Crochet abbreviations:
How to read my patterns
All abbreviations at a glance – with chart symbols, UK terms and the German equivalents – and a step-by-step explanation of how my patterns are structured.
All abbreviations
These are the abbreviations used in my patterns (US terms). The symbol shows how the stitch appears in a crochet chart. The German column helps if you ever want to follow a German pattern.
Stitches
| Abbreviation | Meaning | Symbol | UK term | German |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ch | Chain | ○ | ch | Lm |
| fch | Foundation chain | ○○○ | foundation chain | LMK |
| sl st | Slip stitch | • | ss / sl st | Km |
| sc | Single crochet | × | dc | fM |
| hdc | Half double crochet | T | htr | hStb |
| dc | Double crochet | † | tr | Stb |
| tr | Treble crochet | ‡ | dtr | dStb |
| MR | Magic ring | ⊙ | MR | MR |
Increases, decreases & where to insert
| Abbreviation | Meaning | Symbol | UK term | German |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| inc | Increase: 2 sc in the same stitch | ײ | inc | Zun |
| dec (sc2tog) | Decrease: work 2 stitches together (invisible decrease for amigurumi) | ∧ | dec / dc2tog | Abn |
| BLO | Back loop only | — | BLO | hMg |
| FLO | Front loop only | — | FLO | vMg |
| FPdc | Front post double crochet | ƒ | FPtr | vRStb |
| BPdc | Back post double crochet | ʃ | BPtr | hRStb |
General abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning | German |
|---|---|---|
| st(s) | Stitch(es) | M |
| R / Rnd / Row | Row or round – depending on whether the piece is worked in rows or rounds | R |
| turning ch | Turning chain(s) at the start of a row | Wende-Lm |
I explain how to work each stitch in detail in the Crochet Basics.
The most important notation
Besides the abbreviations, a few symbols and patterns come up in every pattern. Once you know them, you can read any line.
Number before the stitch
The number tells you how many stitches to work in a row: “6 sc” means 6 single crochets, each into the next stitch. If it says “in MR”, you work all 6 into the magic ring.
Square brackets with a number: repeat
Work everything inside the brackets as many times as the number says. “[sc, inc] x 6” means: 1 single crochet, then 1 increase – and all of that 6 times.
Square brackets after “in the … st”: all in the same stitch
If the brackets have no number but follow an insertion point, you work their entire content into one stitch. “[1 hdc, 3 dc, 1 hdc] in the following st” creates a little petal. I use this notation, for example, in the flowers & leaves pattern.
Asterisks: repeat a section
The part between the asterisks (or set in italics) is repeated – how often is stated right after it, for example “repeat 4 more times”.
Round brackets at the end: stitch count
The number in round brackets at the end of a line tells you how many stitches you should have in total after that row or round. Count quickly – that way you'll spot mistakes right away.
Ranges of rows or rounds
“Rnd 6–11” means the instruction applies to rounds 6 through 11, so you work it 6 times in a row.
Several sizes
If a pattern comes in several sizes, the numbers are separated by slashes – always in the same order, for example small / medium / large. Tip: highlight the numbers for your size before you start.
“in the 2nd ch from the hook”
Count the chains backwards from the hook: the loop on the hook doesn't count, you skip the first chain next to it and insert into the second.
One line step by step
This is what a typical line from my crochet bear pattern looks like:
Which round?
This is round 3. At the end of round 2 you had 12 stitches.
What to crochet?
1 single crochet in the next stitch, then 2 single crochets together in the following stitch (increase).
How often?
Repeat this sequence 6 times – that uses exactly the 12 stitches of the previous round.
Check
Each repeat creates 3 new stitches, so 6 × 3 = 18 stitches. If your count matches, move on to round 4.
How my patterns are structured
All patterns on PrettyCrochet follow the same structure, so you'll find your way around every new pattern right away.
Overview
At the top you'll find the difficulty level, time needed, size and hook size – so you can see at a glance whether the project suits you.
Materials & abbreviations
A list of everything you need, plus the abbreviations used in that specific pattern.
The pattern in parts
Larger projects are divided into pieces, such as head, body and arms. Each piece starts with a heading and shows on the right how many of it you need.
Note boxes
The light boxes with a colored line at the side contain important in-between steps – for example when to stuff or insert the safety eyes. Read them before you continue.
Assembly & tips
At the end I explain how the pieces come together and share tips to make your project a success.
Don't mix up US and UK terms
Crochet patterns in English use two systems – with the same words for different stitches. The most common mix-up is “double crochet”:
| US term | UK term | German |
|---|---|---|
| single crochet (sc) | double crochet (dc) | Feste Masche (fM) |
| half double crochet (hdc) | half treble (htr) | Halbes Stäbchen (hStb) |
| double crochet (dc) | treble (tr) | Stäbchen (Stb) |
| treble (tr) | double treble (dtr) | Doppelstäbchen (dStb) |
My English patterns use US terms. For other patterns, look for the abbreviation “sc”: if it appears, the pattern is written in US terms – because the UK system has no “sc”.
My tips for reading patterns
Read it all once
Read the whole pattern once before you start – that way you know what to expect and no step will surprise you.
Use stitch markers
Mark the start of every round. Especially with spiral rounds, it's easy to lose track otherwise.
Tick off instead of remembering
Print the pattern or note down the rounds and tick off each one you've finished – especially for ranges like “Rnd 6–11”.