Reading Patterns: What Are The Asterisks In A Pattern For?

You may have come across an asterisk (*) in a pattern and wondered what that was for. Asterisks are used to show repeats in a pattern (this cuts down on the length of total written directions for a pattern that has parts of the pattern repeated).

When a pattern says to repeat from *, look back in the directions of the row or round that you are on and find the *. Crochet the directions immediately following that *. Sometimes a pattern will ask you to repeat from * more than once. If that is the case, go back to the * and crochet the directions following it, as many times as the pattern has called for. Often if there is just one asterisk * in a row or round, the repeats will be taking you to the end of the row or round so there is no further indication needed for where you will stop the repeat(s).

Some patterns will use a single asterisk * both at the beginning of the repeat and again at the end of the repeat, so when you come to the second single asterisk * you know that is the point where you will stop that repeat.

Some patterns will use both a single asterisk * and a double asterisk **. The double asterisk ** is usually used to show you where to stop the repeat. For example a pattern may say repeat from * to **. Look back in the directions of the row or round that you are on and find the *. Crochet the directions immediately following that * and continue until you come to the **, then stop and start to crochet again at the directions where you left off just before doing the repeat.

copyright 2003 by Sandi Marshall, licensed to About.com, Inc. I wrote the information above in my own words, from my own experience with crocheting. Free for your own personal use only. Do not copy to publish my wording that is in this article to your own web site, Internet bulletin board or forum message, in print or by any other means. Instead, if others would like to read this article, please give them the URL of this page, so that they may come here for themselves. You may place the URL of this page as a link on your web site or forum message, if you wish. Thank you. Copyright Myths Explained, U.S. Government Copyright Office - http://www.loc.gov/copyright

URL of this page is http://crochet.about.com/library/blrepeats.htm