Understanding Crochet Abbreviations
Learning to crochet – Abbreviations
I saw a great post on Instagram the other day recommending to read through your crochet pattern before you begin your project. Its really good advice, but if it feels like you are reading a different language, reading through may still not help.
Many patterns designers take the time to explain all the abbreviations used throughout their pattern, but some may assume that as a maker you already know the basic. We all know what happens when people make assumptions, but hey!
It may feel quite overwhelming when you first look at your new pattern, but remember –
Patterns are just instructions telling you how and where to work your stitches to create your project.
I’m sure you’ve manage to build some flat pack at some point, and that was just from pictures!
Take your time to read through the pattern before you start and check for any special stitches. You can even practice any new or special stitches before you get stuck in.
The table below gives the most common stitches and their abbreviations along with the corresponding American stitch/abbreviation as a reference.
You can find out even more about the difference between American and UK stitch abbreviations here
I’ll be adding videos in the near future to support you learning how to complete these stitches and other stitches.
Take care to check which terms are being used in your pattern – UK/USA. If your pattern states Sc (single crochet) the pattern is written in US terms.
However, if the pattern states dc (double crochet) and you are unsure if its UK or US terms, look for the number of chains required turning chain as a US double crochet usually needs a turning chain of 3 compared to a UK double crochet which only needs 1.
It’s important to remember that most patterns use the basic stitches listed above, just in different orders. Sometimes you will be asked to work in just one side of your stitch or around the stitch you created in your previous row.
You will see many more abbreviations throughout the crochet patterns you follow. If your abbreviation isn’t listed, let me know and I can update this list 😊
