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Crochet abbreviations: US terms and UK equivalents
The most common US crochet abbreviations are ch (chain), sl st (slip stitch), sc (single crochet), hdc (half double crochet), dc (double crochet) and tr (treble crochet). UK patterns use the same words for different stitches: US sc = UK dc, US hdc = UK htr, US dc = UK tr.
| US | Meaning | UK |
|---|---|---|
| ch | chain | ch |
| sl st | slip stitch | ss or sl st |
| sc | single crochet | dc (double crochet) |
| hdc | half double crochet | htr (half treble) |
| dc | double crochet | tr (treble) |
| tr | treble (triple) crochet | dtr (double treble) |
| inc | increase: 2 stitches in the same stitch | inc |
| dec / sc2tog | decrease: 2 stitches worked together | dec / dc2tog |
| BLO / FLO | back loop only / front loop only | BLO / FLO |
| yo | yarn over | yrh (yarn round hook) |
| sk | skip | miss |
| sp | space | sp |
| rnd | round | rnd |
| st(s) | stitch(es) | st(s) |
| rep | repeat | rep |
| RS / WS | right side / wrong side | RS / WS |
| FO | fasten off | fasten off |
Questions
How can I tell if a pattern uses US or UK terms?
Look for single crochet: only US patterns use it. A UK pattern starts with double crochet where a US pattern would use single crochet. Many patterns also say which terms they use at the top.
What does a number in parentheses mean at the end of a round?
It is the stitch count you should have after that round, for example (18 sts). Count your stitches to check.
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