Basic stitches
Chain
- US
chChain- UK
chChain
Pull yarn through the loop on your hook to make a chain.
Example · US terms
ch 8Make eight chains.
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Crochet Glossary
Look up crochet abbreviations, understand their meaning and compare US and UK stitch names, with simple examples.
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24 terms
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Basic stitches
Slip stitch
- US
sl stSlip stitch- UK
ssSlip stitch
Insert your hook, catch the yarn and draw it through the stitch and the loop on your hook.
Example · US terms
join with sl stJoin with a slip stitch at the point specified in the pattern.
Basic stitches
Single crochet (US)
- US
scSingle crochet- UK
dcDouble crochet
Insert the hook and draw up a loop. Yarn over and pull through both loops.
Example · US terms
sc in next 4 stsWork one single crochet into each of the next four stitches.
Basic stitches
Half double crochet (US)
- US
hdcHalf double crochet- UK
htrHalf treble crochet
Yarn over, insert the hook and draw up a loop. Yarn over and pull through all three loops.
Example · US terms
2 hdc in next stWork two half double crochets into the next stitch.
Basic stitches
Double crochet (US)
- US
dcDouble crochet- UK
trTreble crochet
Yarn over, insert the hook and draw up a loop. Yarn over and pull through two loops, twice.
Example · US terms
dc in next 5 stsWork one double crochet into each of the next five stitches.
Basic stitches
Treble crochet (US)
- US
trTreble crochet- UK
dtrDouble treble crochet
Yarn over twice before inserting the hook. Draw up a loop, then yarn over and pull through two loops three times.
Example · US terms
3 tr in next spWork three treble crochets into the next space.
Shaping
Increase
- US
incIncrease- UK
incIncrease
Add stitches as directed by the pattern, often by working two into one location.
Example · US terms
2 sc in next stTwo single crochets replace one stitch: the count increases by one.
Shaping
Decrease
- US
decDecrease- UK
decDecrease
Reduce the stitch count using the method specified in your pattern. The abbreviation alone does not specify a technique.
Example · US terms
dec over next 2 stsCombine two stitches into one if that is how your pattern defines dec.
Shaping
Single crochet 2 together (US)
- US
sc2togSingle crochet 2 together- UK
dc2togDouble crochet 2 together
Draw up a loop in each of two stitches. Yarn over and pull through all three loops on your hook.
Example · US terms
sc2togUse the next two stitches to make one single crochet.
Techniques
Yarn over (US)
- US
yoYarn over- UK
yohYarn over hook
Bring the working yarn over the hook to prepare the next loop.
Example · US terms
yo, pull through 2 loopsYarn over, then draw through two loops.
Techniques
Front loop only
- US
FLOFront loop only- UK
FLOFront loop only
Work into only the half of the stitch top closest to you as you hold the fabric.
Example · US terms
sc in FLOSingle crochet into the front loop only.
Techniques
Back loop only
- US
BLOBack loop only- UK
BLOBack loop only
Work into only the half of the stitch top farthest from you as you hold the fabric.
Example · US terms
sc in BLOSingle crochet into the back loop only.
Reading patterns
Stitch / stitches
- US
st / stsStitch / stitches- UK
st / stsStitch / stitches
A stitch is one unit of work in an instruction or count. The plural is sts.
Example · US terms
12 stsThe finished count is twelve stitches.
Reading patterns
Space
- US
spSpace- UK
spSpace
A gap into which you insert your hook, such as the opening beneath a chain arch.
Example · US terms
2 sc in ch-2 spWork two single crochets into the two-chain space, rather than into individual chains.
Reading patterns
Skip (US)
- US
skSkip- UK
missMiss / skip
Leave the specified stitch or space unworked.
Example · US terms
sk next stSkip the next stitch.
Reading patterns
Repeat
- US
repRepeat- UK
repRepeat
Work the indicated sequence again for the specified number of repeats. Check where the repeat starts and ends.
Example · US terms
[sc, ch 1] 3 timesWork the sequence of one single crochet and one chain three times.
Reading patterns
Round
- US
rndRound- UK
rndRound
One circuit around your work. Follow the pattern for joined rounds or a continuous spiral.
Example · US terms
Rnd 4: 18 scOn round four, work a total of eighteen single crochets.
Reading patterns
Row
- US
rowRow- UK
rowRow
One pass from one side to the other in a flat piece of crochet.
Example · US terms
Row 3: 10 scRow three contains ten single crochets.
Reading patterns
Right side
- US
RSRight side- UK
RSRight side
The face the pattern designates as the outside or front, rather than the right-hand edge.
Example · US terms
RS facingHold the designated right side facing you.
Reading patterns
Wrong side
- US
WSWrong side- UK
WSWrong side
The reverse of the designated right side. It does not mean your work contains a mistake.
Example · US terms
WS facingHold the reverse side facing you.
Reading patterns
Main color (US)
- US
MCMain color- UK
MCMain colour
The color assigned the main role in the pattern. Match it to the materials list.
Example · US terms
6 sc with MCWork six single crochets with the main color.
Reading patterns
Contrasting color (US)
- US
CCContrasting color- UK
CCContrasting colour
An additional color used for motifs or accents. Patterns may number several colors CC1, CC2 and so on.
Example · US terms
change to CCSwitch to the contrasting color using the pattern’s color-change method.
Techniques
Gauge (US)
- US
gaugeGauge- UK
tensionTension
The number of stitches and rows over a measured area of your swatch.
Example · US terms
20 sts × 24 rows = 10 × 10 cmA 10 cm square measures twenty stitches across and twenty-four rows tall.
Techniques
Turn
- US
turnTurn- UK
turnTurn
Turn the work to begin the next row. Follow your pattern’s instructions for turning chains and whether they count.
Example · US terms
ch 1, turnMake one chain, then turn your work.
One stitch, two names
Each row shows the same stitch in both systems. This changes terminology, not stitch counts or dimensions.
| US | 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 |
Abbreviations can vary: UK miss may also be written sk. Follow the pattern author’s abbreviation key and special-stitch definitions.
Ready to try?
Learn to design a Mochila motif, or calculate your swatch gauge before starting a project.