Following is a list of crochet abbreviations used in patterns by yarn industry designers and publishers. In addition, designers and publishers may use special abbreviations in a pattern, which you might not find on this list. Generally, a definition of special abbreviations is given at the beginning of a book or pattern. These definitions reflect U.S. crochet terminology.
Also on this page:
Terms & Common Measurements
Tunisian Abbreviations
Abbreviation & Term Differences between the U.S., United Kingdom (U.K.) and Canada.
| Abbreviation |
Description |
| alt |
alternate |
| approx |
approximately |
| beg |
begin/beginning |
| bet |
between |
| BL or BLO |
back loop or back loop only |
| bo |
bobble |
| BP |
back post |
| BPdc |
back post double crochet |
| BPdtr |
back post double treble crochet |
| BPhdc |
back post half double crochet |
| BPsc |
back post single crochet |
| BPtr |
back post treble crochet |
| CC |
contrasting color |
| ch |
chain stitch |
| ch- |
refer to chain or space previously made, e.g., ch-1 space |
| ch-sp |
chain space |
| CL |
cluster |
| cont |
continue |
| dc |
double crochet |
| dc2tog |
double crochet 2 stitches together |
| dec |
decrease |
| dtr |
double treble crochet |
| edc |
extended double crochet |
| ehdc |
extended half double crochet |
| esc |
extended single crochet |
| etr |
extended treble crochet |
| FL or FLO |
front loop or front loop only |
| foll |
following |
| FP |
front post |
| FPdc |
front post double crochet |
| FPdtr |
front post double treble crochet |
| FPhdc |
front post half double crochet |
| FPsc |
front post single crochet |
| Abbreviation |
Description |
| FPtr |
front post treble crochet |
| hdc |
half double crochet |
| hdc2tog |
half double crochet 2 stitches together |
| inc |
increase |
| lp |
loop |
| m |
marker |
| MC |
main color |
| pat or patt |
pattern |
| pc |
popcorn stitch |
| pm |
place marker |
| prev |
previous |
| ps or puff |
puff stitch |
| rem |
remaining |
| rep |
repeat |
| rnd |
round |
| RS |
right side |
| sc |
single crochet |
| sc2tog |
single crochet 2 stitches together |
| sh |
shell |
| sk |
skip |
| sl st |
slip stitch |
| sm or sl m |
slip marker |
| sp |
space |
| st |
stitch |
| tbl |
through back loop |
| tch or t-ch |
turning chain |
| tog |
together |
| tr |
treble crochet |
| tr2tog |
treble crochet 2 stitches together |
| trtr |
triple treble crochet |
| WS |
wrong side |
| yo |
yarn over |
| yoh |
yarn over hook |
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Terms & Common Measurements
| Term |
Description |
| * |
repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed |
| * * |
repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed or repeat at specified locations |
| { } |
work instructions within brackets as many times as directed |
| [ ] |
work instructions within brackets as many times as directed |
| ( ) |
work instructions within parentheses as many times as directed or work a group of stitches all in the same stitch or space |
| Measurement |
Description |
| ” or in |
inch |
| cm |
centimeter |
| g |
gram |
| m |
meter |
| mm |
millimeter |
| oz |
ounce |
| yd |
yard |
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Tunisian Abbreviations
Tunisian crochet is also commonly known as Afghan Crochet. It has also been called by a variety of other names including Shepherd's Knitting, Railroad Knitting and Cro-hooking.
| Abbreviation |
Description |
| etss |
extended Tunisian simple stitch |
| FwP |
forward pass |
| RetP |
return pass |
| tdc |
Tunisian double crochet |
| tfs |
Tunisian full stitch |
| thdc |
Tunisian half double crochet |
| tks |
Tunisian knit stitch |
| tps |
Tunisian purl stitch |
| trs |
Tunisian reverse stitch |
| tsc |
Tunisian single crochet |
| tss |
Tunisian simple stitch |
| tslst |
Tunisian slip stitch |
| ttr |
Tunisian treble crochet |
| ttw |
Tunisian twisted |
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Abbreviation & Term Differences between the U.S., United Kingdom (U.K.) and Canada.
| U.S./Canada |
U.K. |
| 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) |
| U.S. |
U.K./Canada |
| gauge |
tension |
| yarn over (yo) |
yarn over hook (yoh) |
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