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 |
Weights & Measurements
These measurement and weight abbreviations are commonly found on yarn labels an in the introductory section of the pattern.
” or in | Inches | |
Cm | Centimeter | |
G | Gram | |
m | Meter(s) | |
mm | Millimeter(s) | |
Oz | Ounce(s) | |
Yd(s) | Yard(s) |
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