Brief explanation of what the abbreviations and terms mean and how to perform them:

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Stitch- any time you make a Single Crochet, or other types of crochet, it is called a stitch. Just like sewing, any time you insert the needle (in this case, a hook), you will be making a stitch (st).

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Chain- most projects start with a chain. It will look like a fancy rope. To make a chain, you first start with a slip knot. Put the slip knot on the hook and pull gently to tighten (NOT TOO TIGHT. Tension plays a big role in crochet. You have to be loose enough to get the hook into the st, yet tight enough so your work isn't sloppy). The tightened slip knot will make one loop on your hook. With the hook, pull the free yarn (the yarn coming from the skein) through this loop. You have just made one chain (ch). Keep pulling yarn through the loop on your hook to make more chains. A pattern will tell you how many to ch for your starting row or round. Also, when you reach the end of a row or round, you will need to ch at least once to begin your next row or round, unless specified otherwise.

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Yarn Over- When you have yarn on your hook (a loop), you have to pull more yarn through it to make a stitch. Generally, you will insert your hook into a stitch or chain, yarn over (YO) meaning you wrap the free yarn coming from the skein over your hook. Then, using the hook end, pull that yarn through the loop on your hook.

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Loop- The yarn that is on your hook is called a loop. Some stitches will require you to have more than one loop on your hook. To achieve this you will YO and pull that yarn through the stitch. That will give you a loop on your hook.

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Join- to make two ends of your work meet, you will join them together with a stitch. To join, insert your hook into a st on the free end of the work (opposite of where your working yarn is). YO and pull that yarn through the st and the loop on your hook. Usually joining is done with a slip stitch.

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Slip Stitch- a slip stitch is usually made to join two ends of the project to make them form a circle. But it can also be used to skip some stitches withiin the work. To make a slip stitch, insert your hook into a st. YO and pull through (the stitch). Now pull that through the loop on your hook. You should be left with one loop on your hook.

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Single Crochet- to make a single crochet stitch (sc), insert your hook into the specified st or ch. YO, pull through, leaving two loops on your hook. YO again and pull through both loops, leaving one loop on your hook. One sc made.

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Half Double Crochet-  to make a half double crochet stitch (hdc), YO and then insert your hook into the st or ch. Then YO again and pull through. You should have three loops on the hook. YO again and pull through all three loops, leaving one loop on the hook. One hdc made.  *this may take a little practice to get the yarn through the loops on the hook. TIP: when pulling through, twist your hook so that the hook is facing downward and it won't catch on the loops.

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Double Crochet- to make a double crochet stitch (dc), YO, insert your hook into the st or ch, YO and pull through the st. This will leave three loops on your hook. YO and pull through TWO of the three loops on your hook. This will leave you with two loops on your hook. YO and pull through both loops, leaving one loop on the hook. One dc made.

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Treble Crochet (or Triple Crochet)- to make a treble crochet st (TR), YO twice, insert your hook into the st or ch, YO, and pull through the st leaving four loops on the hook. YO and pull through two loops, leaving three loops on your hook. YO and pull through two more loops, leaving two loops on the hook. YO and pull through last two remaining loops on the hook, and this will leave you with one loop on your hook. One tr made.

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Repeat- sometimes a pattern will call for you to repeat (rep) a combination of sts over and over in a row or round. These sts are often grouped in parentheses or preceeded with an asterix (*). The pattern will tell you how many times to rep the combination.

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Turn- when you reach the end of a row, you will need to turn your work over so the working end of the yarn is again on your right. Simply flip your work over and begin working the next row in the pattern.

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Fasten Off-  to fasten off means to make a finishing knot. This may be done to finish the project or to finish with a certain color of yarn. To fasten off (FO) simply ch 1 (make one chain) and cut your yarn from the skein. Pull that yarn through the ch completely and pull gently to tighten the knot. You have just fastened off (FO).

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Main Color & Contrasting Color-  some patterns call for more than one color of yarn to be used. Usually the pattern will specify which yarn and color was used for the main color (MC) and the contrasting color (CC). If a pattern uses more than one color it is also commonly referred to as Color A, B, C, etc.

 

ARE YOU BORED YET?  Sheeesh! I know I am. Just remember that most of these terms and abbreviations are necessary in order to read a beginner's pattern. So you can either study and memorize them, or refer back to this page if you're forgetful (like ME!).

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Are you ready to dive in and make your first crochet project? I bet you are or you wouldn't still be here. I have just the project in mind too! Let's get started!

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First things first- do you know how to make a slip knot?

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How to make a slip knot

• Put your left hand in front of you with your palm facing you. Hold out your thumb, pointer finger. and middle finger. Drape the yarn over the top of your fingers leaving about 3 -4" tail of yarn on the backside of your hand and the yarn on the skein on the inside of your hand facing you.

• With your right hand, take the long tail of the yarn (the one connected to the skein) and pull it behind the other piece of yarn (the short tail). They should now be crossed at he bottom and look like an awareness ribbon.

• With the loop still on your fingers, reach for the long strand of yarn below where they cross and grab the yarn.

• Pull that strand through the loop on your fingers while also sliding the loop off of your fingers. 

• Pull gently on the long strand to make the slip knot smaller. Put it on your hook and pull just until it is on the shaft of the hook, but can glide easily up and down the shaft.

** REMEMBER that tension plays a big part in crochet!! The number one thing people do incorrectly is tighten their stitches. This will cause your work to "curl" and you will have a hard time getting your hook into the stitches. If the loop(s) on your hook do not move freely, they are too tight.