Pinned up by the till —
Crochet Abbreviations & Glossary
Every abbreviation, term and stitch used across the pattern shelf — explained once, here. Keep it open in a second tab while you work.
How to use this page: patterns lean on short codes (sc, dc, hdc, mr) so the rounds stay readable at a glance. Look up anything you don't recognise here. Every pattern on Stitch Obsession uses US crochet terms unless it says otherwise; where the UK term differs, it is noted under the definition.
Basic stitches
chain
Yarn over and pull through the loop on your hook. The foundation of nearly every crochet piece.
UK term: ch (same)
slip stitch
Insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook. Used to join rounds and travel across stitches without adding height.
UK term: ss
single crochet
Insert hook, yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook. The shortest, densest stitch in US terminology.
UK term: dc (double crochet)
half double crochet
Yarn over, insert hook, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through all three loops. Between sc and dc in height.
UK term: htr
double crochet
Yarn over, insert hook, pull up loop, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops) twice. A common medium-height stitch.
UK term: tr (treble)
treble crochet
Yarn over twice, insert hook, pull up loop, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops) three times. Tall and airy.
UK term: dtr
Increases & decreases
increase
Two stitches worked into the same stitch. Used to widen a piece or shape rounds.
UK term: inc (same)
decrease
Two stitches combined into one. Most often sc2tog (single-crochet decrease) for amigurumi.
UK term: dec (same)
single-crochet two together
Insert hook in next stitch, pull up loop, insert hook in following stitch, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through all three loops. Standard amigurumi decrease.
UK term: dc2tog
invisible decrease
A neater amigurumi decrease — insert hook through front loops only of next two stitches before completing. Hides the decrease in the fabric.
UK term: invisible dec
Construction terms
magic ring
Adjustable starting loop used for amigurumi. Wrap yarn around fingers, hook through, pull up loop, then crochet stitches into the ring before pulling tail to close.
UK term: magic ring (same)
round
One complete circle of stitches in a piece worked in the round. Most amigurumi is built round-by-round.
UK term: rnd (same)
row
One horizontal pass of stitches in flat (turning) crochet. You turn your work at the end of each row.
UK term: row (same)
back loop only
Insert hook through only the back loop of the stitch — leaves a visible ridge on the front.
UK term: BL
front loop only
Insert hook through only the front loop. Used for textural detail and to attach pieces.
UK term: FL
stitch
Generic word for one completed crochet element. Most patterns reference 'next st', 'each st', 'in same st'.
UK term: st (same)
stitches
Plural of stitch. The number in parentheses at the end of a row — '(24)' — is the stitch count for that row.
UK term: sts (same)
Pattern shorthand
yarn over
Wrap working yarn over the hook. The motion that builds height in dc, tr, and beyond.
UK term: yoh (yarn over hook)
repeat
Repeat the instruction inside brackets the specified number of times. '*sc 3, inc; rep from * 6 times' = work that 6-stitch sequence six times.
UK term: rep (same)
skip
Move past the indicated stitch(es) without working into them — common in lace and shell patterns.
UK term: miss
fasten off
Cut yarn leaving a tail (~10cm), pull through the last loop, and tighten. Marks the end of a piece or color section.
UK term: FO (same)
wrong side
The side of the work that won't show in the finished piece. Most patterns specify when to turn so WS faces you.
UK term: WS (same)
right side
The side of the fabric that will be visible. RS often has the cleaner stitch definition.
UK term: RS (same)
Yarn & hook
double knit weight
A medium-light yarn weight (#3). Common for baby items, lightweight garments, and detailed amigurumi. Typically paired with a 4mm hook.
UK term: DK (same)
worsted weight
A medium yarn weight (#4). The most common weight for amigurumi, blankets, and beginner projects. Typically paired with a 5–5.5mm hook.
UK term: Aran
fingering weight
A fine yarn weight (#1). Used for socks, shawls, and delicate lace.
UK term: 4-ply
gauge
Number of stitches and rows per inch (or per 10cm). Always swatch before starting a fitted item; if your gauge is off, the finished size will be too.
UK term: tension
Want something to practise on?
Every beginner pattern uses exactly these abbreviations, spells out each round, and ends each one with its stitch count — so you can check yourself as you go.