The Cheat Sheet

The Glossary

Every weird word explained. Honestly, we had to look most of these up too.

UK vs US terms: Crochet terms are different in the UK and US — a UK double crochet is a US single crochet. Confusing? Absolutely. Most YouTube tutorials use US terms. Most UK patterns use UK terms. Always check which one you're reading. We've flagged the differences below.

Crochet

Chain (ch)

The foundation of most crochet. Like building the first rung of a ladder. You'll start nearly every project with one.

Slip Stitch (sl st)

The shortest stitch. Used to join things together or move your yarn along without adding height. Think of it as a full stop.

Single Crochet (sc)

US term — in the UK this is called Double Crochet (dc)

The most basic stitch. Short, tight, and sturdy. Great for amigurumi (cute stuffed things) and anything that needs structure.

Double Crochet (dc)

US term — in the UK this is called Treble (tr)

Taller than single crochet. Creates a more open, flowing fabric. Blankets, scarves, granny squares — this is your go-to.

Half Double Crochet (hdc)

US term — UK: Half Treble (htr)

Right between a single and double crochet. The Goldilocks stitch — not too short, not too tall.

Treble Crochet (tr)

US term — UK: Double Treble (dtr)

A tall, open stitch. Great for lacy patterns and anything that needs to grow quickly.

Yarn Over (yo)

Wrapping the yarn around your hook. You'll do this approximately one million times per project. It becomes automatic, promise.

Magic Ring / Magic Circle

A way to start working in a circle with no hole in the middle. Looks like actual magic the first time you do it. YouTube it.

Turning Chain

The chain stitches you make at the start of a new row to get your yarn to the right height. Different stitches need different numbers.

Granny Square

The classic. A square motif usually made with double crochet clusters. Your nan probably made a blanket out of these. Now it's cool again.

Amigurumi

Japanese art of crocheting small stuffed creatures. Cute animals, food, characters — basically an excuse to make tiny things and put them on your desk.

Frogging

Pulling your work apart to start again. Called frogging because you "rip it, rip it" (ribbit). Honestly, it's quite satisfying.

Gauge / Tension

How tight or loose you crochet. Everyone's is different. Patterns ask you to check it so your finished thing is the right size. Important for clothes, less so for a wonky coaster.

WIP

Work In Progress. What you'll call the 47 half-finished projects on your sofa.

UFO

Unfinished Object. The WIPs you've given up on but can't bring yourself to frog. We all have them.

Stash

Your yarn collection. It will grow. It will take over a cupboard. You will claim you "needed" all of it.

Knitting

Cast On (CO)

Getting your first stitches onto the needle. There are about fifteen ways to do this. Start with long-tail cast on — it's the most useful.

Cast Off / Bind Off (BO)

Finishing your work by closing off the stitches so it doesn't unravel. The most satisfying moment in knitting.

Knit Stitch (K)

The most basic knitting stitch. Insert needle, wrap yarn, pull through. If you only learn one stitch, learn this one.

Purl Stitch (P)

The knit stitch's mirror image. Combine knit and purl and you can make almost anything. It's like learning a second chord on guitar.

Stockinette / Stocking Stitch

Alternating rows of knit and purl. Creates that classic smooth V-pattern you see on shop-bought jumpers.

Garter Stitch

Knit every row. Creates a bumpy, squishy fabric that lies flat. The easiest thing to knit — perfect for scarves.

DPNs (Double Pointed Needles)

Short needles with points at both ends. Used for knitting in the round — socks, hats, sleeves. They look terrifying but you'll get there.

Circular Needles

Two needles joined by a flexible cable. Used for knitting in the round or for big flat projects. Less stabby than DPNs.

Increase / Decrease

Adding or removing stitches to shape your work. How you turn a rectangle into a hat or a jumper sleeve.

Blocking

Wetting or steaming your finished piece and pinning it into shape. Makes everything look professionally finished. Game changer.

Tinking

"Knit" spelled backwards. Undoing your work one stitch at a time (as opposed to frogging, which is ripping the whole lot out).

