Row 3 & reading patterns

Let's finish the rest of Row 3. Here's what it looks like written out:

Row 3: inc, sc, inc, ch 1 & turn   (5)

Don't worry, it's not as scary as it looks. You already know how to do everything that's written. You just need to learn what the abbreviations mean.

• inc: increase stitch (2 single crochet stitches in the same hole)
• sc: single crochet stitch
• ch: chain stitch

And that (5) at the end of the pattern is the number of stitches (horizontal V's) you should count by the end of the pattern. When crocheting in rows, you don't count the "ch 1 & turn" as part of the total number of stitches. It's just the prep work to make the next row.

So here's the play-by-play on how to read Row 3:

• Do an increase stitch (inc) in the 1st hole*
• A single crochet stitch (sc) in the 2nd hole
• Inc in the 3rd hole
• Then to get ready for the next row, do a chain stitch and turn your piece. Remember that this doesn't count towards the total number of stitches in Row 2.

Follow this video to see Row 3's pattern in action:

*This counts as 2 of the 5 stitches in Row 3, because an inc stitch is really 2 sc in the same hole.