BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Crochet Help with Pattern Directions

Okay, I surely hope someone can explain some instructions for me. I feel like a dummy, but I just don't get it! <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I'm trying to make the latest freebie afgan from Red Heart. It's called "Spirt of America", and it is one of those tear-off instruction sheets that hang in front of the yarn bins. It is a cute afgan, with a striped pattern, and crocheted stars that you sew on. I am trying to make a star, and I just don't quite understand what these directions mean. I get the very first part of the star, which goes like this: "With large hook and CB (that's a color), ch 5; join with a sl st to form a ring." I figured that out, no problem. It's the next step that is confusing me: "Ch 2, holding back last lp on hook, 2 dc in ring, yo and draw through all 3 lps on hook." Just exactly WHAT loop am I supposed to hold back on the hook?? One of the chain loops, and how would I do THAT? If not, one of the dc loops?? I'm confused! <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

no problem, ch 2, yo, insert hook into the ring, yo pull thru ring, you now have 3 loops on your hook, yo pull thru 2 loops, you know have 2 loops on your hook. yo, insert hook into the ring, yo pull thru ring, you now have 4 loops on your hook, yo pull thru 2 loops. You know have 3 loops on your hook, yo pull through all 3 loops. This is done to either decrese stitches or to make a cluster or texture stitches. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Does that help ?

Yes!! Completely! Now, why didn't they write the directions like that!?! No problem at all - I printed your clarification out and have stapled it to the back of my directions, just in case I make this afgan, again! Thanks, Eva, looks like I owe you one! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />