Expert: Marla - 6/20/2009

Question
my problem is i cant understand . ch3( counts as first dc),2 dc in same sc as ch-3 ch 1 ,sc in ch -2 sp of the next shell,(ch 5,sc in ch-2 sp of next shell) across ch, 1 3 dc in last sc turn

Answer
Hi Cheryl!
Thanks for asking. I had problems understanding stuff when I first started to crochet. It still happens sometimes. Now, when you are going to double crochet in the next row, you chain three at the end of the row you are on, and turn your work to begin to double crochet. This chain three is called the turning chain, and counts as the first double crochet. Now, when you single crochet, you crochet in that very first stitch. But in double crochet you skip that very first stitch because that is considered that you already made a double crochet stitch there. In this pattern, you double crochet twice in that stitch, making it count as three stitches in that stitch because that chain stitch counts as a double crochet. Then you chain once, and single crochet in that chain-2 space of the shell stitch. This part you repeat to the end: Chain 5, and sc in the chain-2 space of the next shell. Then when you get to the end, you double crochet 3 times in the last single crochet.
Now, when you crochet on the next row, at the end you want to crochet on the last chain of that turning chain because that is considered a stitch ( the first double crochet on that previous row). Decent patterns tell you how many stitches you should have on each row, so you can keep track in case you skip a stitch (which I do often enough).

I hope this helps, and didn’t confuse you. The shell stitch makes a pretty pattern. Please let me know if you have any more questions. Good luck!

Marla