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Pattern guide · Beginner

How to read a crochet pattern

A clear guide to reading crochet patterns, covering UK and US stitch terms, common abbreviations, repeats, brackets and stitch counts, so a written pattern stops looking like code.

2 min read

A crochet pattern can look like a string of code the first time you see one. Once you know the handful of conventions most patterns share, it reads more like a recipe.

First, check: UK or US terms?

This is the single most important thing to know before you start. The UK and US use the same names for different stitches.

  • UK double crochet (dc) is the same stitch as US single crochet (sc).
  • UK treble (tr) is the same stitch as US double crochet (dc).
  • UK half treble (htr) is the same stitch as US half double crochet (hdc).

A good pattern says which terms it uses near the top. If it mentions "single crochet", it is almost certainly written in US terms.

Common abbreviations

  • ch: chain
  • sl st: slip stitch
  • st(s): stitch(es)
  • sp: space, as in "ch-1 sp", the gap made by a single chain
  • rep: repeat
  • RS / WS: right side / wrong side of the work

Repeats, brackets and asterisks

An asterisk marks the start of a section to repeat. "2 tr, ch 1; rep from to end" means work two trebles and one chain, then keep doing that until you reach the end of the row.

Brackets group stitches that go into the same place. "(tr, ch 1, tr) in next st" means all three are worked into one stitch.

Stitch counts

Many patterns end a row or round with a number in brackets, for example "(48 sts)". Count your stitches at the end of each row until you are confident. It is far easier to fix a mistake one row back than ten.

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