Crochet Stitches
Below is a list of some of the common stitches and terms that are found in written crochet patterns, including images and symbols. It is a work in progress and will be added to as time goes on. I will be adding symbols and images soon.
Some of the abbreviations here may not match the abbreviations page. I’m working on it. 😉
magic ring
Wrap your yarn around your finger. Pull the yarn over to the back. Insert your hook into the loop and draw up a loop through the loop around your finger. Chain 1 to secure. Begin adding your stitches, crocheting over the yarn as you go. Once you have added all of your stitches, pull the shorter tail to tighten the ring.
ch: chain
y/o, pull yarn through loop on hook
sl st: slip stitch
Insert hook into st (or ch), y/o, pull yarn through st and through loop on hook.
sc: single crochet
Insert hook into st (or ch), y/o, pull yarn through st, y/o and pull yarn through both loops on hook.
hdc: half double crochet
y/o, insert hook into st (or ch), y/o, pull yarn through st, y/o, pull through all 3 loops on hook.
dc: double crochet
y/o, insert hook into st (or ch), y/o, pull yarn through st, y/o, pull through two loops, y/o, pull through remaining two loops on hook.
htr: half treble crochet
y/o twice, insert hook into st (or ch), y/o, pull yarn through st (4 loops on hook), y/o, pull through two loops, y/o, pull through remaining three loops on hook.
tr: treble crochet
y/o twice, insert hook into st (or ch), y/o, pull yarn through st (4 loops on hook), y/o, pull through two loops – 3 times.
dtr: double treble crochet
y/o 3 times, insert hook into st (or ch), y/o, pull yarn through st (5 loops on hook), y/o, pull through two loops – 4 times.
tr tr: triple treble
y/o 4 times, insert hook into st (or ch), y/o, pull yarn through st (6 loops on hook), y/o, pull through two loops – 5 times.
Increase and Decrease Stitches
Increase
Crochet 2 (or more if indicated) stitches in the same stitch. Use the same stitch you have been using so far, unless otherwise indicated.
sc#tog (or dec): sc the number of stitches indicated together (or decrease)
For sc2tog (aka decrease): Insert your hook into the next stitch, y/o, and draw up a loop (keep the loop on your hook – 2 loops on hook), insert your hook into the stitch after that one. Yarn over and draw up another loop (3 loops on hook). y/o and pull through all 3 loops on the hook to make your decrease.
If you are sc more than 2 together, repeat insert your hook into the stitch after that one. Yarn over and draw up another loop (3 loops on hook) as many times as necessary.
Post Stitches
These stitches are worked around the post, instead of through the stitch. They are used to create a ribbed, cable, or staggered texture, to allow for other stitches to be worked in the same stitch, to create a smooth even material with no visible ridges between rows, and to create extended stitches.
fp: front post
Insert the hook between stitches from front to back, then bring it through to the front between the stitch you are working and the one next to it (So the hook is positioned across the back of the stitch you are working with the stitch post in the front.), y/o and draw up the loop so it is wrapped around the stitch post. Work your stitch as written (sc, hdc, dc, etc).
bp: back post
Working behind the previous row: Insert the hook between stitches from back to front, then bring it through to the back between the stitch you are working and the one next to it (So the hook is positioned across the front of the stitch you are working with the stitch post in the back.), y/o and draw up the loop so it is wrapped around the stitch post. Work your stitch as written (sc, hdc, dc, etc).
Front and Back Loop Stitches
This type of stitch is used to create a ribbed or staggered texture, or to allow for other stitches to be worked in the same stitch.
tfl (aka flo): through front loop
When looking at your crochet stitch from above, you will see the top of the stitch is made of two strands (loops) forming a v. The one closest to you is the front loop. The one furthest away is the back loop. To work through the front loop, you simply insert your hook through only the loop in the front and work your stitch the way you would normally.
tbl (aka blo): through back loop
When looking at your crochet stitch from above, you will see the top of the stitch is made of two strands (loops) forming a v. The one closest to you is the front loop. The one furthest away is the back loop. To work through the back loop, you simply insert your hook through only the loop in the back and work your stitch the way you would normally
Foundation Crochet Stitches
Use this type of stitch when you want your piece to stretch more than it would with a chain base.
fsc: foundation single crochet
Ch 2, yarn over, insert hook in 2nd chain from hook, yarn over and pull up loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 1 loop (1 chain made), yarn over and draw through both loops on hook—1 foundation single crochet. * insert hook under the 2 loops of the “chain” stitch of last stitch and pull up loop, yarn over and draw through 1 loop, yarn over and draw through both loops on hook; repeat from * for length of foundation.
