Crochet Terminology and Glossary
Crochet patterns can be a challenge to read and interpret because the lingo and terminology used, as well as the style in which the pattern is written, will vary depending on the author so I have attempted to demystify the cryptic language and arm users with the ability to master even the most confusing or insanely written instructions. Most patterns will have a glossary at the beginning or describe the terms they are using, especially if the pattern is aimed at beginners. The focus is on stitches used in Amigurumi crochet patterns so I don’t intend to include some of the stitches I have never seen in a pattern, but if there are any doozies missing, please leave a comment or drop me a line so I can add to the list.
| Abbreviation | Definition | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| * * | Some patterns indicate repeats using asterix (eg: SC, INC *6*, meaning SC then INC and repeat that sequences 6 times). | [ ], { }, ( ) |
| ( ) | Some patterns indicate repeats using brackets (eg: SC, INC (6), meaning SC then INC and repeat that sequences 6 times) or indicate the total number of stitches in a round within brackets for reference (eg: SC, INC; repeat x 6; (18)). | [ ], {}, ** |
| ; | Some patterns indicate sequences or grouped stitches using semi-colons or commas (eg: SC, INC; *6* (18) meaning Single Crochet then Increase and repeat that sequence 6 times for a total of 18 stitches). | :, |
| Alt | Alternating. | None |
| BL or BLO | Back Loop, BLO meaning Back Loop Only. The back loop is the loop that is on the wrong side of the piece. | None |
| Beg | Beginning. | 1st |
| CH | Chain stitch, sometimes written as 2 CH meaning make 2 chain stitches, or CH 2 or CH x 2 meaning the same thing. | CHs (meaning Chains) |
| DC | Double Crochet. | None |
| DEC | Decrease, meaning to decrease 2 stitches from the last row into 1 stitch in this row. | SC2Tog, INVDEC |
| FL or FLO | Front Loop, FLO meaning Front Loop Only. The front loop is the loop that is on the right or outer facing side of the piece. | None |
| FO | Can mean Finish Off (cut yarn and pull through the last stitch so your work won’t unravel) or Finished Object. | None |
| INC | Increase, meaning make 2 stitches in 1 stitch from the previous row. | SC 2 in 1 ST |
| INCL | Included or inclusive of. | None |
| INVDEC | Invisible decrease, meaning to decrease 2 stitches from the last row into 1 stitch in this row using the Invisible Decrease technique. INVDEC and DEC can be interchanged in most patterns. | SC2Tog, DEC |
| LP | Loop, usually used in part of an instruction and may define front or back loop by adding an F or P. | L, FL (front loop), BL (back loop) |
| Rep | Repeat. | None |
| R | Row, typically used to refer to the rows of work when joining and not working in a spiral. | None |
| Rnd | Round, typically used to refer to rows when working in a spiral or without joining. Some patterns worked in the round will refer to rounds as rows. | None |
| RS | Right Side. In Amigurumi Crochet the right side will usually be the side of the stitch into which you insert your hook when you do your stitches. This side will show stitches that appear like vertical “V’s” in a finished looking fabric. | None |
| SC | Single Crochet, sometimes written as 2 SC meaning make 2 single crochet stitches, or SC 2 or SC x 2 meaning the same thing. | None |
| SC 2 Tog | SC 2 Together, meaning to decrease 2 SC stitches from the last row into 1 stitch in this row. Same as DEC and can be interchanged with INVDEC in most patterns. | INVDEC, DEC |
| SK | Skip. | None |
| SL ST | Slip Stitch. | SLST, SLP |
| Sp | Space. | None |
| ST | Stitch. | None |
| TC | Triple or Treble Crochet. | None |
| Tog | Together. | None |
| WS | Wrong Side. In Amigurumi crochet this will be the side opposite to the side you insert your crochet hook. Stitches appear more blockish on this side and give a chunkier look. Pieces finished wrong side out will appear more square. | None |
| YO | Yarn Over. | YOH (yarn over hook) |
| Yn | Yarn. | Y, Yn |
Hi. What does 2sc, inc mean? Because I’ve searched it and I honestly can’t tell the difference between 2sc and inc. thanks.
