UK and Us Terms

How to read crochet pattern abbreviations

Keep this handy guide of crochet pattern abbrevaitions to hand when you’re crocheting patterns from Simply Crochet, or other UK crochet patterns. If you’re in the States, scroll down for our conversion chart for UK to US crochet terms and abbreviations as a few terms vary overseas. We’ve also included some handy links to tutorials underneath the relevant crochet  abbreviations, and if you need any extra help check out our guide on how to read a crochet pattern.

• across to end of the row

• alt alternate/alternating

• approx approximate(ly)

• beg beginning

• bl insert hook under back loop only
  how to crochet in the front and back loops

• BPtr Back Post treble: yrh, starting from the back, insert hook from back to front to back around post of st in row below, complete as treble st.
  How to crochet post stitches

• ch(s) chain/chain stitch(es)
  How to chain stitch and count your chains

• ch-sp(s) chain space(s)

• ch- refers to ch made previously, eg. ch-3

• cl(s) clusters

• 4-tr cl (yrh, insert hook in sp/st, yrh & pull up loop, yrh & draw through 2 loops) 4 times, inserting hook in same sp/st, yrh & draw through all loops on hook

• cont continue

• dc double crochet
  How to double crochet

• dc2tog (insert hook in next st, yrh and draw a loop through) twice, yrh and draw through all 3 loops on hook
  How to decrease in crochet stitches

• dec decrease
  How to decrease in crochet stitches

• dtr double treble crochet
  how to double treble crochet and beyond

• dtr2tog work 2dtr together

• fl insert hook under front loop only
  how to crochet in the front and back loops

• foll/folls following/follows

• FPtr Front Post treble: work in opposite way to BPtr
  How to crochet post stitches

• htr half treble
  How to make a half treble crochet stitch

• htr2tog work 2htr together

• in next sts to be worked into the same stitch

• inc increase
  How to increase in crochet stitches

• LH left hand

• lp(s) loop(s)

• meas measures

• p or pc picot

• patt(s) pattern(s)

• pm place marker

• prev previous

• rem remain(s)/remaining

• rep repeat

• RH right hand

• rnd(s) round(s)
  How to crochet in the round

• RS right side

• sk skip

• sp(s) space(s)

• ss slip stitch
  How to make a slip stitch

• st(s) stitch(es)

• tbl through back loop

• t-ch(s) turning chain(s)

• tog together
  How to decrease in crochet stitches

• tr treble crochet
  How to treble crochet

• tr2tog (yrh, insert hook in next st, yrh and pull up loop, yrh and draw through 2 loops) twice, yrh and draw through all loops on hook
  How to decrease in crochet stitches

• ttr triple treble crochet
  How to double treble crochet and beyond

• WS wrong side

• yoh yarn over hook

• yrh yarn round hook

• * work instructions immediately foll *, then rep as directed

• [] or () work or repeat all instructions in the brackets as directed