Crochet chart symbols

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A crochet chart is a picture of the finished fabric, drawn from above. Once the symbols click, a chart is far easier to follow than a wall of abbreviations — you can see the shape you’re making.

Height is the trick. The little marks crossing a stitch’s post tell you how tall it is: none for half double, one for double, two for treble, and one more for every extra yarn over. Single crochet is the odd one out — it’s just an X.

115 symbols, drawn to their true relative height.
Abbr.	Name	What it is
(sc, ch 2, sc)	Acorn Group (sc, ch 2, sc)	A single crochet, chain 2 and a single crochet, all worked into the same place, usually a chain space. Worked into 1 place, counts as 4.
2-FPdc-dc tog	2 Front Post Double Crochets and 1 Double Crochet Together	A double crochet and two front post double crochets, each left unfinished, then joined at the top. Used at the edge of a row, where the plain leg sits on the outside. Worked into 3 stitches, counts as 1.
2dc-bobble	2-dc Bobble	The 2-double-crochet bobble: two dc worked into one stitch and left unfinished, then drawn together. Rounded, and still one stitch.
2dc-cl	2-dc Cluster	Two double crochets worked into ONE stitch, each left unfinished, then joined at the top. Drawn with straight posts; a rounded one is a bobble.
2dtr-cl	2-dtr Cluster	Two double trebles worked into ONE stitch, each left unfinished, then joined at the top.
2tr-cl	2-tr Cluster	Two trebles worked into ONE stitch, each left unfinished, then joined at the top.
3-dc shell	3-dc Shell (3 dc in one stitch)	Three double crochets worked into the same stitch, fanning out. Worked into 1 stitch, counts as 3.
3dc-cl	3-dc Cluster	Three double crochets worked into ONE stitch, each left unfinished, then joined at the top.
3dc-pc	3-dc Popcorn	Three complete double crochets in one stitch, then closed into a raised bump through the top of the first.
3tr-cl	3-tr Cluster	Three trebles worked into ONE stitch, each left unfinished, then joined at the top.
4-loop puff	4-Loop Puff	Four lengthened loops pulled up in one stitch, then closed in two steps: through all loops but the last, then through the last 2. Worked on a wrong-side row among single crochets, it bulges out to the right side. Worked into 1 stitch, counts as 1.
4dc-bobble	4-dc Bobble	The 4-double-crochet bobble: four dc worked into one stitch and left unfinished, then drawn together. Bulky, not wide: still one stitch.
4dc-cl	4-dc Cluster	Four double crochets worked into ONE stitch, each left unfinished, then joined at the top.
4dc-pc	4-dc Popcorn	Four complete double crochets in one stitch, then closed into a raised bump through the top of the first.
4hdc-puff	4-hdc Puff	Four half-double-crochet loops pulled up in one stitch, then drawn through together. hdc carries no height marks, so the symbol is a bare bulb.
4tr-bobble	4-tr Bobble	A taller bobble: four trebles worked into one stitch and left unfinished, then drawn together.
4tr-cl	4-tr Cluster	Four trebles worked into ONE stitch, each left unfinished, then joined at the top.
5-loop star	5-Loop Star	Five loops gathered at the top into one star. Three come from the star before it: the strand behind its eye, its last loop, and the stitch its last leg went into. Two come from the next 2 stitches. Chain 1 after it to make its eye. Worked over 2 stitches, counts as 1.
5dc-cl	5-dc Cluster	Five double crochets worked into ONE stitch, each left unfinished, then joined at the top.
5tr-bobble	5-tr Bobble	A taller bobble: five trebles worked into one stitch and left unfinished, then drawn together.
5tr-cl	5-tr Cluster	Five trebles worked into ONE stitch, each left unfinished, then joined at the top.
angled puff	Angled Puff	A single crochet and a lengthened 3-loop puff, both worked into the same stitch. Work 1 sc, then [yarn over, insert the hook, pull up a loop] 3 times in that same stitch, lengthening the loops. Yarn over and draw through all the loops except the working loop, then yarn over and draw through the last 2. The puff leans over the next stitch, and rows of them look plaited. Worked into 1 stitch, counts as 2.
beg 5-loop star	Beginning 5-Loop Star	Starts a row of stars. Chain 3, then gather a loop from each of the 3 chains and one from each of the next 2 stitches into one star. The chain is part of this stitch, so no separate turning chain is placed. Chain 1 after it to make its eye. Worked over 2 stitches, counts as 1.
