Expert: Marilyn Jane Rimmer - 11/26/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi

I saw this site and thought oh wow, maybe I can find out what ctr is when seen in a crochet pattern. I am a beginner in crochet and wanted to make this simple shawl but it read popcorn stitch comma ctr and I am not familiar with this term. If you could help, I really would appreciate it.

Thank You

Jackie

ANSWER: Jackie,

ctr is not a term that I'm familiar with in crochet.  
We've got several possibilities.  First check at the beginning of your pattern below the materials, gauge, etc.  Newer patterns are starting to add a "special stitches" section where they explain anything that is not very basic.  Your pattern may or may not have this.
Second, I've researched and finally located the abbreviation ctr in a list of knitting abbreviations, and it means center.  Does that make sense with the next instructions?  Does that look right with the picture of the shawl?
Third, it could be a typo that should be d tr for a double treble.  Does that seem right with the picture?
Hope that helps, if not, is there more information that might help me research further?  Is this pattern available on the Internet?  or is it in a book or magazine?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hello,

Yes there is a little more info, hope this helps. The pattern came from the web site Craftown.com and is called simply "fluffy shawl". There is no picture but it says if you have questions about this pattern, contact Madelaine. I found her website and ask the question. I have not received an answer yet. Like you, I figured out ctr stood for center and I assumed it had to be a typo or something. The pattern does not list the stitches in the pattern like most do so I was unsure about this one, particularly since there was no picture and I couldn't see for myself.

Check out the website and see what you think.
Thank you so much for the research and maybe madelaine will answer and put the mystery to rest.

Jackie

Answer
Thanks for the information on the pattern.  Looking at row 1, ctr is definitely a typo or an abbreviation that is known to Madelaine only.  It could be dtr for double treble, or clr for cluster, either would work, I think.
I hope that Madelaine gets back to you with an answer, because this pattern doesn't tell you much.  I have sent an inquiry to another crochet expert to see if we can figure out anything else.  

Now on to row 2 and 3.  I think the pattern writer forgot to put in asterisks to show how much of the row to repeat.
Row 2:  I think this should read: dec 1 st, *pf st, ch, pf st ch, rep to end of row.  So that you decrease one stitch at the beginning of the row and no where else in this row.

Row 3: Again, I think that it should read: dec 1 st, *tr, ch, tr, ch, rep to end of row.
Alternating rows 2 and 3, this creates a decrease on both edges, and shapes the shawl into a triangle.