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Crochet Code

Summary:

The crochet code used by the troopers in Per My Last Scarf by wanderingjedihistorian.

Simple in concept (each letter is represented by a duo of two stitches)

Contains logistics, the letters, and a few example phrase patterns!

Notes:

(See the end of the work for other works inspired by this one.)

Chapter 1: Logistics

Chapter Text

The concept of the crochet code is that each letter is represented by a duo of stitches. With five different stitches used to compose the code that's only 25 different variants, so C has been cut. Replace C with a S or K as needed.

There are no numbers: just write out the numbers as words! This is definitely to error-proof numbers from translation difficulties and not because I forgot numbers existed while making the code. 

You can have the row be as long as you want, this isn't a "one word per row" kind of thing. Just set up a chain row about as long as you'd like your piece to be wide and go!

Spaces and periods are increases, which necessarily adds more stitches. Don't really worry too much about that. If you want to keep track of how many letters are in each row, and do every row about the same number of letters. Otherwise, just end the row early if there's not enough space! Or end it early because you want it to look extra fucked up! The jagged edges are a sign that this is a Secret Message Scarf (TM) and also makes it look like a bad scarf nobody needs to worry about. Even more secreter!

Start each row with a chain and double crochet. That means that you don't need to worry about trying to "read" the start of every row. Also, end each row with a double crochet (this is in case of a final character ending in a chain, and so that it's an even number of stitches with the starting chain and double crochet).

There is also a variant — slip stitch is easier to "read" as definitely different from the other stitches, but half-double crochet is definitely easier to crochet back to back with other stitches. Feel free to swap slip stitches for half-double if you like!

If anyone needs help understanding any of this, then leave a comment and I'll see if I can't help!

Chapter 2: Letters

Chapter Text

A — Single crochet + single crochet
B — Slip stitch + chain
D — Chain + double crochet
E — Double crochet + double crochet
F — Triple crochet + chain
G — Chain + single crochet
H — Double crochet + chain
I — Triple crochet + triple crochet
J — Slip stitch + single crochet
K — Triple crochet + single crochet
L — Triple crochet + slip stitch
M — Triple crochet + double crochet
N — Single crochet + chain
O — Chain + chain
P — Chain + slip stitch
Q — Slip stitch + double crochet
R — Double crochet + triple crochet
S — Single crochet + double crochet
T— Double crochet + single crochet
U — Slip stitch + slip stitch
V — Single crochet + triple crochet
W — Single crochet + slip stitch
X — Double crochet + slip stitch
Y — Chain + triple crochet
Z — Slip stitch + triple crochet
SPACE — increase (any stitch)
PERIOD — double increase (three stitches into one stitch)


Optional version for copy/pasting to make patterns:

A[sc, sc]
B[sl st, ch] 
D[ch, dc]
E[dc, dc]
F[tr, ch]
G[ch, sc]
H[dc, ch]
I[tr, tr]
J[sl st, sc]
K[tr, sc]
L[tr, sl st]
M[tr, dc] 
N[sc, ch]
O[ch, ch]
P[ch, sl st]
Q[sl st, dc]
R[dc, tr]
S[sc, dc]
T[dc, sc]
U[sl st, sl st]
V[sc, tr]
W[sc, sl st]
X[dc, sl st]
Y[ch, tr]
Z[sl st, tr]

Chapter 3: As Per My Last Scarf

Chapter Text

An example pattern! "As per my last scarf".

Stitch glossary:

  • sc — single crochet
  • dc — double crochet
  • sl st — slip stitch
  • tr — triple/treble crochet
  • ch — chain
  • INC — increase (do in any stitch)

Written out here with each letter by the brackets of the code so you can see visually how it works:

A[sc, sc] S[sc, dc], inc, P[ch, sl st] E[dc, dc] R[dc, tr], inc, M[tr, dc] Y[ch, tr], inc, L[tr, ch,] A[sc, sc] S[sc, dc] T[dc, sc], inc, S[sc, dc] C[tr, sc] A[sc, sc] R[dc, tr] F[tr, ch,]

Written out as a normal pattern:

3sc, dc, INC, ch, sl st, 3dc, tr, INC, tr, dc, ch, tr, INC, tr, ch, 3sc, 2dc, 2sc, dc, tr, 3sc, dc, 2tr, ch

Chapter 4: I Love You Strap

Chapter Text

An idea for a very easy, infinitely repeatable pattern to give another example of how this could work! This one is a more proper pattern and doesn't have any of the weird start and end.

Stitch glossary:

  • sc — single crochet
  • dc — double crochet
  • sl st — slip stitch
  • tr — triple/treble crochet
  • ch — chain
  • INC — increase (do in any stitch)

Pattern:

Start with a chain of 5 and work into second chain from hook. Ch1 as turning chain for each row.

Row 1: dc, 2tr, dc
Row 2: dc, tr, ch, dc
Row 3: dc, 2ch, dc
Row 4: dc, sc, tr, dc
Row 5: 4dc
Row 6: dc, ch, tr, dc
Row 7: dc, 2ch, dc
Row 8: dc, 2sl st, dc

This represents each letter in "I love you", each letter as their own row. Given it's a pretty holey thing, it would likely work best to hold up things as a strap woven in through the holes of another, stronger strap or just with more of itself. Metaphor!