I have put together a handy guide to understand all of the crochet abbreviations used in Hookfully crochet patterns. These crochet terms are all in US terminology, you can see UK translations here.
What is a crochet abbreviation?
A crochet abbreviation is simply a faster way of saying a term. You might be familiar with common non-crochet abbreviations such as ‘LOL, laugh out loud’ or ‘ASAP, as soon as possible’. Crochet abbreviations are pretty much the same, instead of reading ‘half double crochet’ throughout the crochet pattern you will simply see ‘HDC’. You might also like my other crochet guides or some free beginner crochet patterns.
Crochet Abbreviations – Expanded
| Abbreviation | Expansion |
|---|---|
| BLO | Back loop only |
| BO | Bobble stitch |
| BP | Back post |
| ch | Chain |
| CL | Cluster stitch |
| dc | Double crochet |
| dc2tog | Double crochet 2 together (decrease) |
| 2dc | 2 Double crochet in 1 space (increase) |
| FLO | Front loop only |
| FP | Front post |
| hdc | Half double crochet |
| hdc2tog | Half double crochet 2 together (decrease) |
| 2hdc | 2 Half double crochet in 1 space (increase) |
| PC | Popcorn stitch |
| puff | Puff Stitch |
| RS | Right side |
| sc | Single crochet |
| sc2tog | Single crochet 2 together (decrease) |
| 2sc | 2 Single crochet in 1 space (increase) |
| sl st | Slip stitch |
| sp | Space |
| st | Stitch |
| tr | Treble Crochet |
| tr2tog | Treble crochet 2 together (decrease) |
| 2tr | 2 Treble crochet in 1 space (increase) |
| WS | Wrong side |
Crochet Abbreviations for beginners
If you’re just starting out with crochet, you may have come across a lot of confusing jargon that seems to be written in code. Fear not, beginner crocheters! We’re here to help you decipher the most commonly used crochet abbreviations so you can read patterns with ease.
Firstly, it’s important to understand that crochet patterns often use abbreviations to save space and make the instructions easier to follow. Here are some of the most common crochet abbreviations. The chart above explains what the most common crochet abbreviations actually mean.
So, to show you an example, if a pattern says “in a MR, sc x 4, dc x 4, sl st to first st, ch x 1”, this means you should make a magic ring, then single crochet in the magic ring four times, then double crochet into the magic ring four times, then slip stitch to the first stitch and make one turning chain. As you can see, the abbreviated version can be allot easier and simpler to read, not to mention taking up less space.
It may seem overwhelming at first, but with practice and patience, you’ll soon find yourself reading crochet patterns like a pro. To make things easier, save this page and use it as handy a reference guide of crochet abbreviations until you learn to remember the list of crochet abbreviations and their meanings.
Understanding crochet abbreviations is a crucial skill for any beginner crocheter. By knowing these common abbreviations, you’ll be able to read patterns with ease and create beautiful crocheted pieces in no time. So grab your hook and yarn, and get ready to start your crochet journey!