fhdr: foundation half double crochet
Ch 3, yarn over, insert hook in 3rd chain from hook, yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 1 loop (1 chain made), yarn over and draw through all loops on hook—1 foundation half double crochet made. *Yarn over, insert hook under the 2 loops of the “chain” stitch of last stitch and pull up loop, yarn over and draw through 1 loop, yarn over and draw through all loops on hook; repeat from * for length of foundation.
fdc: foundation double crochet
Ch 3, yarn over, insert hook in 3rd chain from hook, yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 1 loop (1 chain made), yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook – twice —1 foundation double crochet. *Yarn over, insert hook under the 2 loops of the “chain” stitch of last stitch and pull up loop, yarn over and draw through 1 loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook – twice; repeat from * for length of foundation.
f-tr: foundation treble crochet
Ch 4, yarn over twice, insert hook in 4th chain from hook, yarn over and pull up loop (4 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 1 loop (1 chain made), yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook – 3 times—1 foundation treble crochet. *Yarn over twice, insert hook under the 2 loops of the “chain” stitch of last stitch and pull up loop, yarn over and draw through 1 loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook – 3 times; repeat from * for length of foundation.
Standing Crochet Stitches
This type of stitch is used when you prefer not to have a chain start at the beginning of a row when changing yarns.
standing single crochet
With your new yarn already prepared on your hook: insert the hook into the stitch, and instead of making a slip stitch and a chain stitch, you will make a single crochet.
standing half double crochet
With your new yarn already prepared on your hook: y/o your hook, insert the hook into the stitch and make a half double crochet, instead of starting with a slip stitch and chain stitches.
standing double crochet
With your new yarn already prepared on your hook: y/o your hook, insert the hook into the stitch and make a double crochet, instead of starting with a slip stitch and chain stitches.
standing treble crochet
With your new yarn already prepared on your hook: y/o your hook twice, insert the hook into the stitch and make a treble crochet, instead of starting with a slip stitch and chain stitches.
Extended Crochet Stitches:
This type of stitch is longer than the regular stitch and is used in spike stitches, and to create a staggered effect.
extended single crochet
Insert hook into st (or ch), y/o, pull yarn through st, y/o and pull through the first loop to create a chain, y/o and pull through both loops on hook.
extended half double crochet
y/o, insert hook into st (or ch), y/o, pull yarn through st, y/o and pull through the first loop to create a chain, y/o, pull through all 3 loops on hook.
extended double crochet
y/o, insert hook into st (or ch), y/o, pull yarn through st, y/o and pull through the first loop to create a chain, y/o, pull through two loops, y/o, pull through remaining two loops on hook.
Cross Stitches
cross single crochet
Cross single crochet is not made the same as the cross stitches below. It is worked almost the same as a regular single crochet, except that you work yarn under instead of yarn over after inserting the hook into the next stitch. Insert your hook into the stitch, yarn under (simply turn the hook over and grab the yarn from under it and pull it through the stitch.), yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook.
cross half double crochet
Skip 1 stitch, half double crochet in the next stitch, go back and half double crochet in the skipped stitch
cross double crochet
Skip 1 stitch, double crochet in the next stitch, go back and double crochet in the skipped stitch
cross treble crochet
Skip 1 stitch, treble crochet in the next stitch, go back and treble crochet in the skipped stitch
V and Y Stitches
v-st: v stitch
V stitches are 2 stitches worked in the same stitch with a specified number of chain stitches between them. Example: dc, ch 2, dc
double v-st: double v stitch
Double V stitches are 3 stitches worked in the same stitch with a specified number of chain stitches between each stitch. Example: dc, ch 2, dc, ch 2, dc
y-st: y stitch
Y stitches are 3 stitches worked on the same stitch, but the 3rd stitch is worked in the bottom of 1st stitch. tr in the specified stitch, ch 1, dc in bottom 2 vertical bars of tr st
Raised Crochet Stitches
puff stitch
*y/o, insert hook into the stitch, y/o, draw up loop*, repeat * to * two more times, or as many times as it takes to have the specified number of loops on your hook. y/o and pull through all of the loops on the hook, ch 1 to secure the stitch.
bobble stitch
y/o and insert your hook into the next st, y/o and pull up a loop, y/o and draw the loop through two of the loops on the hook. Leave remaining 2 loops on the hook.
