Loopy PandaHow to Read a Crochet Chart
A crochet chart draws every stitch as a symbol, placed where it sits in the fabric. Charts in the round start in the centre and are read counterclockwise, one ring per round. Charts in rows start at the bottom: read right-side rows from right to left and wrong-side rows from left to right. The round or row number marks where each one starts.
What you need
- The chart, printed large if possible
- A symbol key (the pattern's own, or our chart symbol table)
- Coloured pencil or highlighter
- Stitch marker
How to read a chart, step by step
- Learn the basic symbolsAn oval is a chain, a dot is a slip stitch, an X or + is a single crochet, and a T is a half double crochet. Each slash across a T's stem adds one yarn over: one slash is a double crochet, two is a treble.
- Find the startFor rounds, the start is the centre: a ring of chains or a magic ring symbol. For rows, it is the foundation chain at the bottom.
- Find the round or row numbersEach round or row has a number beside it. The number sits at the point where that round or row begins.
- Follow the directionFor rounds, go counterclockwise, the same way you crochet if you are right-handed. For rows, read row 1 right to left, row 2 left to right, and keep alternating.
- Read where stitches meetSymbols that share a base are all worked into the same stitch (an increase). Symbols that meet at the top are worked together into one stitch (a decrease).
- Check the heightSymbols are drawn roughly to scale. A double crochet symbol is drawn taller than a single crochet, so a round of double crochet makes a wider ring on the chart.
- Track your placeColour each round or row on your printed chart as you finish it. Many charts alternate colours between rounds to help you see where one ends.
Basic chart symbols
| Symbol | US stitch | Chinese |
|---|---|---|
| oval | chain (ch) | 锁针 |
| dot (filled oval) | slip stitch (sl st) | 引拔针 |
| X or + | single crochet (sc) | 短针 |
| T | half double crochet (hdc) | 中长针 |
| T with 1 slash | double crochet (dc) | 长针 |
| T with 2 slashes | treble crochet (tr) | 长长针 |
| two X (or V) sharing a base | sc increase | 短针加针 |
| two X (or A) joined at the top | sc decrease | 短针减针 |
| arc under a symbol | back loop only (check the key) | 后半针 |
Symbols are mostly the same worldwide, including in Chinese (钩针图解 / 符号图) and Japanese charts. Small details, such as loop-only marks, vary by designer, so always check the pattern's key. See the full crochet chart symbol table.
Amigurumi charts in the round
Amigurumi charts usually show a flat circle from above: the magic ring in the centre, then one ring of symbols per round. The increases line up in 6 wedges, like slices of a pie.
Many amigurumi charts only show the increase rounds. Straight rounds with no increases are often written as a note, for example 第6-10圈 不加不减 (rounds 6–10, no increase or decrease), because they would draw as identical rings.
Common mistakes
- Reading rounds clockwise. Right-handed crocheters work counterclockwise. Left-handed crocheters work clockwise, so they can read the chart as a mirror image.
- Counting chains as stitches. The turning chain or starting chain at the beginning of a round may or may not count as a stitch. The pattern notes should say.
- Missing an increase. Two symbols fanning out from one stitch are easy to read as one. Count the tops of the symbols, not the bases.
Chart symbols on this page
Frequently asked questions
Which way do you read a crochet chart in the round?
Start in the centre and read counterclockwise, one ring per round, if you crochet right-handed. Left-handed crocheters go clockwise.
Where do you start reading a crochet chart in rows?
At the bottom, on the foundation chain. Row 1 is usually read right to left, row 2 left to right, and so on. The row number shows which side each row starts.
What does a T with a line through it mean?
A T with one slash is a double crochet (US). Two slashes is a treble crochet. A plain T with no slash is a half double crochet.
Are Japanese and Chinese crochet charts the same as English ones?
The symbols are almost all the same, which is why you can follow a Japanese or Chinese chart without reading the language. Check the key for any unusual symbols.
Is X or + the symbol for single crochet?
Both. English charts often use +, while Chinese and Japanese charts usually use X. They mean the same stitch.
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