Crochet Chart Symbols

A picot is a small decorative loop, usually 3 chains closed with a slip stitch. Charts show a small loop of chains sitting on top of a stitch. The Chinese name is 狗牙针 (“dog-tooth stitch”). It is used for lace edges and tiny points such as ears or crowns.

How do I make a ch-3 picot?

Chain 3, then slip stitch into the third chain from the hook (or into the top of the stitch below, as the pattern says).

A puff stitch is several half double crochet loops pulled up in the same stitch and closed together, making a soft rounded bump. Charts draw it as a narrow oval. In Chinese patterns it is 中长针的枣形针 (Japanese 中長編み3目の玉編み).

What is the difference between a puff and a bobble?

A puff uses unfinished half double crochets (no slashes); a bobble uses unfinished double crochets, drawn as stitches with slashes joined at the top.

A bobble is several unfinished double crochets worked into the same stitch and closed together at the top. Charts draw it as three or more dc symbols joined at the top. In Chinese it is 长针的枣形针 (Japanese 長編み3目の玉編み).

Which side does the bobble pop out on?

Bobbles bulge toward the back of the stitch, so they are usually worked on wrong-side rows to show on the right side.

A popcorn is 4 or 5 complete double crochets in one stitch, folded closed by pulling the first and last together. Charts show a fan of stitches with an oval cap. The Chinese name is 爆米花针.

How is a popcorn different from a bobble?

A popcorn’s stitches are finished before being gathered, so it stands out more sharply. A bobble’s stitches are left unfinished and closed together.

Front post double crochet (FPdc) is worked around the post of the stitch below from the front, pushing it forward. Charts draw a double crochet symbol with a hook at the base. Chinese patterns call it 外钩长针. It is used for ribbing and cables.

Reading post-stitch symbols

The hook at the bottom of the symbol tells you it is a post stitch. Which way the hook faces differs between chart styles, so check the key to tell front post from back post.

What is 外钩 and 内钩?

外钩 is front post (FP); 内钩 is back post (BP). 外钩长针 = FPdc, 内钩长针 = BPdc.

Back post double crochet (BPdc) is worked around the post of the stitch below from the back, pushing it away from you. Charts draw a double crochet symbol with a hook at the base, facing the other way from front post. Chinese patterns call it 内钩长针.

How do I make ribbing with post stitches?

Alternate 1 FPdc and 1 BPdc across the row, then on the next row work FP over FP stitches and BP over BP stitches as they face you.