Embroidery

Embroidery Hoop

The round frame that holds your fabric taut while you stitch. Comes in different sizes. Also looks cute as wall art when you're done.

Aida Cloth

A stiff, grid-like fabric made for cross stitch. The little holes make it easy to count and place your stitches evenly.

Embroidery Floss / Thread

Six-stranded thread. You can split it to use fewer strands for finer detail. DMC is the brand you'll see everywhere.

Backstitch

A basic outline stitch. Great for text, borders, and defining shapes. If you learn one embroidery stitch, make it this one.

Satin Stitch

Parallel stitches laid side by side to fill an area with solid colour. Looks beautiful. Takes patience. Worth it.

French Knot

A tiny, raised dot. The stitch that makes everyone swear at least once. Once you crack it, you'll put them on everything.

Cross Stitch

Two diagonal stitches that cross to form an X. Counted on a grid. Very meditative. Very good for rude words in pretty frames.

Chain Stitch

A series of loops that create a chain-like line. Great for outlines and filling. One of the oldest embroidery stitches in the world.

Lazy Daisy

A single chain stitch anchored at the end — looks like a petal. Group them in a circle and you've got a flower. Instant gratification.

Transfer

Getting your design onto the fabric. You can trace, use carbon paper, or buy iron-on transfers. No freehand drawing skills required.

Pattern Abbreviations

The shorthand you'll see in patterns. Print this page and stick it on your fridge.

UK vs US reminder: UK and US crochet terms use the same abbreviations for DIFFERENT stitches. A UK "dc" (double crochet) is a US "sc" (single crochet). Always check which version your pattern uses. Knitting terms are the same in both.

Crochet Abbreviations

Abbreviation	US Term	UK Equivalent
ch	Chain	Chain (same)
sl st	Slip Stitch	Slip Stitch (same)
sc	Single Crochet	Double Crochet (dc)
hdc	Half Double Crochet	Half Treble (htr)
dc	Double Crochet	Treble (tr)
tr	Treble Crochet	Double Treble (dtr)
yo	Yarn Over	Yarn Over Hook (yoh)
sk	Skip	Miss
st(s)	Stitch(es)	Stitch(es) (same)
sp	Space	Space (same)
rep	Repeat	Repeat (same)
inc	Increase	Increase (same)
dec	Decrease	Decrease (same)
MC	Main Colour	Main Colour (same)
CC	Contrast Colour	Contrast Colour (same)
WS / RS	Wrong Side / Right Side	Wrong Side / Right Side (same)

Knitting Abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
K	Knit
P	Purl
CO	Cast On
BO	Bind Off / Cast Off
K2tog	Knit Two Together (a decrease)
P2tog	Purl Two Together (a decrease)
SSK	Slip Slip Knit (a left-leaning decrease)
YO	Yarn Over (creates a hole — used in lace)
PM	Place Marker
DPN	Double Pointed Needle
St st	Stockinette / Stocking Stitch
Rnd	Round (when working in the round)

Beginner Patterns

Coming soon.

Discounts & Deals

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Places to Buy Supplies

Online

LoveCrafts

Huge range of yarn, needles, kits, and patterns. Regular sales and free patterns. Sign up for their newsletter for discount codes.

lovecrafts.com →

Online

Wool Warehouse

Great prices on branded yarn. Fast delivery. One of the best UK online yarn shops.

woolwarehouse.co.uk →

Online & In Store

Hobbycraft

The big one. Everything you need in one place. Sign up to their club for 20% off your first order and regular member discounts.

hobbycraft.co.uk →

Local

Your local yarn shop

Nothing beats a local yarn shop for advice, touching the yarn before you buy, and supporting small businesses. Ask if they do a loyalty card or workshop discount.

Ask us for Bath recommendations →

Tip: If you're just starting out, don't spend loads. A 4mm crochet hook (about £3), a ball of DK acrylic yarn (about £2), and a YouTube tutorial is genuinely all you need. You can always upgrade later once you know what you like.