Learning to read a crochet pattern might seem tricky at first, but once you know, reading a pattern will be a piece of cake!
The most challenging step to learn when reading crochet patterns is memorizing the abbreviations. You may have seen some of these before: ch (chain), dc (double crochet), sl st (slip stitch), and sc (single crochet).
You don’t have to memorize things like ch, dc, and sc straight off the bat. It could help if you print out all the abbreviations you need on a piece of paper and keep it by your side.
In this article, I’ll explain how to read various types of crochet patterns, such as amigurumi patterns.
Table Of Contents
- Beginner How To Read Crochet Patterns
- How To Read Crochet Patterns Sizes
- How To Read Visual Crochet Patterns
- How To Read Written Crochet Patterns
- How To Read Bead Crochet Patterns
- How To Read Crochet Patterns Amigurumi
- How To Read Lace Crochet Patterns
- How To Read Round Crochet Patterns
- How To Read Tunisian Crochet Patterns
- How To Read Crochet Doll Patterns
- How To Read Crochet Motif Patterns
- How To Read Crochet Repeat Patterns
How To Read Crochet Patterns For Beginners
Why don’t they write out the stitch instead of writing it as an abbreviation?
Using shortened terms for crochet stitches and terms save writing time, and most importantly, space. It also makes the pattern less difficult to read.
How To Read Crochet Patterns Sizes
At the top of a crochet pattern, there will be a section about hook sizes. It may look something like this:
Hook size: ( a number here or a letter depending on which nationality the author of the pattern is) – Let’s say the number said 5.5mm.
The 5.5mm written there means to work the pattern correctly; you will need to use a 5.5mm crochet hook.
Yarn: (a yarn weight) – if the word written beside the ‘yarn’ said ‘medium,’ you would need to use a medium or worsted weight yarn to achieve the same size finished project as the pattern.
The pattern will also tell you how much yarn you’ll need to complete the project.
Gauge: (example) 10 stitches per 2 inches – those numbers mean you need ten stitches per every 2 inches. The gauge will be different with everyone because everyone has a different tension on their yarn.
To help you get the correct gauge, crochet a little swatch of the said ten stitches and measure the result to see if it’s the same as the gauge in the pattern. If it’s different, you’ll need to go up or down a hook size depending whether you get more stitches or less.
How To Read Symbol Crochet Patterns
- Cross or lower case t without the flick at the bottom – single crochet.
- Capital/Uppercase T – half double crochet.
- Capital/Uppercase T with one slanted line also resembles an F – double crochet.
- Capital/Uppercase T with two slanted lines – treble crochet.
- Three half double crochets pointing to 1 chain at the bottom – 3 individually worked stitches crocheted into the one stitch.
- Three half double crochets with 1 line across the top, pointing to one chain at the bottom – 3 partially worked stitches crochet into one stitch; a cluster.
- Closed dot – slip stitch.
- Open oval – chain.
Fun fact: The slanted lines on the double crochet and the treble crochet symbols mean how many yarn overs you do before you insert 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.
Here’s a video tutorial on how to read and understand crochet symbols by Marly Bird.
How To Read Written Crochet Patterns
The first step to understanding written crochet patterns is learning the crochet abbreviations. The abbreviations will mainly be the most common crochet stitches and some terms used in the pattern.
However, in your pattern, there will probably be a list of ‘special stitches’ or ‘other stitches.’ These are crochet stitching techniques that are needed to make a specific motif in that pattern. You wouldn’t usually find them in a book of common crochet abbreviations.
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
| Symbol | 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
| Symbol | 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 / yarn over hook yo / yoh | yarn over / yarn over hook yo / yoh | |
| 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 you start learning bead crochet patterns, I’ll first explain how it works.
In more basic patterns, you string the bead up close to your hook, then keep it in place by crocheting a stitch. ( A single crochet or a slip stitch).
In advanced patterns, there is less crochet involved; the patterns focuses more on the beads than the crochet.
In a basic crochet bead pattern, the layout will look like this.
Circumference: (a number here) – The circumference means how many beads are in the circle. (Bead ‘ropes’ are worked in circles) Let’s say there’s an eight next to the circumference. That would mean there are eight beads in the circle.
Repeat of colors: (a number here) – The repeat of colors means how many different colored beads are in the circle; the circumference number.
Rows per repeat: (a number here) – The number means how many rows there are per repeat (the number of beads in the circle). If the number is 1, that means there is 1 row per 8 beads.
