Opening a crochet pattern for the first time can feel like trying to decipher a secret code. Between brackets, asterisks, and shorthand abbreviations like sc inc or ch 2, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. In this guide, we break down pattern notation into simple, repeatable rules so you can follow any PDF pattern with confidence.

1. US vs. UK Terminology: The First Thing to Check

Before you make a slipknot, always verify whether your pattern is written in US terms or UK terms. The same stitch name means completely different things depending on the convention:

US Terminology (Novalis Digital Standard) UK Terminology Equivalent What You Actually Do
Single Crochet (sc) Double Crochet (dc) Insert hook, yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops.
Half Double Crochet (hdc) Half Treble Crochet (htr) Yarn over, insert, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through all 3 loops.
Double Crochet (dc) Treble Crochet (tr) Yarn over, insert, pull up, (yarn over, pull through 2) twice.
Slip Stitch (sl st) Slip Stitch (ss) Insert hook, pull loop through stitch and active loop.

Note: All Novalis Digital patterns use standard US terminology with clear stitch glossaries.

2. Understanding Repeats: Asterisks (*), Brackets [ ], and Parentheses ( )

Crochet instructions use punctuation to save space when a sequence repeats:

  • Asterisks (*): Tells you where to start and stop a repeated section. For example: *sc 2, inc; repeat from * 6 times means work (2 single crochet followed by 1 increase) six times total around the round.
  • Brackets ([ ]): Group instructions that are repeated a specific number of times. Example: [sc 3, inc] x 6 means repeat the bracketed steps 6 times.
  • Parentheses (( )): Often indicate working multiple stitches into a single space (e.g. (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next corner st), or indicate the final stitch count at the end of the round, such as (30 sts).

3. The Magic of Stitch Counts

At the end of each round or row, look for the number in parentheses, like [24] or (30 sts). Counting your stitches after every round is the #1 secret to avoiding misshapen amigurumi and uneven edges. If your count is off by one, fix it immediately before working the next round.

4. Putting It into Practice

Ready to try your first pattern? Check out our beginner-tested Amigurumi Patterns or explore the adorable Ocean Turtle Amigurumi PDF which includes full step-by-step checkpoint photos for every round.