How to Read a Crochet Pattern: Abbreviations, Symbols, and Repeats

A crochet pattern can look genuinely intimidating the first time you see one: “sc2tog, *ch 1, sk 1, dc in next; rep from * to end (12 dc).” It reads like code. But it’s really just a compact shorthand, and once someone shows you the handful of conventions, you can read almost any pattern. Let’s decode it.

Here’s what usually happens to a beginner: you print out a pattern, sit down excited, and hit that first line of abbreviations and asterisks, and your stomach drops a little. That reaction is completely normal – nobody is born knowing that “sc2tog” means anything, and patterns rarely pause to explain themselves before diving in. The discouraging part is that this moment usually happens before you’ve made a single stitch, so it can feel like proof you’re not cut out for this, when really it’s just an unfamiliar alphabet standing between you and a pattern you’re fully capable of following.

Learning to read a pattern properly is worth slowing down for, because it’s the skill that makes you independent. A video tutorial teaches you one project. Learning pattern shorthand means you can pick up any pattern – a free one online, one from a secondhand book, one a friend hands you – and work through it on your own. A good outcome here isn’t reading fast; it’s reading carefully enough that your stitch count matches the pattern’s at the end of every single row.

Abbreviations

Patterns shorten stitch names to save space. The common US abbreviations you’ll meet early are:

• ch – chain
• sl st – slip stitch
• sc – single crochet
• hdc – half double crochet
• dc – double crochet
• tr – treble (triple) crochet
• st / sts – stitch / stitches
• sk – skip
• yo – yarn over
• rep – repeat

You’ll also see combined terms like sc2tog (single crochet two stitches together – a decrease) and 2 dc in next (two double crochets in the same stitch – an increase).

Asterisks and brackets: the repeat system

This is the part that unlocks everything. Patterns don’t spell out every stitch – they give you a small sequence and tell you to repeat it.

• Asterisks (*): “*ch 1, sk 1, dc in next; rep from * to end” means work everything between the asterisk and the semicolon, then start again at the asterisk, over and over until the end of the row.
• Brackets [ ] or parentheses ( ): These group stitches that happen in one place or repeat a set number of times. “(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next space” means all of that goes into the same stitch or space. “[dc in next 3 sts] twice” means repeat that action two times.

When you see a repeat, it helps to whisper it out loud as you go – it keeps you from losing your place.

Stitch counts

The number in parentheses at the end of a row – like (12 dc) – is the total number of stitches you should have when the row is done.

Turning chains and “counts as”

At the start of a row, patterns often tell you to chain a few and note whether it “counts as” a stitch. A double-crochet row usually starts with ch 3 that counts as the first dc; a single-crochet row usually starts with ch 1 that does not count.

Gauge, hooks, and yarn notes

Near the top of a pattern you’ll find the recommended hook size, yarn weight, and a gauge – something like “14 sts x 16 rows = 4 inches.” Gauge matters most for wearables that need to fit. For a blanket or a dishcloth you can be relaxed about it, but for a hat or garment, make a small swatch and check yours matches before you commit.

One more thing worth knowing before you trust an abbreviations key: they aren’t universal. If a pattern comes from a UK-based designer, its “dc” means a completely different stitch than the US “dc” you just learned above – see US vs UK crochet terms before you start counting on assumptions.

Read it once before you start

The single best habit: read the whole pattern through before making a stitch. Note the repeats, the counts, and any special stitches. Patterns feel like a foreign language for about a week – then one day the shorthand just reads like sentences.

How to practice reading a pattern before you start crocheting

You don’t have to trust your eyes on the first pass. Before picking up your hook, try reading the pattern out loud, the way you might sound out a new language – it forces you to slow down at exactly the spots where your eyes want to skim. Circle or highlight every asterisk, bracket, and parenthesis so the repeats are visually obvious before you’re also holding yarn.

For the first row of an unfamiliar pattern, it can help to write out one full repeat longhand on a scrap of paper – every stitch spelled out, no shorthand – and count how many stitches it produces. Compare that to the stitch count the pattern gives you at the end of the row; if your math doesn’t match, you’ve caught a misunderstanding before it costs you any yarn. If the pattern also includes a stitch diagram or chart alongside the written instructions, cross-checking the two is one of the fastest ways to confirm you’ve understood a tricky repeat – our guide to reading a crochet chart walks through how the symbols map to the words.

Frequently asked questions

What does “rep from * to end” actually mean?

Repeat the sequence that started at the asterisk, again and again, until you reach the end of the row or round.

Why do brackets sometimes have a number after them?

The number tells you how many times to repeat the bracketed group – for example “[dc, ch 1] 3 times.”

Do I have to match the pattern’s gauge?

Only when size matters, like hats and garments. For flat, forgiving projects, a slightly different gauge just makes the finished piece a little bigger or smaller.

What if a pattern doesn’t say whether it uses US or UK terms?

Check whether it uses the words “single crochet” anywhere – that phrase only exists in US patterns. If it’s missing and the abbreviation key lists “dc” as the short, basic stitch, you’re likely reading a UK pattern.

Is it normal to reread the same line three or four times before it makes sense?

Completely. Pattern shorthand is dense on purpose, and rereading a repeat until it clicks is part of the process, not a sign you’re doing it wrong.