Reading complicated crochet patterns

[Uncooperativefingers]

I taught myself to crochet a few years ago now and have found my niche creating amigurumi animals. Wanting a challenge, i've picked up a more complicated pattern for a flamingo with lacey feathers (crocheted wild animals by vanessa moonchie) and i'm really struggling to understand what I need to do.

For all of you much more proficient crochetters, how did you make the leap from simple patterns to those that are more involved? I don't know anyone irl who can read the pattern either!

You need to count the stitches, and work out what it wants you to do.
don't be scared of youtubing the stitches if your stuck...

Is it a written pattern or a diagram pattern?

I've made reasonably complex amugurumi but always following really clear instructions. I've looked at some patterns and not had a clue and all but the very simplest pattern written as a diagram leaves me struggling

Thanks Mummy.

I'm fine with doing the basic stitches and knowing where I am in the pattern for basic projects, which is what all the blogs / books / YouTube seems to cover. To be clearer i've attached part of the pattern i'm struggling with (any help appreciated! ) But I suppose i'm also asking for resources I can use to puzzle this stuff out for myself in future.

Wondering if i'm being too ambitious, but i'm fed up of simply working in the round!

Have to admit defeat sometimes. Try posting a few lines here and maybe we can get you going?

Tiz, I have it written as both, but the diagram seems even more confusing than the writing!

That does look fairly complex, once patterns start talking about posts I'm lost! I have a lovely pattern for a leaf shaped table mat which I've given up on as I cannot work out the middle bit.

This is probably the most complex thing I've made and it's described as medium advanced but the pattern is more straightforward than what you have posted imo.

Hopefully someone more experienced can help out, but it looks like you've skipped straight to expert from beginner.

I’ve had a go at a part of the pattern and this is what I’ve come up with. One feather.

Have you ever done crocodile stitch?
There are loads of tutorials for it and it is very similar.
HTH

That’s awesome tiz

I try and rewrite it, picturing doing each stitch as I write. Each stitch written on a fresh line seems to break it up, and it doesn’t seem so overwhelming actually hooking it after that!

Oh wow blah! That's great! I've redone it for about the millionth time and am getting closer to how yours looks. It's very helpful having a close up pic of one feather like that (the book only has the whole flamingo). I think this pattern might take me a while!

I also love your creation tiz! Super cute!

Thanks for your help everyone!

And great tip chip, will definitely remember that for the rest of the however many rows there are (I don't dare look at exactly how many are left...)

Glad to help.

Here’s a link to a tutorial on crocodile stitch, as although the stitches used are different the technique is the same.

Hope you get there in the end.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=H4in7seykYc

How are you doing?

Hi! I am hoping some crochet fans can help me with a pattern...I have NEVER seen instructions like this:
Row 1(WS): Ch 5 (counts as tr, ch-1 sp), dc in first
sc, (XL, 2X) ch 1, sk 1 sc, dc in next sc, (all) *3 hdc-cl
in next sc, dc in next sc, [ch 1, sk 1 sc, dc in next sc]
3 times; rep from * across to last 2 (2, 2, 4, 4) sc, 3
hdc-cl in next sc, (XL, 2X) dc in next sc, ch 1, sk 1 sc,
(all) (dc, ch 1, tr) in last sc, turn. (34, 38, 42, 48, 52
dc) ???

It's in US terminology if that helps - it talks about SC - single crochet, which is what they call double crochet. Also, where they call a stitch double crochet, it's what we call treble crochet.

Hoping that helps but have a feeling you need someone more experienced than I am.

The XL & 2X and the list of numbers at the end look like adjustments for different sizes - the number of dc you should end up with depends on how big it’s supposed to be?

A quick Google says that hdc-cl is a half double crochet cluster stitch, there are videos on how to do those.

Also sounds as if you’re meant to already have a row of sc to be working from - is that right?

Good luck!

@Jeanettem

Hello EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn and FlipsFlops4Me,
I got that it was US terminology. I understood the instructions and varied stitches (hdc etc). I know that the brackets with varied increasing numbers refers to the next size up and so on.... but I did not get the random XL & 2X?

The pattern was beautiful-half was entirely different to the other and I loved it. I had made practically all of one side (many doily-like circles single chained together ) and this is when I became unstuck.
I undid the lot and began an entirely different pattern. Many thanks for your contributions though. Have a pleasant and indulgent Easter time.

Have lots of stitch markers on hand and count regularly. That’s what helped me.