Help with turning chain

[LJM1989]

Hey,

I am new to crocheting and struggling understanding these first instructions.

Row 1: 1ch + 1tch (1)

Row 2: turn around and crochet 2sc in the Ch + 1tch (2)

Row 3: turn around and crochet 2sc in the 2nd sc + 1tch (3)

I'm having particularly trouble starting off. Any help is much appreciated!

[Granny Square]

Welcome to the 'ville!  

Tch is not a standard abbreviation; well written patterns will have a 'special stitches' section, or should, if there is a non-standard stitch; or sometime stitch combos  are 'defined as you go'. 

I assume that tch means 'turning chain', and does not count as a stitch. 

Typically a number in parentheses at the end of a pattern line is the number of stitches you should have; in this pattern it would apply if TC is turning chain and the turning chain did not count as a stitch. example row 2 says make 2 sc and 1 'tc', and at the end of the row you have only 2 stitches so the tc didn't count.  And the same logic applies to row 3.

Does this help?  Do you know what a turning chain is?*  It is odd but not impossible to chain 1 and have it count as the whole  row, and then chain 1 more and have that second chain be the turning chain, but I have seen stranger things.

* a turning chain is a chain that happens at the end of the row, to raise the yarn up to the level of the next stitch; taller stitches 'need' more chains, example the turning chain for a SC is 1, and for DC is 3 typically.

Here is a resource that explains this https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/standards/how-to-read-crochet-pattern  there are other great info resources on this site, look at the menu on the right side of the page.

Edited March 26, 2023 by Granny Square