The total number of rows: (a number here) – Say the number was 70. Seventy mean there are 70 rows of 8 beads stacked on top of each other. Every circle that you make is a row. As you keep making rows, the colors will stack on top of each other.
The total number of beads: (a number here) – there would be 70 beads per each color in this example. There would be 560 in total because 70 (number of rows) x 8 (number of colors) = 560.
List of beads: (a number of colored beads represented as boxes) – In this case, there would be 8 boxes; 8 beads. There will be a number next to each box. The number means how many beads you put on in a row or circle. If the number next to the boxes were 1, you would string 1 bead of each color per row.
There will also typically be a graph full of little colored boxes, telling you which color goes where.
Want to try out bead crochet? Here are a couple of 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:
| Symbol | 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 have to repeat that series. The pattern will tell you how many times to repeat it.
Example: sc 4, sc2tog, sc1 rep from beg 2 times for a total of 3 times – single crochet four, single crochet two together, single crochet one, repeat from the beginning two times for a total of three times.
Note: The amigurumi pattern that you’re using might have a section about ‘special stitches.’ They are stitches that don’t appear in the above list of abbreviations.
How To Read Lace Crochet Patterns
Lace crochet patterns will be written with the same crochet abbreviations as listed under ‘How To Read Written Crochet Patterns.’
See above to read the list.
How To Read Round Crochet Patterns
Round crochet patterns are patterns that are worked in rounds or ‘rnds’ for short.
Usually, when you start a round, you begin with a slip knot, and then you chain, say, 8. Then the pattern will tell you to join with a slip stitch.
Here’s an example pattern round to help you out:
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.
Full formed words 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 Tunisian Crochet Patterns
Tunisian crochet abbreviations:
| Symbol | US & UK Terms | UK Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Tunisian simple stitch tss | Tunisian simple stitch tss | |
| Tunisian full stitch tfs | Tunisian full stitch tfs | |
| Tunisian single crochet tsc | Tunisian Double Crochet tdc | |
| Tunisian half double crochet thdc | Tunisian Half Treble Crochet thtc | |
| Tunisian double crochet tdc | Tunisian treble crochet ttr | |
| forward pass FwP | forward pass FwP | |
| return pass RetP | return pass RetP | |
| extended simple stitch etss | extended simple stitch etss | |
| Tunisian knit stitch tks | Tunisian knit stitch tks | |
| Tunisian purl stitch tps | Tunisian purl stitch tps | |
| Tunisian slip stitch tslst | Tunisian slip stitch tslst | |
| Tunisian twisted ttw | Tunisian twisted ttw | |
| Tunisian reverse stitch trs | Tunisian reverse stitch trs |
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.
Making the hair: How to attach hair to crochet dolls by Stella’s Yarn Universe.
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.
A pattern, including motifs, might use charts. See above to read about crochet charts.
How To Read Crochet Repeat Patterns
In a crochet pattern, you may notice a series of stitches are in asterisks or brackets. After the brackets or asterisks, the pattern usually says ‘rep from * around.’
That means to repeat from the beginning around. In that instance, the pattern wants you to repeat whatever’s in the brackets around the entire piece until you get back to the start.
Here’s an example to help you visualize a repeating pattern. I’ll use the example from before.
Abbreviation example pattern:
Rnd 1. Make a slip knot. Ch10. Join with a sl st to first ch.
Rnd 2. Ch1. 13 sc into ring. Join with a sl st to ch1.
Rnd 3. Repeating rnd. Ch1. *sc 2, hdc1, rep from * around, join with a sl st to ch1.
Note: Another way of writing repeating crochet patterns is like this: (sc2, hdc1) 5 times. That means you single crochet 2, half double crochet 1, and then do that again another 5 times, for a total of 6 times.
Non-abbreviated example pattern:
Round 1. Make a slip knot — chain ten. Join with a slip stitch to the first chain.
Round 2. Chain one. Thirteen single crochets into the ring. Join with a slip stitch to the chain one.
Round 3. Repeating round. Chain one. * two single crochets, one half double crochet, repeat from * around, join with a slip stitch to the chain one.
Now you know everything there is to know about reading crochet patterns. Do you know what that means? Time to get some yarn and a hook and start a new crochet project with a pattern! Go you!
Something I forgot? Or have a question? Leave a comment at the end.
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