Heh. Nevermind, sorry.
What does cont in this way inc 8dc in every
Alt rnd, working 1dc more between inc until
There are 88dc
I don’t know because I didn’t write it. Consult the FAQ for where you can ask general questions for general support. I only provide support on patterns I wrote.
What does this mean?
(Inc 2) x2
No idea cause I didn’t write it.
What does this mean: 2 part reps to 11.5 cm and 2 patt reps to 12 cm. thanks
I don’t provide support on the patterns of other designers.
Thanks so much for posting this helpful glossary of crocheting terms. I was looking for something like this to spare myself having to buy the Crocheting for Dummies book.
I see you also have a YouTube channel. I’ll be following you there to see how to take these terms and make them into a project.
Thanks again!
This website and specific page is the BOMB!! I am new to crocheting and could not find a good list of terms to use……this is wonderful.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart – Sandra 🙂
Less you helping everyone & answering their questions when they aren’t even about your patterns!! You should be more strict & only give help with your patterns x
I don’t help people with other people’s patterns… I can barely stand to help them with mine anymore…
Wow how rude
What does it mean when it says sl st 2 sc tog from the
[neck foundation ] row … I do know how to sc2tog but can’t find instructions for how to properly sl st 2 sc tog.
Thanks!
Is this one of my patterns? If it is another designer’s pattern please consult the FAQ for suggested places for general help.
To slip stitch 2 sc stitches together all you do is insert hook into both stitches at once (front then into back of next st) and pull up loop through until only 1 loop on hook. Thats all honey!
Hi im kindof new at crocheting and im having trouble i was hoping you could help since i see so much of that goibg on 🙂 this is an edge um working on. Round 1: (Ch 4, dc in fourth ch from hook) 3 Times, 3 dc. I did the first part 3times as it says but the second part i dont get it. Wwhere do i make the 3 dc?
Is this one of my patterns? If not please see the FAQ for places to request general help.
I am attempting to do the “Round We Go “By Gabriela Baldwin. I have become so confused with this pattern. Everything I thought I knew about Crochet has gone out the window. I am very Frustrated. Anybody have any thought s of encouragement? Hints maybe for this pattern!! Tonie Ackkk.
Have you tried contacting the author?
Will you please help me I bought this pattern baby base ball hat on the internet from marcia peterson creations & I don’t understand what the term used working under SC and SS’s
If you paid money for a pattern you should be asking its author for help.
please help i am new at this i have a pattern that says (RS):ch 27 ,dc in 4th ch from hook my question is what is the RS telling me Thank You very much
My best guess would be right side?
I’m working on an infinity scarf. For one of the rounds, it says:
working over next ch-5 space
Generally I understand patterns, but I’ve never seen the term “work over” before. I’m not sure if it means skip that stitch, or work in that stitch. Do you know?
Thanks!
It’s not possible to know exactly what that means without the context but my guess would be to work whatever sequence follows into the CH 5 space.
Hi!
I have the following instruction that I do not understand (am making a hat):
Next 2 rnds: inc 6 sts as before on every rnd to 48 sc.
This is the 7th step. Below are examples of other rounds if it is helpful to see them?
2nd rnd: ch 1. 2sc in each sc around. Join with sl st to first sc.
3rd rnd: ch 1. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 3 sc) 4 times. Join with sl st to first sc. 20 sc
Thank you so much!!!!!!
