In addition to
crochet abbreviations,
crochet symbols are often used to help the reader visualize a
pattern's instructions. The following is a glossary of common crochet symbols, in "
E2" form (due to
ASCII character set limitations) and a verbal description of each symbol. These symbols are accepted as
modern standard crochet symbols internationally, however the E2-ified symbols were created by me to make pattern illustration on E2 possible.
- Chain
- o - A hollow oval.
- Double crochet
- T\ - A capital T with one diagonal slash through it (each slash represents one yarn over before working the stich).
- Double triple crochet
- T\\\ - A capital T with three diagonal slashes through it.
- Half double crochet
- T - A capital T.
- Single crochet
- + or X - Either a short vertical stick crossed in the middle, or (less commonly), a capital X.
- Slip loop
- @ - A solid colored oval. NOTE: The slip loop symbol is often left out in diagrams because its use is generally implied in every crochet work.
- Slip stitch
- n - A simple arch.
- Triple crochet
- T\\ - A capital T with two diagonal slashes through it.
- Turning chain
- % - No comparable modern standard symbol. NOTE: This symbol can represent any number of stitches, however many are appropriate for the turning chain where it is used, unless otherwise noted by the pattern's author. Therefore, in a work of single crochets, it is 1 chain, while in a work of triple crochets it can be 4 or 5 chains.
For example, a work of 5 rows of double crochets could be illustrated like this:
T\ T\ T\ T\ T\ %
% T\ T\ T\ T\ T\
T\ T\ T\ T\ T\ %
% T\ T\ T\ T\ T\
T\ T\ T\ T\ T\ %
@ o o o o o o
Source: Crocheting in Plain English by Maggie Righetti