Every Crochet Abbreviation Explained — Your Complete Cheat Sheet 📋
The first time you open a crochet pattern and see something like "R3: sc, inc, sc, inc — 8 sts (sl st to close, FO)", it might as well be hieroglyphics. Crochet abbreviations exist for one beautiful reason — they squeeze a 200-row pattern into a few tidy pages — but they're a wall to climb if no one ever hands you the key. MrsCrochetWorld writes patterns trusted by thousands of beginners, and this complete glossary is the cheat sheet we send to every new customer who asks "what does that even mean?" Bookmark it, screenshot it, print it. By the end of this page every pattern in your bag will make sense.
- Why crochet uses abbreviations
- The complete US crochet abbreviations glossary
- US vs. UK crochet terms — the critical difference
- What do brackets, parentheses, and asterisks mean?
- Amigurumi-specific abbreviations
- Crochet stitch symbols (chart reading)
- Common abbreviation mistakes to avoid
- Frequently asked questions
Why does crochet use so many abbreviations?
Crochet patterns are essentially recipes — but instead of being written once, they're meant to be read row by row by people who don't speak the same first language, don't share the same crochet education, and may be working from a phone screen on a bus. Abbreviations solve all three problems. They turn "single crochet in the next stitch, then increase by working two single crochet stitches into the next stitch" into "sc, inc." Same meaning, one-sixth the space, no language barrier.
Once the system clicks, you can read a 12-page amigurumi pattern in a single sitting and visualize the whole toy before you ever pick up a hook. That's the goal: faster reading, fewer mistakes, more time crocheting.
The complete US crochet abbreviations glossary
Every modern MrsCrochetWorld pattern uses US terminology, which is the most common system on Etsy, Ravelry, YouTube, and in printed books published in North America. The table below covers the abbreviations you'll meet in 99% of patterns.
| Abbreviation | Full Term | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| ch | Chain | Yarn over, pull through loop — makes a row of "V" shapes; foundation of most patterns |
| sl st | Slip Stitch | Insert hook, yarn over, pull through both loops — joins rounds, edges, or moves yarn invisibly |
| sc | Single Crochet | The amigurumi workhorse: 1 short, tight stitch with a flat top |
| hdc | Half Double Crochet | Taller than sc, shorter than dc — great for hats and blankets |
| dc | Double Crochet | A tall stitch — fast fabric for shawls, granny squares, garments |
| tr / tc | Treble (Triple) Crochet | Even taller than dc — open, lacy texture |
| dtr | Double Treble | An extra-tall, lacy stitch — common in shawls and doilies |
| MR / MC | Magic Ring (Magic Circle) | Adjustable starting loop — eliminates the hole in the middle of amigurumi |
| st / sts | Stitch / Stitches | A finished crochet stitch |
| R / Rnd / Row | Round / Row | One complete pass around (in the round) or across (flat) |
| inc | Increase | Work 2 stitches into the same stitch — adds 1 stitch to the count |
| dec | Decrease | Combine 2 stitches into 1 — removes 1 stitch from the count |
| sc2tog | Single Crochet 2 Together | Traditional decrease — joins 2 sc into 1 |
| invdec | Invisible Decrease | Tidy amigurumi decrease through the front loops only |
| FO | Fasten Off | Cut yarn and pull tail through last loop to secure |
| BLO | Back Loop Only | Work into the back loop of the stitch — creates a ridge |
| FLO | Front Loop Only | Work into the front loop only |
| BL / FL | Back Loop / Front Loop | Short form of BLO/FLO |
| yo | Yarn Over | Wrap yarn around hook |
| YOH | Yarn Over Hook | Same as yo (UK variant) |
| sk | Skip | Skip the next stitch |
| rep | Repeat | Repeat the previous instruction |
| rem | Remaining | Continue across remaining stitches |
| tog | Together | Work stitches together (decrease) |
| BPdc / FPdc | Back Post / Front Post Double Crochet | Worked around the post (vertical bar) of a stitch — creates ribbing or texture |
| BPsc / FPsc | Back Post / Front Post Single Crochet | Same logic, with single crochet |
| ch-sp | Chain Space | The gap created by chain stitches in a previous row |
| sp | Space | A gap (often a chain space) |
| turn | Turn | Flip your work to begin a new row |
| join | Join | Connect the end of a round to the beginning (usually with sl st) |
| cont | Continue | Keep working in the same pattern |
| beg | Beginning | The start of a row, round, or pattern |
| RS / WS | Right Side / Wrong Side | The "outside" or "inside" of your fabric |
| CC / MC | Contrast Color / Main Color | Used in multi-color patterns |
| oz / g / m / yd | Ounces / Grams / Meters / Yards | Yarn quantities — always check both metric and imperial |
| tbl | Through Back Loop | Insert hook through the back loop only (sometimes both loops + a strand) |
| WIP | Work in Progress | A project you haven't finished yet (common in crochet community lingo) |
| UFO | Un-Finished Object | A WIP that's been on the shelf too long (everyone has these!) |
US vs. UK crochet terms — the critical difference
Here's the trap that catches every traveling crocheter, every Pinterest pattern collector, and every YouTube tutorial follower: US and UK use the same abbreviation letters for different stitches. A US "single crochet" is what the British call a "double crochet." A US "double crochet" is a UK "treble." If you read a UK pattern thinking it's US, your scarf will end up half as tall as the photo.
