How To Read Crochet Patterns – Learn The Abbreviations & Tips

Learning to read a crochet pattern seems tricky! In this article, I explain how to read crochet patterns.

I reviewed and updated this post on July 12, 2022.

Table Of Contents

• Beginner How To Read Crochet Patterns
• How To Read Visual Crochet Patterns
• How To Read Written Crochet Patterns

How To Read Crochet Patterns For Beginners

The most challenging step when reading crochet patterns is memorizing the abbreviations. You may have seen these before.

• ch (chain)
• dc (double crochet)
• sl st (slip stitch)
• sc (single crochet).

You don’t have to memorize things straight off. Print the abbreviations and keep it by your side. Why don’t they write out the stitch instead of an abbreviation? Using shortened terms for crochet stitches saves time and space. It makes the pattern easier to read.

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How To Read Crochet Patterns Sizes

In a crochet pattern, there’s a section with essential information. Here’s how to understand it.

Hook Size

Let’s say it said 5.5mm. You need a 5.5mm crochet hook.

Yarn

If the word beside ‘yarn’ said ‘medium,’ you need medium or worsted weight yarn to achieve the same size finished project as the pattern. The pattern also tells you how much yarn to buy.

Gauge

To get the correct gauge, crochet a swatch. Measure the result to see if it’s the same as the gauge in the pattern. Everyone has a different tension. Go up or down a hook size whether you get more stitches or less.

How To Read Written Crochet Patterns

The first step to understanding written crochet patterns is learning the crochet abbreviations. The abbreviations are the crochet stitches and terms used in the pattern. In your pattern, there may be ‘special stitches’ or ‘other stitches.’ These are crochet stitching techniques to make a specific motif. You wouldn’t find them in a book of common crochet abbreviations.

How To Read Symbol Crochet Patterns

Here’s a tutorial on how to read and understand crochet symbols.

The slanted lines on the double crochet and treble crochet symbols mean how many yarn overs before inserting your hook into the stitch.

• Double crochet – 1 yarn over = one slanted line on the symbol.
• Treble crochet – 2 yarn overs = two slanted lines on the symbol.

Common Crochet Abbreviations

Symbol	US Terms	UK TERMS
	single crochet sc	chain ch
	slip stitch sl st / ss	slip stitch sl st / ss
	single crochet sc	double crochet dc
	half double crochet hdc	half treble crochet htr
	double crochet dc	treble crochet tr
	triple crochet tr	double treble crochet dtr
	back post double bpdc	raised treble back rtrb
	front post double fpdc	raised treble front rtrf
	single 2 together sc2tog	double 2 together dc2tog
	double 2 together dc2tog	treble 2 together tr2tog

Back Post/Front Post Crochet Abbreviations

US Terms	UK Terms
back post BP	back post BP
front post FP	front post FP
back post single crochet BPsc	back post double crochet BPdc
front post single crochet FPsc	front post single crochet FPdc
back post half double crochet BPhdc	back post half treble crochet BPhtc
front post double crochet FPhdc	front post half treble crochet FPhtc
back post double crochet BPdc	back post treble crochet BPtr
front post double crochet FPdc	front post treble crochet FPtr
back post triple crochet BPtr	back post double treble crochet BPdtr
front post triple crochet FPtr	front post double treble crochet FPdtr

Other Crochet Abbreviations

US Terms	UK Terms
double triple (treble) crochet (dtr)	triple treble crochet trtr
extended single crochet esc	extended single crochet esc
extended half double crochet ehdc	extended half treble crochet ehtc
extended double crochet edc	extended treble crochet etc
stitch st	stitch st
popcorn stitch pc	popcorn stitch pc
alternate alt	alternate alt
following foll	following foll
together tog	together tog
skip sk	miss
place marker pm	place marker pm
chain space ch-sp	chain space ch-sp
repeat rep	repeat rep
round rnd	round rnd
wrong side WS	wrong side WS
right side RS	right side RS
yarn over yo	yarn over yo
space sp/s	space sp/s
previous prev	previous prev
remaining rem	remaining rem
cluster CL	cluster CL
loop lp	loop lp
decrease dec	decrease dec
pattern patt/pat	pattern patt/pat
increase inc	increase inc
beginning beg	beginning beg
main color MC	main color MC
bobble bo	bobble bo
marker m	marker m
turning chain t-ch / tch	turning chain t-ch / tch
puff stitch puff / ps	puff stitch puff / ps
contrasting color CC	contrasting color CC
continue cont	continue cont
back loop only BLO	back loop only BLO
back loop BL	back loop BL

How To Read Bead Crochet Patterns

Before learning bead crochet patterns, I’ll explain how it works. In basic patterns, you string the bead up close to your hook. Keep it in place by crocheting a stitch. (A single crochet or a slip stitch). In advanced patterns, there is less crochet involved.

