I dont understand this crochet pattern?

Question

I found this website with really pretty crochet patterns but i dont understand how to actually read the pattern. I know how to read normal crochet patterns that are written out but on this website all of the patterns are drawn so i have no clue how do read them!

This is the website

http://www.mypicot.com/mcolor01.html

and i want to do the wavy pattern- 1006

http://www.mypicot.com/mc1006.html

also what type of yarn do i use? can i use thin baby yarn

Answer 1

I think crocheting from symbols is harder, but it's the way a lot of people like their patterns to be written out.  Let me give you some links that might be helpful in showing you what the symbols mean.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZQvZ32U0...

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Cotta...

http://www.stitchdiva.com/custom.aspx?id...

http://www.grannys-garret.com/symbol_cro...

The top link will be the best one for explaining it.

As near as I can tell, the pattern repeat is 21 plus 3 (meaning crochet in increments of 21 and when you reach the length you want, crochet 3 more for your turning chain.)  If you want to make an afghan with it, do a small swatch of it first to make sure you can read the pattern okay.  Another option would be to go to a simpler pattern and try it to make sure you can read the charts okay.

Row one is the part of the pattern labeled 1A.  It's basically: dc in 4th chain from hook, chain 1, dc in next chain, chain 1, dc in next chain, chain 1, dc in next chain, chain 1, work dc decrease (six times), chain 1, dc in next chain, and so on down the row.

Row two is all single crochet in the back loops.

Row three is mostly crocheted in the back loops as well, but there's a few stitches that are not.  (I couldn't find a site that explains if the little upside down u under the stitch is supposed to mean to crochet only in the front or the back loop.  I am assuming it means the back loops because when you look at the v on top of a stitch, the back loop is the one that can be described as an upside down u.  If you don't know how to crochet in the back loops, here is a site that should help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG0zOuSLM... )

You can use any type of yarn you want to make it.  Since it doesn't specify, I think they made these swatches with worsted weight, but there's no reason you couldn't use sport weight or even thread.

I hope I helped!

~Happy Crocheting!~

Answer 2

Small caveat, I only barely know how to crochet.

In this diagram you start at the lower left corner.

The row of bubbles at the bottom is your foundation chain.

each bubble is one chain. You chain three for a turning chain. Now you work from right to left. I think those are DC. (there's a key somewhere on the page I didn't look.)

DC,C, DC, c, dc, ch, dc, ch, skip 1 chain space in foundation row, DC 12 times. ch, sk 1 foundation chain, Dc, ch, dc, ch, dc, ch, dc(exact middle stitch of chart.)

make 1 turning chain, single crochet across the last row, reading chart from left to right again.

Stitch key, http://www.mypicot.com/symter01.html

Also, how to follow a diagram, http://www.mypicot.com/howfd02.html

You can use any yarn that you want as long as you're using an appropriate crochet hook for whatever you want to get at the end.

Answer 3

on the same website which you gave the link to are instructions on how to read the patterns and what the symbols mean - link is below

http://www.mypicot.com/symter01.html

Answer 4

I went to the website links you gave and clicked around.  I found that the last one with the 1006.html, has a download button beneath it.  Did you download it?  

And yes, you can use any kind of yard you want on most patterns.  The difference will the guage of the stitch.  A larger yarn yeilds a larger completed stitch than a smaller yarn.