| US Term | US Abbr. | UK Equivalent | UK Abbr. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slip Stitch | sl st | Slip Stitch | sl st / ss |
| Single Crochet | sc | Double Crochet | dc |
| Half Double Crochet | hdc | Half Treble Crochet | htr |
| Double Crochet | dc | Treble Crochet | tr |
| Treble Crochet | tr / tc | Double Treble | dtr |
| Double Treble | dtr | Triple Treble | trtr / ttr |
| Gauge | — | Tension | — |
| Yarn Over (yo) | yo | Yarn Round Hook | yrh / yoh |
| Skip | sk | Miss | m |
How to tell which system a pattern uses
If you see a stitch called "sc" with a small "x" symbol, it's almost certainly US. If you see "dc" described as a short, dense stitch (instead of a tall one), the pattern is UK. Most reputable designers — including MrsCrochetWorld — state "US terms" clearly at the top of every pattern. When in doubt, check the height of the stitch in the photo: if it's short and stubby, the abbreviation is using US logic; if "dc" is short and stubby, it's UK.
What do brackets, parentheses, and asterisks mean?
Beyond the stitch abbreviations, patterns use punctuation to compress repeats. Once you understand these three symbols you've cracked the syntax of nearly every modern crochet pattern.
Parentheses ( ) — group of stitches in one place
When you see "(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st", everything inside the parentheses happens in the same stitch. This is the standard syntax for shells, V-stitches, and granny-square corners.
Brackets [ ] — repeat this exact section
When you see "[sc 4, inc] 6 times", you repeat everything inside the brackets exactly 6 times. Final stitch count is calculated by multiplying inside the bracket by the number after — here, (4 sc + 2 sc for the inc) × 6 = 36 stitches.
Asterisks * * — repeat to the end of the row
When you see "*sc, ch 1, sk 1; repeat from * across", you keep repeating the stitches between the asterisks until you reach the end of the row or to a specified stitch count. Older patterns often use one asterisk and "repeat from *"; newer patterns use a pair of asterisks for clarity.
Numbers in parentheses at the end of a row
If a row ends with something like "R5: sc, inc, sc, inc, sc — (15)", the number in parentheses is the total stitch count at the end of that row. Always count yours and check — if your count is off, fix it now, not five rows from now.
Amigurumi-specific abbreviations
Amigurumi patterns share most of the standard crochet abbreviations but add a small layer of their own. These come up constantly in MrsCrochetWorld no-sew designs:
| Abbreviation | Full Term | Why It Matters in Amigurumi |
|---|---|---|
| MR / MC | Magic Ring / Magic Circle | Almost every amigurumi starts with a magic ring of 6 sc — no hole, no gap |
| invdec | Invisible Decrease | Pulls 2 stitches into 1 through front loops only — almost invisible |
| BLO | Back Loop Only | Creates a visible ridge — used to mark "armholes" or shape transitions in no-sew designs |
| FLO | Front Loop Only | Used for surface details like ears, frills, or skirts that fold outward |
| sm | Stitch Marker | Place at the start of each round so you don't lose your spot in a spiral |
| stuff | Stuff with fiberfill | Insert polyester stuffing — not yarn-based |
| safety eyes | Plastic eyes with washer back | Inserted before final closure — usually rows 5–9 from the start of the head |
| ch 1, turn (don't) | Amigurumi continues in spiral | Unlike flat crochet, you do NOT turn — keep going in the same direction |
| ×6 or x6 | Repeat 6 times | Common shorthand in compact pattern formats |
| FPSC | Front Post Single Crochet | Creates a textured "seam" on the surface — often for hooves or feet |
| color change | Switch yarn color | Final yarn-over of the previous stitch is pulled with the new color |
How a typical amigurumi row reads
Take this line: R4: [sc 3, inc] 6 times — (30). Translated, it means: "In round 4, single crochet in the next 3 stitches, then increase by working 2 single crochet into the next stitch. Repeat that sequence 6 times. You should have 30 stitches at the end of the round." Once you read 50 amigurumi patterns, you'll do this translation in your head in under a second.
Crochet stitch symbols — reading chart patterns
Some patterns (especially those translated from Japanese, where amigurumi originated) use visual symbol charts instead of written abbreviations. The symbols are standardized across most modern publishers:
| Symbol | Stitch | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ○ or ◯ | Chain (ch) | An open oval, usually in a line |
| • | Slip Stitch (sl st) | A solid dot |
| + or × | Single Crochet (sc) | A small cross or X |
| T (with no bar) | Half Double Crochet (hdc) | An uppercase T |
| T with one bar | Double Crochet (dc) | T with a single slash across it |
| T with two bars | Treble Crochet (tr) | T with two slashes |
| Triangle of × symbols | Increase or decrease | Two × joined at top = decrease; two × from one base = increase |
| Star or asterisk | Magic Ring start | Center of round one |
Charts are read from the center outward for rounds, and from right to left (then left to right on the next row) for flat patterns — mirroring how you actually crochet.
