Reading Crochet Charts

Hi everyone,

I’d like to know if there’s anyone else (maybe even several people) who isn’t familiar with crochet charts?

Best regards

Do you generally have trouble with crochet charts, or is this a specific chart that uses symbols that aren’t explained anywhere?

Hi!

So far, I’ve always been lucky enough to buy crochet patterns written in “regular” German text.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case with this one: the pattern sections are given as a crochet chart, while everything else is in regular text.

Yes, I generally have trouble with crochet charts. I haven’t come across that here on cp yet either.

And that’s why I can’t make any progress with my crochet pattern.

Best regards from Marlies

Hi Marlies,

if you purchased the pattern here, I’d suggest you contact the author and ask for help.

Are you having trouble with the symbols? Is there no key to the symbols in the pattern? 

Hi, yes, of course I bought it here... ;)
I’ve already written to the author and asked for help.
She wrote back saying that, for certain reasons,
she can’t translate the crochet chart for me. :((

Best wishes

Hi Marlies,

From what I understand, you’re having trouble with the three symbols in the chart....

O...light gray
X...black
Empty box ….. dark gray....

So, for you, it should be written like this:

e.g.,
9 single crochets in dark gray, 1 single crochet in black, etc.???

Best wishes, Sabine

Hi Sabine,

Yes, thank you very much. Exactly, in completely “normal” writing.

Best regards from Marlies

Hi Marlies,

this isn’t my pattern, but I write patterns myself and can tell from what’s been written so far what kind of pattern this is.

I suspect it’s a tapestry-style bag.

In patterns like this, crochet charts are completely unnecessary, and I’m pretty sure Sabine doesn’t use a crochet chart in this pattern. The reason is quite simple: these types of bags are made exclusively with single crochet stitches. So why would you need a crochet chart? Crochet charts show the different types of stitches.

It’s likely a chart that only specifies the colors.

Now let’s assume the pattern costs the buyer 2.00 euros. Then the seller gets about 1.00 euro. But they still have to pay taxes on that at the end of the year. Well, let’s assume anyway that the author earned 1.00 euro.

Creating the chart alone would have taken at least 3 hours. The rest of the pattern also takes time.

Now, if I understand you correctly, you’d also like every single stitch to be listed and described in detail?

With an estimated 180 stitches per round and 13 rounds per pattern repeat, I’d guess an author would have to spend a few more hours at the computer for that one euro.

  Besides, as an author, I would strongly advise any other author against doing something like this. It would end up being several pages long, and that would lead to customer complaints because it would drive printing costs through the roof.

I hope I’ve given you something to think about. Maybe you’ll reconsider. The concept of such a chart really isn’t difficult.

Best regards, Birgit

To be honest, I don’t really understand the problem when it comes to a counted chart. For example, if it says “5 X,” it should be clear that those are 5 black single crochets. I just count the number of Xs—that’s why it’s called a counted chart. Didn’t the product description say that it was a counted chart?

Best regards

Hi Marlies,

sorry, but the product description explicitly states that it’s a chart.

Explanation for why it isn’t written out:

Pattern repeat 1 has 2,340 stitches with the repeats, and that’s repeated again.
Pattern repeat 2 has 5,940 stitches with the repeats....

There’s a reason I drew it as a chart!
The chart is further divided into 10 x 10 squares and has just 2 different symbols—3 if I include the empty square.
If you place a ruler along the row, you’re sure not to get confused while crocheting; you just have to remember which symbol corresponds to which color for you, and then count and crochet.

If I were to write out the whole thing as you’d like, it would turn into a novel rather than a pattern. With that many symbols, mistakes are bound to happen—and you certainly wouldn’t enjoy that.

Birgit put it very well above: for the chart, I spent about 10 hours on the sketch and creating it.

Then I’d have to write out my other motif patterns as well....

Best regards, Sabine

I don’t think Marlies was referring to crochet charts—the ones with symbols—but rather to a written-out pattern.
I’ve never crocheted tapestry before, so I can’t say whether it makes sense to create a written-out pattern for that.

  Marlies, I’d recommend that you make yourself a sort of template—a ruler with a small window left open in the middle. You can then place it over the chart so that you only see the row you’re currently working on.
That makes counting easier.
Maybe this will help you a little. 

Tapestry is similar to filet crochet, Michaela.

In filet crochet, you usually have a chart where a filled-in/marked square stands for 3 double crochets, and an unfilled/unmarked square stands for 1 double crochet and 2 chain stitches.

With tapestry crochet, you simply have differently marked squares for the colors.
For example,
marked with an “x” = black stitch
marked with a “y” = red stitch
unmarked = white stitch

When doing filet crochet, most people cross out the stitches they’ve already worked. That’s also a good way to keep track in this case.

So it’s the same as double knitting.
It doesn’t make much sense to write
1 stitch in black, 2 stitches in red, 1 stitch in black.
Usually, there’s just a chart that creates the design. 

Hello everyone,

I’m so sorry—especially to you, Sabine.

I must have gotten something mixed up. Everything is clear to me now.
Please forgive me. This was my first time dealing with crochet symbols and crochet charts.

Thank you for your help, and I hope you continue to enjoy your crafting.

Best regards from Marlies

@Marlies,

that’s a chart… Crochet charts/crochet symbols are a whole different set of hieroglyphs ^^


Hope it works out with the backpack now.

Best, Sabine

Oh, wow, hello Sabine,

thanks for the correction. I meant counted patterns too. As I said, I’m still a beginner in this area.

Best wishes from Marlies