochet news athttp://pepperberry.typepad.com or on Facebook, Pepperberry Crochet.If you find this helpful, please share it & pass it along to otheraspiring crocheters.
Copyright 2009 Alison Grenier, all rights reserved
Abbreviations
Abbreviations are used in crochet so that patterns aren't miles long and difficult to use
when we're working. It also helps keep designers from writing the same thing over and overagain.
When you're crocheting, you're going to run into the same abbreviations over and over again, so we'll go over the most common, and the ones you'll need to complete this tutorial.
ch
A chain is the basis for most crochet projects, and it's the abbreviation you'll seeat the start of most patterns. At the start of a pattern, it looks something like this:“ch12, turn”. “ch” tells you that you'll be using the chain stitch, the number tellsyou how many of those stitches to make.
turn
Okay, turn isn't an abbreviation, but it is another common thing to see at thestart of a pattern. It means to turn your piece so that you're now working backalong the stitches you've just made. In other words, flip the piece over horizontally!
yo
yo stands for “yarn over”, it means to place your hook so that the yarn is over it,that way you can catch the yarn with your hook. Right after you yo, you will....
lp
You'll always see lp as “draw up a lp”. It's short for loop, and it proves thatmaybe we use more abbreviations than we really need in crochet.
sc
Finally, an abbreviation that makes some crocheted fabric! sc stands for singlecrochet, the most basic crochet stitch.Here's the difference between an abbreviated and non-abbreviated instruction:
Unabbreviated
: Make 11 chain stitches. Turn the piece over so that you're working inthe opposite direction. Insert your hook in the second chain from the hook, yarn over,and draw up a loop. Yarn over. Draw a loop through both loops on hook. Single crochetin the next 9 stitches.
Abbreviated:
ch11. Turn. Insert hook in 2ndch from hook, yo, draw up lp. Yo. Draw lpthrough both lps on hook. 9 sc.
Phew. See how much space that saves? Many new crocheters don't like abbreviations,but you'll be
doing yourself a favor if you learn them as fast as possible. You can get a “cheat sheet” of abbreviations at http://www.yarnstandards.com/crochet.html
How to Start a Chain
The first question you should have when you start crocheting is, “How do I get the yarn
on the hook?” You could always tie a loop in the yarn and work from there, or tie the yarnaround the hook, but there are better and more professional ways of attaching the yarn.
Hold the yarn with the end poking out
fromunder your pinky finger. The part stillattached to the skein is currently resting onmy index in the photo.
Keep holding the end in your fingers, and
wrap the yarn around your thumb. Bring thepart attached to the skein under your indexfinger.
Now that the yarn is under your index
finger,reach over the top of your finger, grab theyarn, and hold it with the end piece.
Insert your hook under the bottom
of thetwo pieces of yarn on your index finger.
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