Brackets and asterisks
Author: Crochetly · Last updated: May 16, 2026
Parentheses (), square brackets [], and asterisks * tell you how to group and repeat stitches in crochet patterns. Curved brackets group stitches worked into the same space. Square brackets mark repeatable units. Asterisks flag where a repeating sequence begins.
What do parentheses () mean?
Section titled “What do parentheses () mean?”| Symbol | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
() | Groups stitches worked into the same stitch or space | (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st |
What do square brackets [] mean?
Section titled “What do square brackets [] mean?”| Symbol | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
[] | Marks a set of stitches repeated as a unit, often followed by a count | Repeat [sc, ch 1, skip 1] 5 times |
What does an asterisk * mean?
Section titled “What does an asterisk * mean?”| Symbol | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
* | Marks the beginning of a sequence to repeat later | *dc in next 3 sts, ch 1; repeat from * across |
Can you combine brackets and asterisks in one pattern?
Section titled “Can you combine brackets and asterisks in one pattern?”Yes. Patterns frequently nest brackets inside asterisk repeats. For example: *dc in next 3 sts, [sc, ch 1, sk 1] 2 times; rep from * across. Read inside-out: complete the brackets first, then treat that unit as part of the asterisk repeat.