Need help with pattern!

[ZoeS]

I'm not so good with crochet charts:

http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/e...otif_Doily.pdf

I think I understand it all except I cannot figure out the petal part. I think on round 2 I am supposed to chain 11 between each dc pair. And then chain 3 I am supposed to make closed loops out of part of the ch11? A l'aide!

[DogCatMom]

Look at the full detail of the motif first. What you're calling "round 2" seems to be "round 4."

Given that, it does look like Round 4 goes like this: ch 4 (3 are the chs for the new round and 1 is for the round itself), *dc, ch 9, sl st, ch 2, dc, ch 1* 6 times, sl st.

It looks like there may be two possibilities for Round 5. One of them would assign the first three dcs to the first three chs and the last three dcs to the last three chs, with the intervening dcs and chs stitched into the ch-3 sp. The other goes like this: Ch 1, *sc in ch-1 of prev. round, [dc 6, ch 3, dc 6 in ch-6 sp]* 6 times.

That's the motif itself. I'm not sure (without a key) what the filled-in chain-stitch symbol is that I see on the main diagram. They're distributed on the ends of the petals wherever a petal joins to another. Maybe an extra sl st?

DCM

[ZoeS]

I don't think there is a round 4. The rounds are numbered - 1, 2 and 3. Unless I'm not understanding that?

The filled in chains are sl st joins I think.

[Antares]

Zoe, I believe you're right. There are only three rounds total.

On round 2 you will ch 9 (after you've done the dc, ch 1, dc, of course). Then from your hook, you will count back 7 chains and slip stitch into that 7th chain. This makes a large picot. Then continue on with the ch 2 and so on.

On the next round, it looks like your dc's will all go into the picot you made in the previous round. So in other words, you do not need to divide your dc's up and insert them in separate chains. Instead, you will make the dc's INTO the picot itself (by inserting your hook inside the ch-6 loop to form your stitches).

Let me know if this is still unclear, and I'll try explaining some more!

[ZoeS]

That makes sense, Antares! Last night I tried doing the 6 dc, ch 3, 6 dc set in the whole ch 11 space and then joining the two sts in the chain 11 together (where you see the sl st in the pattern). Honestly it looks fine but it was so hard to do I figured there was no way I had it right.

Anyway, thanks for the help!

[Antares]

I'm glad that makes sense. But if you find it doesn't work, please let us know.

[OffJumpsJack]

Ah, a question about crochet symbols and I missed it!

Antares is correct, the solid oval is a slip stitch into the 7th ch from hook (of the ch 9) to make an extended pico (i.e. a closed 6 ch loop).

Need any help with the M, "magic ring?" (I.e. the crochet magic loop, quite different from knitting) I find it is a wonderful way to make tight starting loops for doilies or a doily like motif.

I pull the tail (of the loop) snug and then work it in with the working yarn for a few stitches. That might be hard when round one starts with a chain three from the starting loop. It also makes those chains thicker, and more like the DC that it pairs up with.

It is just a method to secure the tail without a knot.

[ZoeS]

Ah, if there's one thing I can do, it's the magic loop!

If only I could master its knitting counterpart (knitting few sts with a circular needle).

[suzeeq]

If only I could master its knitting counterpart (knitting few sts with a circular needle).

You can use a knitting magic loop there too. Except you loop the needles, not the yarn. See a video for it on the Advanced Techniques page.

[Antares]

Ah, a question about crochet symbols and I missed it!

Yes, you missed it, but we were somehow able to present a coherent answer even without your valuable input.

By the way, I've discovered that while I love crochet charts, I really dislike knitting charts--I guess because the knitting charts don't say anything visually to me!

Anywhoo, thanks for your input, and welcome back (as I haven't seen you on here lately).