Crochet abbreviations

chain

Yarn over and draw the loop through the one already on the hook. Patterns open with a chain and use one to stand in for the first stitch of a round.

In a UK pattern: ch (same)

slip stitch

Hook into the stitch, yarn over, draw through everything on the hook at once. No height; it is how a round is joined and how the hook travels without adding a stitch.

In a UK pattern: ss

single crochet

Hook in, yarn over, draw up a loop, yarn over, through both loops. The lowest and firmest of the US stitches.

In a UK pattern: dc (double crochet)

half double crochet

Yarn over first, hook in, draw up a loop, yarn over, through all three. Half a head taller than sc; many creature patterns are built on it.

In a UK pattern: htr

double crochet

Yarn over, hook in, draw up a loop, then yarn over and through two loops, twice. The stitch a classic granny cluster is three of.

In a UK pattern: tr (treble)

treble crochet

Yarn over twice, hook in, draw up a loop, then yarn over and through two loops, three times. Tall and open; the corner stitch on several patterns.

In a UK pattern: dtr

increase

Two stitches worked into the one stitch below. Rounds grow by it; a pattern says where, and the count at the end of the round confirms it.

In a UK pattern: inc (same)

decrease

Two stitches drawn together into one. On the patterns it is almost always sc2tog.

In a UK pattern: dec (same)

single crochet two together

Draw up a loop in the next stitch, draw up a loop in the one after, yarn over, through all three. One stitch where there were two.

In a UK pattern: dc2tog

invisible decrease

Hook through the front loop only of the next two stitches, then finish as a single crochet. Leaves no bump; used where a pattern is stuffed.

In a UK pattern: invisible dec

magic ring

A loop of yarn the first round is worked into, then drawn tight so the centre closes. Patterns that must not have a hole in the middle start here.

In a UK pattern: magic ring (same)

round

One full pass around a piece worked in the round. Each round on a pattern ends with its count in brackets.

In a UK pattern: rnd (same)

row

One pass across a flat piece, turned at the end. The half-square and triangle patterns are worked in rows.

In a UK pattern: row (same)

back loop only

Hook under the loop furthest from you and no other. The unworked front loop stays as a ridge on the face of the piece.

In a UK pattern: BL

front loop only

Hook under the loop nearest you and no other. Used for petals and for joining one piece to another.

In a UK pattern: FL

stitch

One finished crochet stitch. A pattern says “in the next st”, “in each st” or “in the same st”.

In a UK pattern: st (same)

stitches

More than one stitch. The number in brackets at the end of a round — (24) — is how many the round holds; count yours against it.

In a UK pattern: sts (same)

yarn over

Wrap the working yarn over the hook, front to back. Every stitch taller than a chain starts with one.

In a UK pattern: yoh (yarn over hook)

repeat

Work the instruction between the asterisks again, as many times as the pattern says. “*2 dc, ch 1; rep from * 5 times” is that pair worked five more times.

In a UK pattern: rep (same)

skip

Pass over the stitch named without working into it. The gaps in a lattice pattern are skipped stitches.

In a UK pattern: miss

fasten off

Cut the yarn with a tail to weave in, draw the end through the last loop and pull it closed. The end of a piece or of a colour.

In a UK pattern: FO (same)

wrong side

The face of the work that will be hidden. A pattern says which side faces you when it matters.

In a UK pattern: WS (same)

right side

The face that will show. Stitch definition is usually cleaner on it.

In a UK pattern: RS (same)

double knit weight

A light yarn, weight 3 on the ball band. Many small pieces are worked in it on a 3.5 or 4 mm hook.

In a UK pattern: DK (same)

worsted weight

A medium yarn, weight 4. Commoner in blankets and creatures; a pattern in it usually names a 5 mm hook.

In a UK pattern: Aran

fingering weight

A fine yarn, weight 1, for socks, shawls and small motifs worked on a 2 to 3 mm hook.

In a UK pattern: 4-ply

gauge

How many stitches and rounds fit in a given measurement. The measurement at the top of every pattern is the sample's own, so you can compare.

In a UK pattern: tension