beg bobble	Beginning 3-dc Bobble	The 3-dc bobble worked at the start of a row or round: ch 2 in place of the first leg, then two unfinished dc into the same stitch, drawn together. Softer than the 5-dc version, and still one stitch.
beg bobble	Beginning 5-dc Bobble	A 5-dc bobble worked at the start of a row or round. There is no stitch below to build the first leg on, so a ch 2 stands in for it: ch 2, then four unfinished dc into the same stitch, and draw the lot together. Counts as one bobble, not as a chain plus a bobble.
beg pc	Beginning Popcorn	A popcorn worked at the start of a row or round. A popcorn is made of COMPLETE double crochets, so the chain that replaces its first stitch is a full ch 3 -- not the ch 2 a bobble uses. Ch 3, four more dc into the same stitch, then drop the loop, hook into the top of the chain and pull through to fold the group forward.
beg-dc2tog	Beginning Cluster (ch 3 + 1 dc together) ours	Opens a round in place of a two-double-crochet cluster. You cannot work a double crochet where you are already standing, so the starting chain of three stands in for the cluster’s first leg and one real double crochet is gathered with it at the top. Takes two stitches and leaves one, exactly like dc2tog.
beg-dc3tog	Beginning Cluster (ch 3 + 2 dc together) ours	Opens a round in place of a full three-double-crochet cluster. You cannot work a double crochet where you are already standing, so the starting chain of three stands in for the cluster’s first leg, and two real double crochets are worked and gathered with it at the top. Takes three stitches and leaves one, exactly like dc3tog.
beg-dc5tog	Beginning Cluster (ch 3 + 4 dc together) ours	Opens a round in place of a five-double-crochet cluster. You cannot work a double crochet where you are already standing, so the starting chain of three stands in for the cluster’s first leg and four real double crochets are gathered with it at the top. Takes five stitches and leaves one, exactly like dc5tog.
beg-tr2tog	Beginning Cluster (ch 4 + 1 tr together) ours	Opens a round in place of a two-treble-crochet cluster. You cannot work a treble where you are already standing, so the starting chain of four stands in for the cluster’s first leg and one real treble is gathered with it at the top. Takes two stitches and leaves one, exactly like tr2tog.
bobble	3-dc Bobble	The 3-double-crochet version of the bobble — 3 dc worked into one stitch and left unfinished, then drawn together by one final pull-through. Softer and a little less raised than the 5-dc bobble.
bobble	5-dc Bobble	5 double crochets worked into one stitch but left unfinished — each keeps its final loop on the hook (yo, insert, pull up, pull through 2 only). With all the loops gathered, yo and pull through every loop at once to draw them into a soft bump. Works at any count (2, 3, 5…) — more dc, bigger bobble.
BP 3dc-pc	Back Post 3-dc Popcorn	Three back post double crochets worked around the post of the same stitch, then closed into a popcorn: drop the loop, insert the hook from back to front through the top of the first one, pick up the dropped loop and pull it through. Worked around 1 stitch, counts as 1.
BPdc	Back Post Double Crochet	Work around the post of the stitch below from the back. Pairs with FPdc to make ribbing and cables.
BPdc2tog	Back Post Double Crochet 2 Together	Two back post double crochets worked together. Each leg is worked around its own stitch from the back and left unfinished, then joined at the top. Worked around 2 stitches, counts as 1.
BPdc3tog	Back Post Double Crochet 3 Together	Three back post double crochets worked together. Each leg is worked around its own stitch from the back and left unfinished, then joined at the top. Worked around 3 stitches, counts as 1.
BPdc4tog	Back Post Double Crochet 4 Together	Four back post double crochets worked together. Each leg is worked around its own stitch from the back and left unfinished, then joined at the top. Worked around 4 stitches, counts as 1.
BPdc5tog	Back Post Double Crochet 5 Together	Five back post double crochets worked together. Each leg is worked around its own stitch from the back and left unfinished, then joined at the top. Worked around 5 stitches, counts as 1.
BPdtr	Back Post Double Treble Crochet	A double treble worked around the post of a stitch instead of into its top, from the back, so it lies on the back of the fabric. Worked around 1 stitch, counts as 1.
BPhdc	Back Post Half Double Crochet	A half double crochet worked around the post of the stitch below, from the back. Pairs with FPhdc for lower-profile ribbing.
BPtr	Back Post Treble Crochet	A treble crochet worked around the post of the stitch below, from the back. Makes deep texture.
