Beginner's Guide to Crochet - UK (2019-10)

MATERIALS & TOOLS

CROCHET (UK)

across to the end of the row

alt alternate

approx approximate(ly)

beg beginning

bet between

bl back loop: insert hook under

back loop only and work the

stitch instructed. Example bldc

• back loop double crochet
  bp back post: insert hook from the
  back to front to back around
  the post of the st in row below
  and work the stitch instructed.
  Example BPtr – back post
  treble
  CC contrast colour
  ch(s) chain or chain stitch(es)
  ch-sp(s) chain space(s)
  ch- refers to ch made previously,
  for example, ch-
  cl(s) cluster(s), for example: 4-tr
  cluster (yrh, insert hook in sp/
  st, yrh, pull up loop, yrh, draw
  through 2 loops) 4 times,
  inserting hook in same sp/st,
  yrh, draw through all loops on
  hook
  cont continue
  dc double crochet
  dc2tog work 2 dc together: (insert hk
  in next st, yrh, draw loop
  through) twice, yrh, draw
  through all 3 loops on hook
  dec decrease (by working two
  stitches together)
  DK double knitting
  dtr double treble crochet
  dtr2tog work 2 dtr sts together: (yrh
  twice, insert hook in next st,
  yrh, pull up loop, yrh, draw
  through 2 loops, yrh, draw
  through 2 loops) 2 times, yrh,
  draw through all loops on hk
  fl front loop: insert hook under
  front loop only and work the
  stitch instructed. Example: fldc


• front loop double crochet

foll/s following/follows

fp front post: insert hook from the

front to back to front around

the post of the st in row below

and work the stitch instructed.

For example: FPtr – front post

treble

gr group

hk crochet hook

htr half treble crochet

htr2tog work 2htr together: (yrh, insert

hook in next st, yrh, pull up

loop) 2 times, yrh, draw

through all loops on hk

in next sts to be worked into same

stitch

inc increase (by working two

stitches into the same space or

stitch below)

LH left hand

lp(s) loop(s)

MC main colour

meas measures

nc not closed

p or pc picot

patt(s) pattern(s)

patt pattern repeat(s)

rep(s)

PB place bead

PM place marker

prev previous

rem remain/remaining

rep(s) repeat(s)

rb raised back. Example rbdc–

raised back

double crochet

rf raised front. Example: rfdc

• raised front double crochet
  RH right hand
  rnd(s) round(s)
  RS right side
  sk skip
  ss/sl st slip stitch
  sp(s) space(s)
  st(s) stitch(es)
  t-ch(s) turning chain(s)
  tog together
  tr treble crochet

tr2tog work 2 tr together: (yrh, insert

hk in next st, yrh, pull up loop,

yrh, draw through 2 loops) 2

times, yrh, draw through all

loops on hook

ttr triple treble crochet

ttr2tog work 2 ttr sts together: (yrh 3

times, insert hook in next st,

yrh and pull up loop, [yrh, draw

through 2 loops] 3 times) 2

times, yrh and draw through all

loops on hook)

WS wrong side

yrh yarn round hook

* work instructions immediately

following *, then repeat as

directed

[] or () work or repeat all instructions

in the brackets as directed

UK US

chain ch chain ch

slip stitch ss slip stitch ss

double

crochet dc

single

crochet sc

half treble htr half double hdc

treble tr double dc

double

treble dtr treble tr

triple treble ttr double treble dtr

UK/US

CONVERSIONS

A

t first glance, you might think crochet

patterns are written in another

language. And they sort of are, but

it’s a simple language to understand.

Patterns use a set of abbreviations that are

sensible ways to shorten the description of

techniques that you’ll do regularly.

For example, double crochet is abbreviated

to dc. These letters are often accompanied

by a number that relates to the stitches. For

example, 4dc means ‘double crochet 4

ABBREVIATIONS

It’s easy to learn the language of a crochet pattern!

stitches’. This system creates a shorthand

that makes patterns shorter and simpler. If all

the instructions were written in full, some

patterns would run to dozens of pages.

We’ll have more on specific abbreviations

in later chapters, once you start learning the

techniques and practising them by making

our simple projects. But if you see an

abbreviation you don’t understand, you can

just come back to this page.

Just to be clear, our patterns use UK

crochet terminology throughout. You’ll find

that crocheters in the UK and US use very

different crochet terms, such as ‘single

crochet’ in the US and ‘double crochet’ in the

UK. The UK and US also use different

systems for yarn weights (see page 9 for

more) and hook sizes (see page 12 for more).

Aside from these areas, the differences are

quite minor, so don’t be put off from using a

pattern from either country. Most patterns

will state which terms they are using.