Enter your search terms Submit search form

Today is

By: Ikedi Ani-okoye

When learning how to crochet, you will soon realize that the patterns use a lot of abbreviations. These are terms that are shortened to make patterns shorter and easier to read. Anyone learning how to needs to familiarize themselves with basic terms in order to read the patterns properly. There are a number of standard terms and abbreviations that are frequently used. Some of these terms pertain to the various stitches used in a section of a pattern, while others refer to colors. MC is the term for the main color that is used in a pattern. CC is the secondary or contrasting color used. YO means to wrap the yarn over the hook and CH is the term for a chain stitch.

There are even more standard terms, such as sc, which means single and dc, meaning double crochet. Single and double are simply ways of stitching; all of the terms used are based on a single stitch, which means inserting the hook into a stitch, wrapping the yarn around the hook and drawing the hook back through the stitch, wrapping the yarn over the hook and lastly drawing through both loops. There are also half-double stitches, which are abbreviated to hdc, and treble crochet, which is shortened to tr. Sl is the abbreviation for the term slip stitch.

Differences between British and American Crochet Terms

Some of the patterns that you may come across could be American but others could be from anywhere around the world. A number of countries use certain terms that differ in other places. American and British patterns, for example, differ in a number of terms. The main differences are important because they can completely alter a pattern if the contradictory meaning is used. The American terminology for a slip stitch is called a single in Britain. An American single is a double in Britain. Likewise, an American double is considered a treble and an American triple is a British double-treble crochet. It is essential that people who are learning how to and who are using different patterns realize exactly what country’s terms are used. Using the American terms in a British pattern could ruin the whole project and vice versa. Most patterns should indicate where they are from or what terminology they are using so, as long as care is taken, it should not get too confusing.