Crochet Abbreviations and Terms

Do you want to crochet a new project according to the pattern you’ve received, or do you want to quickly mark your own crochet project but can’t remember all the abbreviations? You are not alone. I’m looking for them all the time! That’s why I created this handy list of basic crochet abbreviations and terms.

A handy list of 68 abbreviations and terms for crochet that you can save or print right away.

You may need this big list from time to time, but if you’re like me, you want to have a list like this available at all times and you don’t want to have to look up all these shortcuts every time.

So don’t forget to save this crochet abbreviations and terms list.

Crochet Abbreviations & Terms

Yield: HOW TO SERIES

This list is not exhaustive, but it covers many of the abbreviations you’ll encounter in crochet patterns

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Materials

• Yarn

Tools

• Hook

Instructions

A List of Crochet Abbreviations

1. adj "Adjust" - Typically used at the end of a pattern round to ensure the piece lies flat or fits correctly
2. alt or altr "Alternate" - Alternate a stitch or sequence of stitches
3. beg "Begin" - Refers to the beginning of a row, round, or sequence of stitches
4. bet "Between" - Indicates that a stitch or action is to be performed between specified stitches or spaces
5. blo "Back Loop Only" - Working into only the back loop of the stitches from the previous row, which creates a ribbed texture
6. bobble - Similar to the popcorn stitch, but the technique to create the bobble may vary slightly
7. bp "Back Post" - Similar to front post, but the stitch is worked around the post from the back
8. bpsc(s) - back post single crochet
9. CC "Contrasting Color" - In patterns with multiple colors, CC refers to a secondary color, different from the main color (MC)
10. cl "Cluster" - A group of stitches worked closely together, typically in the same stitch or space, often used to create texture
11. cont "Continue" - Proceed with the pattern without interruption
12. dc "Double Crochet" - Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops.
13. dc2tog "Double Crochet Two Together" - decrease method
14. dc3tog "Double Crochet Three Together" - decrease method
15. dec "Decrease" - Combining two or more stitches into one to reduce the number of stitches
16. dtr "Double Treble Crochet" - Yarn over three times, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through two loops, repeat three times
17. esc "Extended Single Crochet" - A single crochet stitch with an extra chain to give it more height
18. flo "Front Loop Only" - Similar to blo but working into only the front loop of the stitches
19. fo "Fasten Off" - To cut the yarn and secure it after completing your project
20. fp "Front Post" - Refers to a stitch worked around the post of the stitch from the previous row from the front
21. hdc "Half Double Crochet" - A stitch that is taller than a single crochet but shorter than a double crochet. Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through all three loops on hook
22. hdc2tog "Half Double Crochet Two Together" - decrease method
23. hdc3tog "Half Double Crochet Three Together" - decrease method
24. htr "Half Triple Crochet" - A stitch that is between a half double crochet and a triple crochet in height
25. htr2tog "Half Treble Two Together" - decrease method
26. htr3tog "Half Treble Three Together" - decrease method
27. ch "Chain" - Yarn is looped to create one or a series of chain stitches
28. ch-sp "Chain Space" - The space created when a series of chains are skipped between stitches
29. inc "Increase" - Adding a stitch or stitches to a row or round, often by making more than one stitch in the same stitch from the previous row
30. inv dec "Invisible Decrease" - A way of decreasing stitches, typically in amigurumi, that makes the decrease less noticeable
31. inv inc "Invisible Increase"
32. lp(s) or lp st(s) "Loop(s)" or "Loop stitche(s)" - The loops on your crochet hook or the loops that make up a stitch
33. m "Marker" - A tool used to mark specific stitches in a pattern
34. M1 "Make One" - An increase method where a loop is picked up from the fabric and worked into, creating an extra stitch
35. MC "Main Color" - The primary color used in a multi-colored pattern
36. MR "Magic Ring" - A technique for starting projects worked in the round, creating a tightly closed center
37. pc "Popcorn Stitch" - Made by working several stitches into the same space and then joining them together, creating a ‘popcorn’ effect
38. picot "Picot" - A small loop made usually at the edge of a work, creating a decorative effect
39. pm "Place Maker" - Indicates where to place a stitch marker
40. ps or puff st "Puff Stitch" - A textured stitch created by pulling up multiple loops and securing them together
41. rem "Remaining" - Refers to the stitches, rows, or rounds that are left to work
42. rep "Repeat" - Repeat a sequence of stitches as indicated
43. R(s) "Row(s)" - Refers to when you are working in rows
44. rnd(s) "Round(s)" - Refers to when you are working in circles
45. RS "Rigt Side" - The front or ‘public’ side of the fabric
46. sc "Single Crochet" - Insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook
47. sc2tog "Single Crochet Two Together" - decrease method
48. sc3tog "Single Crochet Three Together" - decrease method
49. sh "Shell" - Several stitches worked into the same stitch or space, creating a shell-like shape
50. sl st "Slip Stitch" - Used to join stitches together, usually at the end of a round, or to move the yarn to a different position without adding height
51. sk "Skip" - Skip a stitch or number of stitches as indicated
52. sp(s) "Space(s)" - Refers to the space created between stitches, often used in patterns like granny squares
53. ssk "Slip, Slip, Knit" - A method of decreasing, more common in knitting but sometimes used in crochet
54. st(s) "Stitche(s)" - Refers to the individual stitches made
55. surface sl st "Surface Slip Stitch"
56. tail - At the end of projects and anywhere a new length of yarn is joined, there is a tail of yarn remaining that must be woven in
57. tbl "Through Back Loop" - Working into the back loop of the stitch only, similar to ‘blo’
58. tch or turning ch "Turning Chain" - The chain stitches made at the beginning of a row to give height for the next row
59. tog "Together" - Often used with decreasing, indicating that stitches should be worked together, as in “sc2tog” (single crochet two together)
60. tr or tc "Treble Crochet" - Yarn over twice, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through two loops, repeat twice
61. tr2tog "Treble Crochet Two Together" - decrease method
62. tr3tog "Treble Crochet Three Together" - decrease method
63. Weaving - usually weaving the end of a tail of yarn secures the yarn tail 
64. WS "Wrong Side" - The back or ‘private’ side of the fabric
65. yo or yoh "Yarn Over" or "Yarn Over Hook" - A basic move in crochet where you loop the yarn over your crochet hook
66. [ ] "Brackets" - Used to enclose a group of stitches to be worked a specified number of times
67. ( ) "Parentheses" - Similar to brackets, these also indicate a group of stitches. Sometimes used to provide additional information or variations
68. { } "Curly Brackets" - Less common, but used similarly to parentheses and brackets for grouping stitches
69. *** **  "Asterisk" - Used to mark a sequence of stitches to be repeated

