Before You Start: Check Whether the Pattern Uses US or UK Terms

This is one of the most important things to check before starting any crochet pattern.

The US and UK systems often use similar abbreviations, but they can refer to different stitches.

For example:

• In US terms, sc means single crochet.

• In UK terms, that same stitch is called dc, or double crochet.

The difference continues with taller stitches.

The Craft Yarn Council's terminology comparison shows the same US/UK conversion and also notes differences such as US gauge versus UK tension.

How can you tell which terminology a pattern uses?

Many modern patterns clearly say:

• US Terms

• US Crochet Terms

• UK Terms

• British Terms

Look near the beginning of the pattern, usually around the materials list or abbreviation section.

If the pattern doesn't clearly say, look for clues.

If you see sc, it is using US terminology because UK terminology does not use sc as the name for the basic single-crochet-height stitch.

If you are unsure, don't start crocheting immediately. Look for the abbreviation key or compare the stitch instructions with a reliable terminology chart.

Getting this wrong can significantly change the height and gauge of your finished project.

The Most Common Crochet Abbreviations

You don't need to memorize every abbreviation before starting.

Learning the most common ones will allow you to understand a large number of beginner and intermediate patterns.

Basic stitch abbreviations

These abbreviations are part of the standard US terminology listed by the Craft Yarn Council.

Example

Instead of writing:

Make one double crochet in each of the next five stitches.

A pattern may simply say:

dc in next 5 sts

Once you know that:

• dc = double crochet

• sts = stitches

the instruction becomes easy to understand.

Common Crochet Action Abbreviations

Patterns also shorten common actions.

Here are some of the ones you'll see most often:

The Craft Yarn Council's master list includes these and many other abbreviations, including post stitches, loop instructions, extended stitches, and Tunisian crochet terms.

How to Read Crochet Abbreviations as a Sentence

The easiest way to understand a pattern is to stop looking at the entire line as one piece.

Break it into small instructions.

For example:

ch 20, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc across, turn

Let's translate it:

• ch 20 = make 20 chain stitches

• sc = single crochet

• 2nd ch from hook = work into the second chain from your hook

• sc across = continue making single crochet stitches across the row

• turn = turn your work to begin the next row

When you read crochet patterns this way, the abbreviations start to feel much less intimidating.

What Does an Asterisk (*) Mean in a Crochet Pattern?

An asterisk usually marks the beginning of a section that needs to be repeated.

For example:

*sc in next 2 sts, inc in next st; rep from * across

This means:

1. Single crochet in the next 2 stitches.

2. Make an increase in the next stitch.

3. Go back to the asterisk.

4. Repeat that sequence across the row.

The Craft Yarn Council explains that a single asterisk indicates instructions that should be repeated as directed, while paired asterisks can mark the beginning and end of a repeat section.

A useful way to read it

Instead of trying to remember the whole row, mentally separate the repeat:

REPEAT:

• sc

• sc

• increase

Then repeat that group until the pattern tells you to stop.

What Do Double Asterisks (** **) Mean?

Some patterns use two asterisks to show a specific stopping point.

For example, a pattern may tell you to repeat from * and stop at ** during the final repeat.

This allows the designer to repeat most of a sequence without repeating the final section.

It can look confusing at first, but don't try to understand the entire instruction at once.

Find:

• Where the repeat starts.

• What instructions are inside the repeat.

• Where the pattern tells you to stop.

The Craft Yarn Council uses this type of notation in its crochet pattern-reading examples.

What Do Brackets [ ] Mean in Crochet Patterns?

Square brackets often group instructions together.

For example:

[sc in next st, ch 1] 5 times

This means you complete everything inside the brackets five times:

1. sc in next stitch

2. chain 1

Then repeat the entire group four more times.

In other contexts, brackets may group stitches that are part of a cluster or a repeated sequence.

The exact notation can vary slightly between designers, which is why you should always read the pattern notes and abbreviation key first.

What Do Parentheses ( ) Mean in Crochet?

Parentheses can have more than one meaning depending on the pattern.

They may show:

A group of stitches worked together

For example:

(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp

This means all of those stitches are worked into the same chain-2 space.

A repeat

Some designers also use parentheses around instructions that should be repeated.

For example:

(sc, ch 1) 6 times

That means repeat the sequence six times.

A stitch count

At the end of a row or round, parentheses often show the total number of stitches.

For example:

Rnd 4: sc around (36 sts)

The (36 sts) tells you that you should have 36 stitches after completing the round.

The Craft Yarn Council describes brackets and parentheses as notation that can indicate repeated instructions or groups of stitches worked together.

How to Read Increases and Decreases

Increases and decreases change the number of stitches in your project.

Increase

An increase means you work more than one stitch into the same stitch or space.

You may see:

inc

In amigurumi patterns, this often means working two single crochet stitches into the same stitch.

However, always check the pattern's abbreviation key because designers may define increases differently depending on the stitch being used.

Decrease

A decrease combines stitches so that the stitch count becomes smaller.

You may see:

• sc2tog

• hdc2tog

• dc2tog

• dec

For example:

sc2tog

means single crochet two stitches together.

This abbreviation is included in the standard crochet abbreviation lists published by the Craft Yarn Council.

Understanding FLO, BLO and Loop Instructions

Crochet stitches usually have two top loops.

Sometimes a pattern will tell you to work into only one of them.

FLO

Front Loop Only

Work only through the front loop of the stitch.

