Crochet abbreviations
Crochet abbreviations are short codes for stitches and instructions, such as ch for chain, sc for single crochet and sl st for slip stitch. The same abbreviation can mean different stitches in US and UK patterns: US sc equals UK dc. Always check which terms a pattern uses before starting.
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| US | Meaning (US) | UK | Meaning (UK) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ch | chain | ch | chain |
| sl st | slip stitch | ss | slip stitch |
| sc | single crochet | dc | double crochet |
| hdc | half double crochet | htr | half treble crochet |
| dc | double crochet | tr | treble crochet |
| tr | treble crochet | dtr | double treble crochet |
| dtr | double treble crochet | trtr | triple treble crochet |
| sc2tog | single crochet two together | dc2tog | double crochet two together |
| hdc2tog | half double crochet two together | htr2tog | half treble two together |
| dc2tog | double crochet two together | tr2tog | treble two together |
| inc | increase | inc | increase |
| dec | decrease | dec | decrease |
| BLO | back loop only | BLO | back loop only |
| FLO | front loop only | FLO | front loop only |
| FPdc | front post double crochet | FPtr | front post treble |
| BPdc | back post double crochet | BPtr | back post treble |
| FPhdc | front post half double crochet | FPhtr | front post half treble |
| BPhdc | back post half double crochet | BPhtr | back post half treble |
| st | stitch | st | stitch |
| sts | stitches | sts | stitches |
| rnd | round | rnd | round |
| row | row | row | row |
| rep | repeat | rep | repeat |
| sk | skip | miss | miss |
| sp | space | sp | space |
| ch-sp | chain space | ch-sp | chain space |
| yo | yarn over | yrh | yarn round hook |
| MR | magic ring | MR | magic ring |
| beg | beginning | beg | beginning |
| tog | together | tog | together |
| lp | loop | lp | loop |
| RS | right side | RS | right side |
| WS | wrong side | WS | wrong side |
| cl | cluster | cl | cluster |
| pc | popcorn | pc | popcorn |
| bo | bobble | bo | bobble |
| ps | puff stitch | ps | puff stitch |
| pm | place marker | pm | place marker |
| sm | slip marker | sm | slip marker |
| FO | fasten off | FO | fasten off |
| tch | turning chain | tch | turning chain |
| rev sc | reverse single crochet | rev dc | reverse double crochet |
| lsc | long single crochet | ldc | long double crochet |
| sh | shell | sh | shell |
| V-st | V-stitch | V-st | V-stitch |
| alt | alternate | alt | alternate |
| cont | continue | cont | continue |
| foll | following | foll | following |
| rem | remaining | rem | remaining |
How do you read crochet pattern abbreviations?
Read crochet pattern abbreviations left to right as a sequence of actions, with numbers telling you how many times to repeat each action. "Ch 3, 2 dc in next st" means make three chains, then work two double crochet stitches into the next stitch.
Asterisks and brackets mark repeats: "*sc in next st, ch 1, sk 1; rep from * across" repeats everything after the asterisk to the end of the row.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a pattern uses US or UK terms?
UK patterns never use "single crochet" or "sc". If a pattern contains sc, it is written in US terms. UK patterns also say "tension" for gauge and "miss" for skip.