Abbreviation & Stitch Glossary
Last updated: April 16, 2026
Searchable glossary of knitting and crochet abbreviations with US/UK toggle, stitch descriptions, and step-by-step diagrams.
Why You Need an Abbreviation & Stitch Glossary
Halfway through a vintage pattern, you hit “sl1-k2tog-psso” and freeze — what does that mean? Knitting and crochet patterns rely on over a hundred standard abbreviations, and designers sometimes invent their own. Without a reliable reference, one misread abbreviation can derail an entire project.
The confusion doubles when you cross the Atlantic. UK and US crochet terminology uses the same words for completely different stitches, so a British pattern calling for double crochet produces a fundamentally different fabric than the American stitch of the same name. A searchable glossary with a US/UK toggle eliminates this guesswork entirely.
What Is an Abbreviation & Stitch Glossary?
An abbreviation glossary is a searchable database of knitting and crochet abbreviations paired with their full names, definitions, and step-by-step execution instructions. It covers standard abbreviations published by the Craft Yarn Council as well as widely used designer shorthand for cables, colorwork, and lace.
The US/UK toggle switches the entire glossary between American and British terminology. Each entry shows the equivalent abbreviation in the other system when one exists, making it possible to work confidently from patterns published in either country.
The pattern translator feature goes further — paste a full instruction line and the glossary expands every abbreviation into plain language. This is especially useful for complex stitch sequences where multiple abbreviations stack together in a single instruction.
How UK/US Term Conversion Works
The UK/US conversion is not random — it follows a systematic offset. Every UK crochet term is one step higher than its US equivalent. UK double crochet equals US single crochet. UK treble equals US double crochet. UK double treble equals US treble. The entire naming ladder shifts by one rung.
This offset exists because UK terminology counts the loops on the hook, while US terminology counts the yarn overs before insertion. A US single crochet has zero yarn overs before inserting; the UK calls it double crochet because there are two loops on the hook after pulling up. Understanding this logic makes the entire conversion table predictable rather than something to memorize.
Abbreviation and Stitch Glossary
How to Search Knitting Abbreviations
Stitch Abbreviation Reference and Definitions
Showing 77 of 77 entries. Click any stitch with a ▶ steps badge to see a quick diagram.
Insert needle knitwise, wrap yarn, pull through.
Insert needle purlwise, wrap yarn, pull through.
One or more loops on the needle/hook.
The public-facing side of your work.
The back/inside of your work.
Creating initial stitches on the needle.
Securing stitches to prevent unraveling. Also: cast off.
Wrap yarn around needle to create a new stitch and decorative hole.
Move a stitch from left to right needle without working it.
Knit: slip without working. Crochet: insert hook, pull through loop on hook.
Put a stitch marker on the needle/in the stitch.
Move the marker from left to right needle.
Knit into front then back of same stitch. Creates 2 stitches from 1.
Lift the bar between stitches and knit into it. Nearly invisible increase.
Left-leaning lifted increase. Pick up bar front-to-back, knit through back.
Right-leaning lifted increase. Pick up bar back-to-front, knit through front.
Add one or more stitches. Method varies by pattern.
Insert needle through 2 stitches at once, knit as one. Right-leaning decrease.
Insert needle through 2 stitches purlwise, purl as one.
Slip 2 knitwise, knit together through back. Left-leaning decrease.
Slip 2 knitwise, return, purl together through back.
Slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over. Left-leaning decrease.
Double decrease. Slip 1, K2tog, pass slipped stitch over.
Centered double decrease.
Remove one or more stitches. Method varies.
Slip 2 together, K1, pass slipped stitches over.
Work into the back leg of the stitch instead of the front.
Bring working yarn to front of work before next action.
Keep working yarn behind work before next action.
Short needle used to hold stitches for cables.
Slip 2 to CN, hold front, K2, K2 from CN. Left-leaning cable.
Slip 2 to CN, hold back, K2, K2 from CN. Right-leaning cable.
Work multiple stitches into one, then decrease back. Creates a 3D bump.
Vintage term for yarn over (YO) in knitting. Wrap yarn completely around the right needle. Found in Reader's Digest and similar mid-century references.