BPtr2tog	Back Post Treble Crochet 2 Together	Two back post treble crochets worked together. Each leg is worked around its own stitch from the back and left unfinished, then joined at the top. Worked around 2 stitches, counts as 1.
BPtr3tog	Back Post Treble Crochet 3 Together	Three back post treble crochets worked together. Each leg is worked around its own stitch from the back and left unfinished, then joined at the top. Worked around 3 stitches, counts as 1.
bull	Bullion Stitch ours	Yarn wrapped many times around the hook, then drawn through in one pass, making a dense little barrel of a stitch. The wrap count sets the height, so a bullion is as tall as you make it — the chart draws the common double-crochet height. Also called a roll stitch. Slow, and worth it.
ch	Chain	The starting point of nearly every project. Yarn over, pull through the loop on your hook.
ch-10 loop	10-Chain Loop	A loop of 10 chains made between stitches and left hanging on the right side. It is not worked into anything, and the next row skips it, so it counts as no stitches. The loops are braided up the fabric later and caught by single crochets.
ch-12 loop	12-Chain Loop	A loop of 12 chains made between stitches and left hanging on the right side. It is not worked into anything, and the next row skips it, so it counts as no stitches. The loops are braided up the fabric later and caught by single crochets.
ch-2 picot	Ch-2 Picot	A two-chain loop closed back on itself with a slip stitch. Worked into nothing and counts as nothing.
ch-4 picot	Ch-4 Picot	A four-chain loop closed back on itself with a slip stitch. Worked into nothing and counts as nothing.
ch-sp	Chain Space	The gap that is created to make an open space, usually for the next row to work into. Patterns often tell you to work into the space, not the stitch for chain spaces. Often stitches from previous row are skipped when making a chain space.
dc	Double Crochet	Yarn over first, then work the stitch off in two steps. Twice as tall as a single crochet.
dc-inc	dc Increase	Two double crochets worked into the same stitch, spreading into a V — one stitch becomes two. How flat pieces grow.
dc2tog	Double Crochet 2 Together	A decrease: two double crochets worked into separate stitches, joined into one at the top.
dc3tog	Double Crochet 3 Together	A decrease of three double crochets into one, gathered at the top. Often used as a cluster.
dc4tog	Double Crochet 4 Together	A decrease: four double crochets worked into four separate stitches, joined into one at the top.
dc5tog	Double Crochet 5 Together	Five double crochets drawn together into one stitch. The mirror of a five-double-crochet shell: the shell takes one stitch and gives five, this takes five and gives one, so the two cancel out and a fabric of alternating shells and 5-togethers stays the same width.
dtr	Double Treble Crochet	Yarn over three times before starting. Taller again than a treble.
FP 3dc-pc	Front Post 3-dc Popcorn	Three front post double crochets worked around the post of the same stitch, then closed into a popcorn: drop the loop, insert the hook from front to back through the top of the first one, pick up the dropped loop and pull it through. Worked around 1 stitch, counts as 1.
FPdc	Front Post Double Crochet	Work around the post of the stitch below from the front, so the stitch stands forward off the fabric.
FPdc2tog	Front Post Double Crochet 2 Together	Two front post double crochets worked together, often two rows below around stitches already raised. Each leg is worked around its own stitch and left unfinished, then joined at the top. Worked into 2 stitches, counts as 1.
FPdc3tog	Front Post Double Crochet 3 Together	Three front post double crochets worked together. Each leg is worked around its own stitch from the front and left unfinished, then joined at the top. Worked around 3 stitches, counts as 1.
FPdc4tog	Front Post Double Crochet 4 Together	Four front post double crochets worked together. Each leg is worked around its own stitch from the front and left unfinished, then joined at the top. Worked around 4 stitches, counts as 1.
FPdc5tog	Front Post Double Crochet 5 Together	Five front post double crochets, each worked around its own stitch and left unfinished, then joined at the top. In a diamond pattern each leg wraps one post of the shell below. Worked into 5 stitches, counts as 1.
FPdtr	Front Post Double Treble Crochet	A double treble worked around the post of a stitch instead of into its top, from the front, so it lies on the front of the fabric. Worked around 1 stitch, counts as 1.
FPhdc	Front Post Half Double Crochet	A half double crochet worked around the post of the stitch below, from the front. Shorter than FPdc, for lower-profile ribbing and texture.
