Beginning any amigurumi project can be overwhelming as a beginner. We’ve all been there. You open up your very first pattern, eager and ready to start and you’re hit with all of these abbreviations. What do they mean? This article will establish the basic stitches involved in just about any beginner amigurumi pattern. Everything is based off of US terminology, which is different from UK terminology.
It is important to note: This article will not teach you how to crochet, it is simply a basic understanding of the terms you will find when you start a pattern. This is a vital key that will come in handy after you learn the concepts of yarning over, inserting into a loop/stitch, pull through. You must know those three concepts in order to have a full understanding of the terms below.
The Fundamentals
Yarn Over: The act of wrapping the yarn over your crochet hook.
Loops: This term is use quite freely in crochet. It can be used to describe a chain, the top of a stitch, or the unfinished formation of yarn that is still on your hook. A loop is created after you yarn over and draw it through the crochet work to create a loop on your hook. As you progress further into crochet concepts, you will be introduced to “front loops”, “back loops” “back bumpers”, etc. In beginner patterns, you shouldn’t need to worry about these concepts quite yet, but they will still be discussed in this blog.
Insert Hook: Your hook will always be inserted into a loop. When you insert into a chain, you will insert your hook in the middle of the loop. When you insert into a stitch, typically, you will insert your hook under the loops at the top of the stitch so that both sides of the loop are placed above the hook. I stated “typically” because your hook will be placed differently if the pattern indicates “front loop only” or “back loop only”, but we can discuss those terms later.
Pull through: Pull your crochet hook through the loop, bringing the yarn from your last “yarn over” with you.
Important Terms and Concepts
Before we dive into the stitches that are often introduced in a pattern’s abbreviations table, we will first establish the basic terms that are essential to any crochet technique. These are common terms, phrases and concepts that are essential to understand before beginning any pattern.
Rounds/Rows: Crochet projects are worked in rows or rounds, but there is a difference between these two terms. When working in straight rows, there is an end to the row. When you reach the end, you will turn your work and stitch from that end back to the beginning. There are often other terms involved in rounds like joining, chains and turning which we can table until another day. Amigurumi is most often worked in rounds. Rounds are continuous. When you start a round, you continue working in a circular form you made. The last stitch you make will meet up with the first stitch . When the round is complete, there is no need to create a chain or turn your work. You continue your next round right on top of the round you just completed.
Right Side vs. Wrong Side: These terms are most often used when working in rows. When you start your first row, you’re working on the “right side”. When you turn your work, you’re working on the back of the previous row which is referred to as the “wrong side”. These terms are still essential to learn when working in the rounds with amigurumi. When working in the rounds, you will always be working on the “right side”. The “wrong side” of your work will be the side that holds your stuffing and will be hidden when your project is completed.
Repeat Symbols: Indications of repetition within a single round are often implied through the use of parentheses and asterisks. For example, if a round shows the following: (sc, inc) X6, that would imply that you need to work a (sc) single crochet in one stitch, then work an (inc) increase in the next stitch. the X6 would imply that you need to repeat the sequence a total of 6 times. If the repetition is a bit more lengthy, you may also see an asterisk symbol used to indicate that a repeat is needed to complete the round. For example, the round may show the following: 12 sc, *sc, 2 ch, skip one stitch, sc, repeat from * 5 more times. This would mean that you work the “12 sc” one time, but work the “sc, 2 ch, skip on stitch, sc” a total of 6 times.
Brackets: brackets are often used at the end of a round to indicate the total number of stitch that you should end with in that corresponding round. In amigurumi, there is usually just one number indicated in the brackets. For example, if a round was written as follows: (sc, inc) X6, then [18] would follow. We will get into the “sc” and “inc” abbreviations later on, but the number inside the brackets is indicating that you will work 18 stitches total in this round.
The Abbreviations Table
If a pattern is properly constructed, you will notice a list of abbreviations at the very beginning of the pattern. This table will be your guide to cracking the code within the pattern. Designers will establish abbreviations based off of the ones they were taught, so their abbreviations may differ from other designers. For example, a magic ring can also be considered a magic circle, so some designers may abbreviate ‘MR’ and some ‘MC’. Both abbreviations are acceptable. The designer just chooses one or the other based on how they were taught. It is important to review the tables and ensure that you understand how to work all of the terms before beginning your work.
For the sake of keeping things short and simplistic, I will be introducing the terms that are most commonly used in Homebound & Hooked patterns. I do my best to keep my abbreviations consistent with the ones established by The Craft Yarn Council. I find this is the best way to ensure my patterns are easy to follow.
Magic Ring: This is the very foundation of any project that is worked in the rounds. First, form your yarn into the shape of lowercase “e”. The tail end of the yarn should be at the end of the “e”, while the working end creates a ring. Insert your hook into the center of the loop, then pull the working end of the yarn through the ring creating a loop on the hook. With the hook outside of the circle, yarn over and pull through the loop on the hook. It can be a little intimidating for beginners. If you would like to learn more about how to make a magic ring, click here.
Chain: yarn over, pull through the loop on the hook.
Stitch: The term “stitch” is used as a generalization when counting the number of stitches made. It could refer to a single crochet, half double crochet, cluster stitches, etc. An increase will count as 2 stitches. This term is often abbreviated as “st” (or “sts” when discussing more than one stitch).
Slip Stitch: slip stitch is NOT the same as a slip knot. Insert your hook into the next st or loop, yarn over, pull through the stitch/loop, then pull through the loop on the hook.
Single Crochet: You insert your hook into the next stitch or loop, yarn over, pull through the stitch/loop, yarn over, pull through the loops on the hook.
Front Loop Only: When looking at the top of your stitch, you will see a loop at the top. One part of the loop is adjacent with the “right side” of your work. This part of the loop is known as the “front loop” When working in the front loop only, you will insert your hook into the center of the loop and bring your hook out the “right side” of your work, rather than inserting under both loops, you are only inserting under the front loop.
Back Loop Only: When looking at the top of your stitch, you will see a loop at the top. One part of the loop is adjacent with the “wrong side” of your work. This part of the loop is known as the “back loop” When working in the back loop only, you will insert your hook into the center of the loop and bring your hook out the “wrong side” of your work, rather than inserting under both loops, you are only inserting under the back loop.
Increase: In amigurumi, this is the act of working two single crochets into one stitch (unless the pattern indicates a different type of stitch).
Decrease: In amigurumi, this is the act of working one single crochet into the next two stitches. To do this, insert hook into the front loops of the next two stitch, yarn over, pull through both stitches, yarn over, pull through the loop on your hook.
Fastening Off: It may seem like your project will never end, but I can assure you that, at some point, it does end! At that point, you need to fasten off your last stitch cut your yarn. After your last stitch is made, keep your hook inside the loop that remains, cut the yarn, pull the yarn until it breaks the loop, then pull the yarn tight so that it forms a knot.
I hope these descriptions provide a better understanding to the terms that are most commonly used in amigurumi patterns! I hope to find more time in the future to create more in-depth tutorials on all of the terms provided. This is what I can provide for now, but know that there will be more to come! Between juggling a full time job and other priorities, I hope I at least established a good foundation for you so far!
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