Vintage knitting term equivalent to yarn over (YO). Take yarn over the top of the right needle.
Vintage term. Bring the yarn to the front between needles. In modern patterns this is part of a yarn over.
Old British term for yarn over. Identical to YO — wrap the yarn over the needle. Common in pre-1980s UK patterns.
Old British term for yarn forward. Bring the wool to the front of the work between the needles.
Old British term for yarn round needle. Wrap the wool completely around the needle. Same as YRN/YO.
Old British equivalent of yarn over needle. Take the wool over the top of the right needle.
Vintage term meaning take the yarn to the back of the work. Modern equivalent: yarn back (yb).
Yarn over, pull through loop on hook. Foundation of most crochet.
Insert hook, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
YO, insert hook, pull up loop, YO, pull through all 3 loops.
YO, insert hook, pull up loop, (YO, pull through 2) twice.
YO twice, insert hook, pull up loop, (YO, pull through 2) three times.
YO three times, insert hook, (YO, pull through 2) four times.
Creates foundation chain and first row of DC simultaneously.
Creates foundation chain and first row of SC simultaneously.
Work 2 single crochets into the same stitch. Adds 1 stitch.
Work 2 double crochets into the same stitch.
Multiple stitches (usually 5 DC) worked into one stitch. Creates a fan shape.
Invisible decrease for SC. Insert, pull up, insert next, pull up, YO, pull through all.
Work 2 incomplete DC, then join at the top.
Insert through front loops only of 2 stitches. Tighter than SC2tog — preferred for amigurumi.
YO, insert hook around the post from the front. Creates raised texture.
YO, insert hook around the post from the back. Creates indented texture.
Insert hook around the post from front. Subtle raised texture.
Multiple half-finished HDC in one stitch, joined at top. Puffy and squishy.
Multiple incomplete DC in one stitch, joined at top. Protrudes from RS.
5 complete DC in one stitch, then fold and join first to last.
(DC, CH1, DC) in same stitch. Creates a V shape.
The secondary color(s) in a colorwork pattern.
The primary/background color in a colorwork pattern.
Work the bracketed or asterisked section again.
One complete circuit when working in the round.
Miss the next stitch. Do not work into it.
The gap created by chain stitches in the previous row.
Work two or more stitches as one. Usually a decrease.
Insert hook under back loop only. Creates a ridged texture.
Insert hook under front loop only. Creates a ridged texture.
Chain(s) at the start of a row to match the height of the first stitch.
Adjustable starting ring for working in the round. Closes completely with no hole.
Cut yarn, pull through last loop to secure.
Thread tail through yarn needle and work into fabric to secure.
Wet or steam the finished piece to set stitches and shape.
Number of stitches and rows per inch/cm. UK: tension.
How to Use the Abbreviation & Stitch Glossary
Type any abbreviation into the search field to find its full name, description, and step-by-step execution. The glossary covers both knitting and crochet abbreviations. Use the US/UK toggle to switch between American and British terminology — the glossary shows the equivalent abbreviation in the other system when one exists.
Each entry includes a written description of how to work the stitch, the stitch symbol used in charts, and for common stitches, a step-by-step diagram. Browse by category (increases, decreases, basic stitches, cables, colorwork) or search directly.
Understanding Your Results
The US/UK toggle shows the equivalent term in the other system. "dc" in US crochet means double crochet (yarn over, insert hook, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through two, yarn over, pull through two). "dc" in UK crochet means what Americans call single crochet — a completely different stitch. The toggle makes this distinction explicit so you can work from any pattern regardless of its country of origin.
Some abbreviations have no direct equivalent in the other system and are flagged as such. Proprietary stitch abbreviations invented by individual designers are not included — those are defined within the pattern itself.
Pro Tips
From 30+ years of fiber arts experience
- ✓Always check the abbreviation key printed in your specific pattern before relying on the glossary. Some designers define custom abbreviations or use standard abbreviations in non-standard ways.
- ✓UK and US crochet terms are completely different for the same stitch. UK double crochet = US single crochet. UK treble = US double crochet. This single fact causes more pattern confusion than any other.
