The Dictionary of Needlework (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The Dictionary of Needlework

In Crochet, Knitting, and Tatting patterns, the same stitches are frequently repeated in the same round of the -work. To save the recapitulation thus necessary, the following signs are adopted to indicate where the stitches already given are to be repeated or in any way used again.

The Asterisk or *. - Where an asterisk is put twice, with instructions between, they indicate that the part of the pattern enclosed between them is to be repeated from where the first asterisk is inserted, thus: 3 Chain, * 1 Double Crochet, 5 Chain, 2 Double Crochet, repeat from * twice. This, if written at full length, would read as follows: 3 Chain, 1 Double Crochet, 5 Chain, 2 Double Crochet, 1 Double Crochet, 5 Chain, 2 Double Crochet, 1 Double Crochet, 5 Chain, 2 Double Crochet.

The Square Cross or + is used in Knitting and Crochet to indicate the place to which a row is worked and then repeated backwards. For example: 1 Double Crochet, 5 Chain, 3 Treble Crochet, +; if written at full-length this would be - 1 Double Crochet, 5 Chain, 6 Treble Crochet, 5 Chain, 1 Double Crochet. The letters A and B sometimes take the place of the cross, as follows: A, 1 Double Crochet, 5 Chain, 3 Treble Crochet, B.

The St. Andrews Cross or X is used in instructions to help a worker in a difficult pattern by enclosing a particular part of a design within two of these crosses, thus: 4 Chain, 5 Treble, x 12 Chain, 1 Purl, 12 Chain, 5 Double Crochet, 6 Treble, x 4 Chain.

The Long Cross or Dagger (†) is used in conjunction with the asterisk in instructions when a repetition within a repetition has to be made, as for example: 1 Chain, † 4 Double Crochet, 5 Chain, * 3 Chain, 5 Treble Crochet, 1 Purl, repeat * from twice, 4 Chain, 3 Double Crochet, repeat from †; if written out fully would be - 1 Chain, 4 Double Crochet, 8 Chain, 5 Treble Crochet, 1 Purl, 3 Chain, 5 Treble Crochet, 1 Purl, 3 Chain, 5 Treble Crochet, 1 Purl, 4 …