How to Read Crochet Patterns: Abbreviations and Examples

To read a crochet pattern, confirm its US or UK terminology, read the notes and abbreviation key, then follow one row or round at a time. Repeat markers tell you which actions to do again; stitch counts let you check the result. A symbol chart has its own key and starting point.

The examples here use US terms. They explain notation and arithmetic, not a physically tested project pattern. If you are still learning the movements, start with our beginner crochet guide.

Read these parts before the first stitch

Scan the full pattern before beginning. Its header and notes establish how the shorter instructions should be interpreted.

• Terminology: US, UK, or another stated convention.
• Finished size and sizing key: choose one size and track its numbers throughout.
• Materials: yarn, quantity, hook diameter, and other supplies.
• Gauge or tension: the specified stitch-and-row measurement; check it when finished size matters.
• Abbreviations and special stitches: definitions specific to this project.
• Construction: rows or rounds, whether to turn, how rounds join, and whether starting chains count.
• Finishing: assembly, edging, blocking, and securing ends.

The Craft Yarn Council’s abbreviation list explicitly notes that designers can define special abbreviations. A general glossary cannot replace the pattern’s key.

Confirm US or UK crochet terms

US sc means single crochet, equivalent to UK double crochet. US dc means double crochet, equivalent to UK treble. The letters dc alone do not identify the system. A designer’s country is not sufficient evidence either.

Use our complete US vs UK conversion chart when translating. Once you identify the system, use it consistently throughout the pattern rather than translating a few isolated stitches.

Common abbreviations in US patterns

These definitions follow the Craft Yarn Council’s US glossary. Check special-stitch definitions even when an abbreviation looks familiar.

An increase does not always mean exactly two stitches in one place. A decrease is not always the same technique either. Read the designer’s definition rather than assigning a universal formula to inc or dec.

Read a row line by line

This notation example has counts checked on paper. It is not a finished project pattern:

Foundation: Ch 8.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each remaining ch. (7 sc)
Row 2 (WS): Ch 1 (does not count as a st), turn;
            sc in each st across. (7 sc)

1. Make eight completed chains. The slip knot and loop on the hook are excluded.
2. For Row 1, skip the chain nearest the hook and work into the second chain.
3. Chains 2 through 8 receive one single crochet each: seven stitches.
4. Row 2 begins with one chain and a turn. The note explicitly excludes that chain from the stitch count.
5. Work into all seven stitches, beginning with the first stitch beside the turning chain.

The parenthetical count is a checkpoint, not an instruction to crochet seven extra stitches. The Craft Yarn Council’s pattern-reading lesson explains this distinction and the foundation-chain convention.

Need the physical stitch sequence? See how to chain and how to single crochet.

Expand repeats before you crochet them

Starting with seven stitches, consider this separate reading exercise:

Ch 1 (does not count as a st), turn.
*Sc in next 2 sts, ch 1, sk next st;
rep from * once more, sc in last st. (5 sc, 2 ch-1 sps)

Read the starred sequence twice in total. Each pass uses three old stitches: two receive single crochets and one is skipped. Two passes use six old stitches; the final single crochet uses the seventh. The result is five single crochets and two chain-1 spaces.

“Once more” means one additional pass after the first. An instruction such as “work the sequence 4 times” generally specifies four total executions. Always read the exact wording and stopping point: “across” and “to last 3 sts” are not interchangeable.

Asterisks

An asterisk marks a repeat boundary. A second asterisk, double asterisk, or written instruction may mark where the repeat stops. Find both ends before repeating anything.

Brackets

[Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] 4 times means four executions of the entire bracketed pair. In this arithmetic example, each pair uses two existing stitches and produces three single crochets: eight old stitches become twelve new stitches.

Parentheses

Parentheses can have several roles:

• One location: In next st, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) places the whole group in one stitch.
• Repeat group: a following number may tell you to repeat the contents.
• Result count: (24 dc) at a row end usually reports the expected result.
• Size options: numbers may correspond to sizes listed in the header.

Use their position, surrounding words, and the pattern key. Punctuation alone does not establish which meaning applies.

Turning chains, stitch tops, and chain spaces

Does the turning chain count?

The pattern decides. In many US single crochet instructions, chain 1 does not count. In a common US double crochet convention, chain 3 counts as the first stitch. Other methods exist; see our double crochet guide for the effect on edge placement.

A pattern may place “ch 1, turn” at the end of one row or at the beginning of the next. Do it once, where written. Adding a second turning chain changes the instruction.

Where does the hook go?

“In next st” usually means into the stitch top, under both loops unless otherwise directed. “In next ch-sp” means into the opening beneath the specified chain or chain group. A space can sit over skipped stitches, but the full construction depends on the pattern. A post or loop-only instruction supplies another placement entirely.

What should I count?

Read whether chains and spaces are listed separately. (12 dc, 4 ch-2 sps) reports twelve double crochets and four chain-2 openings; it does not mean sixteen double crochets. Mark the first and last counted stitch while learning.

How to approach a crochet symbol chart

A stitch-symbol chart shows stitch types and their placement. The Craft Yarn Council says its symbols generally depict stitches from the right side and directs readers to the pattern key for additional definitions.

Common conventions include an oval for a chain, a filled dot for slip stitch, an X or plus for US single crochet, a T for US half double crochet, and barred T shapes for taller stitches. Use the Council’s linked symbol reference for the actual drawings. Do not confuse a chart’s US stitch name with the same word in UK terminology.

Start by finding the legend and first row or round. Crochet.com’s chart guide explains that flat-row charts start at the bottom while round charts start at the center.

Follow row numbers and arrows for direction. Many right-handed flat-row charts alternate right-to-left and left-to-right; round charts often progress counterclockwise. The chart’s instructions take priority, including for left-handed adaptations. Colors may distinguish rows or repeats rather than yarn colors. A color-grid chart is another format: its key must explain what each square represents.

When the instructions seem wrong

The count differs: check the starting chain rule, both row edges, and each repeat. Find the first point of disagreement before adding or removing stitches to compensate.

The repeat does not fit: write out one complete repeat and count the old stitches it consumes. Check for an instruction before or after the repeated section.

The chart conflicts with the text: compare the key, terminology, setup chains and row numbers. Check for published errata, then ask the designer if the mismatch remains. Do not invent a correction from a general guide.

The pattern says to work continuously: do not add a join or turn unless instructed. Mark the round start and follow the construction notes. A magic ring is a possible starting method, not a rule about how subsequent rounds are worked.

Frequently asked questions

What does rep from * mean?

Repeat the sequence beginning at the asterisk until the specified number or stopping point is reached.

What does ch-sp mean?

Chain space: the opening beneath a chain or group of chains. Work into that opening when instructed.

Do all patterns use the same symbols?

No. Standard conventions are common, but special stitches and publisher variations make the supplied legend essential.

Is the number in parentheses always a stitch count?

No. Parentheses may also group actions, mark a repeat, or list size options. Context determines their role.

Sources and editorial note

Sources checked on 29 October 2026:

• Craft Yarn Council — How to Read a Crochet Pattern.
• Craft Yarn Council — Crochet Abbreviations Master List.
• Craft Yarn Council — Crochet Chart Symbols.
• Crochet.com — How to Read a Crochet Chart.

AI assisted with drafting, editing and source checking. Examples are notation exercises with counts checked on paper, not physically tested original patterns. No project photographs or videos are claimed. Read our editorial policy and corrections process.