What does Ch 5: 8 ch 2 sp Mean?

[Vultronn]

Working on a grandma square blanket and a couple of the rounds end saying something like "Ch 5: 8 ch 2 sp" what exactly does that mean? I think I understand 2 sp means the next space. Below is the first round and a link to the pattern.

 

Any help would be great thanks.

 

Rnd 1: Ch 5 - counts as first dc and ch 2, (dc, ch 2) 7 times in ring, join to 3rd ch of beg. ch 5: 8 ch 2 sp.

 

http://web.archive.org/web/20040622171149/http:/www.spatulagraphics.com/krochet/patterns/sunjwl.html

[crabby rat]

It means you should have eight ch-2 spaces on round 1.  (They'll be separated by the stitches that went into the ring.)

 

[Vultronn]

Oooooh! So it's not really instructions, but rather telling me what I should see in the current round?

[crabby rat]

Yes, exactly.  I find these types of patterns very helpful - this way I can check to make sure I did the round/row correctly and not have to go back and frog a bunch of stuff if I made a mistake.  I think it would be more obvious if they used a period instead of a colon to separate the info, though.  

[Vultronn]

That's awesome thanks so much! How it says "Ch 5:" at the end does that mean I should chain 5 after I join it? Also, when I join does that usually mean slip stitch?

[crabby rat]

No.  When you first started this round, you needed to chain 5.  Those first 5 chains counted as the first double crochet (which is usually 3 chains) and then the first chain 2 space.  When you join, you find the 3rd chain in that first set of 5, and you join (yes, with a slip stitch) into that 3rd chain.  That will leave you with 2 chains, which form your ch-2 space.

 

I can draw out a diagram for you, if you think that would help.    I never know if the way I explain it will make sense to others... let me know if you understand from what I typed.  

 

[Vultronn]

Ok I think I understand. If you have time a diagram would be helpful.

 

Thank you so much! I hate not being able to do a pattern just cause I don't understand it.