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What do the abbreviations mean?

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This is the biggest argument against patterns, for some crocheters cannot read patterns. The abbreviations and their meanings can be learned with practice. The most difficult aspect of crochet terminology is that much of its meanings are best demonstrated rather than described.

Some meanings have more than one possible abbreviation, so repeat meanings appear in the glossary below. Also, some patterns may have a special abbreviation that is particularly used for that pattern, which will be defined. The abbreviation might be upper or lower case. Explanations of some of the meanings are in square brackets.

*Note: Stitch meanings vary between North America and Europe/Australia.

A
alt - alternate
approx - approximately

B
beg - begin(ning)
bet - between
bl - back loop
blo - back loop only
bk lp - back loop
bo - bobble [a stitch variant]
bp - back post [a stitch variant]
bpfl - back post
bpdc - back post double crochet [a variation of the double crochet stitch]
bpsc - back post single crochet [a variation of the single crochet stitch]
bptr - back post triple (or treble) crochet [a variation of the triple/treble crochet stitch]

C
CA - color A [usually your primary color]
CB - color B [usually a secondary color]
CC - contrast color OR color C [another secondary color, usually not used much]
ch(s) = chain(s)
ch- - a previously made or worked chain
ch-sp - chain space
cl(s) - cluster(s) [a stitch variant]
cm - centimeter
cont - continue

D
dbl tr - double treble crochet
dc - double crochet
dc2tog - double crochet 2 stitches together [a variation of the double crochet stitch]
dec - decrease/decreases/decreasing
dtr - double triple/treble crochet

E
ea - each
est - established

F
fl - front loop
flo - front loop only
foll - follow/follows/following
folls - follows
fp - front post [a stitch variant]
fpdc - front post double crochet [a variation of the double crochet stitch]
fpsc - front post single crochet [a variation of the single crochet stitch]
fptr - front post triple/treble crochet [a variation of the treble crochet stitch]

G
g - gram(s)
gm - grams
gr - group
grp(s) - group(s)

H
hdc - half double crochet [a stitch]
hk - hook

I
inc - increase/increases/increasing
in(s) - inch(es)

L
lp(s) - loop(s)
lp st - loop stitch [stitch variant]

M
m - meter(s)
mc - main color [the color you are using the most of]
mm - millimeters

O
oz - ounce(s)

P
p - picot [a shape in the fabric, caused by a certain type of stitch set]
pat(s) - pattern(s)
patt - pattern(s)
pc - popcorn [a stitch variant]
pm - place marker [a marker is a plastic ring, clip, or a piece of contrasting yarn used to keep track of where you are in making the fabric]
prev - previous

Q
quad tr - quadruple treble
quin tr - quintuple treble

R
rem - remain(ing)
rep(s) - repeat(s)
rev sc - reverse single crochet [work the single crochet stitch backwards; mainly used as edging]
reverse sc - reverse single crochet [work the single crochet stitch backwards; mainly used as edging]
rnd(s) - round(s)
rs - right side [the side that will be the front; opposite of wrong side]

S
sc - single crochet [a stitch]
sc2tog - single crochet 2 stitches together [a variation of the single crochet stitch]
sk - skip
sl - slip
sl st - slip stitch [a stitch]
slst - slip stitch [a stitch]
sp(s) - space(s)
st(s) - stitch(es)
st-ch - starting chain
stch - starting chain

T
t-ch - turning chain
tbl - through back loop
tch - turning chain
tog - together
tr - treble (or triple) crochet [a stitch, mostly used in lace]
tr tr - triple treble crochet [a stitch, mostly used in lace]
trtr - triple treble crochet [a stitch, mostly used in lace]
trtrc - triple treble crochet [a stitch, mostly used in lace]
ttr - triple treble crochet [a stitch, mostly used in lace]

W
ws - wrong side [the side that will be the back; opposite of right side]

X
X-st - cross-stitch [sometimes used for decoration]

Y
yd(s) - yard(s)
yo - yarn over [wrap yarn around hook]
yoh - yarn over hook [unless the pattern states otherwise, assume a yarn over]

Next Page: How do North American and European abbreviations differ?

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