Crochet Abbreviations Chart

Crochet abbreviations are used to eliminate clutter in patterns. They can often be frustrating to crochet beginners, but believe me, they make life so much easier for learned crocheters and pattern designers. Not only do they help to make it quicker to read a pattern, but they also help to reduce the amount of paper when printing out patterns.

This crochet abbreviations chart lists some of the common ones that are used on this site. All abbreviations are given in US terms.

You might also be interested in browsing the collection of free crochet patterns here on CNC. Or, if you’re a beginner, you might find these crochet tutorials helpful.

Crochet Abbreviations

Abbreviations	Descriptions	Instructions
Alt	Alternate	This could mean alternate stitches or alternate rows.
Approx	Approximately
Bead St.	Bead Stitch	Insert hook into stitch indicated, yarn over and pull through, (yarn over and pull through one loop on hook) twice, yarn over and pull through both loops on hook. When you work into the next stitch make sure the bobble is facing you, or the right side of the fabric.
Beg	Begin/Beginning	This can refer to a beginning of a row or round. It can also mean a stitch that begins the row or round and is worked slightly different than the remaining stitches.
Beg Cl, Beg PC, Beg Shell, Beg V-st, etc	Beginning Cluster, Beginning Popcorn, Beginning Shell, Beginning V-Stitch, etc.	These “beginning” stitches are generally started with a chain 2 or 3 to make up the first leg of a stitch that is made up of a series of stitches. Check pattern for specific instructions as these can vary from pattern to pattern.
Bet	Between	Sometimes the pattern may instruct you to work in between stitches made in previous row or round.
Bl/Bls or BLO	Back Loop/Back Loops or Back Loop Only	There are 2 loops on top of each stitch that make up a “V” shape. The back loop is the one farthest away from you. This technique is used to create a ribbing or ribbed texture.
Blsc, bldc, bltr, etc…	Back Loop Single Crochet, Back Loop Double Crochet, Back Loop Triple Crochet, etc..	The “bl” stands for back loop, and can precede any other stitch abbreviations that is worked worked into the back loop only.
Bp	Back Post	Insert your hook going in from behind your work and around post of stitch indicated.
Bpdc	Back Post Double Crochet	Yarn over and insert hook from behind your work around the post of stitch indicated. Yarn over and pull up a loop (3 Loops on hook); (Yarn over and pull through 2 loops) twice.
Bpsc	Back Post Single Crochet	Yarn over and insert hook from behind of work around the post of stitch indicated. Yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both loops on hook.
Bptr	Back Post Triple Crochet	Yarn over twice and insert hook from behind your work around the post of stitch indicated. Yarn over and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook); (Yarn over and pull through 2 loops) 3 times.
CA	Color A	A color used in pattern, usually the first color called for.
CB	Color B	A color used in pattern, usually the second color called for.
CC	Color C or Contrasting Color	A color used in pattern, usually the third color called for. It can also mean a color used to contrast another color used in the pattern.
Ch	Chain	To make a chain, yarn over and pull through the loop on your hook. To crochet into a chain, insert your hook into the top 1-2 loops of the chain. You can also work into the back bumps of a chain.
Ch-1, 2, 3, etc…	Chain 1, 2, 3, etc…	Chain 1, 2, 3 or as many as the pattern says.
Ch-sp	Chain space	To make a chain space, yarn over and pull through to make one chain. To work into the space, insert your hook in to the space below the chain.
Cl	Cluster	This is generally done by working a series of stitches without completing the last step. With each new stitch, you increase the number loops on the hook. Then to finish the stitch, yarn over and pull through all loops on hook.
Cl Shell, Cl V-st, etc…	Cluster Shell, Cluster V-Stitch, etc…	This is a clustered version of a stitch. Check each pattern for specific instructions as they can vary.
Cont	Continue
Crdc	Crossed Double Crochet	Skip a stitch and double crochet in next stitch, then backtrack and double crochet in the skipped stitch.
Dc	Double Crochet	Yarn over, insert hook in stitch indicated, yarn over and pull up a loop, (yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook) twice.
Dc2tog	Double Crochet 2 Together	The decrease stitch is worked over 2 stitches: Yarn over and insert hook into the first stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook). Yarn over and insert hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook to complete the stitch.
Dc3tog	Double Crochet 3 together	The decrease stitch is worked over 3 stitches: Yarn over and insert hook in first stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook). Yarn over and insert hook into next stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through 2 loops; rep from once (4 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops on hook to complete the stitch.
Dc4tog	Double Crochet 4 Together	The decrease stitch is worked over 4 stitches: Yarn over and insert hook in first stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook). Yarn over and insert hook into next stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through 2 loops; rep from twice (5 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all 5 loops on hook to complete the stitch.
Dec	Decrease, decreases, decreasing	Work 2 or more stitches together as one to decrease the total stitch count in the row or round.
Dtr	Double Triple	Yarn over 3 times, insert hook into stitch indicated. Yarn over and pull up a loop. (Yarn over and pull through two loops on hook) 4 times.
