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 |
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/
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!
You’re the best thing that ever happened to me!!!
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.