Crochet
Terms and Abbreviations
For further useful information on abbreviations, yarn weights, needle and hook and
sizing, download a pdf at www.yarnstandards.com
A
afghan
afghan hook
afghan hook
afghan st
alt
approx
assembly
attach
a blanket or throw made from yarn
a long metal crochet hook with no thumb grip usually used
for Tunisian or afghan stitch crochet
a nylon hook with a short shank area and a long nylon cord
afghan stitch: a special crochet technique in which all rows
are worked on a long hook from the right side of the fabric;
the stitches form a grid which is often embellished with
cross-stitch; also called Tunisian stitch
alternate – alt rows – every other row
approximately
sewing or crocheting finished pieces together
to secure
B
back
the part of the work or stitch that is furthest from you as you work;
part of garment that covers the back of the body
back lp (back loop) the part of a stitch furthest from you as you work, regardless of
right or wrong side
back stitch
to take a short stitch in the opposite direction of the sewing
back post dc
back post double crochet; a double crochet worked around the
post of the stitch below from the back of the work
ball
bedspread weight
bleeding
blk
blocking
bobbins
bobble
border
bodc
a unit of yarn or thread
size 10 cotton thread mainly used to knit and crochet bedspread
or other home décor
dye released during washing
in filet crochet, usually a group of 3 double crochet stitches
to shape and size knit pieces usually using steam or water
plastic tools to hold yarns for working with several colors at once
across a row
a textured stitch made by working several stitches into one stitch,
working several rows on just these stitches before decreasing
back to one stitch on the same row
rows or rounds worked onto a finished piece
back post double crochet
C
CA, CB, CC, etc
color A, color B, color C, etc.
CC
contrasting color
cable
stitches crossed in a specific way
cable needle
a short, curved needle used to hold stitches that will be crossed
carry
to hold yarn not in use against the wrong side of work until needed
chart
a grid of squares depicting a pattern stitch or color design
chevron
a zig zag design or pattern
ch sp
circumference
chain space; the hole created by a number of chains worked
between other stitches
the measurement around the outside of a piece
cm
cone
cont
crab stitch
centimeter(s)
a unit of yarn or thread on a funnel shaped form
continue
another name for reverse single crochet
D
dc
double crochet
cl
dc2tog
dec
diagram
diameter
divide
doily
dp
dropped st
dtr
dye lot
cluster: a group of stitches worked together to form one
stitch
work 2 double crochet together; a decrease
decrease
illustration depicting action to be taken
measurement across a circle from one edge to the other edge
to form an opening by working over sections separately
lace mat most commonly made in crochet thread
double-pointed needle(s); a needle with point at each end of shaft
a stitch that is dropped from the needle without first knitting or
purling it
double triple crochet
the number assigned to a particular dye solution
E
ea
ease
each
inches added to body measurements for comfort and drape
garment
edging
rows or rounds worked on a finished piece; a separate piece of
knitted lace made and sewn onto a knit or purchased piece
embellish
to decorate; to add something extra
end with right side row
complete a right-side row before proceeding
end with wrong side row complete a wrong-side row before proceeding
evenly
work to the same measurements; with the same number of
stitches
eyelet
a deliberate hole in fabric formed by working a yarn over
F
fasten off
filet
finishing
fingering
foundation chain
foundation row
fpdc
fringe
front
front post dc
to end the work
a crochet technique of regular open and solid blocks of stitches
final instructions to complete the project
a length of chain stitches used as a base for the first row of
crochet stitches
the first row worked that is not repeated in the pattern
front post double crochet
one or more lengths of yarn knotted onto a finished piece
the part of the work or stitch that is closest to you as you work;
part of the garment that covers the front of the body
front post double crochet; a double crochet worked around the
post of the stitch below from the front of the work
front lp
G
g or gm
gauge
gr
H
hank
hdc
hk
front loop; the part of a stitch closest to you as you work,
regardless of right or wrong side
gram(s)
the number of stitches per inch horizontally and the number of
rows per inch vertically
group
unit of yarn or thread in a loosely twisted circle; requires rolling
into ball
half double crochet
hook (not commonly used)
I
inc
in(s)
insertion
intarsia
Irish crochet
J
jacquard
join
increase
inch(es)
lace edging with straight edges to sew between fabric edges
design of color blocks, worked with several colors of yarn across
each row
intricate crochet often with flower and leaf motifs incorporated onto
a mesh crochet fabric