BLO

Back Loop Only

Work only through the back loop.

These instructions can create texture, ribbing, or visible lines in your crochet fabric.

You may also see:

• FL or FLO

• BL or BLO

Both forms appear in standard crochet abbreviation references.

Understanding Front Post and Back Post Stitches

Post stitches are worked around the post of the stitch rather than through the top loops.

Common abbreviations include:

• FPdc = front post double crochet

• BPdc = back post double crochet

• FPhdc = front post half double crochet

• BPhdc = back post half double crochet

These stitches are commonly used for:

• Ribbing

• Cables

• Texture

• Raised patterns

The easiest way to understand a long abbreviation is to break it apart.

For example:

FPdc

• FP = front post

• dc = double crochet

So you work a front post double crochet.

RS and WS: Right Side and Wrong Side

You may see these abbreviations in garment and accessory patterns.

RS = Right Side

The side intended to be visible on the finished project.

WS = Wrong Side

The reverse or inside of the fabric.

The “wrong side” doesn't necessarily mean the side is bad or ugly. It's simply the side that is generally intended to face inward or away from view.

Turning Chains: Read the Pattern, Don't Assume

Turning chains can confuse beginners because different patterns may treat them differently.

A pattern might say:

ch 3, turn — ch 3 counts as first dc

In this case, the turning chain is being counted as a stitch.

Another pattern may specifically say:

ch 2, turn — does not count as a stitch

In that case, the first actual stitch is worked according to the pattern's instructions rather than treating the turning chain as a stitch.

The Craft Yarn Council's pattern-reading guide gives examples of turning chains being counted or not counted depending on the stitch and pattern instructions.

The safest rule is simple:

Always follow what your specific pattern says about the turning chain.

Special Stitches: Always Read the Pattern Key

Not every crochet abbreviation has one universal definition.

A pattern might include a special stitch such as:

• Puff stitch

• Bobble

• Popcorn

• Cluster

• Shell

• Custom decrease

Different designers can use different instructions for these stitches.

For example, one designer's puff stitch may use a different number of loops or yarn overs than another designer's version.

This is why most well-written patterns include a section such as:

• Special Stitches

• Abbreviations

• Stitch Guide

• Pattern Notes

The Craft Yarn Council also notes that designers may use special abbreviations that are not included in the general abbreviation master list and should define them within the pattern.

Before starting, read that section.

It can save you from discovering halfway through the project that you've been making the wrong stitch.

How to Read Crochet Chart Symbols

Some crochet patterns use charts instead of written instructions.

In a crochet chart, each symbol represents a stitch.

Common symbols represent stitches such as:

• Chain

• Slip stitch

• Single crochet

• Half double crochet

• Double crochet

• Treble crochet

• Increases and decreases

• Clusters

• Post stitches

• Front-loop and back-loop instructions

The Craft Yarn Council publishes standardized crochet chart symbols, while also recommending that you check the pattern key for additional definitions.

A chart can actually become easier to read than written instructions once you understand the symbols because you can visually see where every stitch belongs.

Example: Let's Decode a Crochet Pattern Together

Here's a simple example:

Rnd 5: *sc in next 3 sts, inc in next st; rep from * around (30 sts)

Let's translate it.

Step 1: Find the repeat

The asterisk tells you where the repeating section begins.

Step 2: Read the instructions inside the repeat

You will:

• Make 1 single crochet in the next stitch.

• Make 1 single crochet in the next stitch.

• Make 1 single crochet in the next stitch.

• Make an increase in the next stitch.

Step 3: Repeat

Go back to the asterisk and repeat the same sequence around the round.

Step 4: Check the stitch count

At the end, you should have:

30 stitches

Once you start translating patterns into normal language like this, you'll quickly stop needing to decode every abbreviation individually.

Keep a Crochet Abbreviation Cheat Sheet Nearby

You don't need to memorize hundreds of abbreviations.

A simple crochet abbreviation chart can be extremely helpful, especially when you're learning.

Keep a small reference nearby with:

• Basic stitches

• US and UK conversions

• Increase and decrease terms

• Repeat symbols

• Loop instructions

• Right side and wrong side abbreviations

After using the same abbreviations repeatedly, most of them will become automatic.

The goal isn't to memorize everything overnight.

The goal is to know where to look when you see something unfamiliar.

Your Quick Pattern-Reading Checklist

Before starting a new crochet pattern, check these things:

• Does the pattern use US or UK terms?

• Is there an abbreviation key?

• Are there any special stitches?

• Does the turning chain count as a stitch?

• What do the brackets, parentheses, or asterisks mean in this pattern?

• Is the project worked in rows or rounds?

• What stitch count should you have after each row or round?

• Is there a chart or symbol key?

Taking two minutes to check these details before starting can prevent a lot of confusion later.

Once You Can Read the Code, You Can Crochet Almost Anything

Crochet patterns aren't really written in a secret language. They're simply designed to communicate a large number of instructions in a small amount of space.

Start by learning the basic abbreviations, then focus on the punctuation and repeat instructions that appear in patterns.

The biggest mistake to avoid is assuming that every abbreviation means the same thing in every pattern. Check whether you're working in US or UK terminology, and always read the designer's abbreviation and special-stitch notes.

After a few projects, instructions like:

*dc in next 2 sts, ch 1, sk next st; rep from * across

will stop looking like code.

You'll read it almost as naturally as a sentence.