Crochet Terms Glossary: 30 Words Every Beginner Should Know

Crochet has its own vocabulary, and it can feel like a wall of jargon the first time you read a pattern. This glossary covers the 30 terms you will run into most often as a beginner, organized so you can scan it quickly or bookmark it for later.

Tools and Materials

• Hook - the tool used to pull loops of yarn through each other to form stitches, sized in millimetres
• Yarn weight - how thick a yarn is, ranging from lace weight (very thin) to super bulky (very thick); most beginner projects use worsted (medium, #4) weight
• Tapestry needle - a blunt, large-eyed needle used to sew pieces together and weave in loose ends
• Stitch marker - a small clip or loop used to mark the start of a round or a specific stitch
• Safety eyes - plastic eyes with a locking backing, used almost exclusively in amigurumi
• Stuffing - polyester fiberfill used to fill amigurumi pieces

Basic Stitches

• Slip knot - the adjustable loop that starts almost every crochet project
• Chain (ch) - the most basic stitch, forming a simple linked row used to start most projects
• Slip stitch (sl st) - a low, flat stitch, usually used to join rounds or move across a row without adding height
• Single crochet (sc) - a short, dense stitch, the most common stitch in amigurumi
• Half double crochet (hdc) - a medium-height stitch, taller than single crochet
• Double crochet (dc) - a taller stitch, used for looser, drapier fabric

Shaping and Counting

• Increase (inc) - working two stitches into the same spot, adding width
• Decrease (dec) - combining two stitches into one, reducing width
• Magic ring (MR) - an adjustable loop used to start most amigurumi pieces without leaving a hole in the centre
• Round (rnd) - one full loop worked around a piece, common in amigurumi worked in a continuous spiral
• Row - a single pass worked back and forth, common in flat crochet like blankets and scarves
• Gauge - how many stitches and rows fit into a set measurement, used to check if your tension matches a pattern
• Tension - how tightly or loosely you naturally pull your yarn while working

Reading a Pattern

• Stitch count in parentheses, e.g. (12) - tells you the total number of stitches you should have after finishing that row or round
• Repeat (rep) - do the marked sequence again a set number of times
• Asterisk (*) - marks the start of a repeated sequence in a pattern
• Skip (sk) - move past a stitch without working into it
• Fasten off - cut the yarn and pull it through the final loop to secure your stitches
• Weave in ends - hide loose yarn tails inside the fabric using a tapestry needle so they do not unravel or show

Amigurumi-Specific Terms

• Amigurumi - the craft of crocheting small, stuffed characters, usually worked in the round
• Invisible decrease - a decrease technique that leaves a smoother, less visible bump than a standard decrease
• Spiral - working continuous rounds without joining, which naturally curves flat fabric into a rounded 3D shape
• Assembly - the stage after stitching where separate pieces are stuffed and sewn together into a finished character
• Blocking - shaping and flattening a finished piece, more common in flat crochet than amigurumi

Bookmark This for Your Next Pattern

You do not need to memorize this list before you start. Most beginners pick up these terms naturally within their first project or two, especially when following along with a video lesson where each term is demonstrated as it comes up.

Browse Yon Crochet video lessons to see these terms in action, stitch by stitch, instead of just reading definitions.