Pattern Bracket & Parentheses Explainer
Paste a pattern section and get a color-coded breakdown of what every bracket, parenthesis, and asterisk means.
( ) Parentheses
[ ] Square brackets
{ } Curly braces
* * Asterisks
Paste Pattern Section
*sc, dc* repeat 4 times
[dc, ch1, dc] in next st {12 sts}
(S, M, L): Cast on (80, 96, 112) sts
*k2, p2* repeat to end {48 sts}
sc in next (2, 3, 4) sts, [hdc, dc] in next {18 sts}
Understanding Pattern Symbols
( ) Parentheses — three common uses
1. Alternate sizes: numbers for each size in order — e.g.
2. Repeat group: work the stitches inside as a unit — e.g.
3. Clarifying note: additional info such as
(S, M, L): cast on (80, 96, 112) sts.2. Repeat group: work the stitches inside as a unit — e.g.
(dc, ch1, dc) in next st.3. Clarifying note: additional info such as
(turn work) or (right side).
[ ] Square Brackets — repeat groups and notes
1. Repeat group: work all stitches inside as a unit, then repeat — e.g.
2. Editor's note / correction: clarification added by the pattern publisher — e.g.
3. Used interchangeably with
[sc, dc] 3 times.2. Editor's note / correction: clarification added by the pattern publisher — e.g.
[Note: WS row].3. Used interchangeably with
( ) in many patterns.
{ } Curly Braces — stitch counts
Almost always indicates a stitch count check at the end of a row or round — e.g.
This tells you how many stitches you should have after completing that row. Use it to verify you haven't made an error.
{24 sts}.This tells you how many stitches you should have after completing that row. Use it to verify you haven't made an error.
* * Asterisks — repeat section markers
Mark the beginning and end of a section to repeat — e.g.
Sometimes only an opening asterisk is used:
*sc, dc, ch1* repeat 4 times.Sometimes only an opening asterisk is used:
*sc, dc, ch1, repeat from * 4 times.