Crochet Terms & Abbreviations
Below is a list of crochet terms and abbreviations that you will find online and in crochet books or catalogs.
Have you ever looked in a book, or on social media, and saw some acronyms and terms you were unfamiliar with? We’ve all done it! Then we head over to our search bar and type in what we don’t know, hoping to come up with a quick answer.
I’ve compiled a list of the most common terms and abbreviations used in books and online for your reference. Keep this chart handy when you’re working or reading, for quick reference!
Crochet Terms and Abbreviations Chart
| Abbreviation | Definition |
| ALT | Alternate |
| BEG | Beginning |
| BTW | Between |
| BL / BLO | Back Loop / Back Loop Only |
| BO | Bobble |
| BP | Back Post |
| BPDC (or HDC/SC) | Back Post Double Crochet (or Back Post Half Double Crochet or Single Crochet) |
| CAL | Crochet Along – a crochet project where many people create the same project at the same time. This can be done in person or in an online forum. |
| CC | Contrasting Color |
| CH | Chain Stitch |
| CH-SP | Chain Space |
| CL | Cluster |
| CONT | Continue |
| DC | Double Crochet |
| DC#TOG | Double Crochet (number of stitches) together |
| DEC | Decrease |
| FL or FLO | Front Loop or Front Loop Only |
| FOLL | Following |
| FP | Front Post |
| FPDC (or HDC/SC) | Front Post Double Crochet (or Half Double Crochet/Single Crochet |
| FROG | To undo stitches, or “rip it” out. Comes from how similar Rip It sounds to ribbit, the sound a frog makes |
| HDC | Half Double Crocher |
| HDC#TOG | Half Double Crochet (number of stitches) together |
| HOTH | Hot Off The Hook – term that references a freshly completed project |
| INC | Increase |
| LP | Loop |
| MC | Main Color |
| PREV | Previous |
| REP | Repeat |
| RND | Round |
| RS | Right Side |
| SC | Single Crochet |
| SC#TOG | Single Crochet (number of stitches) together |
| SK | Skip |
| SLST | Slip Stitch |
| SP | Space |
| ST | Stitch |
| TCH | Turning Chain |
| TOG | Together |
| TR | Treble Crochet |
| WIP | Work In Progress |
| WS | Wrong Side |
| YO | Yarn Over |
| * | Repeat instructions following the *, as many times as indicated |
| * * | Repeat instructions between the *, as many times as indicated |
| ( ) / [ ] / { } | Work instructions between the brackets as many times as indicated, in area indicated |
