Crochet Stitches - The Linguistics of Crochet

By Jessica Harrison

Crochet stitches are the linguistics of crochet. They are the very essence of the crochet craft and as such are deservedly got their own special "abbreviations" and quirks.

Purpose of Crochet stitches

Crochet stitches and crochet patterns are the blueprint to any crochet project. Just like sewing patterns and instructions are to a seamstress. You need to think of crochet stitches and patterns as you would think about ingredients and recipes.

Like a good recipes, good crochet patterns tell you what materials and crochet stitches you are going to need to complete the crochet project. The just like a good recipe the crochet pattern will tell you in a step by step pattern which type and how many crochet stitches are needed.

How a typical crochet pattern looks

This is an extract of what a basic crochet pattern looks and how the stitches are described.

You will need

Double knitting yarn / 4 mm Crochet hook

Stitches used

Chain ch / Slip stitch sl st / double crochet dc (UK) Single crochet sc (USA)

Starting at the top (Head)

Start with a slip knot on your hook

Make 4 ch and slip stitch into the first chain to form a circle

1. Make 1 chain and work 10 dc into the ring ending with a slip stitch into the first stitch.
2. Make 1 chain and then increase by working (1dc into the first &2dc into the next stitch) repeat this all round finishing with a slip stitch into the first stitch.

Did you notice the ch and dc these are the crochet stitch abbreviations. Saves repeating it longhand in the pattern; especially if it is a hand written pattern.

The crochet stitches abbreviations

Chain - ch
Single crochet - sc
Double crochet - dc
Slip stitch - sl st
Half double crochet - hdc
And so on ...

More Abbreviations

Crochet instructions are also abbreviated ... just to make life interesting
Increase - inc
Decrease - dec
Yarn over - yo
Yarn over hook - yoh

So there you have it ... crochet stitches are the linguistics of the crochet craft. One little twist there is a difference in the crochet stitches names in America and Britain ... what a surprise.

For the next installment of Crochet Stitches visit http://www.craftmastery.com/
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