glossary

KEY TERMS & SYMBOLS

Probably the most difficult thing about learning to crochet isn't the technique but the shorthand used in most patterns! At first glance, it might look as if the designer had an adversion to vowels, but in fact directions are filled with abbreviations. Don't let this intimidate you! Refer to the follow tables and lists whenever you feel brain fatigue and can't remember what "sc" means!

TERMS

• Front loop: The loop closest to you at the top of the stitch.
• Back loop: The loop on the other side of the stitch.
• Post: The vertical area of the stitch.
• Right side: The side of your piece that will show.
• Wrong side: The back side of the piece.
• Right-hand side: The side on the right as you are looking at it while crocheting.
• Left-hand side: The side on the left as you are looking at it while crocheting.
• Work even: Follow the pattern as it has been established.
• Yarn over: Wrap the yarn around the hook from back to front.

SYMBOLS

• *, ✶, †: Marks the beginning of a set of steps that you'll need to repeat or work more than once.
• (), []: Indicates a set of steps witin another set of steps.

ABBREVIATIONS

alt	alternate	prev	previous
beg	begin, beginning	rem	remain, remaining
bl(s)	back loop, back loops	rep	repeat, repeating
cc	contrasting color	rnd(s)	round, rounds
ch(s)	chain, chains	sc(s)	single crochet, single crochets
dc(s)	double crochet, double crochets	sc2tog	single crochet two together
dc2tog	double crochet two together	sk	skip
dec	decrease, decreasing	sl	slip
fig	figure	sl st(s)	slip stitch, slip stitches
fl(s)	front loop, front loops	sp	space
hdc	half double crochet	st(s)	stitch, stitches
hdc2tog	half double crochet two together	tch	turning chain
inc	increase, increasing	tog
lp(s)	loop, loops	tr(s)	triple/treble crochet, triple/treble crochets
patt	pattern	yo	yarn over

HOOK CONVERSIONS

U.S.	Continental	U.K.
B/1	2.5mm	12
C/2	3mm	11
D/3	3.25mm	10
E/4	3.5mm	9
F/5	4mm	8
G/6	4.25mm	7
7	4.5mm	7
H/8	5mm	6
I/9	5.5mm	5
J/10	6mm	4
K/10.5	7mm	3
L/11	8mm	-
M/13	9mm	-
N/15	10mm	-
P/16	15mm	-
Q	16mm	-
S	19mm	-

YARN WEIGHT CONVERSIONS

Yarn weight	No & U.S. Name	Also known as	Suggested Hook Size
2-3 Ply	0: Lace	Ultra Fine, Light Fingering	1.50-2.25mm
4 Ply	1: Super Fine	Fingering, Sock, Baby	2.25-3.5mm
5 Ply	2: Fine	Light Weight, Sport, Baby	3.5mm-4.5mm
8 Ply	3: Light	DK, Light, Worsted	4.5mm-5.5mm
10 Ply	4: Medium	Aran, Worsted, Afgan	5.5mm-6.5mm
12 Ply	5: Bulky	Chunky, Craft, Rug	6.5mm-9mm
14 Ply	6: Super Bulky	Super Chunky	9mm-15mm
15 Ply	7: Jumbo	Roving	15mm+