Interweave Crochet Terms & Glossary

Interweave Crochet Terms & Glossary

Welcome to the Interweave Terms and Crochet Glossary! Here you will find definitions for crochet terms and simple instructions to learn how to crochet basic crochet stitches with detailed stitch diagrams and definitions. Explore Tunisian crochet stitches, foundation stitches, crochet chain embroidery and more. Even the most experienced crafters sometimes don’t know specific crochet terminology, so this resource is excellent for crocheters at every level. You’ll want to learn basic crochet definitions if you want to grow your skills or begin experimenting with this amazing craft.

We’re happy to provide you with definitions and examples of all the most popular crochet stitches. Terms like “DC3TOG” appear regularly in crochet magazines and message boards, but they’re not nearly as complicated as they sound! They’re just shorthand for longer crochet terms that help you eliminate one or more stitches! At Interweave, crochet stitch terminology is simplified and broken down so that you can join in the conversation and expand your knowledge. With these listed crochet terms, you’ll be armed and ready for your next exciting crocheting adventure!

If there are crochet terms that you think should be added to our glossary, please contact us! Click on one of the links below to expand that section of the crochet terms.

Learn about crochet terms below:

A – B

With crochet hook, right side facing, and holding yarn under fabric and hook on right side of work, insert hook through fabric, pull up a loop. Insert hook a short distance away, yarn over hook (Figure 1), and pull a new loop up and through loop on hook (Figure 2).

 

Working around the front or the back of a post of the previous row gives an interesting raised ridge on the crochet fabric. Around-the-post double crochet is worked by inserting the hook from the front or back and around the post of the double crochet of the previous row.  While this technique is commonly worked in double crochet, the same methods can apply to single or treble crochet.

For these instructions, we’re going to show you how to pick up and work around the back post in double crochet.

Yarn over, insert hook from back to front to back around post of stitch to be worked, yarn over and pull up loop [yarn over, draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times.

 

Here’s a video demonstrating how to make post stitches in crochet:

 

You can also find instructions in this glossary for similar techniques including:

Yarn over, insert hook from back to front to back around post of indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up loop, yarn over and draw through all loops on hook.

BPHdc is mainly used to create a ridge or ridges on crocheted fabric and can be used in many types of projects. You can also find instructions in this glossary for similar techniques including:

Insert hook from back to front to back around post of indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook.

Bring right sides of pieces together. Hold pieces in your hand with the 2 edges facing you and piece A closest to you. Work from right to left.

  1. Secure seaming yarn on wrong side of piece A at start of the seam. Pass needle through both pieces, from front to back in first stitch. Then bring needle back to front through the first stitch to the left.
  2. Pass needle to back, at the same spot worked in Step 1. Then bring needle to front in 2nd stitch to the left.
  3. Pass needle to back in first stitch to the right where the needle came through in previous stitch. Bring needle to front and 2nd stitch to the left.
  4. Repeat Step 3 to complete seam. Secure end of seaming yarn.

 

 

This stitch, worked from left to right, is great for edging a knitted garment or blanket. Bring threaded needle out from back to front at the center of a knitted stitch. *Insert needle at center of next stitch to the right and two rows up, and out at the center of the stitch two rows below. Repeat from *.

 

C – D

A crochet chain can be used for all sorts of reasons in a pattern but most often it is used as the starting place for a crochet project. In this case it is known as your foundation chain. Here’s how to make a crochet chain:

Make a slipknot on hook, *yarn over and draw through loop of slipknot; repeat from * drawing yarn through last loop formed.

 

You can also see how to chain by watching this video:

Slang. When bright variegated yarn pools in an unattractive pattern.

Holding yarn under background, insert hook through center of background, pull up loop, *insert hook into background a short distance away, pull 2nd loop up through the first loop on hook; repeat from *.

 

If you are starting a new pattern you’ll begin by making a foundation chain. Chain the number of stitches you want for your dc row plus three. So, if you want a row of five dc stitches you want to begin with eight chains. You will skip the first three chains, which count as your turning chains, and follow the steps below:

Yarn over, insert hook in fourth chain from hook, yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook; Figure 1), yarn over and draw through 2 loops (Figure 2), yarn over and draw through remaining 2 loops (Figure 3). *Yarn over, insert hook in next chain, yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook; Figure 1), yarn over and draw through 2 loops (Figure 2), yarn over and draw through remaining 2 loops (Figure 3); repeat from*.

