In crochet patterns, sc means single crochet, dc means double crochet and sl st means slip stitch. Search the Craft Yarn Council list of 66 abbreviations above, then convert a stitch between US and UK terms. A US single crochet is called a double crochet in UK patterns, so check which system your pattern uses before the first chain.
How do you use the abbreviations tool?
Type an abbreviation or a word into the search box, for example sc, popcorn or together. The list filters as you type. It matches both the abbreviation and its meaning, so a search works from either side, whether you hold a code you cannot read or a stitch name you want the code for.
To convert a stitch, choose US or UK, pick the stitch and read the matching name in the other system. The tool uses the Craft Yarn Council US to UK chart, and each answer shows both the full name and the abbreviation.
How do you read a crochet pattern’s abbreviations?
Patterns write each stitch as a short code, because a code is a quick way to repeat a long instruction many times down a page. A code such as sc2tog means single crochet 2 stitches together, and ch-sp means chain space, so one short line of codes can hold several steps that would fill a whole paragraph if you wrote them out in words.
Some codes share a letter, so read the whole code. FP is front post and BP is back post, which makes FPdc a front post double crochet. FL or FLO means front loop only, and BL or BLO means back loop only.
Which crochet abbreviations come up most?
These sixteen are all on the council list.
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ch | chain stitch |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| sc | single crochet |
| hdc | half double crochet |
| dc | double crochet |
| tr | treble crochet |
| sk | skip |
| st | stitch |
| sp | space |
| rep | repeat |
| rnd | round |
| tog | together |
| inc | increase |
| dec | decrease |
| RS | right side |
| WS | wrong side |
What are the US and UK crochet stitch names?
The same stitch carries a different name in US and UK patterns, and the council chart pairs the US and Canadian names with the UK names like this.
| US or Canadian term | UK term |
|---|---|
| slip stitch (sl st) | slip stitch (ss) |
| single crochet (sc) | double crochet (dc) |
| half double crochet (hdc) | half treble (htr) |
| double crochet (dc) | treble (tr) |
| treble (tr) | double treble (dtr) |
| double treble (dtr) | triple treble (trtr) |
The council also pairs gauge with tension, and yarn over (yo) with yarn over hook (yoh). The US word comes first.
What mistakes should you avoid with US and UK terms?
The worst one is double crochet. The names shift by one step along the ladder of stitch heights, because US single crochet is UK double crochet and US double crochet is UK treble. A UK dc worked in a US pattern is a shorter stitch than the pattern asks for, so the piece will not match the pattern’s size.
- Assuming your pattern uses your terms. Look for a note near the top. The abbreviations htr and ss point to UK stitch names, and the words tension and yoh point to UK or Canadian wording.
- Reading an abbreviation without its stitch family. FPdc and dc are different stitches.
- Skipping the key. Where a pattern lists its own abbreviations, that list wins for that pattern, so read that list before you work the first row.
For the first stitch most crocheters learn, see how to single crochet. To keep your place in the rows, use the row counter. To match a hook to your yarn, open the hook size chart.
Questions makers ask
What does tog mean in a crochet pattern?
Tog means together. It follows a stitch name in codes such as sc2tog, single crochet 2 stitches together, and tr2tog, treble crochet 2 stitches together. Read the whole code, because the letters before tog name the stitch.
What is a UK half treble?
A UK half treble, shortened to htr, is the stitch a US pattern calls a half double crochet (hdc) on the Craft Yarn Council chart. If a pattern uses htr, it is written in UK terms, so read its other stitch names the same way.
What does sl st stand for in crochet?
Sl st stands for slip stitch. The stitch keeps its name in UK patterns, but the abbreviation changes from sl st to ss on the Craft Yarn Council chart. Check which abbreviation your pattern uses before you start.
Do US and UK patterns also use different words for gauge?
Yes. The council pairs the US word gauge with tension in UK and Canadian patterns, and yarn over (yo) with yarn over hook (yoh). A pattern that says tension is asking for the same measurement as gauge, so work a swatch before you start.
