Phoenix Knitting Forums

I'm thinking of starting this, maybe via ravelry. There could be....

A group - people could join to show designers that there is a need for action, and to suggest ways to act

An effort to ask magazines / designers / pattern sellers of other types, etc. of the need to clarify which stitch definitions they are using

A badge for magazines / designers / patterns that clarify the stitch definitions used in their patterns

ummm... I thought of some other stuff in bed this morning but can't think what it was....

Does this already exist elsewhere? If not...

Do you think this is a good idea? Can you suggest other things it could do? I think to start a group on ravelry I'd need support from two or three other people - do you know if that's the case, and if so, would you be prepared to second it?

I'm fed up with peering at photos and trying to decide which double crochet they mean, and it's so off-putting for beginners! I know that some patterns do clarify but not enough.

I'm coming over all revolutionary.... someone find me a suitable smiley, quick!

I use the following tips to work out if a crochet pattern uses american or english terms.

If the term sc (single crochet) appears, its american (sc is the equivalent of dc in english)

look at how many chains you have to work at the start of the row/ round. If it says work 3 chain then dc then its american as their dc is our treble.

Generally I assume that if the authors american it will be american terms, if british then it will be british terms.

I know exactly what you mean Claire. I am a crochet beginner and have some very basic skills but have actually been put off from following patterns because I get so confused. Also I tend to use the net to look at stitch tutorials etc to check I'm doing the right thing and it's so difficult sometimes to work out if you are looking at a UK or USA site.

Any move towards more clarity would be great. Especially in this internet-age where patterns/ideas are freely shared across countries it does seem daft to have such a fundamental difference in terminology.

Thanks both for replying. I'm assuming from your posts that Nevisknitter thinks things are OK as they are - no need for a campaign - but madmum might support it?

Nevisknitter - thanks for the tips (especially the one about the turning chain - i'm always unsure about the numbers on that). I'm serious about the campaign though - it just seems like adding one sentence to a pattern, near the beginning where any unusual stitches are usually explained, would not be too much more effort when writing a pattern, but for the crocheter trying to follow the pattern it would be so much clearer and then you'd be sure, and wouldn't have to do the detective work.

Madmum - thanks for putting that so much more eloquently than I could!

I think I'm going to put some posts around on ravelry and find out about what is needed to start a group. After all if there is little support - well, it'll just fizzle out, nothing lost really. If I do get it started, I'll post a link back here.

Any more views or thoughts still welcome though!

I would completely support that Claire. Even though I cannot yet even crochet . I definitely intend to learn this year as I've often seen a lovely pattern only to realise it's crochet and I can't do it yet. Once I do learn, I know there will be lots of things I want to make so clarity would be most welcome as I certainly won't know how to go about finding out which it is otherwise.

Thanks to Nevis though, I may yet avoid time-costly mistakes by using those tips to help.

Listen at me! I'd best get on with some of the things I want to finish knitting before I start talking about crocheting don't you think?!

I'm a crochet designer and generally when I submit a pattern for publishing, I state that the terms I've used are UK. Most crochet designers do this, but sometimes, that doesn't appear in the published pattern.

I would support a group that asks for clarification in this.

Thanks Kai and Tigerjill.
Kai, that's really interesting that most designers do specify. And it makes sense, given that by definition you crochet yourselves so are likely to have come up against the same problem. I hope it didn't sound like I was casting aspersions on designers because I certainly didn't mean to... but maybe I got carried away by the idea I think I have only seen a clarification on two patterns - one from Attic 24 and another on an amigurumi (maybe roman sock?) - although I haven't done nearly as much crocheting as knitting, so I'm quite prepared to entertain the idea that my sample may not be representative.

Could it be because obviously only americans read american patterns and british read british patterns and never the two shall meet in publisher world?

Also remember that probably the vast majority of crocheters probably are not online/ use free patterns fro the internet so this is not an issue for many people.

I printed off a conversion chart of terms and keep that with the crochet pattern if its american, though I find after a few days of working it that the brain slips into american crochet speak. I find that its not too hard to work out if its an american or english pattern anyway.

If you are still unsure of which terms are used, why not try contacting the designer/magazine, that way they will become aware of the issue and maybe start stating which terms they use.

This has long been a source of irritation to me but I fear that Traxia is right. Magazines are aimed at particular markets and, unless they are trying to open new markets in a different continent, they're not going to specify and may even claim that it confuses their readers to do so - a US crocheter may not even know of the existence of different UK terms and it is only internet UK users that are aware of the problem.

But yes ....grrrrr from me too!