For subsequent rows:

Chain three and turn to begin next row. *Yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook; Figure 1), yarn over and draw through 2 loops (Figure 2), yarn over and draw through remaining 2 loops (Figure 3); repeat from *.

More information on how to double crochet for beginners.

 

[Yarn over, insert hook in indicated stitch or space, yarn over and pull up loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops] 4 times (5 loops on hook), yarn over, draw through all loops on hook—3 stitches decreased.

 

[Yarn over, insert hook in indicated stitch or space, yarn over (Figure 1) and pull up loop, yarn over (Figure 2), draw through 2 loops] 2 times (3 loops on hook), yarn over (Figure 3), draw through all loops on hook—1 stitch decreased (Figure 4).

 

[Yarn over, insert hook in indicated stitch or space, yarn over and pull up loop (Figure 1), yarn over, draw through 2 loops (Figure 2)] 3 times (4 loops on hook), yarn over, draw through all loops on hook (Figure 3)—2 stitches decreased (Figure 4).

 

Yarn over three times and insert hook in 6th chain from hook. Draw a loop through chain—5 loops on hook; [yarn over and draw through 2 loops] 4 times.

 

E – F

Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch or chain, yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 1 loop (1 chain made), [yarn over and draw through 2 loops] 2 times—1 edc completed.

 

Insert hook in next stitch or chain, yarn over and pull up loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 1 loop (1 chain made), yarn over and pull through 2 loops—1 esc completed.

 

Chain 3. Yarn over, insert hook in 3rd chain from hook, yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook) (Figure 1), yarn over and draw through 1 loop (1 chain made—shaded) (Figure 2), (yarn over and draw through 2 loops—Figure 3) 2 times—1 foundation double crochet with chain at bottom (Figure 4). *Yarn over, insert hook under the 2 loops of the chain at the bottom of the stitch just made, yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook) (Figure 5), yarn over and draw through 1 loop (1 chain made), (yarn over and draw through 2 loops) 2 times (Figure 6). Repeat from *.

Learn more about the fdc stitch in this detailed tutorial!

 

Chain 3, yarn over, insert hook in 3rd chain from hook, yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 1 loop (1 chain made), yarn over and draw through all loops on hook—1 foundation half double crochet. *Yarn over, insert hook under the 2 loops of the “chain” stitch of last stitch and pull up loop, yarn over and draw through 1 loop, yarn over and draw through all loops on hook; repeat from *.

 

Chain 2 (Figure 1), insert hook in 2nd chain from hook, yarn over and pull up loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over, draw through 1 loop (1 chain made), yarn over and draw through 2 loops (single crochet)—1 foundation single crochet with chain at bottom (Figure 3). *Insert hook under the 2 loops of the chain at the bottom of the stitch just made, yarn over and pull up loop, yarn over and draw through 1 loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops. Repeat from * (Figure 5).





 

 

  1. For four-strand braid, first divide the four strands into left and right groups (Figure 1).
  2. Bring the outside right strand under the two inside strands and then back over the right inside strand (Figure 2). The outside right strand becomes the inside right strand.
  3. Bring the outside left strand under the two inside strands and then back over the left inside strand (Figure 3). The outside left strand becomes the inside left strand.
  4. Repeat Steps 2 (Figure 4) and 3 (Figure 5) to desired length.

 

 

 

Bring needle out of background from back to front, wrap yarn around needle 1 to 3 times and use thumb to hold in place while pulling needle through wraps into background a short distance from where it came out.

 

 

 

Yarn over, insert hook from front to back to front around post of indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up loop, [yarn over, draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times.

You can also find instructions for:

 

Yarn over, insert hook from front to back to front around post of indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up loop, yarn over and draw through all loops on hook.

You can also find instructions in this glossary for similar techniques including:

 

Yarn over 2 times, insert hook from front to back to front around post of indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up loop, [yarn over, draw through 2 loops on hook] 3 times.

You can also find instructions in this glossary for similar techniques including:

H

*Yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over and pull a loop through stitch (three loops on hook), yarn over (Figure 1) and draw through all the loops on the hook (Figure 2). Repeat from *.

