The Crochet Handbook: Learn what Equipment you need to Crochet, The Basics of Crochet, How to Read Written Patterns, Graphs, Charts and Diagrams, and More (6 page)

Begin working at the lower right corner and read Row 1 from the right to the left. Row 2 is read from the left to the right. Work your way up the chart reading the odd rows from right to left, and the even rows from left to right.

Filet Crochet

Fillet crochet using the heart graph.

This example shows how the graph works up using the Filet crochet technique. Each gray square represents 3 double crochet. Each white square represents 1 double crochet and 2 chain stitches. Remember that in Filet crochet each square on the graph represents 3 stitches, not one.

Written out this pattern looks like this:

Chain 37

Row 1: dc into the 4
th
ch from the hook, dc across, turn

Row 2: ch3, dc into the next 3 sts *ch2, sk 2 sts, dc into next st* rep 8 times, end with dc into the next 4 sts, turn

Row 3: ch3, dc into the next 3 sts *dc, ch2, sk 2 sts* rep 3 times, dc into each of the next 3 sts (dc into dc, 2dc into ch2 sp) *dc, ch2, sk 2 sts* rep 3 times, dc into each of the next 4 sts, turn

Row 4: ch3, dc into each of the next 3 sts *ch2, sk 2 sts, dc into the next st* rep twice, 2dc into the next ch2 sp, dc into the next 4 sts, 2dc into the next ch2 sp *ch2, sk 2 sts, dc into the next st* rep twice, dc into each of the next 4 sts, turn

Row 5: ch3, dc into the next 3 sts *dc, ch2, sk 2 sts* rep once, dc into the next st, 2dc into the next ch 2 sp, dc into each of the next 10 sts, 2dc into the next ch 2 sp *dc, ch2, sk 2 sts* rep once, dc into each of the next 4 sts, turn

Row 6: ch3, dc into each of the next 3 sts *ch2, sk 2 sts, dc into next st* rep once, dc into each of the next 10 sts *ch2, sk 2 sts, dc into next st* rep once, dc into each of the next 4 sts, turn

Row 7: ch3, dc into the next 3 sts *dc, ch2, sk 2 sts* rep twice, dc into the next 3 sts, *dc, ch2, sk 2 sts* dc into the next 3 sts, *dc, ch2, sk 2 sts* rep twice, dc into the next 4 sts turn

Row 8: ch3, dc into each of the next 3 sts *ch2, sk 2 sts, dc into next st* rep 8 times, dc into each of the next 4 sts, turn

Row 9: ch3, dc across row (dc into dc 2dc into each ch2 sp), fasten off and weave in tails.

Intarsia Colorwork

You can also use the same graph for Intarsia colorwork. Each square represents one stitch. In the following example I have used double crochet stitches. Each color change requires a separate bobbin of yarn since the colors are not carried on the back of the project. Each time you change colors catch the old color under the first stitch of the new color to secure it and make a clean color break.

An Intarsia project using the same chart

Catch the old color under the new color

Read an Intarsia graph by beginning in the bottom right hand corner and working the odd rows from right to left, and the even rows from left to right changing colors as indicated on the graph.

Once you understand how to work graphs you’ll find they are a very useful and handy tools.

Corner 2 Corner

In the Corner 2 Corner (C2C) technique graphs are read a bit differently because of the way the pattern is worked. Since C2C projects are worked in diagonal rows, each square represents the sets of stiches used for each square of the project. Begin working a C2C graph in the bottom left hand corner and work from right to left and left to right working diagonally up the graph.

The easiest way to think of a C2C pattern is to think of the diagonally rows as tiers. In the following image you can see how the tiers combine to form the pattern.

Each color change requires a separate bobbin of color. As you change colors you can either pull the new color through the last two loops of the last stich, or pull the new color through the slip stitch to begin a new square.