I don’t really decipher other people’s patterns… have my hands sort of full helping people with my patterns as it is. As I understand it, the instructions are trying to tell you that over the next two rounds you will increase by 6 stitches each round until you have a stitch count of 48. As such you are probably starting with a stitch count of 36 at round 6. It would have been more helpful to see the round previous to 7 since “as before” implies you are continuing a trend. I would assume repeating the sequence of SC x 5 then INC a total of 6 times for round 7 and SC X 6 then INC repeated a total of 6 times for round 8 would sort it out.
Thanks for the info. I’ve really gotten into crochet, but I keep stumbling into abbreviated meanings. And since I’m new the information here has really helped. I’ve included it in my “How to” information. Thanks. This has been a boon of information.
I have a question if thats ok, what does a pattern mean when it says (now crochet only over the outermost 18 sc/tr on right side) I am crocheting a DROPS Design dress. I appreciate any input
You should ask DROPS what they mean. I am guessing they mean the back loop of stitches but don’t really know.
What does HDC mean? Something with double crochet..? (Found it in Deadnau5 Head Amigurumi Pattern)
Half Double Crochet. It starts out like a double crochet (Yarn, put your hook in the stitch you are working in, yarn over and then pull through, yarn over and pull through all loops to finish the stitch.
what does skip next 4 dc mean?
It means ignore (skip) and do not work in the next 4 DC from the previous round or row.
What does YOH mean?
Yarn over hook usually.
hey Emjay,
thank you so much!!
I still have a few questions though, I am regular to start knitting with the magic ring with 6 sts.
But the pattern I want to do now, says this in the beginning:
1) Ch 2, 5sc in second ch from hook (5)
2) 2 sc in each st around (10)
now, it’s the first time I try to use other people’s patterns so I sometimes don’t understand what the instructions mean.
In this case, I want to know if the instructions talk about a different way to start this pattern?
also, what is its technique?
Thanks a lot,
Roni.
You can always substitute a magic ring for a circle of stitches in the second chain from the hook. It’s just a different way of starting, instead of making your first circle of stitches in a magic ring, you are doing them all in a chain stitch, to be precise, the second chain from your hook.
You’re the best thing that ever happened to me!!!
I am glad I found you! I like all this wonderful information. I would like to copy and paste the spread sheet you have for the termoniology and glossary but when I do so it puts it in paragraph form. Could you e-mail it to me? Or is it located some place else on your blog? Thanks,
I did the table up in html so I don’t have it in a spreadsheet or anything like that, but I might be able to paste it onto a word processing document or something. I will see what I can do!
what doesthe beginning parrts (sc 1)
Sc 1, sc2 into next st* around (18)
Sc 2, sc2 into next st* around (24)
Sc 3, sc2 into next st* around (30)
Sc 4, sc2 into next st* around (36)
Sc 5, sc2 into next st* around (42)
mean?
Does it mean the beginning of a new row?
That doesn’t look like one of my patterns so I can’t be sure, but I think it means:
round 1: Single crochet in the first stitch from the previous row, then in the next stitch increase (I think they wrote SC2 instead of increase, because 2 single crochets in “the next st” is an increase, then repeat that sequence all the way around. It looks like they wrote each round/row as a seperate line but didn’t number them,
The next round is SC 2, meaning single crochet in the next st, then single crochet in the next stitch, then increase and repeat around
The next one is SC 3 meaning single crochet (one per stitch) 3 times then do an increase and repeat that sequence around.
It’s a bit confusing of a way to do it in my opinion. The math in the number of stitch tells you though what is happening if ever the instructions themselves confuse you.
You know if you start with 12, then the next row is 18, that you are adding 6 stitches in total (doing 6 INC stitches in that round). Divide 12 by 6 and you get 2, which means of every 2 stitches, one must be an increase.
If you look at say, a round of 36 stitches and the next one of 42, 42 minus 36 is 6, which means you are adding 6 in that row, 36 divided by 6 is 6, which means of every 6 stitches, 1 must be an increase, meaning SC x 5 then INC and repeat that 5 times for a total of 6 increases.
Hope that helps 🙂
Hope that helps/