Common Crochet Abbreviations

To help us in the process of reading patterns I thought I would add the key to understanding them!! Here is a list of common crochet abbreviations and the ones we would typically use in our patterns.

Common Crochet Abbreviations

beg- Beginning

bl- Back Loop

bp- Back Post

bpdc- Back Post Double Crochet

bpsc- Back post Single Crochet

bptc- Back Post Treble Crochet

CA-Color A

CB- Color B

CC- Contrasting Color

ch-Chain

ch-sp- Chain Space

dc- Double Crochet

dec- Decrease

fl- front Loop

fp- Front Post

fpdc-Front Post Double Crochet

fpsc- Front Post Single Crochet

fptc- Front Post Treble Crochet

hdc- Half Double Crochet

inc- Increase

lp(s)- Loops

pm- Place Marker

rs- Right Side

sc-Single Crochet

sc2tog- Single Crochet two Together

sk- Skip

sl st- Slip Stitch

sp(s)- Spaces

st(s)- Stitches

tbl- Trough Back Loop

tc- Triple Crochet

tfl- Through Front Loop

tog- together

tr- Treble Crochet

ws- Wrong Side

yo- Yarn Over

( )- Do the instructions within the parenthesis as much as the pattern suggests.

* *- Do the instructions within the asterisks as much as the pattern suggests.

[ ]- Do the instructions within the brackets as much as the pattern suggests.

Crochet 101 Lesson 5: Double Crochet Stitch

Crochet 101

Lesson 5: The Double Crochet Stitch (dc)


This stitch is abbreviated dc. It is a taller stitch that is used for many flowers, hats, shoes, etc.

To start you will have a chain or a different stitch to crochet in. If it is a chain, you crochet in the 3rd stitch from the hook.

Step 1: Yarn over (YO).

Step 2: Insert hook into the first stitch. 

Step 3: YO again, and pull through the stitch. This should leave three loops on your hook.

Step 4: YO, pull through 2 loops ONLY. This leaves two loops on your hook.

Step 5: YO, pull through the remaining two loops.

Done! Now you have done a dc!

Crochet 101 Lesson 4: Half-Double Crochet Stitch

Crochet 101

Lesson 4: Half-Double Crochet Stitch (hdc)


I use this stitch a lot. It is taller than a single crochet, but shorter than a double crochet. It is used in a lot of patterns and the abbreviation is hdc. So... Here we go!

 Make a chain. My picture is after a few rows, but it is all the same. With a chain you will start in the 2nd chain from the hook. 

 Step 1: YO (yarn over).

Step 2: Put through the next stitch (from above it looks like a V).

Step 3: YO, pull through the stitch. This will leave three loops on your hook.

Step 4: YO, pull through all three loops.

Crochet 101 Lesson 3: Single Crochet Stitch Tutorial

The Single Crochet stitch is a commonly used stitch. It is abbreviated (sc).

To begin I created a chain to start and give you a better view of what it would look like. If you need a tutorial on how to create a chain, refer to this earlier tutorial simple chain stitch tutorial.

 Here is the top view of my chain:

 Stick needle through the first stitch (it kind of looks like a "V").

 Yarn over (YO), or wrap the yarn around the needle, and pull through.

 This will give you 2 loops on your needle. YO again, and pull through the two loops.

That is a single crochet. Hope this helps you better understand it!

Crochet 101 Lesson 1: The Slip Knot

Crochet 101 Lesson 1: The Slip Knot

Slip Knot
*This is the knot used to start MOST crochet projects. Once this is done you can begin to chain.
*These pictures show it this way for pictures purposes. Once you get better you can hold the yarn differently to make it faster and easier for yourself. Now here we go!

Step 1: Make a loop with the tail going over the top.

 Step 2: Wrap the tail under and up through the loop.

 Step 3: Wrap tail under and up through the "mini loop" you made  in Step 2.

 Step 4: Place hook in the larger loop. Pull yarn connected to the ball tight and this will tighten your knot around your hook.

 So... It will look like THIS! Now you are ready to crochet!