Pinkspirations

Just browsed the net for some pinkspirations crochets....

Oh would love to make em all!

First Time: From Japanese Diagram to Written Pattern

I want to learn how to read a Japanese pattern or diagram so I will make this my first time risk of trying to read one.

I will just start on a simple motif pattern and then maybe in time will move on to a bigger pattern like a flower or a doily. The pattern I will use is from issuu.com. This website has a lot of publications on crochet diagrams written on Japanese and to be honest, I had a pattern overload just looking at all the pictures. But now I will make something out of that overload and will try to convince my self that I can translate crochet diagrams.

So let's start.....

So usually motifs starts with a ring. It could be a chain ring (which is a very good way to start as a beginner), a sliding loop, or a slip knot. I'll talk about these on other posts in the future. For now lets start with a sliding loop. The reason for this is because most of the diagrams do not show (or if they do, I wont be able to know since the diagram words are written in Japanese) how many chains you would do for the chain ring.

This is the pattern::

As you can see, this pattern uses the following symbols to indicate crochet stitches::

chain (ch)

double crochet (dc)

half double crochet (hdc)

 treble crochet (tr)

slip stitch (slip st)

single crochet (sc)



Here are pictures on how to make the sliding loop::

At #3 picture, work the required number of starting chains for the round shown in the diagram. At this time, its 5.

At #4 picture, work the required number of stitches for the round as shown in the diagram.At this time round 1 would be::

Round 1 chain 5 (counts as 1st dc and ch-2), *dc on loop, chain 2*, repeat *to* 10 times, dc on loop, join with hdc to 3rd chain of ch-5.

Now we are done in round 1, we now proceed to the other rounds.....

Round 2 chain 3 (counts as 1st dc), dc on space made by the joined hdc, *3 dc on next 2-ch space, repeat * 11 times, dc on space hdc, slip st on top of ch-3.

Round 3 chain 4 (counts as 1st dc), treble in next dc, *ch 4, make 1 treble in each next 3 dc*, repeat from * to * 11 times, make 1 treble in each of next 3 dc, ch 4, treble in next dc, slip st on top of ch-4.

Round 4 chain 1, *sc on ch-4 space, make hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc on same space*, repeat * to * on next 10 ch-4 space, sc on ch-4 space, make hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc on same space, slip st on ch-1. Fasten off.

As you  noticed, there's no symbol for slip st on the end of the pattern, I just added it so as to indicate how to end the last round. But of course, as a crocheter, even without indications in the pattern you already know that almost all patterns ends with a slip stitch and fastening off.

So, that's how I read diagrams. Its a little difficult at start but with more practice, I think I was able to pull it off..... It would be grand if I'd be able to translate a whole diagram of a hat or bag. Hopefully.....one day.... :)

I'll try to post more translations in the future...