Expert: Ed Matos - 10/15/2008

Question
I have a bonnet afghan I would like to make, but am having trouble in getting it started expecially in the first round I'm a little confused maybe you can help me I usually use Bea, but she is on vacation & I would like to get started here it goes on round one I need to know how to make six single crochets in the chain 2  the pattern start like this  
     Rnd 1 (RS):  beg at crown with first scrap color, ch2, 6sc in 2nd ch from hook, do not join rnds (6sc)
     Rnd 2: 2sc in each sc around, (12sc)
     Rnd 3: {Sc in next sc, 2sc in next sc} 6 times, (18sc)
     Rnd 4: {sc in each of next 2sc, 2sc in next sc} around (24sc)
     Rnd 5: Sc in ech of next 23sc, join with sl st in beg sc, fasten off.
  TIES:   Rnd 6: With 2nd scrap color, ch 25, join ch to any sc on crown of hat with a sc, sc in each of next 23 sts, ch25, fasten off.
   BRIM  Rnd 7: join first scrap color with a sl st in first sc of rnd 6, ch 5 (counts as first dc and ch 2), dc in same st,sk next sc, {(dc, ch2,dc) in next sc, sk next sc} 11 times, make sure ties are on RS of Motif, join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-5.  (What does it mean when you have RS of motif?)
    Rnd 8: sl st into ch-2 sp beg shell (see special stitches ) in same ch-2 sp,ch 1, {shell (See special stitiches) in next ch-2 sp, ch1} 11 times, join with sl st in 2nd ch of beg ch-2 fasten off.

          (Begginning shell (beg shell):  ch 2 (counts  
       as first hdc) (3dc, hdc) in same st as beg ch-2.

      Rnd 9: sk next 4 shells on hat brim after joining of rnd 8, sk next shell, join black with sl st in next ch-1 sp, ch5 (counts as first tr and ch 1), tr in same st (for corner), *{ch 5, hdc in next ch-1 sp} twice, ch5**(tr, ch 1, tr) in next ch-1 sp (for corner) , rep from * around, ending last rep at **join with sl st in 4th ch of beg ch-5.
      Rnd 10: Sl st into ch-1 sp, ch3 (counts as first dc) , (2dc, ch3,3dc) in same ch 1 sp *{4 dc in ea of next 3 ch-5 sps**, (3 dc, ch3, 3 dc) in next corner ch-1 sp, rep from * around ending last rep at **, join with sl st in 3rd ch of ch-3 (72dc).

     Rnd 11: Ch3, dc in ech of next 2 dc, *(3dc, ch2, 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp**,dc in ech of next 18 dc, rep from * around ending last rep at ** dc in each of last 15 dc, join with sl st in 3rd ch of ch-3) (96 dc)

     Rnd 12 Ch1, sc in each of first 6 sc, *3sc in next corner ch-2 sp**, sc in each of next 24sts, rep from * around ending last rep at **, sc in each of last 18 sts, join with slt in beg sc. fasten off (108 sc).

What does it mean when you have ch-2 or ch-3 or ch-2 sp? I see this alot does the dash mean something in the translation or it their only I hope you can get me started and to the end of this I am a beginner and have only been crocheting for a a little over a year any thing you can do to help me will be greately appreciated.  thanks for your time and cooperation in this

Answer
Lydia:

On the first part, you are able to make 6 sc on that chain. What they want is a tight beginning, so all 6 sc will fit just fine.

The patter is informing you that you should have a ch-2,3 space.  This is used to orientate you on where you should be within the piece, or where in the piece you are working on / with.

I know when you start the 6sc you will think it will be hard to get them in, trust me, they will fit, and if it get a bit distorted, don't worry about it, it will fall it will fall into place once the piece grows.

I do hope this helps you out. Anything else, please let me know

Thanks and happy hooking

Ed