What are crochet abbreviations?
Crochet abbreviations are the shortened forms of words or phrases that are commonly used in crochet patterns. While some crocheters may be able to read and understand crochet abbreviations without any problem, others may find them confusing.
There are a few common crochet abbreviations that you will see in most patterns, such as ch (chain), sc (single crochet), and dc (double crochet).
However, there are also many other less common abbreviations that you may come across as well.
To help you understand what these mean, below is a list of some of the most common crochet abbreviations and their meanings.
Click to Download the Crochet Stitch Abbreviation List
Crochet abbreviations are key to reading crochet patterns
Becoming familiar with these abbreviations is a great first step in learning to read Crochet patterns and are key to reading crochet patterns.
They may look like a foreign language, but once you learn the basics, they’ll become second nature. Here are some of the most common crochet abbreviations and what they mean:
- Ch – Chain This is how you will start almost every project, and simply means to make a loop.
- sc – Single Crochet This stitch is worked in a continuous motion and creates a tight, dense fabric.
- dc – Double Crochet This stitch is taller than the single crochet and creates a looser fabric.
- hdc – Half Double Crochet This stitch is worked like a double crochet, but worked through two loops at once. It’s somewhere in between a single crochet and a double crochet in terms of height.
These are only a few crochet stitches but most beginner crochet patterns will use mainly these stitches.
How to read crochet abbreviations
In order to read crochet abbreviations, you need to know what they mean.
Each abbreviation stands for a specific stitch or group of stitches. Once you know what the abbreviations mean, you can read most patterns with ease.
There are a few basic crochet stitches: chain (ch), slip stitch (sl st), single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc), double crochet (dc), and treble crochet (tr). These are the most common stitches, and you will see them abbreviated in many patterns.
In addition to these basic stitches, there are also a number of other stitches that have their own abbreviations. These include: clusters (cl), decreases (dec), increases (inc), loops (lp(s)), shells (sh(s)), and yarn overs (yo).
How to use crochet abbreviations in a pattern
Crochet patterns will often use multiple abbreviations in one pattern.
When you first start reading crochet patterns, all of the abbreviations can be really confusing. However, once you learn what each one stands for, it’s actually not that difficult to read a pattern.
There should always be a list of abbreviations at the start of the pattern so that you know what stitches are used to complete your project.
After a while, you’ll get the hang of it and be able to read them like a pro!
