The first crochet pattern you open looks like this:
Rnd 3: *sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around, sl st to join. (18 sts)
And your brain does a small backflip.
Here is the thing nobody tells beginners: that is not a hard pattern. It is a very easy pattern written in shorthand you have not learned yet. Once you can read the shorthand, that line takes two seconds to understand.
This guide is the chart you bookmark. Every abbreviation you will meet, the US and UK terms side by side, and how to read the brackets and asterisks that make patterns look scarier than they are.
Why Crochet Patterns Use Abbreviations at All
Written out in full, the round above reads:
Round 3: single crochet in the next two stitches, then work two single crochet into the next stitch. Repeat that sequence all the way around, then slip stitch into the first stitch to join. You should have eighteen stitches.
Same instruction, five times longer. A blanket pattern written in full sentences would run to twenty pages, and you would lose your place every single row.
Shorthand is not gatekeeping. It is just efficient. And the vocabulary is small, maybe twenty terms cover 95% of everything you will ever crochet.
The Complete Crochet Abbreviations Chart (US Terms)
Basic stitches
| Short form | Full term |
|---|---|
| ch | Chain |
| sl st | Slip stitch |
| sc | Single crochet |
| hdc | Half double crochet |
| dc | Double crochet |
| tr | Treble crochet |
| dtr | Double treble crochet |
| trtr | Triple treble crochet |
Shaping and construction
| Short form | Full term | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| inc | Increase | Two sts into one st, adds width |
| dec | Decrease | Two sts worked together into one |
| sc2tog | Single crochet 2 together | A decrease made with sc |
| dc2tog | Double crochet 2 together | A decrease made with dc |
| inv dec | Invisible decrease | Neater decrease used in amigurumi |
| sk | Skip | Pass over a st without working into it |
| tog | Together | Work the named sts as one |
Placement and technique
| Short form | Full term | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| YO | Yarn over | Wrap the yarn over your hook |
| BLO | Back loop only | Work into the back loop of the st |
| FLO | Front loop only | Work into the front loop of the st |
| FPdc | Front post double crochet | Hook goes around the post from the front |
| BPdc | Back post double crochet | Hook goes around the post from the back |
| ch-sp | Chain space | The gap made by chains in a previous row |
| tch | Turning chain | Chains at the start of a row to reach height |
| MR | Magic ring | Adjustable closed starting loop, also MC or AR |
New to the magic ring? [The Complete Beginner’s Guide“Here is the full step by step guide”].
Pattern housekeeping
| Short form | Full term |
|---|---|
| st / sts | Stitch / stitches |
| rnd | Round |
| rep | Repeat |
| rem | Remaining |
| prev | Previous |
| cont | Continue |
| beg | Beginning |
| foll | Following |
| patt | Pattern |
| sp | Space |
| lp | Loop |
| pm | Place marker |
| RS | Right side (the side that shows) |
| WS | Wrong side |
| MC | Main color |
| CC | Contrast color |
| approx | Approximately |
That is the whole language. Print it, tape it inside your yarn bag, and within a month you will not need it.
[EXTERNAL LINK: Craft Yarn Council master list of standard crochet abbreviations, the industry reference most US designers follow]
US vs UK Crochet Terms: The One That Catches Everyone
This is the single biggest source of ruined projects, and it is worth reading twice.
US and UK patterns use the same abbreviations for different stitches. They are not translations, they are collisions. A UK “dc” is a US “sc”. If you follow a UK pattern with US instincts, every stitch will be one size too tall and your fabric will come out completely wrong.
| US term | UK equivalent |
|---|---|
| sc (single crochet) | dc (double crochet) |
| hdc (half double crochet) | htr (half treble) |
| dc (double crochet) | tr (treble) |
| tr (treble crochet) | dtr (double treble) |
| dtr (double treble) | trtr (triple treble) |
| sl st (slip stitch) | ss (slip stitch) |
| gauge | tension |
| yarn over (YO) | yarn round hook (yrh) |
| skip | miss |
Notice the pattern: UK terms are all one step taller than the US name for the same stitch. Once that clicks, you can convert on the fly.
How to tell which one you are reading
Designers do not always label it, so use these tells:
- Does the pattern use “sc” anywhere? It is US. Single crochet does not exist in UK terminology at all. This is the fastest check there is.
- Does it say “htr” or “dtr”? It is UK. Those abbreviations are not used in US patterns.
- Does it say “tension” instead of “gauge”, or “miss” instead of “skip”? UK.
- Where is the designer from? UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland generally use UK terms. The US and Canada use US terms. Not a guarantee, but a strong hint.
- Check the hook sizes. US patterns lean on letter sizes (H/8, I/9). UK and European patterns give millimetres (5.00mm, 5.50mm).
If you are still unsure, work a small swatch. If the fabric looks noticeably taller and looser than the photo, you are probably reading UK terms with US eyes.
