Same stitches.
Different little names.
All lessons and practice patterns in this journal use US terminology. Check the system before you start another designer's pattern.
| US term | US abbreviation | UK term | UK abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain | ch | Chain | ch |
| Slip stitch | sl st | Slip stitch | ss |
| 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 |
A US double crochet and a UK double crochet are different stitches. Replace the stitch name according to the terminology key; do not assume the abbreviation means the same thing in every pattern.
Other useful shorthand
- st / sts: stitch / stitches.
- yo: yarn over.
- BLO / FLO: back loop only / front loop only, identified from your current working position.
- sc2tog: single crochet two stitches together, a decrease in US terminology.
- RS / WS: right side / wrong side. For a reversible practice sample, the designer may not assign a preferred side.
A repeat is an instruction, not a guess
“Repeat three more times” means three additional repeats after the first one. “Repeat three times total” means three altogether. Parentheses can also separate sizes or group stitches in one location, so read the pattern's own notes.
Turning chains need their own rule
A turning chain can count as a stitch or only provide height, depending on the instructions. Our single crochet practice patterns use chain 1 that does not count. Other patterns may choose a different convention.
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