UK crochet abbreviations

The following is a list of crochet abbreviations used by the yarn industry, designers, and publishers in the United Kingdom.

Designers and publishers may use special abbreviations in a pattern, although you can open a PR or Issue to make recommendations. Refer to Craft Yarn Council’s abbreviations for additional information.

All abbreviations

Abbreviation	Description (UK terminology)
alt	alternate
approx	approximately
beg	begin/beginning
bet	between
BL or BLO	back loop or back loop only
bo	bobble
BP	back post
BPdc	back post treble crochet
BPdtr	back post double treble crochet
BPhdc	back post half treble crochet
BPsc	back post double crochet
BPtr	back post triple treble crochet
CC	contrasting colour
ch	chain stitch
ch-	refer to chain or space previously made
ch-sp	chain space
CL	cluster
cont	continue
dc	treble crochet
dc2tog	treble crochet 2 stitches together
dec	decrease
dtr	double treble crochet
edc	extended treble crochet
ehdc	extended half treble crochet
esc	extended double crochet
etr	extended triple treble crochet
FL or FLO	front loop or front loop only
foll	following
FP	front post
FPdc	front post treble crochet
FPdtr	front post double treble crochet
FPhdc	front post half treble crochet
FPsc	front post double crochet
FPtr	front post triple treble crochet
hdc	half treble crochet
hdc2tog	half treble crochet 2 stitches together
inc	increase
lp	loop
m	marker
MC	main colour
pat or patt	pattern
pc	popcorn stitch
pm	place marker
prev	previous
ps or puff	puff stitch
rem	remaining
rep	repeat
rnd	round
RS	right side
sc	double crochet
sc2tog	double crochet 2 stitches together
sh	shell
sk	skip
sl st	slip stitch
sm or sl m	slip marker
sp	space
st	stitch
tbl	through back loop
tch or t-ch	turning chain
tog	together
tr	double treble crochet
tr2tog	double treble crochet 2 stitches together
trtr	triple treble crochet
WS	wrong side
yo	yarn over
yoh	yarn over hook

Foundation & Construction Terms

Abbreviation	Description
alt	alternate
approx	approximately
beg	begin/beginning
bet	between
cont	continue
foll	following
inc	increase
dec	decrease
prev	previous
rem	remaining
rep	repeat
rnd	round
RS	right side
WS	wrong side

Stitch Components & Placement

Abbreviation	Description
ch	chain stitch
ch-	refer to chain or space previously made
ch-sp	chain space
lp	loop
sp	space
st	stitch
sk	skip
tbl	through back loop
FL or FLO	front loop or front loop only
BL or BLO	back loop or back loop only
yo	yarn over
yoh	yarn over hook
tch or t-ch	turning chain

Markers & Colour

Abbreviation	Description
m	marker
pm	place marker
sm or sl m	slip marker
CC	contrasting colour
MC	main colour

Basic Stitches

Abbreviation	Description
sc	double crochet
hdc	half treble crochet
dc	treble crochet
tr	double treble crochet
dtr	double treble crochet
trtr	triple treble crochet

Stitch Increases & Decreases

Abbreviation	Description
sc2tog	double crochet 2 stitches together
hdc2tog	half treble crochet 2 stitches together
dc2tog	treble crochet 2 stitches together
tr2tog	double treble crochet 2 stitches together
tog	together

Special Stitches

Abbreviation	Description
bo	bobble
CL	cluster
pc	popcorn stitch
ps or puff	puff stitch
sh	shell
sl st	slip stitch

Post Stitches – Back Post

Abbreviation	Description
BP	back post
BPsc	back post double crochet
BPhdc	back post half treble crochet
BPdc	back post treble crochet
BPtr	back post triple treble crochet
BPdtr	back post double treble crochet

Post Stitches – Front Post

Abbreviation	Description
FP	front post
FPsc	front post double crochet
FPhdc	front post half treble crochet
FPdc	front post treble crochet
FPtr	front post triple treble crochet
FPdtr	front post double treble crochet

Extended Stitches

Abbreviation	Description
esc	extended double crochet
ehdc	extended half treble crochet
edc	extended treble crochet
etr	extended triple treble crochet

Notes on terminology conversion

This table lists the equivalent stitch names between US and UK crochet terminology. Use this as a handy reference when converting patterns or instructions.

US Term	UK Equivalent
slip stitch sl st	slip stitch sl st
single crochet sc	double crochet dc
half double crochet hdc	half treble crochet htr
double crochet dc	treble crochet tr
treble crochet tr	double treble crochet dtr
double treble crochet	triple treble crochet
triple treble crochet	quadruple treble crochet
yarn over yo	yarn over yo

⚠️ Note: Stitch names are the most common source of confusion between UK and US patterns. Always check which terminology a pattern uses before starting.