How to Read Brackets, Parentheses and Asterisks
The abbreviations are only half of it. The punctuation carries just as much information.
Asterisks * *
Everything between two asterisks is a repeat block.
*sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around
Work “sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st”, then do that same sequence over and over until you reach the end of the round.
Parentheses ( ) and brackets [ ]
These group stitches that belong together, with the repeat count immediately after.
(dc, ch 1, dc) in next ch-sp
Work all three of those into one chain space, that is a shell.
[sc, inc] x 6
Work “sc, inc” six times in total. Some designers write rep 6 times instead of x 6. Same thing.
Stitch counts at the end of a row
… sl st to join. (18 sts)
That number in brackets at the end is your checkpoint. Count your stitches. If you have 17 or 19, stop and find the mistake now, because it will only get worse over the next four rounds.
This is the most ignored and most useful part of any pattern. Count every round for the first few projects.
Crochet Symbol Charts (Diagrams)
Some patterns skip words entirely and give you a picture. These are called crochet charts, symbol charts or diagrams, and they are common in doilies, granny squares and Japanese patterns.
Each symbol represents one stitch:
| Symbol | Stitch |
|---|---|
| Small oval or dash | ch (chain) |
| Filled dot | sl st (slip stitch) |
| X or + | sc (single crochet) |
| T | hdc (half double crochet) |
| T with one slash on the stem | dc (double crochet) |
| T with two slashes | tr (treble crochet) |
| T with three slashes | dtr (double treble) |
| Symbols joined at the base | Worked into the same st (a shell or increase) |
| Symbols joined at the top | Worked together (a decrease) |
How to read one: start at the center for circular charts and work outward, or from the bottom right for flat charts. Right side rows read right to left, wrong side rows read left to right, which mirrors the way you actually crochet.
The huge advantage of symbol charts is that they are language independent. A Japanese doily chart is readable by someone who speaks no Japanese, because the symbols are standardised worldwide. Once you can read them, an enormous library of patterns opens up.
Common Mistakes With Abbreviations
Counting the turning chain as a stitch when it is not. Some designers count the tch, some do not. The pattern will say. If it does not, look at the stitch count at the end of the row and work backwards.
Confusing sk (skip) with sl st (slip stitch). Skipping means you leave a stitch unworked. A slip stitch is an actual stitch. Very different results.
Reading “dc2tog” as “2 dc”. The first is a decrease that turns two stitches into one. The second is an increase that turns one stitch into two. Exact opposites.
Assuming MR, MC and AR are different things. Magic ring, magic circle and adjustable ring are all the same technique with different names.
Ignoring BLO and FLO. Working in the back loop only creates a ridge and changes the whole texture. It is not optional detail.
Grab the Printable Version
Screenshots get lost in your camera roll. Print this chart, fold it once, and keep it in your project bag with your hooks.
FAQ
What does sc mean in crochet?
Sc stands for single crochet, the shortest and densest basic crochet stitch. It is used for most amigurumi and anywhere you want firm fabric. Note that sc only exists in US terminology, so if a pattern uses it, you are reading a US pattern.
What is the difference between US and UK crochet terms?
They use the same abbreviations for different stitches. UK terms are consistently one step taller than the US term for the same stitch, so a US single crochet is a UK double crochet, and a US double crochet is a UK treble. Always check which system a pattern uses before starting.
How do I know if a crochet pattern is US or UK?
The quickest check is to look for “sc”. Single crochet does not exist in UK terminology, so any pattern using sc is US. Conversely, “htr” and “dtr” only appear in UK patterns. Words like tension instead of gauge, and miss instead of skip, also point to UK.
What does the number in brackets at the end of a row mean?
It is the stitch count, telling you how many stitches you should have after completing that row or round. Use it as a checkpoint. If your count is off, fix it immediately rather than carrying the error forward.
What does * mean in a crochet pattern?
An asterisk marks the start of a repeat section. Work everything between the asterisks, then repeat that sequence as many times as the pattern says, usually to the end of the row or round.
What does MR stand for in crochet?
MR means magic ring, an adjustable starting loop that closes completely so there is no hole in the center. You may also see it written as MC (magic circle) or AR (adjustable ring). They are all the same technique.
Are crochet symbol charts the same as abbreviation charts?
No. An abbreviation chart translates written shorthand like sc and dc. A symbol chart, also called a diagram, replaces words with pictures, where each symbol represents one stitch. Many patterns include both.
Now Go Read a Pattern
Come back to that round from the top of this post:
Rnd 3: *sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around, sl st to join. (18 sts)
Single crochet in two stitches, two single crochet in the next, repeat all the way round, join, and check you have eighteen. That is it.
You just learned to read crochet.
Next up: put it to work on [The Complete Beginner’s Guide “one of our free beginner patterns”]