FPtr	Front Post Treble Crochet	A treble crochet worked around the post below, from the front. Used for raised cables and basketweave.
FPtr2tog	Front Post Treble Crochet 2 Together	Two front post treble crochets worked together. Each leg is worked around its own stitch from the front and left unfinished, then joined at the top. Worked around 2 stitches, counts as 1.
FPtr3tog	Front Post Treble Crochet 3 Together	Three front post treble crochets worked together. Each leg is worked around its own stitch from the front and left unfinished, then joined at the top. Worked around 3 stitches, counts as 1.
front dtr	Double Treble Worked Below, in Front	A double treble worked several rows below, into the unused front loop of a stitch there, and laid on the front of the fabric. The stitch behind it in the current row is skipped. Placed in front, so it shows on the right side.
front dtr2tog	Two Double Trebles Worked Below, Together	Two double trebles worked several rows below, each into an unused front loop, then joined at the top so they lie flat on the front of the fabric. Worked into 2 stitches, counts as 1.
hdc	Half Double Crochet	Yarn over, insert the hook and pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through all three loops at once. Sits between a single and double crochet.
hdc-inc	hdc Increase	Two half double crochets worked into the same stitch, spreading into a V — one stitch becomes two.
hdc2tog	Half Double Crochet 2 Together	A decrease: two half double crochets joined into a single stitch at the top.
hdc3tog	Half Double Crochet 3 Together	Three half double crochets worked together. Yarn over and pull up a loop in each of the next 3 stitches, then yarn over and pull through all 7 loops. Worked into 3 stitches, counts as 1.
ldc	Linked Double Crochet ours	A double crochet that starts by picking up a loop from the horizontal bar in the middle of the stitch before it, in place of the first yarn over, so the two are joined down their length. It closes the gaps between tall stitches and makes a much denser fabric, useful when double crochet would be too airy.
long sc3tog	Elongated Single Crochet 3 Together	Single crochet 3 together with its loops pulled up to the height of a half double crochet before closing. Worked over 3 stitches, counts as 1.
loop dc	Double Crochet Worked Below into an Unused Loop	A double crochet worked into the loop left unused on a single crochet from the row before last. On a wrong-side row that is its free front loop; on a right-side row, its free back loop. The stitch behind it is skipped.
loop st	Loop Stitch	A single crochet worked so a loop of yarn is left hanging on the back. Builds shaggy, fur-like texture.
loop tr	Treble Worked Below into an Unused Loop	A treble worked several rows below, into the unused loop at the top of a stitch there. On a wrong-side row insert the hook from the back; on a right-side row, from the front. The stitch behind it is skipped.
ltr	Linked Treble Crochet ours	The treble version, linked at both yarn-overs. The taller the stitch the more it gains from being linked, because there is more gap to close.
magic ring	Magic Ring / Adjustable Loop	An adjustable loop you work the first round into, then pull tight — closes the center with no hole. The ring itself isn't a stitch; your count starts with the stitches you work into it.
mini nupp	Mini Nupp	Two double crochets worked into the back loop of one stitch and finished together. Worked on a wrong-side row among single crochets, it bulges out to the right side. Worked into 1 stitch, counts as 1.
paw	Paw (4 Spike Single Crochets Together)	Four long loops pulled up from rows below, 3 stitches 3 rows down and 1 stitch 2 rows down, kept loose in front of the fabric and closed together at the top of this row. Worked into 1 stitch of its own row, counts as 1.
pc	Popcorn Stitch	5 complete double crochets in one stitch, then joined into a raised bump: drop the loop from the hook, insert the hook front to back through the top of the first dc, pick up the dropped loop and pull it through, so the group folds forward. Puffier and more raised than a bobble.
picot	Picot	A tiny chain loop closed back on itself. Used along edges for a decorative scalloped finish.
puff	3-hdc Puff	3 half-double crochets worked into one stitch but left unfinished — yo, insert, and pull up a loop three times, then yo and draw through all the loops at once. Soft and rounded; because it is hdc, the posts carry no marks.
rev sc	Reverse Single Crochet (Crab Stitch)	Single crochet worked in the opposite direction from usual: left to right if you are right-handed, right to left if you are left-handed. Gives a twisted, corded edge.
sc	Single Crochet	The shortest of the basic stitches. Insert, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both.
sc catching loop	Single Crochet Catching a Loop	A single crochet that secures a chain loop. Insert the hook into the stitch, lay the loop that sits behind the work on the hook, pull the yarn through and finish the single crochet. Worked into 1 stitch, counts as 1.
