Glossary · US, UK, Hungarian
Crochet symbols and abbreviations
A crochet symbol is the drawing of a stitch on a crochet chart; an abbreviation is the name of that stitch in a written pattern. This chart lists 24 common stitches and loop placements with the standard Craft Yarn Council (CYC) symbol, the US and UK name and abbreviation, the Hungarian equivalent, and one sentence on how to work each.
Symbols, terms and abbreviations
The symbols are drawn by the same code the Dragonette pattern designer uses for its charts. “Written out” means there is no settled abbreviation for that stitch, so patterns spell out the full name.
Basic stitches
| Symbol | US terms | UK terms | Hungarian | How to work it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chainch | chainch | láncszemlsz | Yarn over and pull through the loop on the hook. Foundation chains, turning chains and chain spaces are made of it. | |
| slip stitchsl st | slip stitchss | kúszószemksz | Insert the hook, yarn over and pull through the stitch and the loop on the hook in one go. It has almost no height; used to join rounds and to move along. | |
| single crochetsc | double crochetdc | rövidpálcarp | Insert the hook, yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both. The shortest stitch after the slip stitch, and the workhorse of amigurumi. In UK patterns this stitch is called double crochet. | |
| half double crochethdc | half treblehtr | félpálcafp | Yarn over, insert the hook, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all three. Its height sits between single and double crochet. | |
| double crochetdc | trebletr | egyráhajtásos pálcaerp | Yarn over, insert the hook, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops), then twice: yarn over, pull through two loops. One slash across the stem of the symbol marks the one yarn over. | |
| trebletr | double trebledtr | kétráhajtásos pálcakrp | Yarn over twice, insert the hook, yarn over, pull up a loop (4 loops), then three times: yarn over, pull through two loops. Two slashes across the stem. | |
| double trebledtr | triple trebletrtr | háromráhajtásos pálcawritten out | Yarn over three times, insert the hook, yarn over, pull up a loop (5 loops), then four times: yarn over, pull through two loops. Three slashes across the stem. |
Increases and decreases
| Symbol | US terms | UK terms | Hungarian | How to work it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| increaseinc | increaseinc | szaporításszap. | Two (or more) stitches worked into the same stitch; the stems of the symbol fan out from one base. In single crochet: 2 sc in the same stitch (UK: 2 dc). | |
| single crochet two togethersc2tog | double crochet two togetherdc2tog | fogyasztáswritten out | Work two stitches up to the last step and finish them together, turning two stitches into one. The stems of the symbol meet at one top. | |
| invisible decreaseinvdec | invisible decreasewritten out | láthatatlan fogyasztáswritten out | Insert the hook into the front loops of the next two stitches and work them together as one single crochet. Used in amigurumi because it leaves no gap. |
Compound and decorative stitches
| Symbol | US terms | UK terms | Hungarian | How to work it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| shellsh | shellwritten out | kagylówritten out | Several stitches fanned into the same stitch or chain space, for example 5 dc in one stitch (UK: 5 tr). The pattern always says how many and which stitch. | |
| V-stitchV-st | V-stitchwritten out | V-szemwritten out | (dc, ch 1, dc) in the same stitch (UK: tr, ch 1, tr). It leaves a chain space between the two stitches for the next row. | |
| clusterCL | clusterCL | fürtwritten out | Several unfinished stitches closed with one top. It can be worked into one stitch or spread over several; the name does not say which, the pattern does. | |
| puff stitchps | puff stitchwritten out | puffwritten out | Yarn over and pull up a loop in the same stitch several times, then pull through all loops at once. A soft, raised stitch about as tall as a half double crochet. | |
| bobblebo | bobblewritten out | bogyówritten out | Several, for example five, unfinished double crochets in one stitch, closed together. It makes a raised knob. | |
| popcornpc | popcornwritten out | popcornwritten out | Several complete double crochets in one stitch; then take the hook out, insert it into the top of the first one and pull the loop through to close. | |
| picotp | picotwritten out | pikówritten out | A small chain loop for decoration, typically ch 3 and a slip stitch into the first chain. Usually found on the final, decorative row. | |
| reverse single crochetrev sc | reverse double crochetwritten out | rákhurokwritten out | Single crochet worked backwards, against the usual direction. It gives a corded edging and is not worked into afterwards. |
Chain spaces and the magic ring
| Symbol | US terms | UK terms | Hungarian | How to work it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chain spacech-sp | chain spacech-sp | láncívwritten out | An arch of chains over the previous row. The next row treats it as one place: stitches go into the space under it, not into the chains. | |
