Learn the language of yarn
The Crochet Glossary
A little clarity for every abbreviation. We use American crochet terms; check the UK column when following a British pattern.
| Term / abbreviation | US | UK equivalent | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain | ch | ch | A starting or spacing stitch made by drawing yarn through the active loop. |
| Single crochet | sc | dc (double crochet) | Insert the hook, yarn over and pull up a loop; yarn over and draw through both loops. |
| Half double crochet | hdc | htr (half treble) | Yarn over, insert the hook and pull up a loop; yarn over and draw through all three loops. |
| Double crochet | dc | tr (treble) | Yarn over, insert the hook and pull up a loop; draw yarn through two loops, then through two again. |
| Treble crochet | tr | dtr (double treble) | Yarn over twice before inserting the hook; pull up a loop, then draw through two loops three times. |
| Slip stitch | sl st | ss or sl st | Insert the hook, catch yarn, and draw it through the stitch and active loop in one movement. |
| Yarn over | yo | yoh or yo | Bring the working yarn over the hook so its groove can catch and draw the strand. |
| Stitch | st | st | One completed unit of crochet. An active loop on the hook is not a completed stitch. |
| Gauge | gauge | tension | The number of stitches and rows over a specified measurement in a stated stitch pattern. |
| Turning chain | t-ch | t-ch | Chains made at a row's edge before working back. Whether they count as a stitch depends on the pattern. |
| Working yarn | working yarn | working yarn | The strand leading from your work to the ball, used to make new stitches. |
| Tail | tail | tail | A free yarn end left at the start, finish, or a join, usually woven into the fabric. |
| Increase | inc | inc | Add stitches, often by working more than one stitch into the same place. |
| Decrease | dec | dec | Reduce the stitch count, often by joining the next two stitches into one. |
| Round | rnd | rnd | A circuit of stitches around a center or tube. Follow the pattern's joining instructions. |
| Back loop only | BLO | BLO | Work into only the top loop farther from you as you view the stitch in working position. |
| Fasten off | fasten off | fasten off | Cut the yarn with a useful tail and secure the final loop before weaving in the end. |
| Blocking | blocking | blocking | Shape finished fabric using a method suited to the fiber and its care instructions. |
Always check which terminology a pattern uses. US double crochet and UK double crochet are different stitches.