sc-inc	sc Increase	Two single crochets worked into the same stitch, so one stitch below becomes two above. The first increase most people learn, and the one that turns a flat strip into a shape.
sc2tog	Single Crochet 2 Together	A decrease: two single crochets joined into one. The standard way to shape amigurumi.
sc3tog	Single Crochet 3 Together	Three single crochets joined into one — a sharper decrease than sc2tog.
shell	Shell	Five double crochets fanned out of one stitch below. The building block of many classic edgings; a pattern's own shell may use another count, so check its special-stitches note.
sl st	Slip Stitch	The flattest stitch. Used to join rounds, move across without height, and finish edges.
slip knot	Slip Knot	The very first loop on your hook. Adjustable, so you can snug it up without over-tightening. It isn't a stitch and isn't counted — your stitch count starts with the first chain or stitch after it.
smock sc	Smocking Single Crochet (3 Rows Below)	A single crochet worked into two places at once: the unused front loop of the single crochet 3 rows below, then the back loop of the stitch below, finished as one stitch. It draws the rows together into smocking. Worked into 1 stitch, counts as 1.
spike dc	Spike Double Crochet	A double crochet worked one row further down. The row itself grows only by a dc.
spike hdc	Spike Half Double Crochet	A half double crochet worked one row further down. The row itself grows only by an hdc.
spike sc	Spike Single Crochet	A single crochet worked one row further down, so a long spike shows over the row below. The row itself grows only by an sc.
spike st	Spike Stitch	A stitch worked down into a row below the current one, stretching a long spike over the fabric.
star st	Star Stitch	Loops drawn up from several stitches and closed at the center, radiating like a star.
t-ch1	Turning Chain (1)	One chain to start a row of single or half double crochet. It is just height — it does not count as a stitch, so work into the very first stitch below as normal.
t-ch2	Turning Chain (2)	Two chains of height. Like the single chain it does not count as a stitch — in Crochet Bobble patterns only turning chains of three or more stand in for the first stitch. Some published patterns write "ch 2, counts as hdc"; both conventions exist, so check the pattern's own note.
t-ch3	Turning Chain (3)	Three chains to start a row of double crochet. Counts as the first stitch, so skip the stitch directly below it.
t-ch4	Turning Chain (4)	Four chains to start a row of treble crochet. Counts as the first stitch.
t-ch5	Turning Chain (5)	Five chains to start a row of double treble crochet. Counts as the first stitch.
t-ch6	Turning Chain (6)	Six chains to start a row of triple treble crochet. Counts as the first stitch.
tr	Treble Crochet	Yarn over twice before inserting the hook. Tall and open — works up quickly.
tr-inc	tr Increase	Two trebles worked into the same stitch. Increases quickly, because each stitch is tall as well as doubled.
tr2tog	Treble Crochet 2 Together	Two trebles worked together into one, drawing two stitches below into a single stitch above. The treble version of dc2tog, and the taller the stitch the more visible the slant it leaves.
tr3tog	Treble Crochet 3 Together	A decrease: three trebles worked into three separate stitches, joined into one at the top.
tr4tog	Treble Crochet 4 Together	A decrease: four trebles worked into four separate stitches, joined into one at the top.
trtr	Triple Treble Crochet	Yarn over four times to start. Very tall — mostly seen in openwork and lace.
V-st	V-Stitch	(dc, ch 1, dc) all in one stitch. Counts as three: two dc and the ch-1 space the next row usually works into.
W-st	W-Stitch	(dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc) all in one stitch. Counts as five.

About the 7 marked “ours”: where a standard defines a symbol we follow it — the Craft Yarn Council first, then the Japanese chart standard, which is the richest system there is. For these neither defines a symbol, so we drew our own and say so rather than letting it pass as standard notation. Check the key of any pattern you meet them in: Beginning Cluster (ch 3 + 1 dc together), Beginning Cluster (ch 3 + 2 dc together), Beginning Cluster (ch 3 + 4 dc together), Beginning Cluster (ch 4 + 1 tr together), Bullion Stitch, Linked Double Crochet, Linked Treble Crochet.

Reading a chart beside a written pattern

The abbreviations in the second column are US terms — the full list is here, and the UK names differ. A symbol does not: that is the quiet advantage of a chart, and why Japanese patterns are followed all over the world by people who cannot read a word of the text beside them.

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