HookedCrochet abbreviations exist to keep patterns short — but for a beginner mid-row, “sk 2 sts, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st” reads like an error message. This page is the cheat sheet: every common abbreviation, what it means, and how to handle the ones that mean different things depending on where the pattern was written.
The core stitch abbreviations (US terms)
| Abbr. | Meaning | What you actually do |
|---|---|---|
| ch | chain | Yarn over, pull through the loop on your hook |
| sl st | slip stitch | Insert hook, yarn over, pull through everything |
| sc | single crochet | Insert, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 |
| hdc | half double crochet | Yarn over first, then pull through all 3 loops at the end |
| dc | double crochet | Yarn over, insert, pull up a loop, then pull through 2, twice |
| tr | treble crochet | Yarn over twice; pull through 2 loops three times |
Movement and shaping abbreviations
| Abbr. | Meaning |
|---|---|
| st / sts | stitch / stitches |
| sk | skip the named stitch(es) |
| inc | increase — 2 stitches worked into one stitch |
| dec / sc2tog | decrease — 2 stitches crocheted together into one |
| blo / flo | work in the back loop only / front loop only |
| rep | repeat |
| rnd / R | round / row |
| MR / MC | magic ring (common in amigurumi) |
| FO | fasten off (also “finished object” in community slang) |
| yo | yarn over |
The trap: the same letters mean different stitches in the UK
Here's what catches almost everyone at least once: “dc” in a UK pattern is a US single crochet, and a US double crochet is a UK treble. If your fabric looks nothing like the pattern photo, the terminology is the first thing to check. Full conversion chart in our US vs UK crochet terms guide.
How to actually use abbreviations while stitching
- Don't memorize — reference. Keep a glossary within arm's reach and look terms up per row.
- Translate one row at a time into full words before stitching it (our pattern-reading guide shows how).
- Verify with stitch counts at the end of each row so misread abbreviations get caught early.
Quick answers
What does sc mean in crochet?
In US terms, sc is single crochet: insert your hook, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both loops. Note that UK patterns call this same stitch a double crochet (dc).
What does dc mean in crochet?
In US patterns, dc is double crochet (yarn over before inserting the hook, pull through two loops twice). In UK patterns, dc means what Americans call single crochet — always check which system your pattern uses.
What is the difference between inc and dec?
Inc (increase) means working 2 stitches into the same stitch to add width. Dec (decrease, often written sc2tog) merges two stitches into one to remove width.