Crochet symbols and abbreviations
Almost every crochet stitch is represented by a crochet symbol. And in written descriptions of patterns most of the time abbreviations are used to be able to crochet and read the pattern quickly. Below you will find an overview of the most commonly used symbols and abbreviations.
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| Abbreviation US | Description | Symbol | UK terminology |
| alt | alternate | ||
| approx | approximately | ||
| beg | begin/beginning | ||
| bet | between | ||
| BL or BLO | back loop or back loop only (combine with the original symbol at the bottom) |  | |
| bo | bobble | ||
| 3-hdc cluster/puff st/bobble |  | ||
| BP | back post (combine with the original symbol at the bottom) |  | |
| 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-sp | chain space | ||
| CL | cluster | ||
| CL-dc3tog | Cluster of dc3tog |  | |
| cont | continue | ||
| dc | double crochet |  | = treble (tr) |
| dc2tog | double crochet 2 stitches together |  | |
| Dc3tog | double crochet 3 stitches together |  | |
| dec | decrease | ||
| dtr | double treble crochet |  | = triple treble (trtr) |
| e… | extended (combine with the original symbol at the bottom) |  | |
| 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 (combine with the original symbol at the bottom) |  | |
| foll | following | ||
| FP | front post (combine with the original symbol at the bottom) |  | |
| FPdc | front post double crochet |  | |
| FPdtr | front post double treble crochet | ||
| FPhdc | front post half double crochet | ||
| FPsc | front post single crochet | ||
| FPtr | front post treble crochet | ||
| hdc | half double crochet |  | = half treble (htr) |
| hdc2tog | half double crochet 2 stitches together | ||
| inc | increase | ||
| lp | loop | ||
| m | marker | ||
| MC | main color(sometimes used for *Magic Circle) | ||
| *ML | Magic Loop | ||
| pat or patt | pattern | ||
| pc | popcorn stitch | ||
| Popcorn of 5 dc |  | ||
| Picot (ch3 picot) |  | ||
| pm | place marker | ||
| prev | previous | ||
| ps or puff | puff stitch (also see bobble) | ||
| rem | remaining | ||
| rep | repeat | ||
| rnd | round | ||
| RS | right side | ||
| sc | single crochet |  | = double crochet (dc) |
 | |||
| sc2tog | single crochet 2 stitches together |  | |
| Sc3tog | single crochet 3 stitches together |  | |
| sh | shell | ||
| Shell of 5 dc |  | ||
| sk | skip | ||
| sl st | slip stitch |  | slip stitch (ss) |
| 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 |  | double treble (dtr) |
| tr2tog | treble crochet 2 stitches together | ||
| trtr | triple treble crochet | ||
| WS | wrong side | ||
| yo | yarn over | yarn over hook (yoh) | |
| yoh | yarn over hook | ||
| *yu | yarn under | yarn under hook (yuh) | |
| *yuh | yarn under hook |