How to Read a Crochet Pattern (A Simple Guide for Beginners)

What You'll Learn

• What all those abbreviations mean, and where to look them up
• How brackets, parentheses and asterisks work
• What the numbers at the end of a row are for
• The difference between US and UK terms (it matters!)
• A real pattern line, read step by step

Read the top of the pattern first

Before the first row, most patterns tell you a lot. Don’t skip this part!

• Skill level: beginner, easy, intermediate or advanced.
• Materials: yarn weight and amount, hook size, and extras like stitch markers.
• Gauge: how many stitches and rows fit in a set measurement. It tells you if your piece will come out the right size.
• Terms: US or UK. This one matters a lot (more on that below).
• Notes: special instructions, like whether the turning chain counts as a stitch.

Learn the common abbreviations

Patterns use short abbreviations so they don’t go on for pages. Here are the ones you’ll see most:

Abbreviation	Means
ch	chain
sc	single crochet
hdc	half double crochet
dc	double crochet
sl st	slip stitch
st(s)	stitch(es)
inc	increase (2 stitches in one stitch)
dec	decrease (2 stitches worked together)
rep	repeat
rnd	round
yo	yarn over

You don’t need to memorize them. Keep our crochet abbreviations list open in another tab while you work.

Brackets, parentheses and asterisks

These tell you what to repeat and how many times.

Square brackets [ ] mean “repeat what’s inside.” The number after tells you how many times.

• [sc, inc] 6 times = single crochet, increase, single crochet, increase… six times in total.

Asterisks * mark the start of a repeat.

• *sc in next 3 sts, inc; rep from * around = do the part after the asterisk again and again until you reach the end of the round.

Parentheses ( ) usually do one of two things:

• Show the stitch count at the end of a row: (18).
• Group stitches that go into the same stitch or space: (dc, ch 2, dc) in next st.

Those numbers at the end

That number in parentheses at the end of a row, like (18), is the stitch count: how many stitches you should have when the row is finished.

Count your stitches and compare. If they match, wonderful. If not, it’s much easier to fix now than three rows later.

US vs. UK terms

This catches so many people. The US and the UK use the same names for different stitches:

US term	UK term
single crochet (sc)	double crochet (dc)
half double crochet (hdc)	half treble (htr)
double crochet (dc)	treble (tr)
treble crochet (tr)	double treble (dtr)

So if a UK pattern says “dc,” it means a US single crochet. Always check which terms a pattern uses before you start. Everything on mycrochetmakes uses US terms.

Let’s read a real line together

Here’s a line from the easy amigurumi bunny pattern:

Rnd 3: [sc, inc] 6 times. (18)

Piece by piece:

• Rnd 3: this is the third round.
• [sc, inc]: single crochet in the next stitch, then increase (2 single crochets in the next stitch).
• 6 times: repeat that pair six times, all the way around.
• (18): at the end, you should have 18 stitches.

That’s it. Every pattern line is just these same few pieces put together in different ways.

A few tips for your first pattern

• Read the whole pattern once before you start, so nothing surprises you.
• Mark your place. A sticky note or a pencil tick beside each finished row helps a lot.
• Use stitch markers in the first stitch of each round.
• Count at the end of every row.
• Start simple. Pick a pattern labeled beginner or easy, with stitch counts written in.

Once a few patterns have gone well, you’ll find you can read them almost as easily as a recipe.

Frequently asked questions

Are all crochet patterns written in US terms?

No. Many patterns use US terms and many use UK terms, and the same name can mean different stitches. Check the start of the pattern. All patterns on this site use US terms.

What's the difference between a row and a round?

Rows go back and forth, and you turn your work at the end of each one. Rounds go around in a circle, like for hats or amigurumi, and usually don't turn.

Does the turning chain count as a stitch?

It depends on the pattern. Usually it doesn't for single crochet, but often does for double crochet. A good pattern will tell you in its notes.

What does "work even" mean?

It means work one stitch in each stitch across, without increasing or decreasing.