The first time you open a crochet pattern, it can look like a secret code. “Ch 3, sk 2 sts, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st, rep from * across.” Don’t worry. Patterns use short abbreviations so they fit on a page, and there are only a couple dozen you will see again and again.
This guide gives you a simple chart of the most common crochet abbreviations in US terms, explains what the brackets and stars mean, and shows you how to read a real pattern line. Print it, keep it next to your yarn basket, and you will be reading patterns in no time.
What You’ll Need
- A printed copy of this chart (or your phone)
- Worsted weight (#4) yarn for practice
- A 5 mm (H) or 5.5 mm (I) crochet hook
- Stitch markers
- A highlighter and pencil for marking up patterns
The Basic Stitch Abbreviations
These are the stitches most beginner patterns use. They are listed from shortest to tallest.
| Abbreviation | Means | Quick description |
|---|---|---|
| ch | chain | A loop pulled through a loop. Used to start and to make spaces. |
| sl st | slip stitch | The shortest stitch. Used to join and to move across. |
| sc | single crochet | A short, firm stitch. |
| hdc | half double crochet | A bit taller than sc. |
| dc | double crochet | About twice as tall as sc. |
| tr | treble (triple) crochet | Taller than dc. |
| st(s) | stitch(es) | Any stitch. |
Common Action Abbreviations
These tell you what to do with your hook and stitches.
| Abbreviation | Means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| yo | yarn over | Wrap the yarn over your hook from back to front. |
| sk | skip | Don’t work into the next stitch(es). |
| sp | space | A gap, usually made by chains. |
| ch-sp | chain space | The gap under one or more chains. |
| rep | repeat | Do the listed steps again. |
| rnd(s) | round(s) | Used when working in circles. |
| inc | increase | Work 2 stitches into one stitch. |
| dec | decrease | Turn 2 stitches into one. |
| sc2tog | single crochet 2 together | A single crochet decrease over 2 stitches. |
| dc2tog | double crochet 2 together | A double crochet decrease over 2 stitches. |
| tog | together | Join stitches into one. |
| beg | beginning | The start of the row or round. |
| prev | previous | The row or round before. |
| foll | following | The next one. |
| rem | remaining | What is left. |
| pm | place marker | Put a stitch marker in. |
| MR | magic ring | An adjustable starting loop for working in rounds. |
| RS | right side | The side that will show. |
| WS | wrong side | The back side. |
Abbreviations for Textured Stitches
You’ll see these once you move past the basics.
| Abbreviation | Means |
|---|---|
| BLO | back loop only |
| FLO | front loop only |
| FPdc | front post double crochet |
| BPdc | back post double crochet |
| FPsc | front post single crochet |
| BPsc | back post single crochet |
| tch | turning chain |
| fsc | foundation single crochet |
For a complete master list, the Craft Yarn Council crochet abbreviations page is the standard many designers follow.
What the Symbols Mean
Patterns also use punctuation to save space. Here is what each one tells you.
- * (asterisk): Marks the start of a repeat. “* sc in next st, ch 1; rep from * across” means do “sc, ch 1” over and over until the row ends.
- ( ) parentheses: Work everything inside into one stitch or space. “(dc, ch 2, dc) in next st” means all three go into the same stitch. Parentheses are also used for notes, like the stitch count at the end of a row.
- [ ] brackets: A group to repeat a set number of times. “[sc, ch 1] 3 times” means do “sc, ch 1” three times.
- Numbers at the end: “(24 sts)” or “— 24 sc” is the stitch count you should have when the row is finished.
- ; (semicolon): Separates steps in a long line.
How to Read a Real Pattern Line
Let’s take one line apart:
Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Sc in first st, *ch 1, sk next st, sc in next st; rep from * across. (15 sc and 14 ch-sp)
Step 1: “Ch 1, turn.” Make one chain, then turn your work over so you can crochet back along the row.
Step 2: “Sc in first st.” Make one single crochet into the very first stitch.
Step 3: “*ch 1, sk next st, sc in next st” Make a chain, skip the next stitch, then single crochet into the stitch after that.
Step 4: “rep from * across” Go back to the asterisk and repeat the chain-skip-sc steps until you run out of stitches.
Step 5: “(15 sc and 14 ch-sp)” Count. You should have 15 single crochet and 14 small spaces.
Reading slowly, one piece at a time, is the whole trick.
US vs UK Crochet Terms
This is the part that confuses most beginners. US and UK patterns use the same words for different stitches. This blog uses US terms. If a pattern comes from the UK, Australia or Europe, check which terms it uses (it usually says at the top).
| US term | UK term |
|---|---|
| slip stitch (sl st) | slip stitch (ss) |
| single crochet (sc) | double crochet (dc) |
| half double crochet (hdc) | half treble (htr) |
| double crochet (dc) | treble (tr) |
| treble (tr) | double treble (dtr) |
| skip | miss |
| gauge | tension |
| yarn over (yo) | yarn over hook (yoh) |
A quick check: if a pattern never mentions “single crochet,” it is probably written in UK terms.
Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
- Mixing up US and UK terms. Your work turns out much taller or shorter than the photo. Check the top of the pattern for “US terms” or “UK terms.”
- Missing the asterisk repeat. You work the repeat once and move on. Look for the “*” and the “rep from *” that sends you back.
- Working each item in parentheses into a new stitch. Everything inside ( ) goes into the same stitch or space.
- Skipping the stitch count. The number at the end of the row is your best friend. If yours doesn’t match, check the start and end of the row first.
- Counting the turning chain wrong. Some patterns count the ch 3 at the start as a dc, some don’t. The pattern notes usually tell you.
Tips
- Read the whole row before you start it.
- Highlight each row on a printed pattern as you finish it, so you never lose your place.
- Read the “Notes” or “Special stitches” section of a pattern first. Designers explain anything unusual there.
- Put a stitch marker in the first and last stitch of every row while you are learning.
- Save this chart to your phone or print it out and keep it in your project bag.
FAQ
What does “sc” mean in crochet?
In US patterns, “sc” means single crochet, the short, basic stitch most beginners learn first. In UK patterns, the same stitch is called “double crochet” and written “dc,” so always check which terms the pattern uses.
What does “sk” mean in crochet?
“Sk” means skip. You leave that stitch empty and move to the next one. A pattern might say “sk 2 sts,” which means pass over two stitches without working into them. UK patterns often say “miss” instead.
What do the brackets mean in a crochet pattern?
Square brackets usually mark a group of steps to repeat a certain number of times, like “[sc, ch 1] 3 times.” Parentheses usually mean to work everything listed into one stitch, or they show the stitch count at the end of the row.
Keep this crochet abbreviations chart close by, and soon you’ll read pattern lines as easily as a grocery list.