glossary

CROCHET STITCHES

Chain (ch): Begin by making a slip knot on your hook. * Wrap the yarn around the hook (yarn over) and pull up a loop [draw the yarn through the loop on the hook to form the first chain]. Repeat from * for number of chains required. Note: The loop on the hook is not included when counting the number of chains.

Cluster: A group of stitches worked together for decorative purposes, instead of to decrease; work as instructions indicate.

Double Crochet (dc): Yarn over hook, insert hook into stitch indicated, yarn over and pull up a loop, [ yarn over and draw through two loops on hook] twice.

Double Treble Crochet (dtr): Yarn over hook three times, insert hook into stitch indicated, yarn over and pull up a loop, [ yarn over and draw through two loops] four times.

Half Double Crochet (hdc): Yarn over hook, insert hook into stitch indicated, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through all three loops on hook.

Picot: A decorative edge pattern stitch used for edgings; work as instructions indicate.

Shell: A number of stitches worked into one stitch for decorative purposes instead of to increase; work as instructions indicate.

Single Crochet (sc): Insert hook in stitch indicated, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through both loops on hook.

Slip Stitch (slip st): Insert hook in the stitch indicated, yarn over and draw through both the stitch and the loop on the hook.

Treble Crochet (tr): Yarn over hook two times, insert hook in stitch indicated, yarn over and pull up a loop, [ yarn over and draw through two loops] three times.

SPECIAL TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

dc2tog (single decrease): Double crochet 2 together—[ Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook] twice, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook.

dc3tog (double decrease): Double crochet 3 together—[ Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook] 3 times, yarn over and draw through all 4 loops on hook.

dec: Decrease—work 2 (or the number indicated in the instructions) stitches together in pattern unless instructed otherwise.

FPdc: Front-post double crochet: (RS) Yarn over, insert hook from right-hand side of stitch to WS of piece, return to RS at left-hand side of stitch indicated, yarn over and pull up loop, returning to starting point, complete as dc.

hdc2tog (single decrease): Half double crochet 2 together—[ Yarn over, insert hook in next st and pull up a loop] twice, yarn over and draw through 5 loops on hook.

inc: Increase—work 2 (or the number indicated in the instructions) stitches into the next stitch.

sc2tog (single decrease): Single crochet 2 together—[Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop] twice, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook.

sc3tog (double decrease): Single crochet 3 together—[Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop] 3 times, yarn over and draw through all 4 loops on hook.

slip st 2tog (single decrease): Slip stitch 2 together—Insert hook in next st, yarn over and pull up a loop, insert hook in next st, yarn over and draw through st and loops on hook.

SPECIAL TECHNIQUES

Base Chain/Single Crochet (Base ch/sc) NOTE: This technique creates a foundation chain and a row of sc at the same time.

• FIRST STITCH Begin with a slip knot; ch 2, insert hook into second ch from hook, * yarn over and pull up a loop, yo and draw through one loop (this is the chain), yo and draw through 2 loops (this is the sc).
• NEXT STITCH: NOTE: The next st is worked under the forward 2 loops of the stem of the previous st (the chain) made when working the st. Insert hook into the bottom of the previous st, under 2 loops, repeat from * of first st. Repeat this step for number of sts indicated in instructions.

Bead Crochet: See Basic Techniques (here).

Tunisian Crochet/Afghan Stitch (any number of stitches) NOTE: Each row of Tunisian Crochet is worked in two steps.

• FOUNDATION ROW (counts as Step 1 for first Row only)
  Chain the number of sts indicated in the instructions.
  Skip the first chain, * insert hook in second chain from hook, yarn over and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook); repeat from * across, pulling up a loop in each chain. Complete Foundation Row by working Step 2 (below).
• STEP 1: With RS facing, working from right to left, pick up the stitches:
  Beginning in the second vertical bar of the previous row, * insert hook into the vertical bar, yarn over and draw a loop through the vertical bar (2 loops on hook); repeat from * across, drawing up a loop in each vertical bar.
• STEP 2: With RS facing, working from left to right, work off the stitches:
  Yarn over and draw through first loop on hook, * yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook; repeat from * across.
• Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for Tunisian Crochet.