| magic ringMR | magic ringMR | varázskörwritten out | A loop of yarn you work the first round into, then pull tight with the tail. It is a starting point, not a stitch, and leaves no hole in the centre. |
Where the hook goes — loops and posts
| Symbol | US terms | UK terms | Hungarian | How to work it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| back loop onlyBLO | back loop onlyBLO | hátsó szálbahsz | Insert the hook only under the back one of the two top loops; the front loop stays as a horizontal ridge. The symbol sits on an inverted-U arc under its base. | |
| front loop onlyFLO | front loop onlyFLO | első szálbaesz | Insert the hook only under the front loop; the back loop stays free and can be worked into later. The symbol sits inside a U-shaped arc at its base. | |
| front post double crochetFPdc | front post trebleFPtr | első relief egyráhajtásos pálcaEerp | Work around the post of the stitch below from the front instead of into its top, so the stitch stands out. Used for ribbing. | |
| back post double crochetBPdc | back post trebleBPtr | hátsó relief egyráhajtásos pálcaHerp | Work around the post of the stitch below from the back, so the stitch sinks back. Alternated with front post stitches it makes ribbing. |
US and UK crochet terms
The first question with any English-language pattern is whether it uses US or UK terms. Both systems use the same words, but UK names sit one stitch “higher”:
| US terms | UK terms | Hungarian |
|---|---|---|
| slip stitch (sl st) | slip stitch (ss) | kúszószem (ksz) |
| single crochet (sc) | double crochet (dc) | rövidpálca (rp) |
| half double crochet (hdc) | half treble (htr) | félpálca (fp) |
| double crochet (dc) | treble (tr) | egyráhajtásos pálca (erp) |
| treble (tr) | double treble (dtr) | kétráhajtásos pálca (krp) |
| double treble (dtr) | triple treble (trtr) | háromráhajtásos pálca |
Symbols don’t change with the terms: single crochet is the same + or × on a US and a UK chart. If a written pattern leaves you unsure, check its chart.
How to read a crochet chart
- One symbol is one stitch. Its base points to the stitch or chain space you work it into; its stem shows how tall the stitch is.
- Charts in rows are read from the bottom up. The row number sits on the side where the row starts, which tells you the direction; right-handed, row 1 usually runs right to left.
- Charts in rounds start in the centre, from the magic ring or chain ring, and go outwards, counterclockwise for right-handed crocheters.
- A chart shows the right side of the work. On wrong-side rows front and back loops swap: a stitch drawn as back loop only is worked into the loop closest to you on a wrong-side row.
- Left-handed, follow the mirror image of the chart: rows and rounds run the other way.
These symbols in the pattern designer
The symbols in this chart are drawn by the same code as the Dragonette pattern designer. There you don’t push symbols around by hand: pick a stitch, say where it goes, and the designer places it and writes the pattern from the chart in US terms, UK terms or Hungarian.
Frequently asked questions
What does sc mean in crochet?
In US terms, sc is single crochet: insert the hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both loops. Other common US abbreviations are ch (chain), sl st (slip stitch), hdc (half double crochet), dc (double crochet) and tr (treble). A number before the abbreviation is a count: “3 sc” means three single crochets.
What is the difference between US and UK crochet terms?
UK names are shifted up by one stitch. The stitch US patterns call single crochet (sc) is double crochet (dc) in UK patterns; US double crochet (dc) is UK treble (tr); US treble (tr) is UK double treble (dtr). Chain is chain (ch) in both, and slip stitch is abbreviated sl st in US and ss in UK patterns.
How can I tell whether a crochet pattern uses US or UK terms?
If the pattern mentions single crochet or sc, it uses US terms: the UK system has no stitch by that name. Hints of UK terms are tension (instead of gauge), miss (instead of skip) and yrh, yarn round hook (instead of yo). A well-written pattern states which system it uses at the start.
What do the slashes on a crochet symbol mean?
Each slash across the stem stands for one yarn over. Half double crochet is a plain T with no slash, double crochet has one slash and treble has two. The stem gets taller with the stitch, so taller stitches have longer symbols.
Is the single crochet symbol a + or an ×?
Both. They mean the same stitch, single crochet (UK double crochet), and you will see either in charts; Japanese charts use the ×. The Dragonette pattern designer draws + by default and lets you switch to ×.
How do you read a crochet chart?
Charts worked in rows are read from the bottom up, and each row starts on the side where its row number is; right-handed, odd rows usually run right to left and even rows left to right. Charts worked in rounds start in the centre and go outwards, counterclockwise for right-handed crocheters. Each symbol is one stitch, and its base points to the stitch you work it into.
How can I make my own crochet chart with these symbols?
Use the Dragonette pattern designer: it is free, runs in your browser and needs no signup. You pick a stitch, say which stitch it goes into, and it places the CYC symbol for you, then writes the pattern from the chart in US terms, UK terms or Hungarian.