UK crochet abbreviations
Author: Crochetly · Last updated: May 16, 2026
Sources: Craft Yarn Council
Need to decode a UK crochet pattern? This reference covers standard UK abbreviations, where dc means treble crochet and sc means double crochet, organized by category.
Designers and publishers sometimes use special abbreviations in a pattern. Always check the pattern’s key before you start.
What are the most common UK crochet abbreviations?
Section titled “What are the most common UK crochet abbreviations?”UK patterns use dc (double crochet, = US sc), htr (half treble, = US hdc), tr (treble, = US dc), and dtr (double treble, = US tr). This master table covers every standard UK abbreviation.
| 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 |
What are the UK foundation and construction terms?
Section titled “What are the UK foundation and construction terms?”beg means begin/beginning, inc means increase, dec means decrease, and rep means repeat, same as US for these terms. These describe how a project is structured.
| 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 |
What are the UK terms for stitch loops and placement?
Section titled “What are the UK terms for stitch loops and placement?”FL/FLO is front loop only, BL/BLO is back loop only, tbl is through back loop, and sk means skip, same abbreviations as US. These specify where to insert your hook.
| 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 |
What are the UK abbreviations for markers and colour?
Section titled “What are the UK abbreviations for markers and colour?”m is marker, pm is place marker, MC is main colour, CC is contrasting colour, same as US with British spelling. These help you track your place and manage colour changes.
| Abbreviation | Description |
|---|---|
m | marker |
pm | place marker |
sm or sl m | slip marker |
CC | contrasting colour |
MC | main colour |
What are the basic UK crochet stitches?
Section titled “What are the basic UK crochet stitches?”UK stitches scale by height: sc (double crochet = US sc), hdc (half treble = US hdc), dc (treble = US dc), tr (double treble = US tr). UK stitch names are one level higher than US names.
| Abbreviation | Description |
|---|---|
sc | double crochet |
hdc | half treble crochet |
dc | treble crochet |
tr | double treble crochet |
dtr | double treble crochet |
trtr | triple treble crochet |
How do UK patterns express increases and decreases?
Section titled “How do UK patterns express increases and decreases?”sc2tog (double crochet 2 together), hdc2tog (half treble 2 together), dc2tog (treble 2 together), and tr2tog mean working 2 stitches together. inc means increase by working multiple stitches into the same stitch.
| 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 |
What are the UK abbreviations for special stitches?
Section titled “What are the UK abbreviations for special stitches?”bo is bobble, CL is cluster, pc is popcorn, ps/puff is puff stitch, sh is shell, same abbreviations as US. These decorative stitches share the same abbreviations across UK and US.
| Abbreviation | Description |
|---|---|
bo | bobble |
CL | cluster |
pc | popcorn stitch |
ps or puff | puff stitch |
sh | shell |
sl st | slip stitch |
What are the UK back post stitch abbreviations?
Section titled “What are the UK back post stitch abbreviations?”BPsc (back post double crochet = US BPsc), BPdc (back post treble crochet = US BPdc), and BPtr (back post triple treble crochet) create texture. Note UK stitch names differ from US for the same post technique.
| 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 |
What are the UK front post stitch abbreviations?
Section titled “What are the UK front post stitch abbreviations?”FPsc (front post double crochet = US FPsc), FPdc (front post treble crochet = US FPdc), and FPtr work around the front post. Combined with back post stitches, these create ribbing and textured patterns.
| 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 |
What are the UK extended stitch abbreviations?
Section titled “What are the UK extended stitch abbreviations?”esc (extended double crochet), ehdc (extended half treble), edc (extended treble), and etr (extended triple treble) add an extra chain. UK extended stitch names correspond to the UK base stitch naming.
| Abbreviation | Description |
|---|---|
esc | extended double crochet |
ehdc | extended half treble crochet |
edc | extended treble crochet |
etr | extended triple treble crochet |
How do UK crochet terms convert to US English?
Section titled “How do UK crochet terms convert to US English?”UK dc (double crochet) = US sc (single crochet). UK tr (treble crochet) = US dc (double crochet). UK stitch names are always one level higher than US, and this table helps you convert between systems.
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.