A Guide to Basic Crochet Stitches & Reading Crochet Patterns
In my previous posts looking at Where to Start with Crochet, part 1 looked at the equipment you will need to get going and part 2 looked at the different types of yarn that are available.
In this part, we will look at the different crochet stitches, particularly how to read them in a crochet pattern. If you want to learn how to actually do each stitch, subscribe to my monthly emails and YouTube channel to be the first to know when I will be launching a series of tutorial videos.
From my experience, I know that crochet patterns are hard to read, especially with some of the abbreviations and terminology used. Then there is also the added difficulty that there are different terms in different parts of the world – for example, a double crochet in the UK is not the same as a double crochet in the US. Altogether, this makes reading crochet patterns quite tricky.
So, here we go.
| UK Stitch | Abbreviation | US Stitch | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain | ch | Chain | ch |
| Slip stitch | ss | Slip stitch | sl st |
| Double crochet | dc | Single crochet | sc |
| Half treble crochet | htr | Half double crochet | hdc |
| Treble crochet | tr | Double crochet | dc |
| Double treble crochet | dtr | Triple crochet | tr |
| Triple treble crochet | trtr | Double triple crochet | dtr |
This table shows the main crochet stitches and the abbreviation used in patterns, starting with the smallest stitch and working up to the largest. These stitches are the foundation of crochet, so if you want to learn how to crochet well, start with these and practise, practise, practise! Then you can move on to other, more complicated versions of these stitches as well as full crochet patterns. If you don’t take the time to get these fundamentals right, you will struggle when you try to move past them.
By repeating and practising these stitches, you will also be able to work on so many other aspects of the craft – how you hold your yarn, how you hold your needle, how tightly or loosely you crochet, and even how you sit or hold your shoulders while you are crocheting. These are all vital, but often overlooked, aspects of crochet.
I will be revisiting the topic of how to read crochet patterns in future posts, but if you want to investigate further, you can visit the Yarn Council website as they set the standards that we all work toward.
Update: I’ve created a round-up post where you can access links to all of the posts in this series – HERE.
