Expert: Marla - 12/7/2010

Question
QUESTION:  Hi,

I am pretty much a beginner of crochet , and I am trying to crochet a dog coat , and I am stuck with what the pattern is telling me to do.  http://www.allcrafts.net/f.asp?url=www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80000AD.html  here is the pattern link and I am having trouble understanding row 2 . please help. thanks.

ANSWER: Hi Bettylynn!

Thanks for asking. welcome to crochet! It is my favorite hobby! The pattern confused me a little, too, even though it said the rows begin and end at neck. Some patterns aren’t always clear, and I have said it before, many times the author of a pattern thinks we are mind readers. What confused me is the fact that the pattern didn't say to continue around on the other side, and it should have.  So when you get to what looks like the end of your row, you keep on going around on the other side. Then at the end, you turn and crochet back like you would normally in crochet. So it is like you are sort of following a “U” pattern. Is this where you had trouble? This is what confused me at first. The top of the “U” would be the neck.
I hope this helps let me know if this isn’t what you needed, or if you need anything else. Good luck! Are you making it for your dog?

Marla


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

QUESTION:  hi,

Thank you, that confused me too , now row 4 is got me stumped, do I hdc in between  or just at the but end of the dress ? and yes I am makeing it for my little chihuahua.  

Answer
Hi Betttylynn!
Thanks for coming back to me. You hdc in each of those sl sts. Then at the end of the row, after you make that final ch 5, you sc in the ch-2 loop, which is actually that ch 2 turning ch you made at the beginning of row 3. This will make the coat symmetrical.

We have a Corgi (Pembroke). Our first dog was a stray, and was definitely part Corgi. I think he was part Chihuahua, too, because his body had Chihuahua features. He was with us for 17 1/2 years.

I hope this helps. Let me know if this isn’t what you wanted or if you need anything else.

Marla