How to Read a Crochet Pattern: US Terms, Counts & Repeats
Reading a crochet pattern is easier when you treat it as a set of small, repeatable instructions. This guide explains the common US terms used in digital patterns and a simple method for checking your work as you go.
Start with the materials and key
Look at the yarn, hook, notions and gauge notes before making your first stitch. A different yarn thickness or hook size can change the finished dimensions, even when you follow every instruction correctly.
Find the abbreviations list near the start of the pattern. US crochet terminology differs from UK terminology: for example, US single crochet (sc) corresponds to UK double crochet. Use the terms specified by the designer.
A quick guide to common US abbreviations
ch = chain, sl st = slip stitch, sc = single crochet, hdc = half double crochet, dc = double crochet, st/sts = stitch/stitches, rnd = round, rep = repeat and inc = increase. Some patterns also use dec for decrease or BLO for back loop only.
An instruction such as “(sc, inc) repeat 6 times” describes a repeated sequence. Follow the instruction for the current row or round, then compare the resulting stitch count with the pattern before continuing.
Use stitch counts as checkpoints
If the pattern gives an ending count in brackets, count the stitches rather than assuming the row is correct. It is easier to fix one round immediately than to discover an error after several more rounds.
Use a removable stitch marker at the beginning of rounds or at repeat boundaries. For a flat ornament, check the orientation of each piece before assembly so that the right side and joining edges match.
When something does not look right
First check whether you skipped a repeat, worked into the wrong loop, or used UK terminology instead of US terminology. Count stitches again and compare the shape with the pattern diagram, if included.
If a PDF contains an unclear instruction, contact the seller before making major modifications. Our currently listed patterns are untested drafts, so the written instructions—not the digital concept photo—should be treated as the reference while they are being evaluated.