Learning to read a crochet pattern seems tricky! In this article, I explain how to read crochet patterns.
Frustrated Teacher Quits In Disgust, Sells The Farm, Moves The Family Halfway Across The World And… Starts Crocheting
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!
Pin For Later
Instructions say FHPDC. What is FHPDC? Easy to do and understand is BPHDC.
Marilyn
Hi Marilyn
I would assume it is the Front Post Half Double Crochet. Could it possibly be a typo in the instructions? FPHDC rather than FHPDC. Cheers Jodie