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Knitting and crochet abbreviations
US and UK patterns give the same names to different crochet stitches. Check which terms your pattern uses.
Your pattern's own abbreviation key always wins.
US and UK terms
The trap: the same name, a different stitch. US sc is UK dc.
| US | UK |
|---|---|
| sl stslip stitch | ssslip stitch |
| scsingle crochet | dcdouble crochet |
| hdchalf double crochet | htrhalf treble |
| dcdouble crochet | trtreble |
| trtreble crochet | dtrdouble treble |
| dtrdouble treble crochet | trtrtriple treble |
| skskip | miss |
| yoyarn over | yohyarn over hook |
| gauge | tension |
| BObind off | cast off |
| St ststockinette stitch | stocking stitch |
Knitting
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| k | knit |
| p | purl |
| k2tog | knit 2 together |
| p2tog | purl 2 together |
| ssk | slip 2 stitches knitwise, knit them together through the back loops |
| sk2p | slip 1, knit 2 together, pass the slipped stitch over |
| psso | pass slipped stitch over |
| sl | slip |
| yo | yarn over |
| M1 | make one (increase) |
| M1L | make one left (left-leaning increase) |
| M1R | make one right (right-leaning increase) |
| kfb | knit into the front and back of a stitch (increase) |
| CO | cast on |
| BO | bind off |
| g st | garter stitch |
| St st | stockinette stitch |
| tbl | through back loop |
| wyib | with yarn in back |
| wyif | with yarn in front |
| cn | cable needle |
| dpn | double-pointed needles |
| kwise | knitwise |
| pwise | purlwise |
| LH | left hand |
| RH | right hand |
| pfb | purl into the front and back of a stitch (increase) |
| rev St st | reverse stockinette stitch |
| SKP | slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over |
| ssp | slip 2 stitches knitwise, purl them together through the back loops |
Crochet
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ch | chain |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| sc | single crochet |
| hdc | half double crochet |
| dc | double crochet |
| tr | treble crochet |
| dtr | double treble crochet |
| sk | skip |
| yo | yarn over |
| sp | space |
| ch-sp | chain space |
| tch | turning chain |
| cl | cluster |
| BLO | back loop only |
| FLO | front loop only |
| sc2tog | single crochet 2 together |
| dc2tog | double crochet 2 together |
| FPdc | front post double crochet |
| BPdc | back post double crochet |
Knitting and crochet
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| inc | increase |
| dec | decrease |
| rep | repeat |
| rnd(s) | round(s) |
| beg | beginning |
| tog | together |
| rem | remaining |
| cont | continue |
| alt | alternate |
| patt | pattern |
| approx | approximately |
| pm | place marker |
| sm | slip marker |
| MC | main color |
| CC | contrasting color |
| RS | right side |
| WS | wrong side |
| bet | between |
| foll | follow(ing) |
| lp | loop |
| prev | previous |
Sources
Each entry shown here is backed by at least two published lists that agree. Entries with a single source, or whose sources disagree, are left out. All read on 12 November 2026.
- Craft Yarn Council, Knitting Abbreviations Master List
- Craft Yarn Council, Crochet Abbreviations Master List
- LoveCrafts, Knitting abbreviations explained
- LoveCrafts, Crochet terms: UK vs US
- Vogue Knitting, Terms & Abbreviations
- Vogue Knitting, Glossary
- KnitPro, UK vs US crochet terminology
- DMC, The Difference Between British and American Crochet Terms
- Kim Brody Salazar, String or Nothing, International Glossary of Knitting Terms (PDF, 1996 à 2012)
- CrazyPatterns, Kostenlose Übersetzung Abkürzungen Häkeln Deutsch - Englisch (14/02/2023)
- KnitPro, Knitting Abbreviations, Slang and Terminology
- Rachel Choi, Crochet Spot, Crochet Abbreviations
- DMC, Knitting Abbreviations (version US)
The data, with what each source says (JSON)
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