intricate color design; usually small patterns
to add a new strand of yarn; to attach pieces together; to pull
rounds together
K
keeping continuity to maintain the pattern while shaping
key
a list of symbols with accompanying descriptive text for a color or
stitch or action for each square of a chart
L
lace
fabric composed of open and solid areas of stitches
leg
the long section of a double crochet or taller stitch that has
been worked as part of a cluster
lp(s)
loop(s)
M
m
M1
mark
marker
materials
MB
MC
meter(s)
make 1 stitch; to increase by making a stitch by picking up the
strand between stitches and working into the back of it
to place a marker in the stitch or fabric
any small, easily applied and removed items suitable for the task
of marking such as a short length of contrasting yarn, safety pin,
purchased split stitch marker, etc
specified items required for a project
make bobble as specified in pattern
main color
mercerized
mesh
mm
motif
multiple
cotton thread or yarn treated to pre-shrink and smooth fiber;
usually slightly shiny
open work fabric made of chain and single crochet stitches
millimeter(s)
square or round piece usually sewing or joined to other pieces;
part of an overall design
the number of stitches required to complete one pattern design
N
O
overcast
oz
P
pat or patt
pc
picot
pill
ply
pompadour
popcorn
post
puff stitch
to sew together over the edges of the pieces
ounce(s)
pattern
make popcorn as instructed
a small loop of chain stitches (normally found in crochet)
balled surface fiber
a strand twisted together with others to form yarn or thread
yarn wrapped with a shiny fiber
a texture stitch made by working several stitches into one stitch
and decreasing back to one stitch on the same row; usually
smaller than bobble
the long part of the stitch below the 2 top loops
a raised texture stitch usually formed by several half double
crochet stitches worked together into a stitch or space
Q
R
raised
rep
rem
rev sc
rib
rip out
ripple
RS
ring
ruffle
right side
round, rnd
texture; above the main surface
repeat
remain(ing)
reverse single crochet; a decorative single crochet edging worked
from left to right
ribbing; used a necklines, cuffs and lower edges of sweaters
to remove stitches by unraveling them
a wave or zig zag pattern
right side
a circle formed of chains, usually joined with a slip stitch
extra fullness
the side of the work which will show when the article is completed
stitches worked in a circle
S
sc
sc2tog
shaft
shank
sk
skein
sl
sl st
single crochet
work 2 single crochet together
the straight area of the knitting needle
the straight area of the hook
skip
unit of yarn or thread that allows yarn to be drawn from the center
slip
slip stitch
slip knot
sp
sport
steel hook
stitch marker
st(s)
strand
swatch
a knot that forms a loop and is easily undone
space(s)
size 3 light weight yarn
a small diameter metal hook for crocheting with thread
an implement used mark placement on a piece (see marker)
stitch(es)
fibers twisted into yarn or thread
a sample piece of crocheting; often used to take gauge
T
tapestry needle
tassel
tension
throw
thru
tie off
tog
tr
trtr
turn
turning chain
twisted cord
a thin seaming needle with large eye and blunt tip.
several lengths of yarn or thread tied together as a decoration
see gauge (term used in UK for gauge)
small knit or crochet blanket
through (not commonly used)
to end or fasten off the work
together
triple crochet
triple triple crochet or triple treble crochet
to change position of fabric by 180 degrees to begin a new row
a number of chains worked to begin the next row at the proper
height
several long lengths of yarn tightly twisted together to form a
decorative cord
U
V
variegated
multicolored
W
weave in ends
weight
whipstitch
work even
work over
worsted
wrong side
WS
to run the cut ends invisibly into the wrong side of the fabric using
a yarn needle
thickness of yarn
to sew over the edges of pieces
to work in the established pattern over the same number of stitches
to make stitch(es) in the usual manner while covering or enclosing
another stitch, yarn strand, chain, etc
size 4 medium weight yarn
the side of the work that will be hidden when the article is completed
wrong side
X
Y
yarn needle
yd(s)
yo
yoh
Z
Symbols
thick needle with large eye and blunt tip
yard(s)
yarn over
yarn over hook
"
inches
* (asterisk)
Repeat the instructions that follow the * the number of times
specified, plus the first time; example *K1, P1; repeat from * 3
times. K1, P1 is worked a total of 4 times.
† (dagger)
used in same way as an asterisk.
[ ] (brackets)
Repeat what is within the [ ] the number of times specified;
example – [K1, P1] 4 times. Work a total of 4 times.
( ) (parentheses)
has several uses –
● used similar to brackets to groups sts; example – (K1, P1, K1)
all in the same stitch. This means to take one stitch and increase
to 3 stitches.
● to list sizes – 36 (38, 40, 42)
● to indicate numbers of stitches or inches for a corresponding
size example – 20 (25, 30) sts or 17 (18, 19)”