Notes

Remember, different patterns may use abbreviations slightly differently, so always refer to the pattern’s abbreviation key if available. As you continue to crochet, these abbreviations will become more familiar, and reading patterns will become much easier.

Sometimes you just need to have the basic stitches at hand, and you don’t need to print the whole list of commonly used stitches. So feel free to print out just this short list! It is an one page print.

Abbreviations Short List

Yield: HOW TO SERIES

A short list of the most commonly used abbreviations.

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Instructions

A List of Abbreviations

1. beg "Begin" - Refers to the beginning
2. dc "Double Crochet" - Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull
   through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops.
3. dec "Decrease" - Reduce the number of stitches
4. hdc "Half Double Crochet" - Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through all three loops on hook
5. ch "Chain" - Yarn is looped to create one or a series of chain stitches
6. inc "Increase" - Adding a stitch or stitches to a row or round,
7. MR "Magic Ring" - A technique for starting projects
8. R(s) "Row(s)" - Refers to when you are working in rows
9. rnd(s) "Round(s)" - Refers to when you are working in circles
10. sc "Single Crochet" - Insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook
11. sl st "Slip Stitch" - Used to join stitches together, or to move the yarn to a different position without adding height
12. sk "Skip" - Skip a stitch or number of stitches as indicated
13. st(s) "Stitche(s)" - Refers to the individual stitches made
14. tbl "Through Back Loop" - Working into the back loop of the stitch only, similar to ‘blo’
15. tr or tc "Treble Crochet" - Yarn over twice, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through two loops, repeat twice
16. yo or yoh "Yarn Over Hook" - Loop the yarn over your crochet hook
17. [ ] or ( ) - Used to enclose a group of stitches to be worked a specified number of times

How can you use abbreviations lists?

Both lists are handy, but you can use the short list for your small or simple projects, always have it by your hands.

The short one is one page long so you can freely print it.

I use this list just for making small simple projects like Simple crown for The Prince, when I need to jot down an idea quickly.

Save now, crochet later! 👇🏻