Reading patterns

As I've said repeatedly, I have a horrible time reading patterns.  So I've devised a language for myself that helps.  First I figured out that it is all the repetition that bothers me the most so I cut that out.  Then I fixed in my mind certain abbreviations for each commonly used stitch. 

sc = single crochet

hdc = half double crochet

slst = slip stitch

.....OK those are simple, but then I got a little more specific. 

sc in 2 = single crochet in the next two stitches

2sc = single crochet twice in the next stitch

This one still gets me sometimes.  Now I love this next one:

sc2tog = well, obviously it is single crochet the next 2 together. 

Then we can get hdc2tog....isn't this fun!!

Now I realized that I was having trouble keeping my place so I replaced the commas between instructions to five periods.  It spaces it out a little and is easier for me to read.  So I get something like this:

sc in 3.....hdc.....dc in 3.....hdc.....sc in 3

And of course I always use my little metal board with the cute little magnets.  I love the one that is a tiny little six inch ruler the best.

I've actually had people tell me they are going to use this.  One was a teacher of crochet!!  Imagine that!!  Well, whoever wants it is welcome to it.  I just need it to be able to make some very complicated things like my dolls I'm making for my great grandbabies.

Incidentally I've rewritten those instructions to such a point that I'm sure Ms. Early would just faint dead away if she saw them.  But the point is that I'm getting the dolls to actually look like babies......pardon the split infinitive.....