Crochet reference
Crochet abbreviations.
Written patterns compress every instruction into a few letters. This list groups the abbreviations by what they do, so you can decode a line such as "*sk next 2 sts, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-sp; rep from * around" one piece at a time.
Stitch names
These are written in US terms, the system the Craft Yarn Council list uses. In UK patterns the same letters can mean a different stitch: UK dc is a US sc. The US vs UK crochet terms table converts every pair, and the crochet symbols chart shows how each stitch is drawn on a diagram.
| Abbr. | Meaning |
|---|---|
ch | Chain stitch |
sl st | Slip stitch |
sc | Single crochet |
hdc | Half double crochet |
dc | Double crochet |
tr | Treble crochet |
dtr / trtr | Double treble / triple treble crochet |
esc, ehdc, edc | Extended single, half double and double crochet |
Where to insert the hook
Placement abbreviations change where a familiar stitch goes, which changes the fabric more than the stitch name suggests.
| Abbr. | Meaning |
|---|---|
st / sts | Stitch / stitches |
sp, ch-sp | Space; chain space, the gap under a chain made earlier |
ch- | Refers to a chain or space made earlier, as in "ch-3 sp" |
BL / BLO | Back loop or back loop only |
FL / FLO | Front loop or front loop only |
tbl | Through back loop |
FP, FPdc | Front post; front post double crochet, worked around the post from the front |
BP, BPdc | Back post; back post double crochet, worked around the post from the back |
sk | Skip the next stitch or stitches |
Note the hyphen: "ch 3" is an instruction to make three chains now, while "ch-3 sp" points at a space under three chains you made earlier. Mixing the two is a common reason for a stitch count that does not match.
Shaping and textures
| Abbr. | Meaning |
|---|---|
inc | Increase: usually two stitches in one stitch; check the pattern's note |
dec | Decrease: usually two stitches worked together into one |
tog | Together, as in sc2tog or dc3tog |
CL | Cluster: several part-finished stitches closed together |
sh | Shell: several stitches in the same stitch or space |
pc | Popcorn stitch |
ps / puff | Puff stitch |
bo | Bobble |
Shells, clusters and popcorns are defined differently from one designer to the next. A shell might be five double crochet or seven; a cluster might close three or four stitches. Read the pattern's special stitches section before you start, and use the stitch key when the pattern has a chart.
Pattern wording
| Abbr. | Meaning |
|---|---|
beg | Beginning, as in "beg ch-3" |
rep | Repeat |
rnd | Round |
RS / WS | Right side / wrong side of the work |
tch / t-ch | Turning chain |
yo | Yarn over |
lp | Loop |
pm, sm, m | Place marker, slip marker, marker |
MC / CC | Main color / contrasting color |
alt, bet, cont, foll, prev, rem | Alternate, between, continue, following, previous, remaining |
pat / patt, approx | Pattern, approximately |
Brackets, asterisks and stitch counts
Punctuation carries as much meaning as the letters. An asterisk marks the start of a repeat: "*sc in next st, ch 1, sk next st; rep from * across" means you work the part after the asterisk again and again until the row ends. Square brackets or parentheses group stitches that go into one place or repeat a stated number of times, as in "(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-sp" or "[2 dc in next st] 4 times".
Put together, the line at the top of this page reads: skip the next two stitches; into the next chain space work three double crochet, two chains and three more double crochet; then go back to the asterisk and keep repeating that sequence until you have worked all the way around. Decoding a line slowly once, out loud if it helps, is quicker than unpicking a round later.
A number at the end of a row or round, often in brackets or after an em dash, is the stitch count you should have. Count before you move on; a missing stitch is far easier to fix in the row where it happened. When a pattern also offers a chart, the same repeat is usually outlined or shaded on the diagram; how to read crochet charts explains how to follow it.
Sources
- Craft Yarn Council, Crochet Abbreviations Master List: every abbreviation and meaning above, in US terms.