CHAIN
bet – between
beg – beginning
BL – back loop
bpdc – back post double crochet
CC – contrast color
ch(s) – chain(s)
CL – cluster
cm - centimeter
dec – decrease
dc – double crochet
FL – front loop
fpdc – front post double crochet
fphdc – front post half double crochet
fptr – front post treble crochet
fsc – foundation single crochet
g – grams
hdc – half double crochet
hhdc – herringbone half double crochet
in – inches
lp(s) – loop(s)
m – meter
mm – millimeter
MC – main color
oz – ounce
rem – remaining
rep – repeat
rnd(s) – round(s)
RS – right side
rev sc – reverse single crochet
sc – single crochet
sl st – slip stitch
sk – skip
sp(s) – space(s)
st(s) – stitch(s)
tr – treble crochet
tog – together
WS – wrong side
yd(s) – yard(s)
YO – yarn over
Once you’ve mastered these basic stitches, you’ll be ready to make most of the hats in this book.
CHAIN
SLIPSTITCH
SINGLE CROCHET
1
2
DOUBLE CROCHET
1
2
3
HALF DOUBLE CROCHET
TREBLE CROCHET
1
2
3
4
These stitches are slightly more advanced, but are well worth the extra effort.
MAGIC LOOP
1 Leaving a tail 6" (15.2cm) or longer, create a lp by placing the tail behind the yarn coming from your skein or ball.
2 Keeping a firm hold on the long tail and lp, insert your hook through the lp and YO.
3 Pull a lp up through the lp.
4 Ch the necessary number and work sts into the ring by inserting the hook through the ring and completing the st as usual. Continue working sts over the tail and into the magic lp. Once all sts are completed, firmly grasp the tail and pull tightly until the hole is gone. Continue as pattern states.
BACK LOOP AND FRONT LOOP
Most crochet sts are worked under both lps of a st. Sometimes a pattern will tell you to work into the BL or FL only.
WORKING IN BACK HUMP
1 Create the desired number of chs and turn the ch over so the “back” is now facing you. The middle thread creates a “hump” on the back of the chain.
2 Insert the hook under the hump created by the middle thread and finish the stitch as usual.
CHANGING COLORS
1 Before completing the last YO of the st, switch colors, pulling the new color through the sts still on the hook.
2 Continue working the st pattern with the new color.
FOUNDATION SINGLE CROCHET
1 Starting with a slipknot on hook, ch 2.
2 Insert hook in the second ch from hook, and pull up a lp.
3 YO, draw through 1 lp making the ch, YO and draw through 2 lps making the sc.
4 *Insert your hook under 2 loops of the chain stitch of the last stitch.
5 Pull up a loop, YO and draw through 1 loop, YO and draw through 2 loops. Repeat from * for number of stitches desired. Fsc made.
BACK POST DOUBLE CROCHET
YO, insert hook from back to front to back around post of stitch below, YO and pull up lp [YO, draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times. Bpdc made.
CLUSTER
[YO, insert hook into st and draw up a lp to the height of a dc, YO and draw through 2 lps on hook] 2 times, YO and draw through all 3 lps on hook. Cl made.
FRONT POST DOUBLE CROCHET
YO, insert hook from front to back to front around post of st below, YO and pull up a loop, [YO and draw through 2 lps on hook] 2 times. Fpdc made.
FRONT POST TREBLE CROCHET
YO 2 times, insert hook from front to back to front around the post of st below, YO and pull up lp, [YO, draw through 2 lps on hook] 3 times. Fptc made.
HERRINGBONE HALF DOUBLE CROCHET
1 YO, insert hook into st, pull through st and first lp on hook.
2 YO, pull through both lps on hook. Hhdc made.
REVERSE SINGLE CROCHET
1 Working from left to right, insert hook into stitch and pull up lp.
2 YO and draw this lp through the first lp to join.
3 *Insert hook in next stitch to right, pull up a lp, YO, and draw through both lps on hook; repeat from * for desired number of stitches. Rev sc made.
| TO CONVERT | TO | MULTIPLY BY |
|---|---|---|
| Inches | Centimeters | 2.54 |
| Centimeters | Inches | 0.4 |
| Feet | Centimeters | 30.5 |
| Centimeters | Feet | 0.03 |
| Yards | Meters | 0.9 |
| Meters | Yards | 1.1 |