Help for beginner please

[Goosen]

Hi I have decided to teach myself. I am happy I can do the stitches and understand the abbreviations but on row 2 it has ch 5, then in bold brackets it says " counts as first tr and ch 1 now and throughout unless otherwise stated" can anyone explain what that means? Thanks

[magiccrochetfan]

hi, welcome to the ville!

 

the pattern is telling you that the 5 chains you just made are going to count as (in other words substitute for) a triple crochet stitch and 1 chain, and this applies to what you just made and throughout the rest of the pattern.  in other words the first 4 chains are your turning chain.  

 

please let me know if I haven't said that in a clear way :-)  

[Goosen]

Yes that is clear thank you very much

[magiccrochetfan]

you're welcome!