Crochet Basics

Terms, Characters, and Symbols


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Crochet Basics Terms and Abbreviations


Crochet Term
Meaning
American Abbrevation
English Abbreviation

alternate Alt sc, dc means to alternate single
crochet and double crochet sts,
you work a sc in the next st
andthen a dc in the next st. 
alt
approximately Approx means approximately,
almost the same as. 
approx
back loop(s) only Blo means back loops only, you
work your st(s) in the back loops
of the sts only. 
blo
back post Bp means back post, you work
your st around the post of the st
inserting your hook. 
bp
back post

double crochet

Bpdc means back post double
crochet, a type of stitch
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
bpdc
back post

half double crochet

Bphdc means back post half
double crochet, a type of stitch
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
bphdc
beginning Beg means beginning, the 1st ch st
number or st of a rnd or row. 
beg
block(s) Bl(s) means block(s). 
bl(s)
centimeter(s) Cm(s) means centimeter(s)
a measurement of length as in a
work of crochet or a body
measurement for sizing.
1 cm = .3937 inches
1 inch = 2.54 cm 
cm(s)
chain(s) Ch(s) means chain stitch(s).
(See Stitches Pages for directions) 
ch(s)
cluster(s) Cl is cluster, a group of sts
which make a cluster.
(See Stitches Pages for directions) 
cl(s)
Color A CA means Color A,
the 2nd color in a pattern. 
CA
Color B CB means Color B,
the 3rd color in a pattern. 
CB
Color C CC can mean Color C,
the 4th color in a pattern. 
CC
continue Continue means to go on with a pattern or st. 
cont
Contrasting Color  CC can mean Contrasting Color,
the secondary color(s) in a pattern,
instead of using Color A, Color B,
and Color C. 
CC
dark Dk means dark,
the opposite of light in color. 
dk
decrease Dec means decrease, to make
fewer stitches by crocheting sts
together or leaving sts unstitched. 
dec
directions Dir means directions,
the written instructions in a pattern. 
dir
double Dbl means double,
two of one kind. 
dbl
double crochet Dc (tr) means double crochet,
a type of stitch
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
dc
tr
double triple crochet

(double treble crochet)

Dtr (tr tr) means double triple
crochet or double treble crochet,
a type of stitch
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
dtr
tr tr
draw through Draw through means to pull the
yarn or thread which was placed
over the hook (YO) through the st. 
each Ea means each, every one of two
or more considered separately. 
ea
end off (finish off) Eo (fo) means end off (finish off),
to secure the end of the yarn or
thread in a specific manner.
(See basics for directions) 
eo (fo)
extended single crochet Ex sc means extended single
crochet, a type of stitch
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
ex sc
figure Fig means figure as in picture,
photo, or graphic
(1, 2, 3 or a, b, c, etc.). 
fig
finish off (end off) Fo (eo) means to secure the end of
the yarn or thread in a specific
manner.
(See basics for directions) 
fo (eo)
following Foll means following 
foll
front loop(s) only Flo means front loop(s) only,
you work your st(s) in only the
front loop(s) of the st(s). 
flo
front post Fp means front post, you work
your st around the post of the st. 
fp
front post

double crochet

Fpdc means front post double
crochet, a type of stitch
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
fpdc
front post

double triple crochet

(front post

double treble crochet)

Fpdtr means front post double
triple crochet, a type of stitch
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
fpdtr
front post

half double crochet

Fphdc means front post half
double crochet, a type of stitch
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
fphdc
front post

triple crochet

(front post

treble crochet)

Fptr means front post triple
crochet, a type of stitch
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
fptr
front post

quadruple crochet

Fpqtr means front post triple
crochet, a type of stitch
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
fpqtr
gram(s) Gm(s) means gram(s),
a unit of weight as in yarn and thread.
1 gram = 28 1/4 ounces,
1 ounce = .03571 gram 
gm(s)
group(s) Gr(s) means group(s),
a groupd of sts for example. 
gr(s)
half double crochet Hdc means half double crochet,
a type of stitch
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
hdc
h tr
half triple crochet Htr means half triple crochet,
a type of stitch
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
htr
hook Hk means hook,
a crochet instrument. 
hk
inclusive (including) Incl means inclusive or including,
to include part of a pattern or st(s)
referred to in a pattern. 
incl
inch In means inch, a measurement of
length as in a work of crochet or a
body measurement for sizing.
1 inch = 2.54 cm,
1 cm = .3937 inches 
in
increase Inc means increase,
to make more sts in a row or rnd. 
inc
instructions Inst means instructions,
the written directions in a pattern. 
inst
light Lt means light,
the opposite of dark in color. 
lt
loop(s) Lp(s) means loop(s),
the top bars of a st. 
lp(s)
Main Color MC means Main Color,
the primary color used in a pattern,
instead of using Color A, Color B,
and Color C, MC and CC are
sometimes used. 
MC
medium Med means medium,
as in the middle shade of a color
range from light to dark. 
med
millimeter(s) Mm(s) means millimeter(s),
a measurement of length as in a
work of crochet or a body
measurement for sizing.
1 mm = .03937 inch,
1 inch = approx 25 1/2 mms 
mm(s)

