Stitch definition abbreviations consist of 3 parts:
stitch _ horizontal placement – round
The stitch description gives you details for each of those three parts in plain text:
- stitch type
- exact horizontal placement (stitches ahead or behind/backwards)
- round placement
Stitch type defines what kind of stitch is going to be worked, whether it is a simple stitch, a front post or a back post stitch or a stitch just in one specific loop.
The placement definitions are added as numerals after the type of stitch and “_”:
- the first numeral always gives the direction and the number of stitches you have to count, starting from the next stitch:
“+” means: count ahead; +3 i.e. means it is the 3rd stitch after the next stitch
“–” means: count backwards; -3 i.e. means it is the 3rd stitch counted backwards / behind the next stitch
- the second numeral always indicates the round where the stitch has to be made, starting from the current round:
-1 means: the last round that you made, the one you would now “normally” crochet into = 1 round below the current round
-2 means: 2 rounds below the current round
-3 means: 3 rounds below the current round