Common abbreviation mistakes to avoid
- ❌ Mixing up US and UK terms. Always check at the top of the pattern. If it doesn't say, assume US for North American designers, UK for British/Australian/Irish ones — but verify with a stitch height clue.
- ❌ Confusing "ch 1" at the start of a row with a counted stitch. In flat crochet, the turning chain may or may not count as a stitch — read the designer's note.
- ❌ Skipping the stitch count in parentheses. The number at the end of each row is your safety net. Count and confirm.
- ❌ Working into the wrong loop. "BLO" and "FLO" are easy to misread. Once you skip a row's loop instruction, the fabric won't recover.
- ❌ Misinterpreting brackets. [sc 2, inc] 6 times is NOT "sc 2 times then inc 6 times" — it's the WHOLE bracket repeated 6 times. Read it like math: brackets first, then multiplier.
- ❌ Forgetting to mark the start of the round. Spiral amigurumi has no visual seam — without a stitch marker, you can lose your spot in 30 seconds.
- ❌ Not fastening off properly. "FO" means cut yarn AND pull through the last loop. If you just cut, your work unravels.
🧶 Apply your new glossary skills
- Free Giraffe Crochet Pattern — read it through with this glossary open and see how fast the abbreviations click.
- Easy No-Sew Amigurumi Book for Beginners — 50 patterns in clear US terms, ideal practice.
- 50+ No-Sew Bundle PDF — every pattern uses standardized abbreviations explained in this guide.
- Care Bears Bundle PDF — short, sweet, perfect glossary practice.
- Fantasy Crochet Bundle — six characters, one shared abbreviation vocabulary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "sc" mean in crochet?
"sc" stands for single crochet in US terminology. It's the shortest, most common crochet stitch — insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over again, pull through both loops. Note: in UK terminology, "sc" is rarely used; UK calls the same stitch "dc" (double crochet).
What does "MR" mean in amigurumi?
MR (or MC) is the magic ring / magic circle — an adjustable starting loop. You crochet your first round of stitches into it, then pull the tail to tighten the center so there's no hole. Almost every amigurumi pattern starts this way.
What does "FO" mean in a crochet pattern?
FO stands for fasten off. Cut your working yarn leaving a 10–15 cm tail, then pull the tail completely through the last loop on your hook. Tug to tighten and weave in with a yarn needle.
Is US sc the same as UK dc?
Yes — exactly the same physical stitch, different name. US "single crochet" = UK "double crochet." If you switch reference systems mid-pattern, your finished piece will be the wrong height.
What does (inc) mean in a crochet pattern?
"inc" stands for increase — work 2 stitches into the same stitch instead of one. This adds one stitch to your overall count. Patterns sometimes spell out the increase explicitly as "2 sc in next st."
What does "[sc 2, inc] 6 times" mean?
It means: single crochet in the next 2 stitches, then work an increase in the next stitch (2 sc into 1 st). Repeat the full bracket sequence 6 times. Total stitches worked: (3 + 1 extra) × 6 = 24 stitches.
What does "BLO" mean?
BLO = Back Loop Only. Instead of inserting your hook under both top loops of a stitch (the normal way), you only catch the back loop. This creates a visible ridge on the right side and is often used in amigurumi to mark shaping transitions.
What does the number in parentheses at the end of a row mean?
It's the total stitch count at the end of that row. Always pause and count yours — fixing a miscount one row back is easy; fixing it five rows back means frogging.
What does "ch-sp" mean?
ch-sp = chain space. The gap created by chain stitches in a previous row. You work into the open space, not into individual chain stitches. Common in granny squares, V-stitches, and lace patterns.
What's the difference between a treble and a triple crochet?
In US terms, "treble" and "triple" are the same stitch (tr or tc) — a taller version of double crochet with two yarn-overs before insertion. In UK terms, "treble" (tr) is what US calls "double crochet," so check the system first.
How do I read a crochet chart with symbols?
Start at the center for rounds (work outward) and from right-to-left (then left-to-right) for flat patterns. Each symbol represents one stitch — × or + for single crochet, T for taller stitches, dots for slip stitches. A legend is always provided with the chart.
What does WIP and UFO mean in crochet?
WIP = Work In Progress (active project). UFO = Un-Finished Object (a WIP that's been on the shelf too long). Crochet community lingo, not pattern abbreviations.
Summary — pattern fluency in one page
Reading crochet patterns is a learnable skill, and abbreviations are the alphabet. Master ch, sc, hdc, dc, sl st, MR, inc, dec, FO, BLO, FLO, and the bracket/asterisk syntax, and you've cracked the code for 99% of modern patterns. Always confirm US vs. UK before you start, count stitches at the end of every row, and use a stitch marker for amigurumi rounds. Print this glossary or screenshot the tables to keep on your phone — they'll save you a year of "wait, what does that mean?" moments.
Test your new glossary on real patterns 📋
Our 50+ No-Sew Amigurumi Bundle is the perfect place to put this cheat sheet to work — 50 designs in clear US terminology, every abbreviation used here, no surprises.
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