What does all of this mean?!

After you learn stitches reading patterns is definitely the next roadblock in learning to crochet. When you start diving into free patterns especially you’ll notice everyone seems to write patterns differently. It can be confusing and frustrating. So I’m going to help you read through a couple of patterns.

All the examples I’m using are from my own collection of patterns I’ve collected along the way. I’ve picked ones from different designers to show how everyone writes patterns differently. I remember being really confused when I first started out. I’m hoping to save you from some of that. 😀

There are official abbreviations. Keep in mind some patterns do deviate from these. Including mine. Pattern makers should explain their abbreviations at the top of each pattern. So always read over those and follow their abbreviations. If they don’t, assume they are following the official abbreviations.

Yes, there’s a lot of ways to show repeat instructions…

Official Abbreviations for American English Terms
AbbreviationsDescriptions
BL / BLOStitch in back loops
CCContrasting color,
Change color
chchain stitch
dcdouble crochet
decdecrease
FL / FLOStitch in front loops
hdchalf double crochet
incincrease
MCmain color
reprepeat
rndround
scsingle crochet
sl stslip stitch
ststitch
togtogether
trtripe / treble stitch
yoyarn over
{ }, [ ], ( )work instructions in these brackets as many times as instructed

The UK uses different abbreviations and even names for stitches than the US. It’s extremely important that you check what terms your pattern is using as it changes the pattern drastically if you use US stitches for a UK pattern. Throughout these lessons, you’ve seen the different abbreviations and names, but we’ve never really gone through it. Below is a conversion chart for the UK and US.

Just to clarify, they are the same stitch, just named differently.

American English Terms to British English Terms Chart
US termsUK terms
slip stitch (sl st)slip stitch (ss)
single crochet (sc)double crochet (dc)
half double crochet (hdc)half triple/treble crochet (htr)
double crochet (dc)treble crochet (tr)
treble / triple crochet (tr)double treble crochet (dtr)
gaugetension
skipmiss
Let’s look at some patterns

 

ALL OF THESE PATTERN EXAMPLES ARE WRITTEN IN US TERMS

They were pulled from my personal collection of patterns from different designers. Let’s check out what they actually say.

Original PatternPlain English
1: ch2, 6sc in 2nd ch from hook (6)Round 1: This is the chain 2 method of starting in a round. They want you to start a round with 6 single crochet stitches. At the end of the round you should have 6 stitches. (6)
2: 2 sc in each sc (12)Round 2: 2 single crochets in each stitch, also known as an increase in each stitch. You have 6 stitches from the previous row, so 6 increases. At the end of the row, you should have 12 stitches. (12)
3: (sc in next sc, sc 2 in next sc) around (18)Round 3: They want you to repeat the parenthesis: 1 single crochet then 1 increase. Repeat until the end of the round, which by basic math is 6 times. You should have 18 stitches at the end of the round.
4: (sc in each of the next 2 sc, sc 2 in next sc ) around (24)Round 4: Repeat the parenthesis: 2 single crochets then 1 increase. Repeat until the end of the round, which again by basic math is 6 times. You should have 24 stitches at the end.
5: sc in each sc (24)Round 5: single crochet 24 times. At the end of the round you should have 24 stitches.
Original PatternPlain English
Chain 32 + 3 for turning chain.They want you to start out with 35 chain stitches.
Row 1: 1dc in to 4th chain from hook (counts as 1st dc), 1dc in each chain across ———- 33 dc Row1: They want you to create 33 double crochets across the chain. They explain that you start the double crochet in the 4th chain from the hook and that the first 3 chains you skip counts as a double crochet. Everything you’ve learned in our double crochet lesson.
Row 2: Ch 1 (counts as 1st sl st), 1 sl st in back loop of next st, 1 sl st in back loop of each st till end of row———–33 sl st Row 2: Create 1 chain stitch and turn. This chain counts as a slip stitch. Create 32 slip stitches in the back loops until the end of the row. At the end, you should have 33 slip stitches.
Row 3: Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc ), 1 dc in the back loop of the next st, 1dc in the back loop of each st across till the end of the row———–33dc Row 3: Create 3 chain stitches and turn, this counts as a double crochet. Create 32 double crochets in the back loops until the end of the row. At the end, you should have 33 double crochets.
Repeat Rows 2 & 3 till you have a total of 16 rows and you have ended in a sl st Row (Row 2) Now your gloves should measure 7 inches in width. Do not fasten off. This is actually straight forward. You’ll continue repeating rows 2 and 3 until you have 16 rows total. You should end on Row 2 ( the slip stitch row). This is a pattern for gloves, so if you need to add or decrease rows to make them fit your size this pattern allows that so long as you end on a slip stitch row.
Original PatternPlain English
With MC, ch2 With your main color, chain 2.
Round 1: Sc 8 times in the 2nd ch from hook. (8)Round 1: This is the 2nd chain method of starting a round. They want 8 single crochets.
Round 2: [Sc 3 times in next st, sc in next st] 4 times (16)Round 3: Crochet 3 single crochets in the same stitch, then a single crochet in the next stitch. Repeat 4 times. You'll have 16 single crochets stitches at the end.
Round 3: Sc in next st, [Sc 3 times in next st, sc in next 3 sts] 3 times, sc 3 times in next st, sc in next 2 sts. (24) Round 3: 1 single crochet, Repeat the following 3 times: 3 single crochets in the same stitch, then 3 regular single crochet stitches. Next, 3 single crochet stitches in the same stitch. Then, 2 regular single crochets. You should have 24 stitches at the end of the round.
Round 4: Sc in next 2sts, [Sc 3 times in next st, sc in next 5 sts] 3 times, sc 3 times in next st, sc in next 3 sts. (32) Round 4: 2 single crochet. Repeat the following 3 times: 3 single crochets in the same stitch, then 5 regular single crochet stitches. Next, 3 single crochets in the same stitches. Then, 3 regular single crochet stitches. You should have 32 by the end of the round.
Round 5: Sc in next 3 sts, [Sc 3 times in next st, sc in next 7 sts] 3 times, sc 3 times in next st, sc in next 4sts (40) Round 5: 3 single crochets, Repeat the following 3 times: 3 single crochets in the same stitch, then 7 regular single crochet stitches. Next, 3 single crochets in the same stitch. Then 4 regular single crochet stitches. You should have 40 stitches at the end of the round.

