Basic Stitches - Start - Turn and Counting - Hidden Join for Working in the Round - Front or Back Loop - Increase, Decrease, or Puff - Cables, Cross-Overs, and Weaves
| Chain or Space | Slip Stitch | Single Crochet | Half Double Crochet | Double Crochet | Treble Crochet | Double Treble Crochet | Foundation Half-Double Crochet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbrev. | ch or spc | sl or join | sc | hdc | dc | tr | dtr | foundation hdc |
| Symbol |  |
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| How To | yarn over, pull | insert, yo, pull thru 2 | insert, yo, pull, [yo, pull thru 2] x1 | yo, insert, yo, pull, yo, pull thru 3 | yo, insert, yo, pull, [yo, pull thru 2] x2 | yo 2, insert, yo, pull, [yo, pull thru 2] x3 | yo 3, insert, yo, pull, [yo, pull thru 2] x4 | yo, insert, [yo, pull] x2, yo, pull thru 3. Repeat, inserting under loops at bottom (prev 2nd yo pull) |
| At Row End, Ch N Turn (Height) | N/A | N/A | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| Then Insert Into Column X | N/A | N/A | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Last Stitch Over Prev. Row's Turning Chain? (Count Turn?) | N/A | N/A | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
US terminology. For UK equivalent, add 1 to name.
Example: US sc = dc UK
Make a slip knot around hook.
ch foundation and then "ch N turn" to start each row. Alternatively, use sc/hdc/etc. foundation for more stretch (e.g. neck, wrists).
Instead of chain, use magic circle foundation:
- Don't tighten slip knot. Instead, insert hook through far lobe of pretzel. Yo and pull up initial loop. Center of pretzel becomes a ring of yarns.
- For first round, for every stitch, insert hook into center of circle, then yo pull etc. like normal.
- Pull tail to tighten circle.
- For other rounds, either don't turn to continue working in rounds (spiral), or hidden join and "ch N turn" to switch to working in rows (zigzag).
Count stitches in every row to ensure no unexpected increase/decrease.
Don't count beginning slip knot.
After foundation chain reaches width, ch N more (where "ch N turn" varies by height of next row's stitch; don't count this in row's width). Turn. Insert hook at N+1 loops away to start row.
Example: First row is tr (height N=4). So ch 4 more, turn, then tr in 5th (N+1=5) st away from hook.
Count "ch N turn" as 1st stitch of the row only for dc/tr/taller unless pattern says otherwise. dc and taller also insert into 2nd column, not the 1st.
Don't count join unless pattern says otherwise.
Hidden Join for Working in the Round
Use sl to join end of row to beginning, just before "ch N turn". Pull to tighten sl. (Normal sl size would result in a slight gap, not "hidden" join.)
Insert under both loops on top of previous row, unless:
- Previous row was foundation chain (only 1 top loop exists), or
- Mark under symbol is flo (Front Loop Only)
, or
- Mark under symbol is blo (Back Loop Only)
, or
- Insert around post instead of loops, such as bpdc (Back Post Double Crochet)
Example: fpdc (Front Post Double Crochet)
- Increase/Split/Shell: Multiple stitches into previous row's stitch.
Example: shell (Shell)
- Decrease: Stitch but during pull through, keep last loop on hook. (Repeat if you're merging 3 or more stitches. Each repeat keeps 1 more loop on hook.) During last stitch of merge, pull through all loops like normal.
Example: sc2tog (Single Crochet 2 Together)
[insert, yo, pull] x2, yo, pull thru 3
- Puff Up: Mix both increase and decrease: Make multiple stitches into column, but wait until final stitch to pull through all loops.
Example: puff (Puff/Popcorn/Bobble/Cluster)
Example: picot or lps (Picot/Loop of Chains)
Skip stitches. Crochet in next. Going back to skipped stitches, crochet there. (Count of skips = number of cables.)
Forward/backward cable varies by working skipped stitches in front/behind.
Height is slightly shorter for cables than normal rows. Might need fewer chains before turn.
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