Learning crochet often feels like learning a new language, because you do! Crochet patterns use crochet abbreviations. If you don’t understand the abbreviations, then you will never be able to follow a pattern.
That is why our helpful list of Crochet Abbreviations is essential to print out and use as a reference! It will save you lot of time from needing to search what each abbreviation means on the internet or in a book.
The list is in alphabetical order and as you will see, some of the shortcuts are combinations of two different abbreviations. For instance, ‘dcbp‘ is a combo of dc – Double Crochet and bp – Back Post.
Why Are There So Many Abbreviations in Crochet?
Abbreviations make it quicker and easier to write out crochet patterns. Some names for stitches and techniques can be a little wordy so if you can use a shorthand term instead, it saves a lot of time.
For instance, the term ‘Back Post Half Double Crochet‘ would get a little annoying if you had to write it over and over again, right? Instead, you can write ‘bphdc‘ and all crocheters know exactly what you are talking about. This also saves a lot of space when printing out a crochet pattern.
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List of common crochet abbreviations
Most patterns will have a listing of the stitches and techniques used, usually found at the top of the pattern.
Some crochet designers also seem to have their own terms so make sure and read through the entire pattern as well as any notes before you begin to crochet. This can save you a lot of headaches later on.
This list refers to abbreviations commonly used in the USA. The UK terms are somewhat different.
| beg – | Beginning |
| bet – | Between |
| bl – | Back Loop |
| blo – | Back Loop Only |
| bo – | Bobble |
| bp – | Back Post |
| bpdc – | Back Post Double Crochet |
| bphdc – | Back Post Half Double Crochet |
| bpsc – | Back Post Single Crochet |
| bptr – | Back Post Triple (Treble) Crochet |
| cc – | Contrasting Color |
| ch – | Chain |
| cl – | Cluster |
| dc – | Double Crochet |
| dc2tog – | Double Crochet Two Together |
| dcbp – | Double Crochet Back Post |
| dcfp – | Double Crochet Front Post |
| dec – | Decrease |
| dnt – | Do Not Turn |
| dtr – | Double Triple (Treble) Crochet |
| fdc – | Foundation Double Crochet |
| fhdc – | Foundation Half Double Crochet |
| fl – | Front Loop |
| flo – | Front Loop Only |
| FO – | Finish Off |
| fp – | Front Post |
| fpdc – | Front Post Double Crochet |
| fphdc – | Front Post Half Double Crochet |
| fpsc – | Front Post Single Crochet |
| fptr – | Front Post Triple (Treble) Crochet |
| hdc – | Half Double Crochet |
| hdc2tog – | Half Double Crochet Two Together |
| htc – | Half Triple (Treble) Crochet |
| inc – | Increase |
| lp – | Loop |
| mc – | Main Color |
| mr – | Magic Ring |
| pm – | Place Marker |
| ps – | Puff Stitch |
| rem – | Remaining |
| rep – | Repeat |
| rnd – | Round |
| rs – | Right Side |
| sc – | Single Crochet |
| sc2tog – | Single Crochet Two Together |
| sc3tog – | Single Crochet Three Together |
| sk – | Skip |
| sl st – | Slip Stitch |
| sp – | Space |
| st – | Stitch |
| sts – | Stitches |
| tch – | Turning Chain |
| tog – | Together |
| tr – | Triple (Treble) Crochet |
| trtr – | Triple Triple (Treble Treble) |
| ws – | Wrong Side |
| yo – | Yarn Over |
| * – | Repeat from asterisk (*) |
Want to download this list to keep for later?
Visit our free library of printables and download the crochet abbreviations list.
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