Crochet Abbreviations: U.S. Terms, Symbols, and Repeats
Decode common U.S. crochet abbreviations, repeat symbols, stitch locations, and U.S. versus U.K. terminology with practical pattern examples.
Quick answer
Crochet abbreviations compress repeated instructions into short pattern lines. In U.S. terminology, ch means chain, sl st means slip stitch, sc means single crochet, hdc means half double crochet, dc means double crochet, and tr means treble crochet. Always confirm the pattern's terminology system and read its abbreviation key because the same letters can mean different stitches in U.S. and U.K. patterns.
A crochet pattern is easier to read when abbreviations are treated as a small vocabulary rather than a secret code. Most instructions combine three kinds of shorthand: stitch names, action words, and location or repeat markers. Once you identify which kind each term represents, a dense line can be translated into a sequence of simple movements.
This guide uses U.S. crochet terminology, the system CrochetPal uses unless a pattern states otherwise. It covers the abbreviations beginners see most often, explains punctuation and repeats, and highlights the U.S. and U.K. naming conflict that causes the most expensive mistakes. Pattern-specific special stitches still take priority, so read the key supplied by the designer before relying on any general reference.
The essential U.S. crochet stitch abbreviations
The basic stitch family progresses by height. A chain creates the foundation or spacing. A slip stitch joins or moves yarn with very little height. Single crochet creates compact fabric, half double crochet is slightly taller, double crochet is taller again, and treble crochet adds another yarn over for height. Learning the full names and the relative height makes the abbreviation easier to remember than memorizing letters alone.
Capitalization varies between publishers, so CH and ch usually mean the same thing. Spaces also vary: sl st may appear as slst. Do not assume every abbreviation is universal. A designer may define an unusual cluster, bobble, or decrease at the beginning of the pattern. The local definition controls that pattern, even when another source uses the same letters differently.
| Abbreviation | U.S. meaning | Typical role |
|---|---|---|
| ch | chain | Foundation, turning chain, or open space |
| sl st | slip stitch | Join rounds or move without adding height |
| sc | single crochet | Short, dense basic stitch |
| hdc | half double crochet | Medium-height stitch with soft density |
| dc | double crochet | Tall basic stitch with more drape |
| tr | treble crochet | Extra-tall stitch with open texture |
Action words and stitch locations
Action abbreviations tell you what change to make. Inc means increase, dec means decrease, rep means repeat, sk means skip, and tog means together. A number inside a stitch abbreviation tells you how many stitches are combined: sc2tog works two single crochets together to create a decrease, while dc3tog combines three double crochets. Instructions may use pm for place marker and cont for continue.
Location abbreviations tell you where the hook belongs. St means stitch and sp means space. Ch-sp identifies a space created by a previous chain. BLO or tbl directs you to the back loop, while FLO directs you to the front loop. FP and BP mean front post and back post; the hook goes around the vertical post of a stitch rather than under its top loops. RS and WS identify the right and wrong sides of the fabric.
- inc: increase by adding one or more stitches
- dec: decrease by combining or removing stitches
- sk: skip the stated stitch or space
- rep: repeat the specified instructions
- BLO/FLO: work in the back loop only or front loop only
- FP/BP: work around the front post or back post
How asterisks, brackets, and parentheses control repeats
Punctuation groups instructions. An asterisk usually marks the beginning of a repeat, and the pattern tells you where to stop or how many times to repeat it. Brackets and braces often group a sequence that must be repeated as a unit. Parentheses may group stitches worked into one location, show a repeat, present alternate sizing, or report the stitch count at the end of a row. Read the pattern's notes because publishers do not assign exactly the same role to every mark.
Translate a repeat before working it. For example, 'sc in next 2 sts, *ch 1, sk next st, sc in next 2 sts; rep from * across' means the first two single crochets happen once, then the chain, skip, and two single crochets repeat. Mark the repeat on paper or a row counter if it contains several clauses. At the end, compare the reported stitch count with the actual top loops before continuing.
U.S. and U.K. crochet terms are not interchangeable
The largest abbreviation trap is that U.S. and U.K. systems use familiar names for different stitches. U.S. single crochet is U.K. double crochet. U.S. double crochet is U.K. treble. U.S. treble is U.K. double treble. The physical stitch is the same; only the name changes. Canada may use either convention depending on the publisher, so the country of publication alone is not always enough.
Look for an explicit statement such as 'pattern uses U.S. terms.' If none appears, inspect the stitch list. A pattern containing both sc and hdc strongly suggests U.S. terminology because traditional U.K. terminology does not use single crochet for a standard stitch. Hook sizes, spelling, and the designer's location are clues, not proof. Confirm before beginning, especially for fitted items where using the wrong stitch height changes dimensions quickly.
| U.S. term | U.K. equivalent | Physical stitch |
|---|---|---|
| sl st | ss | slip stitch |
| sc | dc | single-crochet-height stitch |
| hdc | htr | half-double-crochet-height stitch |
| dc | tr | double-crochet-height stitch |
| tr | dtr | treble-crochet-height stitch |
A reliable method for decoding any pattern row
First identify whether the row is worked flat or in rounds and whether the turning chain counts as a stitch. Next underline every stitch abbreviation, circle quantities, and box repeat groups. Locate words such as next, same, each, across, around, and join because they control placement. Rewrite the row in full words if necessary. Work only to the next comma or semicolon, then pause and verify where the hook should go.
Count the completed row using the pattern's convention. Chains used only to reach stitch height may not count, while a turning chain in a taller stitch pattern may count as the first stitch. A parenthetical number at the end often reports the expected count rather than adding another instruction. If the count is wrong, check the row edges and every skipped space before blaming the repeat math.
Build an abbreviation reference that stays useful
Keep the pattern's own key beside your work and add only the terms used in the current project. A short project-specific list is faster than scanning a master table. Record whether the pattern uses U.S. or U.K. terms at the top. For digital patterns, take a screenshot of the key or keep it open in another tab so you do not rely on memory when tired.
Use the Craft Yarn Council master list as an industry reference, then return to the designer's notes for special stitches. When a technique remains unclear, combine the written definition with a stitch video and a small practice swatch. The purpose of abbreviations is to make instructions compact. Once the vocabulary is familiar, they make repeated structure easier to see rather than harder.
Handle special stitches, charts, and designer shorthand
Special stitches often receive a local name such as shell, cluster, V-stitch, puff, or bobble. Those names describe families rather than one universal recipe. One shell may use five double crochets while another uses a different number or stitch height. Copy the exact definition into your project notes and mark whether its final loop or closing chain counts as part of the stitch. The same caution applies to standing stitches and foundation stitches.
Chart symbols provide a visual abbreviation system. Each symbol usually resembles the height or structure of its stitch, but the chart key remains authoritative. Find the start symbol, reading direction, round or row number, and repeat boundary before following the diagram. When a written line and chart both appear, compare them before starting the repeat; together they can reveal alignment and placement more clearly than either format alone.