*y/o and insert your hook into the same st, y/o and pull up a loop, y/o and draw the loop through two of the loops on the hook* Repeat * to * 3 more times. You should now have 6 loops on your hook. y/o and draw the loop through all of the loops on your hook.
boullion stitch
ch 2, wrap the yarn around the hook 7 times (it should resemble a coiled spring), insert the hook into the stitch, y/o and carefully pull the loop through the loops on the hook
popcorn stitch
5 dc in the same stitch, insert hook into the top of the first dc, y/o and draw through both loops on the hook, ch 1.
Clusters and Shells
cluster
The cluster stitch can be made using any stitch from sc to tr. This example is made using 5 dc stitches.
*y/o and insert your hook into the next st, y/o and pull up a loop, y/o and draw the loop through two of the loops on the hook. Leave remaining 2 loops on the hook.* Repeat * to * 4 more times. You should now have 6 loops on your hook. y/o and draw the loop through all of the loops on your hook.
shell
Make a specified number of stitches in the same stitch to create a fan or shell shape.
example: 5 dc in the same st, or (*hdc, ch 1* 3 times, hdc) in the same st, or (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same st, etc.
Special Crochet Stitches
3-ch picot
Chain 3, insert hook into the first ch made, y/o, draw up a loop and pull it through the loop on your hook (slip stitch). Then continue working pattern as directed.
Any #-ch picot is the same. the only change is the number of ch sts made in the beginning of the stitch.
false stitch
Cut yarn and pull through the last st. Thread the end through your needle and insert the needle under both loops of the first st, and back again though the back loop of the last st to create a faux st while bringing the yarn back to the back of your piece.
moss stitch
You will usually begin with an even number of stitches. sc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 1, sk 1, *sc, ch 1, sk1*, repeating * to * to the end of the row, turn Your last st should be a sc.
ch 2, *sk sc, sc in ch sp*, repeat * to * to last ch sp (the starting ch for the previous row, sc in that ch sp, turn
crocodile stitch
This is just one variation of the crocodile st.
Base Row:
1. ch 2 (counts as dc), dc in first st, *ch 2, sk 2, 2 dc in next st* 3 times, ch 2, sk 1, 2 dc in last st, turn 90 degrees
First set of scales:
2. With work turned 90 degrees, begin making crocodile sts as follows: ch 2 (counts as dc), 3 dc down the post of the first dc, ch 1, turn slightly, 4 dc up the post of the second dc (This is your first feather made.), *ch 1, sk over the next pair of dc, 4 dc down the post of the first dc in the next pair of dc, ch 1, turn slightly and 4 dc up the post of the second dc in that pair.* Repeat * to * once, turn
Setting up for the second row of scales:
3. ch 1, sl st into the first chsp, ch 3, dc in ch sp, *ch 2, 2 dc between the feathers – inserting your hook between the unused dc pair in the row 5 and under the chsp on row 6, ch 2, 2 dc in the center of the next feather*, repeat * to * once, turn 90 degrees
Second row of scales:
4. ch 2, sk first dc pair, 4 dc down the post of the first dc, ch 1, turn slightly, 4 dc up the post of the second dc (This is your first feather made.), *ch 1, sk over the next pair of dc, 4 dc down the post of the first dc in the next pair of dc, ch 1, turn slightly and 4 dc up the post of the second dc in that pair.* Repeat * to * to second last dc pair, ch 1, sl st into center of last dc pair, turn
Setting up for the third row of scales:
5. ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in same chsp, ch 2, 2 dc in center of feather, ch 2, 2 dc between the feathers – inserting your hook between the unused dc pair in the row 2 rows below and under the chsp on row below, repeat * to * to end, turn 90 degrees
Rows 2, 3, 4, and 5 make up 2 rows of crocodile sts
rsc: reverse single crochet (aka crab stitch)
Ch 1, working from left to right, sk first st, insert hook from front to back in next st to the right, yo, pull loop through st, yo, pull through 2 loops on hook.
shallow single crochet
Insert hook low into body of each st, below horizontal loops and between 2 vertical threads.
w-st: waistcoat stitch
Instead of making your stitches in the same spot you would normally, you will work inside of the v’s of the stitches of the previous round. If you are doing it correctly, your work will resemble the stocking stitch in knitting. I find this stitch works best when working in the round.
Spike Stitches
sp-sc: spike single crochet
Worked as sc, but you insert the hook into the st in the row/rnd below.
sp-hdc: spike half double crochet
Worked as hdc, but you insert the hook into the st in the row/rnd below.
sp-dc: spike double crochet
Worked as dc, but you insert the hook into the st in the row/rnd below.
