"Dear SweaterBabe,

The instruction says '1 sc in first st, 2sctog, work to within last 2 sts, inc 1 st in next st, 1 sc in last sc.'

What is the different between 2sctog and 2 sc in next st?  I'm not understanding if I should put 2sctog all the way to the end or is it telling me just at that st or continue doing sc after I do the 2sctog?  Need help.  Thank you." -- Robin

Dear Robin,

The instructions: '1 sc in first st, 2sctog, work to within last 2 sts, inc 1 st in next st, 1 sc in last sc.' mean this:

1 sc in the first st

Work the next 2 sts together by inserting hook in 1st, yo, pull loop through, inserting hook in 2nd st, yo, pull loop through, yo, pull through all 3 loops on hook.  A 2sctog is completed.

Now, the "work to within last 2 sts" sounds to me like "1 sc in next st and eash st across until you reach the last 2 sts."

Now you have 2 sts left at the end of the row.  In the1st one, do an increase by working 2 separate sc's into it.

The last st, you just do the 1 sc in last st as instructed.

I am assuming that this is a basic sc stitch fabric that you are making.  It's not so clear from the snippet, but I think a safe assumption.

Hope that answers the question!  (I would have written it differently).

Best,

SweaterBabe

p.s. If you have other thoughts for Robin, please post a comment!

If you have a question on a DIFFERENT crochet or knitting topic, please do not post it here.  Email it to [email protected].  Questions are selected every other week or so to be answered here on the blog and in the SweaterBabe.com newsletter.  Sorry - I get way too many to answer them all!

Dear SweaterBabe,

I am a beginner and I need help with something that appears to be quite simple but I do not get it.

sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, 5 dc in next ch-3 sp, ch1, sc in next ch 3-sp, *(ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp) 3 times, ch 1, 5 dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, sc in next ch 3-sp: repeat from *

I know sc - single crochet and the shell pattern with the 5 double crochet.  I am not getting the "next ch-3 sp". 

I worked on this for hours last evening and I just don't know what  to do.  This is only row 2 I am working on.  Just never learned this terminology. Could you put this instruction in plain English?

Here is the beginning of the pattern:

Chain 146 loosely.

Row 1:  Sc in second ch from hook. *ch 3, skip next 2 chs, sc in next ch; repeat from * across:  49 sc and 48 ch-3 sps. Row 2:  (Right Side): Ch 4 (counts as first dc plus ch 1, now and throughout), Turn; sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, 5 dc in next ch-3 sp, ch1, sc in next ch 3-sp, *(ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp) 3 times, ch 1, 5 dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, sc in next ch 3-sp: repeat from * across to last sc, ch1, dc in last sc: 90 sts and 49 sps.

Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-- Janet

Dear Janet,

Here is the same set of instructions long-hand to try and explain each bit of Row 2:

Row 2:  (Right Side): Ch 4 (counts as first dc plus ch 1, now and throughout), Turn

Row 2 is the "Right Side" of your work, meaning that it will be the side that faces out or is the "prettier" side of the item/garment.

Counting the Ch 4 at the beginning as the first dc, plus ch 1 is just for 1) counting stitches if you need to (especially if there is a stitch count mentioned at the end of the row) and 2) may be how the "ch 4" will be referred to at the end of Row 3 if you need to work a stitch into it.

"Turn" just means to turn your work to begin the next row.  You will turn your work like you do the page of a book and begin working your second row from right to left. 

; sc in next ch-3 sp,

As you are looking down the row (right to left), you will see the next chain-3 space, which is one of the 48 ch-3 spaces that you created on Row 1.  Work a sc in that ch-3 sp by inserting your hook in the space and working the sc. 

ch 1, 5 dc in next ch-3 sp,

Chain 1 ch, then work 5 dc into the next chain-3 space you see to the left.  Work the first dc into the space by inserting your hook into the space and working the dc.  Then, work 4 more dc into the exact same space, so you create a 5-dc group that fans out like a shell.

ch1, sc in next ch 3-sp,

Chain 1 ch, then work 1 sc in the next chain-3 space you see to the left.