Crochet Term
Meaning
American Abbrevation
English Abbreviation

number No means number,
a symbol or word showing how
many or which one in a series. 
no
ounce(s) Oz means ounces,
a unit of weight as in yarn and thread.
1 ounce = .03571 gram,
1 gram = 28 1/4 ounces 
oz
pattern Pat means pattern,
as in the directions or instructions
for a crochet project . 
pat
pattern stitch Pat st means pattern stitch,
as in a certain sequence of sts to
make a pattern. 
pat st
picot P or p means picot,
a type of stitch
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
P or p
popcorn stitch Pc st means popcorn stitch,
a type of stitch
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
pc st
previous Prev means previous,
occurring before or prior. 
prev
remaining Rem means remaining,
as in the rest of the sts on a rnd or row. 
rem
repeat Rep means repeat,
as in doing the same sts again
according to the directions of a
pattern. 
rep
repeat X number

of times

Rep x times means repeat X
number of times, as in doing the
sts indicated in the pattern a certain
number of times specified in the
pattern - For example: (sc, ch 1, sc)
rep 2 times in next sc means to sc,
ch 1, sc, sc ch 1, sc in the next sc. 
rep x times
right side RS means right side,
usually used when you need to
have the right side of the work
either facing you or away from
you in the pattern. 
RS
round(s) Rnd(s) means round(s),
the name for Round in the
directions of a pattern, crocheting
in the round (circular, oval, tube
shapes achieved).
Granny squares are worked in the
round, but they turn out to be
square due to the corners created
in the pattern. 
rnd(s)
row(s) Row(s) means row(s),
the name for Row in the directions
of a pattern, crocheting across
instead of around (square,
rectangular, triangular shapes
achieved). 
row(s)
single crochet Sc means single crochet,
a type of stitch
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
sc
dc
skip Sk means skip,
to omit the next st as indicated. 
sk
slip stitch(es) Sl st(s) means slip stitch(es),
a type of stitch
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
sl st(s)
sc
space(s) Sp(s) means space(s),
the area created by chain sts made
in or between sts. 
sp(s)
sport weight Sw means sport weight ,
as in yarn type
(See Yarn Pages for more info.) 
sw
together Tog means together,
as in crocheting 2 sts tog either to
decrease or to crochet a hem or seam. 
tog
triple crochet

(treble crochet)

Tr (dbl tr) means triple crochet,
a type of stitch
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
tr
long or double treble

dbl tr

triple triple crochet

(triple treble crochet)

Tr tr (quad tr) means triple triple crochet,
a type of stitch
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
tr tr
quad tr
turning chain Tch or t ch means turning chain,
the name for the chain sts used at
he end of row of work before
turning to start a new row.
(See Stitch Pages for directions) 
tch or t ch
worsted weight WW means worsted weight,
as in yarn type
(See Yarn Pages for more info.) 
ww
wrong side WS means wrong side,
usually used when you need to
have the wrong side of the work
either facing you or away from
you in the pattern. 
WS
yarn over hook YO, O, yoh means yarn over hook 
yo

 


Special Characters in Crochet

The following characters are used frequently in crochet patterns when repeating certain directions:

* (star) is the starting or stopping point of a repeat section. * (star) means work directions following * (star) as many more times as indicated in addition to the first time.

Ý ( a dagger or cross ) denotes directions which will be repeated later in the same round or row of work. Ý to Ý means work all directions from the first Ý to the second Ý as many times as specified.

( ) {parentheses} means work the directions enclosed by the ( ) as many times as specified by the number immediately following.

[ ] {brackets} means work all enclosed directions in the stitch or space indicated or contains explanatory remarks.

Numbers at the end of the directions for a round or row either in parentheses or after a colon indicate the number of stitches you should have when you complete the round or row.
 
 


Symbols in Crochet


International Symbols
American
English

Slip Stitch (sl st) Single Crochet (sc)
Chain (ch) Chain (sl st)
Single Crochet (sc) Double Crochet (dc)
Half Double Crochet (hdc) Half Triple Crochet (h tr)
Double Crochet (dc) Triple Crochet (tr)
Triple Crochet (tr) Double Triple Crochet (dbl tr)


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This page was created on 2/25/97 and was last updated on 2/2000.

All images and contents of Web Site '96, '97, '98, '99, 2000 copyright (c) Deb Arrowood