 

 

[Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up loop (figure 1)] 2 times, yarn over and draw through all loops on hook (figure 2)—1 stitch decreased (figure 3).

 

Learn how to do the half double crochet two together method with this tutorial from Interweave!

 

 

[Yarn over, insert hook in indicated stitch or space, yarn over (Figure 1) and pull up loop (Figure 2)] 3 times, yarn over and draw through all loops on hook (Figure 3)—2 stitches decreased (Figure 4).

 

 

 

L – P

Lark’s Head Knot: Pull lp through indicated sp, draw ends through lp. Pull tight.

Learn how to make a lark's head knot.


With RS facing, use threaded needle to *bring the needle through the center of the first stitch or post on one piece, then through the center of the corresponding stitch or post of the other piece. Repeat from * to end of seam.

 

 

 

Use at least 2 strands to make the overhand knot. Form a loop with the ends (Figure 1). Thread the tail behind and back through the loop. As you tighten the knot, use your finger or a crochet hook to slide it into position (Figure 2).

 

 

 

First, cut two circles of cardboard, each 1⁄2” (1.3 cm) larger than desired finished pom-pom width. Cut a small circle out of the center and a small edge out of the side of each circle (Figure 1). Tie a strand of yarn between the circles, hold circles together and wrap with yarn—the more wraps, the thicker the pompom. Knot the tie strand tightly and cut between the circles (Figure 2). Place pom-pom between two smaller cardboard circles held together with a needle, and trim the edges (Figure 3). This technique comes from Nicky Epstein’s Knitted Embellishments, Interweave Press, 1999.

 

 

 

R – S

  1. Working from left to right, insert crochet hook into a knit edge stitch, draw up a loop, bring yarn over hook, and draw this loop through the first one.
  2. *Insert hook into next stitch to right (Figure 1).
  3. …draw up a loop, bring yarn over hook again (Figure 2).
  4. …and draw this loop through both loops on hook (Figure 3). Repeat from *.

 

 

Working small straight stitches, pass the threaded needle over one knitted stitch and under the next to form a dashed line. The stitches can be worked in equal or varying lengths, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

 

 

This stitch is ideal for filling in open areas, such as the center of leaves or flowers. Work closely spaced straight stitches, in graduated lengths as desired, and entering and exiting in the center of or at the side of the crocheted stitches.

 

 

Single crochet is one of the more common stitches you’ll run across in crochet patterns, and is especially popular for use in amigurumi designs. Because of its short height, it creates a more dense fabric than other stitches.

If you are starting a new pattern you’ll begin by making a foundation chain. Chain the number of stitches you want for your sc row plus one. So, if you want a row of five sc stitches you want to begin with six chains. You will skip the first chain, which counts as your turning chain, and follow the steps below:

Insert hook in second chain from hook, yarn over and pull up loop (Figure 1), yarn over and draw through both loops on hook (Figure 2). *Insert hook in next chain, yarn over and pull up loop (Figure 1), yarn over and draw through both loops on hook (Figure 2); repeat from *.

For subsequent rows:

Chain one and turn to begin next row.  *Insert hook in stitch, yarn over and pull up loop (Figure 1), yarn over and draw through both loops on hook (Figure 2); repeat from *.

 

 

 

You can also get a visual look at the single crochet stitch by watching this video:

 

[Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over, pull loop through stitch] 4 times. Yarn over and draw yarn through all five loops on hook. Completed sc4tog—3 stitches decreased.

[Insert hook in indicated stitch or space, yarn over and pull up loop] 3 times (4 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through all 4 loops on hook—2 stitches decreased.

Insert hook in indicated stitch or space, yarn over and pull up loop (2 loops on hook), insert hook in next stitch or space, yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook—1 stitch decreased.

Place the pieces together with the wrong or right sides facing depending on whether you want your seam to be hidden on the wrong side or show on the right side of your work. Hold the pieces in your hand with the two edges facing you.

Insert the hook through both pieces at the beginning of the seam and pull up loop, chain 1. Work a row of single crochet by inserting your hook through both pieces at the same time. Complete the seam and secure the end of the seaming yarn.

 

*Insert hook in stitch, yarn over and draw loop through stitch and loop on hook; repeat from *.

