Question: I am also new to crochet, but I would love to start making blankets and start a collection that can later be passed down.

After many hours of searching I found a pattern that I like very much, and that claims to be for us "newbies", but I cannot figure out what the pattern is telling me to do. I watched your videos and I learned the most from then that I ever have! I was wondering if you could help me understand this pattern.

It says:Row 1: In the 5th chain from hook, work 1 sc, ch 2, and 2 dc, *skip 2 ch, work 1 sc, ch 2, and 2 dc all in the next ch. Repeat from * across to last 3 ch (29 clusters), skip 2 ch, work 1 dc in the last ch.

Row 2: Chain 3, turn. Work 1 sc, ch2, and 2 dc clustered all in the first ch-2 loop. Repeat in all loops across to last loop. Work 1 dc in ch-3 space at the end of row.

Repeat Row 2 until piece measures approximately 36". Do not break off yarn. Continue around the corner and the remaining 3 sides of the blanket, working 1 sc-ch 2-2 dc clusters in each space. Slip st at the end.

I cannot figure out crochet lingo, so I am not entirely sure what I am supposed to do. I would greatly appreciate the help!


Answer:
Hello to you! Yes, I know what this pattern is saying. I'll explain how to do it, and also highlight the abbreviations for you.

In your Row 1, they are developing a specific pattern. Where it says, "In the 5th chain from hook", you'll be putting all these stitches (sc, ch 2, and 2 dc) into the same chain. Once you have done your sc (single crochet), then you'll just chain 2 times (the chains do NOT go into this stitch you're working in). After you chain 2, then you'll do 2 double crochets in this same stitch.

After you work in this stitch, you simply skip the next 2 chains of your original chain row. Then you just repeat this same pattern (that I described in the previous paragraph), all the rest of the way across the chained row.

On Row 2, you chain 3 times before you turn your work around. This simply builds your crochet height up enough to start a new row.

(Work 1 sc, ch2, and 2 dc clustered all in the first ch-2 loop.) This is simply telling you to go into the first space that you see (which will be a chain-2 space from the previous row), and do your same pattern (1 sc, ch2, and 2 dc) all in that one space. Then you just repeat this same pattern (in each chain-2 space) the rest of the way across the whole row. Then you double crochet in the last loop that is left in that row.

Then you just keep on repeating Row 2 until your blanket measures 36 inches across.

The last step sounds like they want you to make an edging around the remaining 3 sides of your blanket, using the same pattern (1sc, ch2, and 2 dc). After you do this, make the loop on your hook bigger, then carefully take your hook out and lay it aside. Cut your yarn about 1 inch away from this loop. This leaves you a tail that you will slip inside of your loop, and gently pull to tighten. Use your hook to thread this tail into your blanket so that it is now hidden.

Then you're finished!
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Esther