- ✓When an abbreviation is ambiguous and you cannot find a pattern key, look at the stitch count for the row. The stitch count tells you what the abbreviation must mean in context.
- ✓Save or bookmark the specific entries you need for your current project so you can reference them quickly without searching each time.
How to Read This Chart
This glossary contains searchable entries for over 100 standard knitting and crochet abbreviations paired with their full stitch names and execution instructions. Each entry shows the abbreviation (such as 'dc' for double crochet), the full stitch name, the complete sequence of movements to execute the stitch, the chart symbol, and any special technique variations. The US/UK toggle switches all entries between American and British terminology — selecting 'UK' remaps every crochet abbreviation, because 'dc' means double crochet in US but single crochet in UK. Categories organize by stitch family (basic stitches, increases, decreases, cables, colorwork, lace) for browsing by type. Each entry shows yarn overs before insertion, loops on hook at each stage, and turning chain counts for crochet stitches.
Industry Standards
The Craft Yarn Council (CYC) publishes the official standard abbreviations for North American knitting and crochet patterns, establishing the baseline set used by nearly all commercial US and Canadian patterns. In the UK, similar standards follow British fiber publications. The most significant divergence is UK crochet terminology, which systematically offsets stitch names by one step from the US system — UK 'double crochet' equals US 'single crochet,' UK 'treble' equals US 'double crochet.' This offset dates to early 20th-century pattern-writing traditions where the two countries counted hooks and loops differently. Individual designer shorthand for complex stitch sequences is common in indie patterns and vintage sources, which is why every pattern should include an abbreviation key.
Real-World Variations
Although CYC publishes standard abbreviations, individual designers and publishers sometimes deviate, particularly for complex stitches or specialty techniques. Vintage patterns from the mid-20th century often use abbreviations since redefined — 'yo' (yarn over) once appeared as '* yo' with an asterisk in some older sources. Regional knitting styles also create variations — continental European patterns sometimes use completely different shorthand than UK or US sources. Some abbreviations appear in one craft but not the other, or mean different things in each — 'sl st' (slip stitch) is executed completely differently in knitting versus crochet. Published pattern abbreviation keys should always be your primary reference.
References and Industry Standards
- Craft Yarn Council — Yarn Weight System — Industry-standard yarn weight categories and gauge ranges
- Craft Yarn Council — Needle & Hook Sizes — Standard sizing charts for knitting needles and crochet hooks
- Ravelry — Yarn database, pattern library, and community for fiber artists
Learn More About This Topic
Related Fiber Arts Tools
UK/US Converter
Instantly convert UK crochet patterns to US terminology and vice versa. Handles abbreviations, vintage terms, and full stitch names.
Stitch Reference
Visual step-by-step for every basic stitch. Yarn overs, pull-throughs, loop counts, and turning chains at a glance.
Needle Converter
Instantly convert knitting needle and crochet hook sizes between US, UK, metric, and Japanese systems.
Edge Cases & Exceptions
What does SSK mean in knitting?
SSK stands for Slip, Slip, Knit. It’s a left-leaning decrease where you slip two stitches knitwise one at a time, then knit them together through the back loops.
What does SC mean in crochet?
SC stands for Single Crochet (US term). In UK patterns, the same stitch is called DC (Double Crochet). This is one of the most common sources of confusion between US and UK patterns.
What’s the difference between US and UK crochet terms?
US and UK crochet terms are offset by one. A US Single Crochet = UK Double Crochet. A US Double Crochet = UK Treble. Our glossary shows both with a UK/US toggle.
What does FLO mean?
FLO stands for Front Loop Only. Instead of working through both loops of a stitch, you insert your hook or needle through only the front loop. This creates a ridged texture.
How do I read a knitting pattern?
Use our Pattern Translator. Paste a line from your pattern and every abbreviation gets highlighted with its full meaning. It’s like a real-time dictionary for pattern instructions.
What does YO mean?
YO stands for Yarn Over. You wrap the yarn around your needle to create a new stitch and a decorative hole. It’s the foundation of lace knitting.
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