This is an example from one of my own patterns! One thing that I do differently is that I use MC for magic circle, not main color.

Original PatternPlain English
1. MC – 6sc (6)
Round 1: For my patterns, MC = Magic Circle. Create a magic circle with 6 single crochets.
2. 6inc (12)Round 2: 6 increases. I don't mention single crochet here, but it's inferred by the previous row as well as the next row. I really should be telling you single crochet though. Regardless, you should have 12 stitches at the end of the row.
3. [1sc, 1inc] x 6 (18)Round 3: Repeat the following 6 times: 1 single crochet, then 1 increase. Again, I don't mention single crochet because it is inferred by the stitches we have been doing so far. You should have 18 stitches.
4. [2sc, 1inc] x 6 (24)Round 4: Repeat the following 6 times: 2 single crochets, then 1 increase. You should have 24 stitches at the end.
5-10. 24scRounds 5 - 10: 24 single crochet for each round.

Homework

Homework

Write out the instructions to this pattern:

Abbreviations:

[American English Terms]
slst – slip stitch
ch – chain stitch
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
hdc – half double crochet
inc – increase (2 single crochet stitches in the same stitch.
dec – decrease (single crochet 2 stitches together)
f/o – fasten off
[ ] – repeat instructions between [ and ]
( ) – the total number of stitches for row
CC – change color
MC – Magic Circle

Navi:
Body:
With light blue yarn:
1. MC – 6
2. 6inc (12)
3. [1sc, 1inc] x 6 (18)
4. [2sc, 1inc] x 6 (24)
5-8. 24sc
9. [2sc, 1dec] x 6 (18)
10. [1sc, 1dec] x 6 (12)
11. 6dec (6)
12. DEC until closed. Sew up any holes.

Quiz

What does round 18 say in the pattern above?

A – Repeat the following 2 times: 6 double crochet, 1 increase. 18 stitches total

B – Repeat the following 6 times: 2 single crochet, 1 decrease. 18 stitches total

C – Repeat the following 6 times: 2 double crochet, 1 decrease. 18 stitches total

D – Repeat the following 6 times: 2 single crochet, 1 increase. 18 stitches total

What is the abbreviation for single crochet in UK terms?

A – sc

B – single

C – dc

D – hdc

B!

You’ve been paying attention! Nice!

C!

This is why it is always important to check which terms the pattern is using! 🙂