Do You Speak Crochet? If So You Are Bilingual!

You may not realize it, but as a crocheter you've picked up a whole new language - you're bilingual! If you don't believe me, just ask any non-crocheter you know to read any crochet pattern out loud and tell you what it means!

Or for fun, read a pattern out loud yourself and see how silly it all sounds! You will quickly see exactly how much of an expert you are in this bizarre language of abbreviations! Knitters have their own separate language too, but for this article we will focus just on we crocheters.

Here are some of the most commonly used crochet abbreviations, including some of my original stitch patterns such as the Rag Stitch and the Prong Stitch that I created and used in several of my free crochet pattern designs. If you think of more abbreviations that I may have missed, feel free to suggest them in the Comments section at the bottom of this page. I'd be delighted to add more to the list!

Just for fun (I was a graphic artist in a past career), I created a shirt that says "I'm Bilingual – I Speak Crochet!" I'll give you a link to where you can find it below. There's also a coordinating tote bag. It's in my CafePress store at www.cafepress.com/Schnauzies along with a whole lot of my other crochet themed apparel and gear designs. I think it's so much fun to show our crochet pride!

Happy crocheting!

Commonly Used Crochet Abbreviations

As I Think Of More, I'll Add Them Here!

BLO - Back Loop Only

BLK - Block

CH - Chain

CHs - Chains

CL - Cluster

DC - Double Crochet

DEC - Decrease

DHC - Double Half Crown Stitch*

DTR - Double Treble

DTRC - Double Treble Cluster

FO - Finished Object

FP -Front Post

GR - Gram

HDC - Half Double Crochet

HTRC - Half Treble Crochet

INCR - Increase

INCL - Including, Include, Inclusive

LP - Loop

OZ - Ounce(s)

P - Picot

PAT - Pattern

PC - Popcorn

PS - Prong Stitch*

REP - Repeat

RND(s) - Round(s)

RS - Rag Stitch*

SC - Single Crochet

SK - Skip

SL ST - Slip Stitch

SP(S) -- Space(s)

SQ - Square

ST - Stitch

TOG - Together

TR/TRC - Treble/Triple Crochet

TRHC - Triple Half Crown Stitch*

TRP - Triple Picot*

TR TR - Triple Treble Crochet

TRCC - Treble Crochet Cluster

UFO - Unfinished Object

WIP - Work In Progress

YO - Yarn Over

*= My Original Stitch Pattern