Helpful Info

Crochet Abbreviations

Following is a list of crochet abbreviations used in patterns by yarn industry designers and publishers. In addition, designers and publishers may use special abbreviations in a pattern, which you might not find on this list. Generally, a definition of special abbreviations is given at the beginning of a book or pattern. These definitions reflect U.S. crochet terminology.
         
Abbreviation Description      
alt alternate      
approx approximately      
beg begin/beginning      
bet between      
BL or BLO back loop or back loop only      
bo bobble      
BP back post      
BPdc back post double crochet      
BPdtr back post double treble crochet      
BPhdc back post half double crochet      
BPsc back post single crochet      
BPtr back post treble crochet      
CC contrasting color      
ch chain stitch      
ch- refer to chain or space previously made, e.g., ch-1 space      
ch-sp chain space      
CL cluster      
cont continue      
dc double crochet      
dc2tog double crochet 2 stitches together      
dec decrease      
dtr double treble crochet      
edc extended double crochet      
ehdc extended half double crochet      
esc extended single crochet      
etr extended treble crochet      
FL or FLO front loop or front loop only      
foll following      
FP front post      
FPdc front post double crochet      
FPdtr front post double treble crochet      
FPhdc front post half double crochet      
FPsc front post single crochet      
FPtr front post treble crochet      
hdc half double crochet      
hdc2tog half double crochet 2 stitches together      
inc increase      
lp loop      
m marker      
MC main color      
pat or patt pattern      
pc popcorn stitch      
pm place marker      
prev previous      
ps or puff puff stitch      
rem remaining      
rep repeat      
rnd round      
RS right side      
sc single crochet      
sc2tog single crochet 2 stitches together      
sh shell      
sk skip      
sl st slip stitch      
sm or sl m slip marker      
sp space      
st stitch      
tbl through back loop      
tch or t-ch turning chain      
tog together      
tr treble crochet      
tr2tog treble crochet 2 stitches together      
trtr triple treble crochet      
WS wrong side      
yo yarn over      
yoh yarn over hook      
         
Terms & Common Measurements      
         
Term Description      
* repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed      
** epeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed or repeat at specified locations      
{ } work instructions within brackets as many times as directed      
[ ] work instructions within brackets as many times as directed      
( ) work instructions within parentheses as many times as directed or work a group of stitches all in the same stitch or space      
         
Measurement Description      
” or in inch      
cm centimeter      
g gram      
m meter      
mm millimeter      
oz ounce      
yd yard      
         
Tunisian Abbreviations      
Tunisian crochet is also commonly known as Afghan Crochet. It has also been called by a variety of other names including Shepherd's Knitting, Railroad Knitting and Cro-hooking.
         
Abbreviation Description      
etss extended Tunisian simple stitch      
FwP forward pass      
RetP return pass      
tdc Tunisian double crochet      
tfs Tunisian full stitch      
thdc Tunisian half double crochet      
tks Tunisian knit stitch      
tps Tunisian purl stitch      
trs Tunisian reverse stitch      
tsc Tunisian single crochet      
tss Tunisian simple stitch      
tslst Tunisian slip stitch      
ttr Tunisian treble crochet      
ttw Tunisian twisted      
         
Abbreviation & Term Differences between the U.S., United Kingdom (U.K.) and Canada.
         
U.S./Canada U.K.      
slip stitch (sl st) slip stitch (ss)      
single crochet (sc) double crochet (dc)      
half double crochet (hdc) half treble (htr)      
double crochet (dc) treble (tr)      
treble (tr) double treble (dtr)      
double treble (dtr) triple treble (trtr)      
         
U.S. U.K./Canada      
gauge tension      
yarn over (yo) yarn over hook (yoh)      

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