*(ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp) 3 times,

Work the instructions you see in the parentheses 3 times in a row, which means to: ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp.  You will have just created 3 new ch-3 spaces.

ch 1, 5 dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, sc in next ch 3-sp: repeat from * across to last sc,

Chain 1, work 5 dc in the next ch-3 space you see to the left. Chain 1, work 1 sc in the next ch-3 space you see to the left.  Go back to the asterisk and work all the instructions from the asterisk to the colon until you only see 1 sc left (from Row 1). 

ch1, dc in last sc: 90 sts and 49 sps.

Chain 1, work a dc in the last sc (which is the 1st sc that you worked in Row 1).  You should now have 90 sts and 49 spaces that you can count to double check that Row 2 was worked correctly.

Here is a Crochet Diagram that further explains the instructions.  I LOVE these sort of diagrams because you can see visually what the pattern is asking you to do.  I only diagrammed the first part of Row 2, as you will just repeat the part where the big blue arrow arches.  I've shown 1 repeat of the * to : section.

Hope this all helps!!  Please feel free to comment on this post.

Dear SweaterBabe,

Question:

What does this mean?

Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 2 dc in top of first 2-dc cluster, skip ch-3, sc in ea of next 3 sc, skip ch-3,

This is a row I am working on row 4.  I am stuck on this row if you can help me out?  

Thanks, Ms Toni

Dear Ms. Toni,

Let me try to explain...

This crochet instruction line is asking you to work 2 double crochets on top of the first 2-dc cluster that you come across as you are working your row from right to left (assuming you are a right-handed crocheter). 

Then, it is saying that as you look along the previous row (Row 3), continuing from right to left, you will come across a "ch-3" that you had worked from Row 3.  Skip it, meaning don't work any crochet stitches into it, and then work on the next part: "sc in ea of next 3 sc".  Then, it is saying to "skip ch-3" again, which means that there must be another ch-3 that you had worked on Row 3 that you can skip over.

Basically, when reading crochet instructions, follow it verbatim.  When it says to skip something, just skip it by NOT working any crochet stitches into whatever you are to skip.  You will see this kind of instruction in all sorts of crochet stitch patterns that have open areas, i.e. lacy crochet patterns.

Once you get used to this sort of crochet instruction, it will be easy!  Hope that helps!!!

Dear SweaterBabe,

Hi my name is Nia and I am trying to crochet a baby sweater and there is one part of the pattern that i don't understand i wanted to know if you can help me to break this down a little further.

Thank You!

Shape armholes: Next row:Sl st in each of first 4 sts. Ch 2. 1 hdc in each st to last 4 sts. Ch 2. Turn. Leave rem sts unworked. 31 (35-39-43) sts.
Cont even until armhole measures 41⁄2(5-51⁄4-51⁄2) ins [11.5 (12.5-13-14) cm], ending with RS facing and omitting turning ch at end of last row. Fasten off.

Dear Nia,

Let's write that instruction in plainer terms to make it easier to interpret:

When you shape armholes, you often leave a few stitches unworked at the end of 2 rows to create the armhole opening.  That is why it tells you to "Leave rem sts unworked."  "to last 4 sts" means to work a hdc in each st as you go along the row UNTIL you see 4 sts sitting "unworked" at the end of your row. 

Here is a photo that illustrates this:

The RED row shows how you do your "Next Row" under the "Shape Armholes" instructions.   You can see where I worked the sl st into the 1st 4 sts, then worked until there were only 4 sts left (see the 4 sts unworked at the end of the Row).  Then, I did the ch 2, which is exactly what you see in the photo above.  So, to "leave rem sts unworked," you go ahead and turn and begin the next row.

"Cont even until armhole measures..." means to continue in the established stitch pattern (I'm guessing it's hdc??) without any shaping (NO increasing or decreasing, so maintain the same number of stitches on each row) until you can measure 41⁄2(5-51⁄4-51⁄2) ins from when the armhole shaping began.

Here's an example of how you measure it:

In the example here, the armhole is only measuring about 1 1/4", so I would continue to work even (which is what you see in the red) until the appropriate armhole length for the size I am making.

"Ending with RS facing" means that the last row that you work should be a RS row.  Sometimes it is written as "ending with a RS row." 

 "Fasten off" means to cut your yarn, leaving approximately a 6" tail (or more if you will need this tail to do any sewing of seams).  Then, thread your tail through the last loop that was on your hook and pull through to "fasten" or sort of knot your end so nothing can unravel.

Hope that helps!  Please comment if you still have questions.