Free chart
Crochet abbreviations: US and UK terms
Every common crochet abbreviation in one searchable chart, with the UK name beside the US one and a short note on how to work each stitch. Watch for the orange notes: the same letters mean a different stitch in UK patterns.
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The full chart
Grouped from the basic stitches to amigurumi, techniques, pattern words and measures.
| US | UK | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Basic stitches | ||
ch | ch | chain stitch |
sl st | ss | slip stitchIn UK patterns, ss means: slip stitch (UK) |
slst | slst | slip stitch |
sc | dc | single crochetinsert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both loopsIn UK patterns, dc means: double crochet (UK). The same stitch as US single crochet (sc). |
hdc | htr | half double crochetyarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all 3 loopsIn UK patterns, htr means: half treble crochet (UK). The same stitch as US half double crochet (hdc). |
dc | tr | double crochetyarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through 2 loops twiceIn UK patterns, tr means: treble crochet (UK). The same stitch as US double crochet (dc). |
tr | dtr | treble crochet (also called triple crochet)In UK patterns, dtr means: double treble (UK). The same stitch as US treble (tr). |
dtr | trtr | double treble crochetIn UK patterns, trtr means: triple treble (UK). The same stitch as US double treble (dtr). |
trtr | quadtr | triple treble crochet |
st | st | stitch |
sts | sts | stitches |
| Amigurumi | ||
mr | mr | magic ring (also called magic circle) |
inc | inc | increasemake 2 stitches in the same stitch |
dec | dec | decreasework 2 stitches together to lose one stitch |
invdec | invdec | invisible decreaseinsert into the front loops of the next 2 stitches, then finish a single crochet |
sc2tog | dc2tog | single crochet 2 stitches together (a decrease)In UK patterns, dc2tog means: double crochet 2 together (UK). The same as US sc2tog. |
sc3tog | sc3tog | single crochet 3 stitches together |
hdc2tog | htr2tog | half double crochet 2 stitches together (a decrease)In UK patterns, htr2tog means: half treble 2 together (UK). The same as US hdc2tog. |
dc2tog | tr2tog | double crochet 2 stitches together (a decrease)In UK patterns, tr2tog means: treble 2 together (UK). The same as US dc2tog. |
blo | blo | back loop only |
flo | flo | front loop only |
bl | bl | back loop |
fl | fl | front loop |
rnd | rnd | round |
rnds | rnds | rounds |
pm | pm | place marker |
sm | sm | slip marker |
fo | fo | fasten off |
| Techniques | ||
yo | yrh | yarn overwrap the yarn over the hook from back to frontIn UK patterns, yrh means: yarn round hook (UK). The same as US yarn over (yo). |
yoh | yoh | yarn over hook |
sk | miss | skipIn UK patterns, miss means: miss (UK). The same as US skip. |
sp | sp | space |
sps | sps | spaces |
ch-sp | ch-sp | chain space |
lp | lp | loop |
lps | lps | loops |
tch | tch | turning chain |
t-ch | t-ch | turning chain |
tbl | tbl | through back loop |
tog | tog | together |
fp | fp | front post |
bp | bp | back post |
fpsc | fpsc | front post single crochet |
fpdc | fpdc | front post double crochet |
fptr | fptr | front post treble crochet |
bpsc | bpsc | back post single crochet |
bpdc | bpdc | back post double crochet |
bptr | bptr | back post treble crochet |
cl | cl | cluster |
bo | bo | bobble |
pc | pc | popcorn stitch |
p | p | picot |
| Pattern words | ||
alt | alt | alternate |
approx | approx | approximately |
beg | beg | begin, beginning |
bet | bet | between |
cont | cont | continue |
foll | foll | follow, following |
pat | pat | pattern |
patt | patt | pattern |
prev | prev | previous |
rem | rem | remain, remaining |
rep | rep | repeat |
rs | rs | right side |
ws | ws | wrong side |
ca | ca | colour A |
cb | cb | colour B |
cc | cc | contrasting colour |
mc | mc | main colour |
gauge | tension | tension (UK). The same as US gauge.In UK patterns, tension means: tension (UK). The same as US gauge. |
| Measures | ||
cm | cm | centimetre |
mm | mm | millimetre |
m | m | metre |
g | g | gram |
oz | oz | ounce |
yd | yd | yard |
yds | yds | yards |
How to read a pattern's abbreviations
- Check whether the pattern uses US or UK terms: it usually says at the top. A pattern that ever says sc is in US terms; UK patterns have no sc.
- Look up each abbreviation the first time you meet it, then keep this chart open while you work.
- Read brackets and asterisks as repeats: (sc, inc) x 6 means work what is in the brackets 6 times.
US vs UK crochet terms
US and UK patterns use the same stitches with names one step apart. A US single crochet (sc) is a UK double crochet (dc), and a US double crochet (dc) is a UK treble (tr). Follow a UK pattern with US stitches and everything comes out taller and looser.
The quick check: if a pattern ever says sc, it is in US terms. Amigurumi is mostly single crochet, so that one pair of letters matters most.
Want to read whole patterns with confidence? How to read a crochet pattern walks through rounds, stitch counts and repeats, line by line.
Questions crocheters ask
What does sc mean in crochet?
Single crochet, the basic stitch of amigurumi: insert the hook, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook. In UK patterns the same stitch is called double crochet (dc).
What is the difference between US and UK crochet terms?
The stitches are the same but named one step apart: US sc is UK dc, US hdc is UK htr, and US dc is UK tr. Check which terms a pattern uses before you start.
What do inc and dec mean?
inc is an increase: 2 stitches in the same stitch. dec is a decrease: 2 stitches worked together into 1. Amigurumi shapes are made almost entirely of sc, inc and dec.
What does BLO mean?
Back loop only: work into just the back loop of each stitch instead of both loops. It leaves a ridge, and it is used where a shape turns a corner, like the bottom of a foot or a cup.
Learn to crochet, stitch by stitch
Yon video lessons film every stitch up close, round by round, for right and left hand. Every tool on this page is also in the Yon Crochet app, with your projects and a row counter that counts out loud.