In a basic crochet bead pattern, the layout looks like this.

• Circumference: How many beads are in the circle. (Bead ‘ropes’ are worked in circles.)
• Repeat of colors: How many colored beads are in each circle.
• Rows per repeat: How many rows per repeat (the beads in the circle).
• Total Rows: Say the number was 70. Seventy means there are 70 rows of 8 beads stacked on top of each other.

Every circle is a row. As you make rows, the colors stack.

• Total Beads: There’s 70 beads per each color in this example. 560 in total because 70 (number of rows) x 8 (number of colors) = 560.
• List of beads: There would be 8 boxes; 8 beads. There’s a number next to each box. Meaning how many beads you put on in a row or circle.

If the number next to the boxes is 1, string 1 bead of each color per row. There’s also a graph of colored boxes, telling you where the colors go.

Want to try bead crochet? Here are video tutorials.

Crochet Bead Rope by Naztazia: a great video for beginners!

Beaded Crochet Bracelet by Fusion Beads: easier after trying simple ropes, and so beautiful!

How To Read Crochet Patterns Amigurumi

Common abbreviations for amigurumi patterns:

US Term	UK Term
single crochet sc	double crochet dc
half double crochet hdc	half treble crochet htr
double crochet dc	treble tr
chain ch	chain ch
slip stitch sl st	single crochet sc
skip sk	skip sk
magic ring MR	magic ring MR
back loop only BLO	back loop only BLO
front loop only FLO	front loop only FLO
round rnd	round rnd
rounds rnds	rounds rnds
decrease dec	decrease dec
increase inc	increase inc
single crochet two together sc2tog	single crochet two together sc2tog
single crochet 2 in next stitch sc 2 in next st	double crochet 2 in next stitch dc 2 in next st
fasten off/bind off FO/BO	fasten off/bind off FO/BO
repeat rep	repeat rep
beginning beg	beginning beg

A series of crochet stitches in asterisks means you repeat the series. The pattern tells you how many times to repeat it.

Example: sc 4, sc2tog, sc1 rep from beg 2 times for 3 times. Single crochet four, single crochet two together, single crochet one, repeat from the beginning two times for three times.

Note: The amigurumi pattern you’re using might have ‘special stitches.’ They are stitches not appear in the above list.

How To Read Lace Crochet Patterns

Lace crochet patterns are written with the same crochet abbreviations as listed under ‘How To Read Written Crochet Patterns.’

How To Read Round Crochet Patterns

Round crochet patterns are worked in rounds (‘rnds’). When you start a round, you begin with a slip knot, and chain, say, 8. The pattern tells you to join with a slip stitch. Here’s an example pattern round.

Abbreviated Pattern

• Rnd 1
• Make a slip knot
• Ch 8
• Join with a sl st to first ch.
• Rnd 2
• Ch 3
• 12 dc into the circle
• Join with a sl stitch to the top of the ch3

Written Out Pattern

• Round 1
• Make a slip knot
• Chain eight
• Join with a slip stitch to the first chain
• Round 2
• Chain three
• Twelve double crochets into the circle
• Join with a slip stitch to the top of the chain 3.

How To Read Crochet Doll Patterns

See the amigurumi section in this article to see the abbreviations you need to learn to crochet a doll.

How To Read Crochet Motif Patterns

Reading crochet motif patterns is the same as reading written patterns. See the explanation above to read information about written patterns and common crochet abbreviations.

How To Read Crochet Repeat Patterns

In a crochet pattern, you may notice stitches in asterisks or brackets. After the brackets or asterisks, it says ‘rep from * around.’ The pattern wants you to repeat whatever’s in the brackets around the entire piece until you get back to the start.

Now you know everything there is about reading crochet patterns. Get yarn and a hook and start a new crochet project with a pattern!

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