 

Make a slipknot with seaming yarn and place on hook. With RS of pieces facing each other, *insert hook through both pieces of fabric under the stitch loops, wrap yarn around hook to form a loop (Figure 1), and pull loop back through both pieces of fabric and through the loop already on hook (Figure 2). Repeat from *, maintaining firm, even tension.

 

 

 

Bring the needle through the fabric from the back. Take a stitch as shown, keeping the thread below the needle. Repeat. The needle always emerges on the left side of the previous stitch so that the stitches overlap slightly.

 

T

  1. Begin with three strands or three groups of strands. Tie an overhand knot at one end (Figure 1).
  2. Lay right strand over middle strand. Right strand becomes new middle strand.
  3. Lay left strand over new middle strand (Figure 2).
  4. Repeat Steps 2 (Figure 3) and 3 (Figure 4) to desired length.

Yarn over 4 times, insert hook in stitch, yarn over and pull up loop (6 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 2 loops 5 times.

 

Tunisian crochet differs from conventional crochet in several ways. In Tunisian, loops for several stitches remain on the hook at one time, as opposed to conventional crochet where the loop for only one stitch is on the hook at a time. Also, the piece is not turned at the end of a row, so the right side is always facing. To begin, you start with a base row and each row thereafter is a two-step process, known as the forward pass and reverse pass. As a general rule for Tunisian crochet, the reverse pass is worked exactly the same for any stitch, the forward pass is what defines the variations between Tunisian crochet stitches.

 

Skip first vertical bars, with yarn in back, *insert hook between next vertical bars under horizontal strands (Figure 1), yarn over and pull up loop, leave loop on hook; repeat from * to end, ending with 1 loop on hook; return pass.

 

Yarn over and draw loop through first loop on hook, *yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook: repeat from * across (Figure 2), ending with 1 loop on hook.

 

 

 Here’s a video demonstrating how to crochet the Tunisian knit stitch.

 

Tps Forward pass (FwP): *Insert hook from right to left behind front vertical bar, yarn over and pull up loop (see Figure), leave loop on hook; repeat from * to last vertical bar at edge, pick up front and back loops of last bar to create firm edge; return pass.

Return pass (RetP): Yarn over and draw loop through first loop on hook, *yarn over and draw though 2 loops on hook: repeat from * to end, ending with 1 loop on hook.

 

 

Tss forward pass (FwP): *Insert hook from right to left behind front vertical bar (Figure 1), yarn over and pull up loop (Figure 2), leave loop on hook; repeat from * to last vertical bar at edge, pick up front and back loops of last bar to create firm edge; return pass.

Return pass (RetP): Yarn over and draw through first loop on hook, *yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook (Figure 3); repeat from * to end, ending with 1 loop on hook.

 

Insert hook under next 2 vertical bars, yarn over, pull up loop.

 

w

With right side of work facing and working through edge stitch, *bring threaded needle out from back to front along edge of piece. Wrap around edge ;to back and repeat from *.

 

Place pieces with right sides together. Hold pieces with the two edges facing you.

  1. Secure seaming yarn on wrong side of one piece. Pass needle through pieces from back to front at start of seam. This creates a small stitch to begin seam.
  2. A little farther left, pass needle through pieces, again from back to front, wrapping seam edge.
  3. Repeat Step 2 to complete seam. Secure end of seaming yarn.

 

 

Place pieces side by side on a flat surface, right sides facing you and the edges lined up row by row or stitch by stitch.

  1. Secure seaming yarn on wrong side of piece A at start of seam. Pass needle to right side at bottom of first stitch.
  2. Put needle through bottom of first stitch of piece B and pass it up to right side again at top of stitch (or in stitch above, if you’re working in single crochet).
  3. Put needle through bottom of first stitch of piece A, exactly where you previously passed needle to right side, and bring needle to right side at top of same stitch.
  4. Put needle through piece B where you previously passed needle to right side, and bring needle to right side at the top of same or next stitch.
  5. Put the needle through piece A, where you previously passed needle to right side, and bring needle through to right side at top of stitch. Repeat Steps 4 and 5, gently tightening seam as you go, being careful not to distort fabric. Allow rows to line up but don’t make seam tighter than edges themselves. Edges will roll to the wrong side of work. Secure end of seaming yarn.

 

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