Crochet Abbreviations: Ultimate Guide to Abbreviations and Terms

Familiarizing crochet abbreviations and terms is another crucial skill that will prove useful in this craft.

At first glance, it can be a little intimidating. But no matter how many crochet abbreviations and terms there are, you have nothing to worry about. As long as you have a handy guide at your disposal, you will be able to start working, one project at a time.

Just like knitting, crochet also has a whole set of abbreviations and terms. You will find some of them quite easy to remember. While some others will take a few tries before you get used to them.

That is why I made this compilation of crochet abbreviations and terms. It’s divided into categories according to their use for your convenience. You will also see that some crochet techniques and stitch pattern tutorials contain links to useful tutorials.

In addition, crochet pattern books will specify crochet abbreviations at the beginning of a pattern.

Finally, the definitions I included in this compilation are US crochet terminology. It is essential to note that some US terminologies may differ from UK and Canada terminologies. You will also find a few of them listed in this article.

Standard Crochet Abbreviations

Typically, design patterns and books follow a standard set of crochet abbreviations. Plus, they often indicate whether they use it’s US/Canada or UK definitions.

Moreover, you can refer to the Special Abbreviations section, usually at the beginning or end of the pattern, if you come across unusual combination of stitches.

For a more complete list of common crochet terms and abbreviations that you can refer to, check out this chart.

Common Measurements and Terms

In addition to the standard abbreviations listed above, there are also what the crochet community considers as instructional and measurement symbols and abbreviations.

As the name suggests, these are symbols and abbreviation that each represent a certain crochet instruction or technique.

You will also encounter them quite often in patterns. Some, specifically the measurements, you might already be familiar with. But some might not be too familiar, so when you do see them, it’s crucial to know what to do.

The next chart will show you the most common of these symbols and abbreviations, and their corresponding instruction or measurement.

What is Tunisian Crochet?

Tunisian crochet is a type of crochet that works multiple loops on the hook at the same time.

To do this, it requires an elongated hook known as the Afghan hook, typically 11 inches to 14 inches long. That’s approximately 28 cm to 35 cm in the metric system. Whereas traditional crochet makes use of crochet hooks that are 6 inches (about 15 cm) long.

Here is where it becomes interesting. The Tunisian crochet combines some of the crochet techniques with knitting techniques. Both of which effectively complement each other, that is why it has its own set of stitches and techniques.

In fact, this type of crochet creates a fabric that’s less stretchable than what you would normally get with traditional crochet. In addition, it results in gorgeous textures, as well as a neater, more natural border on the fabric.

Tunisian crochet is also known by different names, like Railroad Knitting, Cro-hooking, and Shepherd’s Knitting. But it is more commonly referred to as Afghan Crochet.

Tunisian Abbreviations

As a subset of the traditional crochet, Tunisian crochet has its own set of stitches and abbreviations. For those who want to master the techniques, this is where it all starts.

Final Tips

As I mentioned previously, the charts in this article use the US crochet definitions.

However, note that pattern designers and publishers in the US, Canada, and the UK may use different abbreviations to mean the same instruction.

On the other hand, some use the same abbreviation to mean different instructions. Hence, the inconsistencies that you might find in some of the patterns, especially in the newer ones.

The chart below will show you an example of these differences.

US/Canada and UK Terms and Abbreviations

If you need a full guide on this, you can look it up here: Crochet Terms: The Differences Between US and UK Crochet Terms Explained.