Crochet abbreviations for beginners

Common stitch abbreviations

These are the crochet abbreviations you will see constantly (US terms unless noted).

Other ones you will often come across are FLO, BLO, rep, st and rnd. You do not need to memorize everything on day one - just know where to check.

Repeat notes

When I see asterisks, brackets or parentheses, I stop and read the whole instruction once before I crochet anything. They usually mean "repeat this part" or different sizes. If you jump in too quickly it is very easy to repeat the wrong chunk and then wonder why your stitch count has gone rogue.

Rows, rounds and counts

Rows usually go back and forth. Rounds build around a center or in a spiral or loop. And the stitch counts at the end of a line? They are really important. They are your checkpoint. If the pattern says 24 stitches and you have 23, fix it there instead of hoping the next round will somehow forgive you because... it won't.

Check US or UK terms

US and UK crochet terms can look similar and mean completely different things. Like dc (double crochet) in US terms versus dc (double crochet) in UK terms which are different. So before you start, check which system the pattern is using. That one tiny detail can completely change the outcome of the project.

Ribblr is at your service

Ribblr is here to help you navigate the world of crochet terms and patterns with ease. Click on any stitch inside any Ribblr ePattern to see its definition and watch a tutorial. You can also switch between US and UK terms in your settings. This will be saved for any future patterns, too!
Check out more information below to get started with your crochet journey!