A crochet chart is a visual diagram that replaces or supplements written stitch instructions, using symbols to show exactly where each stitch sits in a motif or garment. Different project types use different chart styles, and knowing which one you are looking at makes a huge difference in how easy it is to follow. Pattern designers switch between all three major chart types, and mixing them up at a glance is a common beginner trip-up. This guide covers the main chart types side by side, then walks through reading one against a real example.
The Chart
| Chart type | Used for | Reading direction |
|---|---|---|
| Round motif chart | Granny squares, doilies, circular motifs | Center outward |
| Filet crochet chart | Mesh-style pictures and lettering | Bottom to top, like a written row |
| C2C or graphghan chart | Pixel-style blankets and panels | Diagonally, corner to corner |
| Garment schematic chart | Sweater and cardigan shaping | Measurements overlaid on a flat diagram, not stitch symbols |
How to Use the Chart
Take a round motif chart as the clearest example. Round 1 typically shows a small ring at the center with symbol clusters fanned around it, which you read moving outward, one ring at a time, matching the ring’s position to the corresponding round number in a written pattern.
A filet crochet chart looks completely different: it uses a simple grid of filled and empty squares, filled squares representing a solid block of double crochet and empty squares representing an open mesh space, read left to right and bottom to top exactly like a written row-by-row pattern.
Always check which chart type you are looking at before you start counting stitches, since applying a round-motif reading direction to a filet chart, or vice versa, is the fastest way to end up hopelessly lost by round three.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a standard, universal crochet chart symbol system?
Most publishers follow the same core symbol set for basic stitches within a given chart type, though the four chart types themselves look nothing alike and use different visual conventions. Always check the chart’s own legend for anything beyond the most basic stitches.
How do I know which type of chart I am looking at?
Round motif charts radiate from a visible center point, filet charts use a simple filled-or-empty grid, and C2C charts show colored blocks meant to be read diagonally. Checking the pattern’s stated technique before you start reading the chart usually confirms which type you have.
Can a single pattern use more than one chart type?
Yes, a garment pattern might pair a schematic chart for overall shaping with a stitch chart for a lace panel detail. Designers usually label each chart clearly when more than one type appears in the same pattern.
Ready to build your own chart?
Once you can read the main chart types, creating your own version gets much easier.
Learn to make a crochet chart