Esc	Extended Single Crochet	Insert hook in stitch indicated, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through one loop, yarn over and pull through both loops on hook.
Fl	Front Loop	There are 2 loops on top of each stitch that make up a “V” shape. The front loop is the one closest to you.
Flsc	Front Loop Single Crochet	A single crochet worked into the front loop only of a stitch.
Foll	Follow, Follows, Following
FO	Fasten Off	Cut the yarn or thread, yarn over and pull through the active loop and pull it tight. Weave in your ends.
Fp	Front Post	Insert hook from in front of your work and around post of stitch indicated.
Fpdc	Front Post Double Crochet	Yarn over and insert hook from in front of your work and around the post of stitch indicated. Yarn over and pull up a loop, (3 Loops on hook) (Yarn over and pull through 2 loops) twice.
Fptr	Front Post Triple Crochet	Yarn over twice and insert hook from in front of your work and around the post of stitch indicated. Yarn over and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook) (Yarn over and pull through 2 loops) 3 times.
Fsc	Foundation Single Crochet	To make the fsc chain 2 and insert the hook into the first chain, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through 1 loop, yarn over and pull through both loops on hook. The next stitch is worked the same but into the base of the previous fsc instead of the chain.
Hdc	Half Double Crochet	Yarn over and insert hook into stitch indicated, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook
Hdc2tog	Half Double Crochet 2 Together	The decrease stitch is worked over two stitches as one: Yarn over and insert hook into the first stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop; yarn over and insert hook into the next st, yarn over and pull up a loop (5 loops on hook), Yarn over and pull through all loops on hook.
Hdc3tog	Half Double Crochet Three Together	The decrease stitch is worked over three stitches as one: Yarn over and insert hook into first stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop; yarn over and insert hook into next st, yarn over and pull up a loop; repeat from once (7 loops on hook), Yarn over and pull through all loops on hook.
Hk	Hook	Crochet hooks are available in many sizes. Use the hook size as instructed in pattern, or the hook that gives you the gauge that you need.
Inc	Increase, Increases, Increasing	Work 2 or more stitches in one stitch.
Lp/Lps	Loop/Loops	A loop can be a series of chains or it can mean a front or back loop of a stitch.
MC	Main Color	This is the main color of your project.
P	Picot	Chain the amount of chains as instructed, then slip stitch in chain indicated to form a small bump
Pat or Patt	Pattern, Patterns
Pc	Popcorn	The popcorn stitch can vary from pattern to pattern and therefore special instructions are usually provided by each pattern. Basically it is worked with a series of stitches in the same stitch or space. Work the number of stitches as pattern instructs. Drop loop from hook and insert hook into first stitch made. Pick up the dropped loop and pull through first stitch to create a bobble. Pattern may sometimes require a ch-1 to complete or secure the stitch.
Pm	Place Marker	Place a marker in stitch or space indicated to help you keep track of where you are in the pattern.
Prev	Previous	Can refer to the previous stitch, or a previous row or round.
PSS	Puffy Spike Stitch	This stitch is a combination of the spike stitch and puff stitch. It is worked like a puff stitch in the sense that you pull up multiple loops before closing the stitch. However, each loop is pulled up from a different stitch below.
Puff St	Puff Stitch	This stitch is worked by pulling up multiple loops before closing the stitch. The stitch can vary from pattern to pattern.
Rem	Remain, Remaining
Rep	Repeat
Rnd/Rnds	Round/Rounds	Term used when working in a round to create a circle, oval or a square.
RS	Right Side	If you are working in the round without turning, the Right Side is usually the side that is facing you. If you’re working in rows, choose the cleanest looking side.
Sc	Single Crochet	Insert hook in stitch indicated, yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through both loops on hook.
Sc2tog	Single Crochet 2 together	The decrease stitch is worked over two stitches as one: Insert hook in first st, yarn over and pull up a loop, insert hook into next st, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook.
Sc3tog	Single Crochet 3 together	The decrease stitch is worked over three stitches as one: Insert hook in first st, yarn over and pull up a loop, insert hook into next st, yarn over and pull up a loop; repeat from once (4 loops on hook), Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops on hook.
Sk	Skip	Skip stitches or spaces indicated.
Sl st	Slip Stitch	A slip stitch is commonly used to join a round, but can also be used within the pattern rows or rounds: Insert hook in stitch or space indicated, yarn over and pull through the stitch or loop as well as the loop on hook.
Sp/Sps	Space/Spaces	A space is the hole beneath one or more chains. It can also refer to the space in between two stitches.
St/sts	Stitch/Stitches	Any stitch used in crochet, like the single crochet, double crochet and triple crochet. It can also refer to a series of stitches to form an advanced stitch, such as the popcorn stitch.
Tr	Triple Crochet	Yarn over 2 times, insert hook into stitch indicated. Yarn over and pull up a loop. (Yarn over and pull through two loops on hook) 3 times.
V-St	V-Stitch	It’s a stitch that looks like a v. The stitch can vary from pattern to pattern, so always check your pattern for specific instructions.
WIP	Work In Progress
WS	Wrong Side	This is the side least favorable. It is often the side where yarn colors are carried, knots are hidden, etc.. Some projects, such as blankets, can be lined to hide any imperfections.
Yo	Yarn Over	Wrap the yarn over hook